This study explores how firms and civil society organizations (CSOs) engage in inter-organizational learning to achieve the transition towards the Circular Economy (CE). Based on qualitative data from the fashion industry, this study develops an empirically grounded model of inter-organizational learning for the CE, which captures three practices of inter-organizational learning that firms and CSOs develop to realize the CE transition: 1) creating a safe learning space, 2) visualizing CE processes and outcomes and, 3) involving additional expertise. Our model also shows two collaborative pathways resulting from learning that enable actors to transition to the CE. In doing so, this study advances our understanding of inter-organizational learning by carving out learning practices specific for highly complex environments such as the CE. In addition, we advance our understanding of collaboration in the context of the CE by unfolding the dynamics of horizontal CE collaborations.
