Resumo

The environmental crisis has pushed industries to adopt the circular economy (CE), a model that reduces waste and promotes resource regeneration. The aerospace sector, vital for innovation but resource-intensive, faces challenges in aligning with sustainability goals due to its high carbon emissions and waste. Circular ecosystems, involving collaboration among companies, governments, and universities, foster CE principles through resource sharing and innovation. This study compares circular ecosystems in Brazil and Canada’s aerospace sectors to understand their regional dynamics.

Despite growing interest in the CE, gaps remain in its application to complex sectors like aerospace. Little is known about how companies, governments, and universities collaborate to foster circularity. This study identifies key actors and objectives within such partnerships by comparing two circular ecosystems in Brazil and Canada. The key question this article seeks to answer is: “Which actors are involved in circular ecosystems in the aerospace sector, and what objectives do they pursue?” The analysis examines innovation priorities, alignment with CE principles, and environmental impacts.

The CE decouples economic growth from resource consumption by minimizing inputs, extending product life, and regenerating systems (Geissdoerfer et al., 2017; MacArthur et al., 2015). In aerospace, CE practices include redesigning components for recyclability, using reusable composites, remanufacturing parts, and adopting eco-friendly propulsion to reduce emissions. Circular ecosystems, collaborative networks of stakeholders, drive sustainable innovation through shared knowledge and resources, fostering partnerships to advance CE (Ferrari et al., 2023).

This study employs a qualitative, exploratory design, using document analysis to examine two programs aimed at enhancing sustainability in the aerospace sector, Ecosystem A from Brazil and Ecosystem B from Canada. The analysis focused on three dimensions: actors, collaborations, and circularity goals, enabling a comparative assessment of objectives, innovations, outcomes, and actors engagement. This approach highlights both the similarities and differences in how circular practices are structured and implemented across distinct national contexts.

The analysis of both ecosystems shows distinct strategies for circularity in aerospace. Canada adopted a long-term, R&D-driven model, with funding, major firms, SMEs, universities, and government co-developing technologies like hybrid propulsion and intelligent wings, yielding patents and jobs. Brazil’s short-term program focused on SMEs in the supply chain, offering diagnostics and training to implement ESG practices, boosting efficiency and waste reduction. Canada pursued innovation and competitiveness, while Brazil emphasized capacity building and practical implementation.

The comparative analysis of Ecosystems A (Brazil) and B (Canada) shows that CE strategies are context-dependent, shaped by national policies, industrial maturity, and regional priorities. Canada’s long-term R&D model drove innovation and global competitiveness, while Brazil’s approach built local capacity and operational efficiency. The study highlights that collaboration among diverse actors is essential for sustainability in high-tech sectors, offering insights for policymakers and industry leaders on designing effective CE programs and creating shared environmental and economic value.

Ferrari, A. G., Jugend, D., Armellini, F., Barbalho, S. C. M., & de Carvalho, M. M. (2023). Crossing actors’ boundaries towards circular ecosystems in the organic food sector: Facing the challenges in an emerging economy context. Journal of Cleaner Production, 407, 137093. Geissdoerfer, M., Savaget, P., Bocken, N. M., & Hultink, E. J. (2017). The Circular Economy–A new sustainability paradigm? Journal of Cleaner Production, 143, 757–768. MacArthur, E., Zumwinkel, K., & Stuchtey, M. R. (2015). Growth within: A circular economy vision for a competitive Europe. Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 100.