Circular intellectual capital in practice: traceability, governance and hybrid competences in the WEEE sector

Purpose This study strengthens the theoretical consolidation of circular intellectual capital (CIC) by examining how circularity is made practicable, durable and legitimate through configurations of human, structural and relational capital in a highly regulated circular service ecosystem. Design/methodology/approach We adopt a qualitative, theory-building single-case design in the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) sector. Primary data include 12 semi-structured interviews with 10 senior informants (organisational actors and external experts/managers), complemented by triangulation. Data were analysed inductively through the Gioia methodology, moving from informant-centric concepts to researcher-centric themes and aggregate dimensions. Findings CIC emerges as an assurance-oriented infrastructure. Circular structural capital centres on a “chain of evidence” (traceability, authorisation coherence, standardisation and audits) that renders circularity verifiable and auditable. Circular human capital is characterised by hybrid technical, regulatory, and safety competences sustained through learning loops. Circular relational capital operates as ecosystem governance (partner qualification, shared standards, and collaborative problem-solving). A hybrid social–environmental mission and evidence-based accountability further stabilise CIC and mitigate risks of symbolic circularity. Originality/value Our study advances CIC beyond disclosure-centred accounts by theorising verification and accountability infrastructures as constitutive elements of credible circularity, with implications for the management and governance of regulated circular service ecosystems. Unlike green intellectual capital, which primarily extends intellectual capital through firm-level environmental orientation, the revised argument shows that CIC becomes analytically distinctive when circular outcomes depend on ecosystem-level verification, reverse-flow coordination, and accountability infrastructures.