Social Sustainability in Circular Bioeconomy Business Models: Insights From Argentina

Research on circular bioeconomy business models (CBEBM) has largely prioritised environmental and economic aspects, leaving out the social pillar. To address this gap, this paper analyses to what extent and in what ways social sustainability is integrated into CBEBM, based on 12 cases from northern Argentina, a region with high potential for circular bioeconomy, but also important social concerns. Our findings indicate a selective integration of social sustainability categories into CBEBM. Employment, labour law compliance, and certifications are widely present, while gender inclusion, participatory governance, and ancestral knowledge remain marginal. The degree of integration is shaped by organisational forms, institutional frameworks, and territorial embeddedness. Based on novel empirical evidence from a marginalised region, the study shows that social sustainability cannot be assumed as a by-product of circularity and proposes practical strategies for strengthening its role in CBEBM.