Working Definitions of “Sustainable Business Model” & “Business Model for Sustainability”

by Florian Lüdeke-Freund

Research on “sustainable business models” (SBM) and “business models for sustainability” (BMfS) is gaining momentum and shows first traits of a field in its own right (Lüdeke-Freund & Dembek, 2017). An important questions in this area is:

How to define a “sustainable business model” or “business model for sustainability”?*

Such a definition would be an important ingredient for further conceptual and theoretical work.

Below you find a list of definitions that emerged and evolved in our research over the last ten years. They take different theoretical starting points (such as re-defining customer value or connecting to the business case for sustainability) and emphasise different business model functions (such as creating competitive advantage or supporting different kinds of innovation).

This list is neither complete nor does it provide final or ultimate definitions. It should rather be seen as a collection of snapshots of an ongoing research process and an impulse for your own work in this field.

Our latest thinking on this issue has been presented in this posting.

(*A question directly related is: What is the difference between an SBM and a BMfS? Is this all just words, or does it point to some profound differences?)

6. Definition (2016) – BMfS to offer a sustainable value proposition and maintain or regenerate natural, social, and economic capital

“A business model for sustainability helps describing, analyzing, managing, and communicating (i) a company’s sustainable value proposition to its customers, and all other stakeholders, (ii) how it creates and delivers this value, (iii) and how it captures economic value while maintaining or regenerating natural, social, and economic capital beyond its organizational boundaries.”

Comment

Main purpose defined as maintaining or regenerating natural, social, and economic capital through offering a sustainable value proposition to cutomers and further stakeholders
Inspired by classic business model theory, stakeholder theory (Freeman, 1984), and a focus on critical capitals as in ecological economics (cf. Ehrenfeld & Hoffman, 2013)
Puts particular emphasis on major business model functions, which are decribing, analyzing, managing, and communicating (cf. Osterwalder et al., 2005)

Source

Schaltegger, S.; Hansen, E. & Lüdeke-Freund, F. (2016): Business Models for Sustainability: Origins, Present Research, and Future Avenues (Editorial), Organization & Environment, Vol. 29, No. 1, 3-10.
DOI | ResearchGate

5. Definition (2014) – SBM to create positive value for all stakeholders

“[A] sustainable business model can be defined as a business model that creates, delivers, and captures value for all its stakeholders without depleting the natural, economic, and social capital it relies on.”

Comment

Main purpose defined as “creating, delivering, and capturing value for all business model stakeholders while acknowleding natural and social/societal limitations”, i.e. co-create societal and business value through considering any effect on any possible stakeholder, while the involved (external) systems’ limitations are considered
Inspired by stakeholder theory and a focus on critical capitals as in ecological economics (cf. Ehrenfeld & Hoffman, 2013)
Tries to connect the value creation function of business models with the idea of (strongly) sustainable capitals management (cf. Upward & Jones, 2016)

Source

Breuer, H. & Lüdeke-Freund, F. (2014): Normative Innovation for Sustainable Business Models in Value Networks, in: Huizingh, K.; Conn, S.; Torkkeli, M. & Bitran, I. (Eds.): The Proceedings of XXV ISPIM Conference – Innovation for Sustainable Economy and Society, 8-11 June 2014, Dublin, Ireland.
ResearchGate | SlideShare

4. Definition (2013) – SBM for technological, organisational, and social innovation

“… sustainable business models with a focus on technological innovation are market devices that overcome internal and external barriers of marketing clean technologies; of significance is the business model’s ability to create a fit between technology characteristics and (new) commercialization approaches that both can succeed on given and new markets.

Business model change on the organizational level is about the implementation of alternative paradigms other than the neoclassical economic worldview that shape the culture, structure and routines of organizations and thus change the way of doing business towards sustainable development; a sustainable business model is the aggregate of these diverse organizational aspects.

… sustainable business models enable social entrepreneurs to create social value and maximize social profit; of significance is the business models’ ability to act as market device that helps in creating and further developing markets for innovations with a social purpose.”

Comment

Main purpose defined as supporting different kinds of sustainability innovation (technological, organisational, and social); differentiating these innovation functions allows for a more encompassing view on sustainable business models
Theoretically inspired, inter alia, by Doganova and Eyquem-Renault’s (2009) definition of what business models do, and Chesbrough and Rosenbloom’s (2002) definition of the business model as a mediating, value-creating device
Tries to create a bridge between the mainstream business model discourse and the field of sustainability innovation research; proposes general topics for a possible research agenda

Source

Boons, F. & Lüdeke-Freund, F. (2013): Business Models for Sustainable Innovation: State-of-the-Art and Steps towards a Research Agenda, Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 45, pp. 9-19.
DOI | ResearchGate

3. Definition (2012) – BMfS to create business cases for sustainability

“Based on the understanding of a business case for sustainability, a business model for sustainability can be defined as supporting voluntary, or mainly voluntary, activities which solve or moderate social and/or environmental problems. By doing so, it creates positive business effects which can be measured or at least argued for. A business model for sustainability is actively managed in order to create customer and social value by integrating social, environmental, and business activities.”

