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Business models for sustainable consumption in the circular economy : An expert study

Tunn, V. S.C. ; Bocken, N. M.P. LU ; van den Hende, E. A. and Schoormans, J. P.L. (2019) In Journal of Cleaner Production 212. p.324-333
Abstract

Combining sustainable consumption with the circular economy concept could help tackle challenges, such as resource scarcity and climate change by reducing resource throughput and increasing cycling of products and materials within the economic system, thereby reducing emissions and virgin material use. To achieve sustainable consumption in a circular economy production and consumption practices need to change. Business models can potentially influence both practices as it defines how a company conducts business and shapes the company-consumer relationship. This paper developed future business models for sustainable consumption through two rounds of semi-structured interviews with experts from academia, industry, and policy. During the... (More)

Combining sustainable consumption with the circular economy concept could help tackle challenges, such as resource scarcity and climate change by reducing resource throughput and increasing cycling of products and materials within the economic system, thereby reducing emissions and virgin material use. To achieve sustainable consumption in a circular economy production and consumption practices need to change. Business models can potentially influence both practices as it defines how a company conducts business and shapes the company-consumer relationship. This paper developed future business models for sustainable consumption through two rounds of semi-structured interviews with experts from academia, industry, and policy. During the first interview round, four business model elements that are important for sustainable consumption were identified: Resource strategy, Revenue model, Consumer effort, and Objective to (decrease/increase) consumption level. Based on these elements, we developed a comprehensive business model framework. Using this framework, experts envisioned future business models for sustainable consumption of clothing during the second interview round. The findings of this study suggest that the most promising business models for sustainable consumption are those that reduce overall consumption levels and consumer effort. Further, we found that a diverse range of business models in the market can potentially enable different customer segments to consume sustainably.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Business model, Circular economy, Clothing industry, Expert interview, Sufficiency, Sustainable consumption
in
Journal of Cleaner Production
volume
212
pages
10 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85059328727
ISSN
0959-6526
DOI
10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.11.290
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
de614dab-077b-42f1-8dbd-30b06446931b
date added to LUP
2019-01-10 14:53:42
date last changed
2022-04-25 20:07:04
@article{de614dab-077b-42f1-8dbd-30b06446931b,
  abstract     = {{<p>Combining sustainable consumption with the circular economy concept could help tackle challenges, such as resource scarcity and climate change by reducing resource throughput and increasing cycling of products and materials within the economic system, thereby reducing emissions and virgin material use. To achieve sustainable consumption in a circular economy production and consumption practices need to change. Business models can potentially influence both practices as it defines how a company conducts business and shapes the company-consumer relationship. This paper developed future business models for sustainable consumption through two rounds of semi-structured interviews with experts from academia, industry, and policy. During the first interview round, four business model elements that are important for sustainable consumption were identified: Resource strategy, Revenue model, Consumer effort, and Objective to (decrease/increase) consumption level. Based on these elements, we developed a comprehensive business model framework. Using this framework, experts envisioned future business models for sustainable consumption of clothing during the second interview round. The findings of this study suggest that the most promising business models for sustainable consumption are those that reduce overall consumption levels and consumer effort. Further, we found that a diverse range of business models in the market can potentially enable different customer segments to consume sustainably.</p>}},
  author       = {{Tunn, V. S.C. and Bocken, N. M.P. and van den Hende, E. A. and Schoormans, J. P.L.}},
  issn         = {{0959-6526}},
  keywords     = {{Business model; Circular economy; Clothing industry; Expert interview; Sufficiency; Sustainable consumption}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{324--333}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Cleaner Production}},
  title        = {{Business models for sustainable consumption in the circular economy : An expert study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.11.290}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.11.290}},
  volume       = {{212}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}