From Circular to Regenerative: A Proposed Maturity Model for Plastic Recycling SMEs

Maturity models help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) plan their transition toward a circular economy, but existing models were developed mainly for manufacturing firms in industrialized countries and culminate in circularity rather than regeneration. This conceptual design study proposes a circular-regenerative maturity model for plastic recycling SMEs. Following a design science approach, the model was built through a criterion-based synthesis of literature, regulation and sectoral evidence and was evaluated ex ante by the authors only. It comprises five cumulative levels (linear-reactive, efficient, circular, sustainable integrated and regenerative) across five dimensions (ecological, economic, social, technological and cross-cutting), yielding 25 descriptors paired with verifiable evidence. The regenerative level requires verified positive contributions to third parties beyond the break-even point (a conceptual position, not a net impact balance), measured against a baseline and safeguarded by additionality and non-displacement criteria, and each level builds a precondition for it. A brief illustration with previously published results from 16 formalized SMEs in Bogotá, Colombia, shows that existing indicators cover 12 of the 25 cells and none at the regenerative level. The model has not yet been validated by independent experts or applied to firms; its propositions are offered for empirical testing.