Holistic Business Model Conceptualisation—Capturing Sustainability Contributions Illustrated by Nature-Based Solutions

Simon Stork (), Rolf Morgenstern, Bernd Pölling and Jan-Henning Feil
Additional contact information
Simon Stork: Department of Agriculture, South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences, 59494 Soest, Germany
Rolf Morgenstern: Department of Agriculture, South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences, 59494 Soest, Germany
Bernd Pölling: Department of Agriculture, South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences, 59494 Soest, Germany
Jan-Henning Feil: Department of Agriculture, South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences, 59494 Soest, Germany

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 19, 1-20

Abstract: Businesses are under pressure to increasingly consider sustainability as an integral part of the enterprise and business model. Nature-based solutions (NBS) definitions reflect that sustainability can be improved by implementing NBS. These NBS require tailored business models. Therefore, this study aims to conceptualize a holistic business model canvas capturing the sustainability contributions ofNBS. Methodically, the new Canvas is proposed based on an extensive literature review, and the application and testing are carried out on NBSs implemented in the proGIreg project’s three European Living Labs. As a result, by building on the Business Model Canvas (BMC) by Osterwalder and Pigneur as well as various modifications to capture the core concepts of sustainability and NBS, a new BMC for NBS is proposed—the nature-based sustainability Business Model Canvas (NB S BMC). It consists of 14 building blocks and offers a holistic overview of NBS business models considering the multi-faceted character of NBS. The case studies show that the NB S BMC can be applied to different contexts independently of their location and content orientation. Although this study development puts an emphasis on NBS, it can also be applied to capturing sustainable business models beyond the NBS domain.

Keywords: business model innovation; business model canvas; sustainability; performance; nature-based solutions; green entrepreneurship (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/19/14091/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/19/14091/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:19:p:14091-:d:1245905

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().