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Spreading Sustainability Innovation through the Co-Evolution of Sustainable Business Models and Partnerships

Author

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  • Silvia Cantele

    (Department of Business Administration, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy)

  • Sara Moggi

    (Department of Business Administration, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy)

  • Bettina Campedelli

    (Department of Business Administration, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy)

Abstract

Sustainability innovation is often not achievable by a single organisation; even if changes in business operations can lead to great advances towards a more sustainable business model (SBM), the effectiveness of these implementations largely depends on the combined actions of the organisation’s network of partners. The aim of this research is to analyse the way that SBMs and partnerships co-evolve to enhance the sustainability of the involved organisations and spread sustainability culture beyond the network. In doing so, this article presents a case study of the company Alisea as a business operating within a circular business model, along with its network of partnerships. The co-evolution of the business model and partnerships is led by enabling factors that characterise the underlying relationships. The role of cross-sector collaborations is demonstrated in terms of boosting the social and environmental dimensions of the circular business model, enhancing social and economic benefits within and outside the partnerships, and spreading sustainability culture in different sectors.

Suggested Citation

  • Silvia Cantele & Sara Moggi & Bettina Campedelli, 2020. "Spreading Sustainability Innovation through the Co-Evolution of Sustainable Business Models and Partnerships," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-19, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:3:p:1190-:d:317557
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Gabi Försterling & Ronald Orth & Benjamin Gellert, 2023. "Transition to a Circular Economy in Europe through New Business Models: Barriers, Drivers, and Policy Making," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-40, May.
    3. Kadia Georges Aka & François Labelle, 2021. "The Collaborative Process of Sustainable Innovations under the Lens of Actor–Network Theory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-32, September.
    4. Martha Orellano & Christine Lambey-Checchin & Khaled Medini & Gilles Neubert, 2021. "A Methodological Framework to Support the Sustainable Innovation Development Process : A Collaborative Approach," Post-Print hal-03341881, HAL.
    5. Martha Orellano & Christine Lambey-Checchin & Khaled Medini & Gilles Neubert, 2021. "A Methodological Framework to Support the Sustainable Innovation Development Process: A Collaborative Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-18, August.
    6. Davide Aloini & Riccardo Dulmin & Valeria Mininno & Alessandro Stefanini & Pierluigi Zerbino, 2020. "Driving the Transition to a Circular Economic Model: A Systematic Review on Drivers and Critical Success Factors in Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-14, December.
    7. Roberto Hernández-Chea & Akriti Jain & Nancy M. P. Bocken & Anjula Gurtoo, 2021. "The Business Model in Sustainability Transitions: A Conceptualization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-25, May.
    8. Martha Orellano & Christine Lambey-Checchin & Khaled Medini & Gilles Neubert, 2021. "A Methodological Framework to Support the Sustainable Innovation Development Process : A Collaborative Approach," Post-Print hal-03328101, HAL.
    9. Lu, Hui Ting & Li, Xue & Yuen, Kum Fai, 2023. "Digital transformation as an enabler of sustainability innovation and performance – Information processing and innovation ambidexterity perspectives," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    10. Caterina De Lucia & Pasquale Pazienza & Mark Bartlett, 2020. "Does Good ESG Lead to Better Financial Performances by Firms? Machine Learning and Logistic Regression Models of Public Enterprises in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-29, July.

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