Sustainable Business Models of Companies

2021 ◽  
pp. 44-60
Author(s):  
Anna Spoz
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Business Model ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Synthetic Methods ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Economic Changes ◽  
Sustainable Business Models ◽  
Social Environmental ◽  
Depth Interviews

In a quest for sources of competitive advantage, an insightful tracking and tracing of the changes that take place in their micro and macro environment is a core competence for enterprises to catch up with market trends. Social and economic changes as well as the growing awareness of the negative anthropogenic impact on the climate and the environment increasingly make today's business models evolve towards sustainability. The aim of this chapter is to analyze the concept of a sustainable business model based on the literature review and then to distinguish the driving and limiting factors behind its implementation in enterprises. Based on an empirical study carried out, a diagnosis will be put forward for the awareness of enterprises as regards the business model pursued and the willingness to integrate social, environmental, and governance aspects. The research methods used in this study relied on critical literature review; descriptive, analytic, and synthetic methods; along with in-depth interviews.

scholarly journals Sustainability-Oriented Business Model Evaluation—A Literature Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 10908
Author(s):  
Anika Süß ◽  
Kristina Höse ◽  
Uwe Götze
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Business Model ◽  
Model Evaluation ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Model Development ◽  
Indicator System ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Sustainable Business Models

Since the need of sustainable development is indisputable, companies are forced to strive for resources, processes, and products that are sustainable. Thus, their business models as the main representation of their activities should be designed in an ecologically, economically, and socially beneficial way. However, designing and developing sustainable business models is closely linked to their evaluation. Sustainable business model evaluation as a vital part of business model development has been addressed in literature in the past with increasing frequency. As a consequence, the plethora of different approaches of sustainability-oriented business model evaluation calls for a systematic literature review. Thus, in this study, we reviewed existing articles on sustainability-oriented business model evaluation and identified four main categories of evaluation methods: single indicators (I), indicator system/framework (II), simulation-based evaluation (III), and multi criteria decision-making (IV). By analyzing and structuring the proposed approaches, their benefits and limitations are revealed, pointing out gaps and future research needs for successfully designing and evaluating business models today and in the future.

scholarly journals Development of Sustainable Business Models for Innovation in the Swedish Agri-sector: Resource-Effective Producer or Stewardship-Based Entrepreneur?

2020 ◽  
pp. 117-145
Author(s):  
Per-Ola Ulvenblad
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Organizational Transformation ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Economic Aspects ◽  
Relevant Factor ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Sustainable Innovation ◽  
Sustainable Business Models ◽  
Social Environmental

Abstract This chapter focuses on the development of sustainable business models for innovation in the Swedish agri-sector. This is important for several reasons. Many of society’s challenges are linked to social, environmental and economic aspects of agriculture, and numerous agri-companies have been reduced to subcontractors with little influence, and are struggling with low profitability. Previous research regarding agri-companies have mainly focused on production and cost-efficiency aspects. Research regarding sustainable innovation and sustainable business models in the agri-sector is limited to date. To fill in this gap, the aim of this chapter is to illustrate and analyse how Swedish agri-companies develop sustainable business models. An integrated theoretical framework combining research regarding sustainability-oriented innovation and sustainable business model archetypes has been developed in order to collect and analyse the eight agri-companies in the study. Swedish agri-companies focus not only on optimization but also on their organizational transformation and systems building when developing sustainable innovation. They have developed diversified business models. A common, important factor is to adopt stewardship roles. Further, the value intention of agri-entrepreneurs is a relevant factor when developing sustainable business models.

scholarly journals Sustainable Business Models of SMEs: Challenges in Yacht Tourism Sector

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 3437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cinzia Battistella ◽  
Maria Cagnina ◽  
Lucia Cicero ◽  
Nadia Preghenella
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Service Industry ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Sustainable Business Models ◽  
Sustainability Challenges

Despite the high number of active small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in all sectors, current studies have barely developed investigations on the sustainability of their business models so far. The aim of this study was thus to bridge the gap between sustainable business models of SMEs in the service industry, to uncover the challenges that SMEs face when seeking business model reconfiguration toward sustainability. More specifically, the empirical investigation adopted a case study research design in the context of yacht tourism, as one business form among many within the tourism industry and thus within the broader category of the service industry. Interviews were conducted with seven European SMEs, whose business models were analyzed through the lens of the triple bottom line and sustainability challenges in their business models. The results display a varied typology of case studies, where business model components reveal diverse expressions of facing sustainability challenges. The work discusses reported findings with a cross-case comparison among detected business models and outlines a list of propositions for sustainable business models of SMEs. The paper contributes in continuing the discourse on sustainable business models, adopting the perspective of the challenges for SMEs and offers food for thought for managers of SMEs in comparing their own business with the identified business model types.

