Transition of Manufacturing Companies towards Circular Economy: The Enabling Role of Digital Technologies for Product Life Cycle Extension

Extending the product life cycle is increasingly seen as a key strategy for manufacturing firms transitioning to a circular economy. This involves redesigning products through practices like design for remanufacturing and product-service systems, which also reshape the value proposition towards customers. Digital technologies have recently emerged as enablers of these circular economy practices, yet research in this area remains limited and largely qualitative. This paper addresses the gap of a more comprehensive view on the enabling role of digital technologies as for product life cycle extension by conducting an exploratory empirical study-using Correspondence Analysis-on 41 Italian manufacturing firms that have adopted circular economy practices supported by digital technologies. The findings reveal that while digital technologies generally support the adoption of circular economy, some are more effective than others in enabling specific practices. The study contributes to academic discourse by confirming the enabling role of digital technologies and highlighting their relative effectiveness in extending product life cycle. The study also offers practical insights for managers and policymakers aiming to foster the adoption of circular economy practices in the manufacturing sector.