Factors influencing the adoption of circular economy practices in polish seaports: an analysis of determinants and challenges

The purpose of the article is to fill the research gap in identifying and prioritizing the factors that determine the choice of a port for handling circular supply chains (CSC). To this end, Polish seaports handling CSC cargo with an average turnover of at least 100,000 tons in the last 10 years were analyzed. The authors analyzed CSC cargo occurring in seaports, in two stages, both in terms of quantity and quality. The first stage involved an analysis of the literature and the European Commission’s programs on the development of the Circular Economy (CE), followed by an analysis of the relationship between the size of the port, measured by the average volume of cargo handled at the studied port, and the average share of CSC cargo in total cargo handling. On the other hand, in the second stage, based on face-to-face interviews, the factors that determine the choice of a particular port for handling CSC cargo were extracted. The study revealed a significant relationship between port size and the share of CSC cargo in total cargo handling. Furthermore, the research identified and prioritized key factors influencing the choice of ports for CSC, providing valuable insights for port authorities and policymakers. These findings can serve as a foundation for further academic research aimed at optimizing port operations within circular supply chains and advancing the theoretical framework of circular economy logistics. Port authorities and businesses can leverage these insights to enhance strategic decision-making, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen their competitive advantage in the circular economy landscape.