Sustainable Business Model Innovation

2017 ◽  
pp. 140-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Job Taminiau ◽  
Joseph Nyangon ◽  
Ariella Shez Lewis ◽  
John Byrne
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Business Model ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Sustainable Energy ◽  
Business Model Innovation ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Mitigation And Adaptation ◽  
Sustainable Business Models ◽  
Development Goals

Establishing a sustainable energy future can justifiably be considered the next frontier in global sustainable development under the agenda laid out in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The newly adopted Paris Agreement which seeks to hold global average temperature increase to “well below 2°C” above pre-industrial levels inserts additional urgency into this agenda. To realize the commitments outlined in the agreement, implementation of innovative sustainable business models capable of producing strong mitigation and adaptation outcomes is required ‘on the ground' and needs to be available for subsequent diffusion across different countries, contexts and domains. This chapter explores the value of polycentric climate change governance through an investigation of sustainable business model innovation. An example of a sustainable business model, called the Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU), is evaluated and an assessment of United Nations-based programming to aid future diffusion of such business models is conducted.

scholarly journals Communicating Sustainable Business Models to Consumers: A Translation Theory Perspective

2020 ◽  
pp. 108602662095344
Author(s):  
Viktorija Viciunaite
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Business Model ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Translation Theory ◽  
Product Attributes ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Sustainable Business Models ◽  
Key Resources

Firms can embed sustainability efforts in business model elements such as key resources, key activities, or key partners. To capitalize on their sustainability efforts, firms must present these efforts in a way that is meaningful to consumers that is—translate them. This study explores how sustainability efforts are translated to consumers on webpages, newsletters, and social media profiles of Norwegian yarn firms. Data analysis revealed that firms’ sustainability communications could be related to underlying business model elements. At the same time, to consumers they were framed as product attributes or consequences to consumers, society, or the environment. This shows that firms conveyed business model information, but not in business model terms, which supports the idea of business model translation. The findings also indicated variation in how sustainability efforts were framed based on the firm’s sustainability focus.

scholarly journals Applying a Sustainable Business Model Lens to Mutual Value Creation With Base of the Pyramid Suppliers

2020 ◽  
pp. 000765032097345
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Dembek ◽  
Jodi York
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Base Of The Pyramid ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Value Capture ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Sustainable Business Models ◽  
Multi Stakeholder

Base of the pyramid (BoP) ventures seek to create “mutual value” for themselves and poor communities, but often use business models unadapted for the BoP context, and have been less successful than hoped. Sustainable business models’ (SBMs) multi-stakeholder lens offers a promising alternative path to mutual value, but BoP-based SBM studies are scarce. This single case study explores whether and how SBM characteristics manifest in the business model and value outcomes of Habi, a Manila footwear company successfully creating mutual value with BoP suppliers. We find SBM characteristics underpin Habi’s dual-structure business model (value chain/shop) and success in four ways: viewing profits as a tool for community development resulted in designing both product and business model around community strengths; understanding communities as systems helped Habi address the complexities of poverty; balancing short-term business needs with a long-term, slow-growth approach led to their choice of investors; and implementing community value capture mechanisms ensured enduring community benefit.

scholarly journals Business Model Innovation for Sustainability: Towards a Unified Perspective for Creation of Sustainable Business Models

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 597-608 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Evans ◽  
Doroteya Vladimirova ◽  
Maria Holgado ◽  
Kirsten Van Fossen ◽  
Miying Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Business Model Innovation ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Sustainable Business Models

scholarly journals Sustainable Business Model Based on Digital Twin Platform Network: The Inspiration from Haier’s Case Study in China

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 936 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Li ◽  
Jiarou Cao ◽  
Zhenggang Liu ◽  
Xinggang Luo
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Product Life Cycle ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Digital Twin ◽  
Home Appliance ◽  
Sustainable Business Models ◽  
Generic Strategies

Sustainability and digitalization have become the main direction of transformation of enterprises. Building a digital twin platform network can provide enterprises with a comprehensive view of products, manufacture, supply chain, customer experience, and profitability, which is conducive to the construction of a sustainable business model. The purpose of this paper is to study how enterprises use digital twin platform networks to generate economic, social and environmental benefits in various dimensions and their coupling relationships. Based on the literature review, this paper constructs a five-dimensional framework of a sustainable business model, and analyses the coupling relationship between dimensions. Using Haier as a way to verify the five-dimensional framework, it explores the dynamic mechanism of the Haier digital twin platform network, constructs an integrated framework based on coupling perspective and compares it with other two home appliance enterprises. The study shows that, through the digital twin platform network, enterprises can remove the disadvantage of focusing on a single product life cycle, and form a comprehensive network, so as to promote overall sustainable upgrades. This paper draws generic strategies and digital transformation suggestions for enterprises to innovate the sustainable business model. The conclusion enriches the research on sustainable business models both theoretically and practically and provides a feasible reference for the transformation of enterprises in digital economy environment.

scholarly journals Epilogue

2021 ◽  
pp. 187-194
Author(s):  
Jan Jonker ◽  
Niels Faber
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Value Creation ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Social Transition ◽  
Fundamental Change ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
New Normal ◽  
Sustainable Business Models ◽  
Over Time

AbstractWe live in a time of social transition. Everywhere in society, cracks are appearing. The only answer to these developments is to organize in radically different ways, saying goodbye to the present linear economy. That is what transition is all about. The search for new forms of value creation and the triple transition necessitates different business models. In turn this implies behavioural change, which may be the biggest challenge and greatest barrier to achieving a transition to a sustainable, circular, and inclusive economy. This book deliberately does not address the issue of change and transition. That would require yet another book. But to finish off we provide an overview of the obstacles and challenges of creating fundamental change. We say goodbye by providing you with the six elements of a successful business model. The key message of this last chapter is that mainstreaming sustainable business models is by no means a given, but over time will become the new normal.

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