Circularity of critical raw materials – a case study of supply chains in the e-bike industry

This study aims to address the gap between recognized importance of critical raw materials and limited number of empirically grounded analyses by focusing on the e-bike supply chains, a sector less mature than electric vehicles but influenced by upcoming EU regulations. The paper examines how organizations within the e-bike supply chains align with CE practices concerning CRMs and the tensions they face. The findings reveal the nascent adoption of circular strategies in e-bike supply chains. The collection of batteries, organized under extended producer responsibility, emerges as a key strategy. However, the study also brings to light inherent tensions between circular strategies and among different actors.