The circular economy through a feminist lens: a mixed-method study of women-led green enterprises in Eastern India

Purpose This paper reconceptualises circular rural economies as gendered institutional transformations rather than purely technical systems. It examines how women-led green enterprises under Odisha’s Mission Shakti programme foster circularity while reshaping authority relations within households, communities and markets. This study aims to introduce “ecological authority” to capture women’s control over natural resources, recognition of ecological knowledge and participation in environmental governance – dimensions overlooked in mainstream empowerment frameworks. Design/methodology/approach This mixed-method, predominantly qualitative study was conducted across five districts of Odisha. Data collection comprised household surveys with 450 women, 30 life-history interviews, 20 focus group discussions, 20 enterprise case studies, 10 participatory rural appraisal exercises and 100 key informant interviews. Qualitative data underwent thematic analysis using NVivo 14, while survey data were analysed descriptively, with integration achieved through a joint display matrix. Findings Women-led enterprises sustain circular practices through seed-saving networks, organic nutrient cycling, waste valorisation and craft continuity embedded in social relations rather than industrial infrastructure. Collective action through self-help group federations is associated with institutional restructuring, including enhanced household decision-making (73% of enterprise women report joint livelihood decisions vs 28% of non-enterprise members; actual cell counts: 219/300 enterprise women vs 42/150 non-enterprise women, ?² = 83.1, p < 0.001), legitimised women’s knowledge, market renegotiation and expanded governance participation. Scaling remains constrained by limited financing, weak market linkages and uneven interdepartmental convergence. Originality/value This paper advances three contributions: operationalising institutional circularity via five dimensions; introducing ecological authority as a distinct construct; and foregrounding Global South pathways challenging Northern industrial models.