Business models for sustainable consumption in the circular economy

Business models for sustainable consumption in the circular economy: An expert study

Tunn, V.S.C. (TU Delft Circular Product Design)
Bocken, N.M.P. (TU Delft Responsible Marketing and Consumer Behavior; Lund University; Lappeenranta University of Technology)
van den Hende, E.A. (TU Delft Responsible Marketing and Consumer Behavior)
Schoormans, J.P.L. (TU Delft Responsible Marketing and Consumer Behavior)

2019

Combining sustainable consumption with the circular economy concept could help tackle challenges, such as resource scarcity and climate change by reducing resource throughput and increasing cycling of products and materials within the economic system, thereby reducing emissions and virgin material use. To achieve sustainable consumption in a circular economy production and consumption practices need to change. Business models can potentially influence both practices as it defines how a company conducts business and shapes the company-consumer relationship. This paper developed future business models for sustainable consumption through two rounds of semi-structured interviews with experts from academia, industry, and policy. During the first interview round, four business model elements that are important for sustainable consumption were identified: Resource strategy, Revenue model, Consumer effort, and Objective to (decrease/increase) consumption level. Based on these elements, we developed a comprehensive business model framework. Using this framework, experts envisioned future business models for sustainable consumption of clothing during the second interview round. The findings of this study suggest that the most promising business models for sustainable consumption are those that reduce overall consumption levels and consumer effort. Further, we found that a diverse range of business models in the market can potentially enable different customer segments to consume sustainably.

Circular economy
Business model
Sustainable consumption
Sufficiency
Expert interview
Clothing industry

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:3786f01b-1352-4be5-afad-4746b19d986d

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.11.290

2020-12-11

0959-6526

Journal of Cleaner Production, 212, 324-333

Accepted author manuscript

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2019 V.S.C. Tunn, N.M.P. Bocken, E.A. van den Hende, J.P.L. Schoormans