From circular business models to circular business ecosystems
Authors
Kanda, Wisdom
Geissdoerfer, Martin
Hjelm, Olof
Publication Date
2021-09Journal Title
Business Strategy and the Environment
ISSN
0964-4733
Publisher
Wiley
Volume
30
Issue
6
Pages
2814-2829
Language
en
Type
Article
This Version
AO
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Metadata
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Kanda, W., Geissdoerfer, M., & Hjelm, O. (2021). From circular business models to circular business ecosystems. Business Strategy and the Environment, 30 (6), 2814-2829. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2895
Abstract
Abstract: The circular economy aims to minimize resource inputs and waste and emission outputs of the economy and its organizational subsystems. This can benefit both financial and sustainability performance of companies. To analyze industrial implementation of the concept, the prevalent unit of analysis on the firm level is currently the circular business model. Our investigation of nine Swedish biogas companies and one branch organization indicates a range of conceptual shortcomings that challenges this approach. Our comparative case analysis points towards circular ecosystems being a more appropriate concept to describe the high level of coordination between different stakeholders necessary to implement circular systems. This increases the suitability to analyze, plan, and communicate circular economy systems on an organizational level, especially if value chain integration is low. An ecosystem perspective can thus support innovation and entrepreneurship in the context of the circular economy.
Keywords
SPECIAL ISSUE ARTICLE, SPECIAL ISSUE ARTICLES, biogas, business ecosystems, business models, circular business models, circular economy, circular ecosystems, sustainability, unit of analysis
Sponsorship
Swedish Energy Agency (35624‐3)
Identifiers
bse2895
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2895
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/329659
Rights
Licence:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
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