Keywords
ancestral knowledge
industrial symbiosis
SMEs
sustainability
How to Cite
Abstract
The study analyzed ancestral productive practices with a bioeconomic orientation in indigenous communities of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and proposed a preliminary diagnostic matrix to guide sustainability processes in small and medium-sized enterprises. The research was conducted under a descriptive and exploratory approach, with qualitative and quantitative components. Semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and a bioeconomic checklist were applied to 40 participants belonging to the Arhuaco, Wiwa, Kogui, and Kankuama communities. The results showed high levels of correspondence with bioeconomic principles in the communities evaluated: Arhuaco 80%, Kogui 70%, Wiwa 60%, and Kankuama 60%. The practices identified were mainly related to the responsible use of resources, waste management, community cooperation, low-impact production, and conservation of ecological balance. Based on these findings, a diagnostic matrix was structured that articulates ancestral knowledge, bioeconomy, circular economy, and archetypes of sustainable business models. It is concluded that traditional knowledge can provide useful criteria to guide business sustainability processes; however, the proposed tool requires subsequent validation in real SMEs before asserting impacts on productive efficiency, cost reduction, or environmental performance.
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