Business Models for Social Innovation of Municipal Solid Waste Recycling Companies: Comparison of Two Business Cases in Thailand and Taiwan

Xiujuan Chen, Chih-Tsung Tai, Linhai Wu, Fu-Sheng Tsai and Kotchaphorn Srimanus
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Xiujuan Chen: Institute for Food Safety Risk Management, School of Business, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
Chih-Tsung Tai: Department of Business Administration, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung 83347, Taiwan
Linhai Wu: Institute for Food Safety Risk Management, School of Business, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
Fu-Sheng Tsai: Department of Business Administration, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung 83347, Taiwan
Kotchaphorn Srimanus: Department of Business Administration, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung 83347, Taiwan

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 4, 1-13

Abstract: The significant increase of municipal solid wastes (e.g., food disposals, biomedical wastes, recyclable materials, etc.) is a very important environmental issue around the world. Waste recycling, reduction, and reuse are not only methods to solve environmental problems, but also directions for social innovation for business to create potential social value. This study investigates the business models of two waste recycling companies in Thailand and Taiwan. First, the basic micro and macro environmental factors were analyzed, including the period of firm’s business operations, location of the firm, space for separating and storing recyclable waste and various types of recyclable waste purchasing affecting the firms’ performance in these two economies. Second, different recyclable waste materials, volumes and price strategies between the case companies were compared. Third, this study also investigates the impacts of factors regarding resource characteristics, a firm’s capabilities and an entrepreneur’s abilities to improve a firm’s performance all compose a critical business model. The results showed that there were an increasing number of owners of waste recycling businesses developing and adapting to new business models. Detailed comparisons are reported and discussed in the article to shed light on managerial and policy implications.

Keywords: recycling; municipal solid wastes; business models; social innovation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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