Multidimensional value co-creation at the BoP: circular business model in urban recycling ecosystems

Abstract Community recycling organizations are pivotal in advancing the circular economy, yet their business models and multidimensional value creation remain little explored. This case study examines Pró-CREP, a Base of the Pyramid recycling association located in Palhoça, Santa Catarina, Brazil. This analysis, conducted through data collected in November 2023, using the Ecocanvas framework and data triangulation to map and measure co-created value. The model reveals a resilient system integrating financial sustainability, social innovation, and environmental valuation. Beyond traditional recycling, the study clarifies ‘diversified circular activities’ as a multifunctional set of operations including composting, soap production from used oil, ceramic reuse workshops, and de management of a sustainable thrift store and a repurpose goods shop. Pró-CREP processes 60–70 tons per month, engages 65 members, and provides an average income of 1.5 minimum wages. The study highlights Ecocanvas’s potential to quantify value in vulnerable contexts, connecting debates on circular economy, inclusive business models, and ecosystem service valuation. It proposes recognizing community organizations as providers of measurable value and offers a transferable framework to strengthen similar initiatives in urban waste ecosystems. Graphical abstract