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Efforts toward Creating a Sustainable Business Model: An Empirical Investigation of Small-Scale Certified Forestry Firms in Taiwan

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  • Jun-Yen Lee

    (Department of BioBusiness Management, National Chiayi University, Chiayi City 600, Taiwan)

  • Ching-Hsing Chang

    (Department of BioBusiness Management, National Chiayi University, Chiayi City 600, Taiwan)

Abstract

Forest certification plays a notable role in promoting sustainability. This certification shows that forestland holders have adopted innovative practices toward realizing sustainable business models. Relatively little analysis has been devoted to identifying the efforts of transforming a conventional business model into a sustainable version through the application of forest certification. This paper examines the elements of a sustainable business model: value proposition, value creation and delivery, and value capture in certified forestland holders’ business operations. Empirical results have confirmed that certification signifies a successful sustainability transformation within adopting firms. However, these small organizations struggle with obtaining know-how regarding sustainable forest management. There needs to be adequate external support, such as government consultants or academic researchers, in order to successfully adopt third-party forest certification. However, while practicing sustainable forest management activities will not guarantee premium prices, the certification has, in some rare cases, helped to develop a new niche market. Good communication with stakeholders has improved firms’ relationships with local residents, but more channels of communication are still needed to activate green consumers.

Suggested Citation

  • Jun-Yen Lee & Ching-Hsing Chang, 2019. "Efforts toward Creating a Sustainable Business Model: An Empirical Investigation of Small-Scale Certified Forestry Firms in Taiwan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-20, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:9:p:2523-:d:227458
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Danilo Brozovic, 2020. "Business model based on strong sustainability: Insights from an empirical study," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 763-778, February.
    2. Lemes, Pedro G. & Zanuncio, José C. & Jacovine, Laércio A.G. & Wilcken, Carlos F. & Lawson, Simon A., 2021. "Forest Stewardship Council and Responsible Wood certification in the integrated pest management in Australian forest plantations," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    3. Bellink, Miriam & Verburg, René W., 2023. "A system lock-in blocks the uptake of mixed sustainable Eucalyptus plantations in Brazil," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    4. Roberto Hernández-Chea & Pratheeba Vimalnath & Nancy Bocken & Frank Tietze & Elisabeth Eppinger, 2020. "Integrating Intellectual Property and Sustainable Business Models: The SBM-IP Canvas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-30, October.

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