Comment

Main purpose defined as “supporting activities which solve or moderate social and/or environmental problems”, i.e. co-create societal and business value through the support of (mainly) voluntary, measurable, and deliberate entrepreneurial activities aiming for business cases for sustainability
Based on the business case for sustainability concept (BCfS) (Schaltegger & Wagner, 2006, 2011)
Tries to make a theory-based and direct connection between the BCfS, corporate sustainability strategies, and business model innovation

Source

Schaltegger, S.; Lüdeke-Freund, F. & Hansen, E. (2012): Business Cases for Sustainability: The Role of Business Model Innovation for Corporate Sustainability, Int. Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 95-119.
DOI | ResearchGate

2. Definition (2010) – SBM to create extended customer value

“A business model that creates competitive advantage through superior customer value and contributes to a sustainable development of the company and society can be interpreted as a sustainable business model … Since customer value is the strategic nexus of any business model, sustainable business models are crucial for creating extended customer value for individual customers and society, i.e. private and public benefits.”

Comment

Main purpose defined as “creating extended customer value”, i.e. co-creating societal and business value through an extended approach to customer value – for the focal firm itself, for its customers in a narrow sense, and for society at large (incl. stakeholders who are non-customers)
Based on conceptions of customer value and public customer value (Meynhardt, 2009; Meynhardt & Stock, 2009)
Tries to broaden the common value creation function of business models

Source

Lüdeke-Freund, F. (2010): Towards a Conceptual Framework of Business Models for Sustainability, in: Wever, R.; Quist, J.; Tukker, A.; Woudstra, J.; Boons, F. & Beute, N. (Eds.): Knowledge Collaboration and Learning for Sustainable Innovation, ERSCP-EMSU Conference, 25-29 October 2010, Delft, The Netherlands. Delft: Delft University of Technology.
ResearchGate

1. Definition (2009) – BMfS to overcome the public/private benefit discrepancy

“A business model for sustainability is the activity system of a firm which allocates resources and coordinates activities in a value creation process which overcomes the public/private benefit discrepancy. That is, a business model for sustainability is the structural template of a business logic which creates the business case for sustainability. This can be achieved by

extending value propositions to integrate public and private benefits (product/value proposition pillar),
making customers involved and responsible partners in value creation processes (customer interface pillar),
taking advantage of partnerships which enhance resources and activities (infrastructure pillar),
evaluating combined measures like Environmental Shareholder Value and Environ-mental/Social Business Model Value (financial aspects pillar), and
dedicating resources and activities to secure free, legitimate and legal behaviour and to explore currently neglected opportunities in non-market spheres (non-market pillar).”

Comment

Main purpose defined as “overcoming the public/private benefit discrepancy”, i.e. co-creating societal and business value through business cases for sustainability
Based on Osterwalder’s (2004) earlier BMO approach
Tries to extend the basic four-pillar-concept by adding a fifth “non-market” pillar according to the Sustainability Balanced Scorecard concept (Schaltegger & Dyllick, 2002)
Merges Amit and Zott’s (2010) activity system with Osterwalder’s structural template view

Source

Lüdeke-Freund, F. (2009): Business Model Concepts in Corporate Sustainability Contexts: From Rhetoric to a Generic Template for “Business Models for Sustainability”. Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management.
ResearchGate

References

Chesbrough, H. & Rosenbloom, R. (2002): The role of the business model in capturing value from innovation: evidence from Xerox Corporation’s technology spin-off companies, Industrial & Corporate Change, Vol. 11, No. 3, 529–555.

Doganova, L. & Eyquem-Renault, M. (2009): What do business models do? Innovation devices in technology entrepreneurship, Research Policy, Vol. 38, No. 10, 1559–1570.

Ehrenfeld, J. & Hoffman, A. (2013): Flourishing: A Frank Conversation About Sustainability. Sheffield: Greenleaf Publishing.

Osterwalder, A. (2004): The business model ontology: A proposition in a design science approach. PhD Thesis. Lausanne: Universite de Lausanne.

Osterwalder, A., Pigneur, Y., Tucci, C.L., 2005. Clarifying Business Models: Origins, Present and Future of the Concept. Communications of the Association for Information Systems 16, Article 1.

Meynhardt, T. (2009). Public value inside: what is public value creation? International Journal of Public Administration, 32(3/4), 192–219.

Meynhardt, T. & Stock, R. (2009). Customer Value und Public Value. Der Kundennutzen im Bauch der Gesellschaft [Customer value for the society]. Marketing Review St. Gallen, (01-2009), 53–57.

Schaltegger, S. & Dyllick, T. (Eds.) (2002): Nachhaltig managen mit der Balanced Scorecard. Konzept und Fallstudien. Wiesbaden: Gabler.

Zott, C. & Amit, R. (2010): Business model design: an activity system perspective, Long Range Planning, Vol. 43, No. 2/3, 216–226.

Schaltegger, S. & Wagner, M. (2006): Managing and measuring the business case for sustainability. Capturing the relationship between sustainability performance, business competitiveness and economic performance, in: Schaltegger, S. & Wagner, M. (Eds.): Managing the business case for sustainability. Sheffield: Greenleaf Publishing, 1–27.

Schaltegger, S. & Wagner, M. (2011): Sustainable entrepreneurship and sustainability innovation: categories and interactions, Business Strategy and the Environment, Vol. 20, No. 4, 222–237.

Upward, A. (2013): Towards an Ontology and Canvas for Strongly Sustainable Business Models: A Systemic Design Science Exploration. Masters of Environmental Studies / Graduate Diploma in Business + Environment. Toronto: York University.

Upward, A. & Jones, P. (2016): An Ontology for Strongly Sustainable Business Models: Defining an Enterprise Framework Compatible With Natural and Social Science, Organization & Environment, Vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 97-123.