Exploring the Effect of Circular Economy Practices on Supply Chain Sustainability in Africa: A Case of Tanzania

The study examines the relationship between circular economy practices and supply chain sustainability from the perspective of a country with high potential, like Tanzania. This article reviews the existing literature on circular economy (CE) in a systematic manner and provides a conceptual generalization underlining the distinct principles of reduce, reuse, recycle, attempting to align human activity with global resource scarcity and environmental degradation. Yet, in Tanzanian supply chains per se, scant research has examined the role of CE practices on this common goal. By employing quantitative as well as qualitative analyses in this mixed-methods study, the research explores stakeholders’ awareness and attitudes towards implementation of these circular economy initiatives. Surveys from different sectors obtained quantitative data which showed that 80% of respondents knew about circular economy practices and 65% of them indicated that their organization adopted them. Regression analysis revealed that awareness, perceived benefits, regulatory support, and organizational backing were significant determinants of successful implementation. Alongside these findings, a qualitative thematic analysis examined stakeholder perspectives, outlining themes deemed to be important, such as those relating to education, government regulation, cultural attitudes, community engagement, and enablers and barriers to circular economics. These insights show that although there is growing awareness and potential benefits associated with circularity, cultural threats and financial barriers continue to impede progress.