A stimulus-organism-response perspective on circular economy practices: a systematic literature review

Purpose This study aims to systematically analyze consumer responses in the context of the circular economy (CE) by identifying key influencing factors using the stimulus-organism-response (SOR) model. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted by analyzing 228 published articles retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) database, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Findings Findings indicate that stimuli influencing responses in CE can be classified into three main categories: marketing-related factors, micro-level factors and macro-level factors. Variables associated with the organism are psychological, personal and social, while the most frequently identified consumer responses include behavior, intention and willingness in the context of the CE. Originality/value This study provides a novel contribution by systematically applying the SOR model to understand consumer responses within the CE domain. While previous research has often examined either external influences or internal cognitive mechanisms in isolation, this study integrates both to provide a more holistic understanding of consumer responses in the CE context.