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The Circular Business Framework for Building, Developing and Steering Businesses in the Circular Economy

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  • Julian Lauten-Weiss

    (Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, Döppersberg 19, 42103 Wuppertal, Germany)

  • Stephan Ramesohl

    (Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, Döppersberg 19, 42103 Wuppertal, Germany)

Abstract

The need for a transition towards a circular economy (CE) is evident, as the current economic model is based on the exploitation of far more resources than the planet can replenish sustainably. A significant part of this economic transition is the inception of new, CE-oriented startups and business activities. While business model frameworks (BMF), such as the Business Model Canvas (BMC), were at the center of discussions about structuring business ideas in the beginning of the millennium, the conversation must now shift towards circular BMFs (CBMF). This paper follows the Design Research Methodology (DRM) for an empirical approach to devising a novel CBMF, including expert interviews as well as a first application of the framework with a startup. Throughout this process, a new and innovative tool called Circular Business Framework (CBF) was created and tested based on CE principles.

Suggested Citation

  • Julian Lauten-Weiss & Stephan Ramesohl, 2021. "The Circular Business Framework for Building, Developing and Steering Businesses in the Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-14, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:2:p:963-:d:482763
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Marina I. Baumer-Cardoso & Weslynne S. Ashton & Lucila M. S. Campos, 2023. "Measuring the Adoption of Circular Economy in Manufacturing Companies: the Proposal of the Overall Circularity Effectiveness (OCE) Index," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
    2. Roberta De Angelis, 2022. "Circular economy business models as resilient complex adaptive systems," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 2245-2255, July.
    3. Md Tasbirul Islam & Usha Iyer-Raniga, 2023. "Circular Business Model Value Dimension Canvas: Tool Redesign for Innovation and Validation through an Australian Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-47, July.
    4. Vinicius Minatogawa & Matheus Franco & Izabela Simon Rampasso & Maria Holgado & Diego Garrido & Hernan Pinto & Ruy Quadros, 2022. "Towards Systematic Sustainable Business Model Innovation: What Can We Learn from Business Model Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-35, March.
    5. Lukas Alexander Benz, 2022. "Critical Success Factors for Circular Business Model Innovation from the Perspective of the Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-18, May.
    6. Nathalia Suchek & João J. Ferreira & Paula O. Fernandes, 2022. "A review of entrepreneurship and circular economy research: State of the art and future directions," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 2256-2283, July.
    7. Juliana Kurek & Luciana Londero Brandli & Marcos Antonio Leite Frandoloso & Amanda Lange Salvia & Janaina Mazutti, 2023. "Sustainable Business Models Innovation and Design Thinking: A Bibliometric Analysis and Systematic Review of Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-22, January.

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