Driving the Circular Economy in Saudi Arabia: A Comprehensive Model of Critical Success Factors and the Moderating Role of Knowledge and Enterprise Size in Achieving Vision 2030 Sustainability Goals

The UN 2030 Agenda includes respect for the environment and green issues as a matter of extreme significance. The Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Plan (NTP) of Saudi Arabia have essential objectives to help the nation achieve environmental sustainability, enabling the country to transition to a “circular economy (CE)” model to maximize sustainability and resource efficiency. In this context, this research establishes a more comprehensive model containing more pertinent factors than existing literature. This research verifies the moderating role of knowledge of circular economy and enterprise size in the relationship between five critical success factors and the adoption of circular economy in Saudi enterprises. A total of 91 enterprises based in Saudi Arabia participated in the survey. The findings showed sufficient evidence that organizational, economic, technological, environmental, and social factors significantly impact CE adoption. Policymakers can use the study results to guide the development of rules and policies that support CE practices. Moreover, educational institutions can incorporate the study’s findings into their curricula to train future professionals and entrepreneurs on the critical factors involved in CE adoption. Businesses can use the research to guide their strategic planning and make decisions about investments, partnerships, and sustainable practices.