JournalTOCs

Journal cover Sustainability Management Forum / NachhaltigkeitsManagementForum
Number of Followers: 0

Hybrid journal (It can contain Open Access articles)
ISSN (Print) 2522-5987 - ISSN (Online) 2522-5995
Published by Springer-Verlag

[2469 journals]

Social sustainability in an evolving circular fashion industry:
identifying and triangulating concepts across different publication groups
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  Abstract: Abstract Sustainability and the concept of circular economy are two of the most prominent approaches in the fashion industry to meet global challenges. Advocated by different interest groups, these concepts primarily follow an environmental and economic perspective on sustainability. In turn, the social dimension of sustainability has not been extensively explored. Performing a comparative discourse analysis, this study triangulates data from three different perspectives and unveils social sustainability-related aspects in documents related to two specific companies as well as in academic and stakeholder publications in the fashion context. We use LeximancerTM to reveal and visualize the scope and frequency of socially relevant concepts in more than 550 publications. Based on this, results show that the two fashion companies have gradually been communicating more about social sustainability-related aspects as opposed to academic and stakeholder publications. Overall, single social sustainability-related values exclusively appear in each of the publication groups, whereas others seem to reflect a mutual influence among the different players. Yet, pivotal social sustainability-related issues are missing. This corroborates scholars assuming a neglected role of the social dimension of sustainability in general and calling for a greater elaboration on social aspects in the conceptualization of a circular economy. Our results also call for a deeper follow-up analysis of communications, practices and strategies of different actors in their respective social contexts.
  PubDate: 2022-04-06
Way out of the one-way' Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the
generation of waste from packaging in Germany
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  PubDate: 2022-03-02
  DOI: 10.1007/s00550-022-00525-z
Cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment of beneficiated phosphate rock
production in Tunisia
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  Abstract: Abstract To improve the sustainable management of phosphorus, numerous LCA studies, using primary data, have been conducted for phosphorus recovery technologies from wastewater, but not for phosphate rock mining. This article addresses this issue by conducting a cradle to gate assessment of beneficiated phosphate rock production using primary data. This study aims to share an updated Life Cycle Inventory dataset of beneficiated phosphate rock production. The studied system is the open-pit mining operations and the wet beneficiation process located in the south of Tunisia. The functional unit is 1 kg of P2O5. Twelve environmental impact categories were assessed using the ReCiPe Midpoint method. The results of Life Cycle Inventory show that the average loss of phosphorus between mining operations, mechanical preparation, and the wet beneficiation is 0.3 kg of P2O5 per 1 kg P2O5. The losses occur mainly during the scrubbing and hydrocycloning. Compared to the production system in Florida, USA, according to the Ecoinvent database 3.4, the production of 1 kg P2O5 in Tunisia has higher Global Warming Potenzial, higher water depletion potential, higher PM10 emission, Photochemical oxidant formation, soil pollution potential, and human toxicity potential. In conclusion, primary data shows comparable results to the generic Life cycle Inventory of wet beneficiation phosphate rock in the Ecoinvent database. This study contributes to enlarge data about sedimentary phosphate rock extraction and beneficiation globally as currently only the USA and Morocco were reported in databases.
  PubDate: 2022-01-21
  DOI: 10.1007/s00550-021-00522-8
Mit Herz und Verstand: Rolle der internen Kommunikation für die
Etablierung neuer Nachhaltigkeitsstrategien
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  Abstract: Zusammenfassung Die Erwartungen vieler Stakeholder an unternehmerische Nachhaltigkeit und Verantwortung sind gestiegen. In der Folge begeben sich Unternehmen in einen Transformationsprozess und verankern Nachhaltigkeitsziele und -strategie in ihrer Unternehmensstrategie. Dies bringt in der Regel einen fundamentalen Veränderungsprozess für die Mitarbeitenden mit sich. Die neue Nachhaltigkeitsorientierung intern durch- und umzusetzen bedeutet u. a., dass die interne Veränderungskommunikation die Nachhaltigkeitsthematik aktiv zu vermitteln und den Veränderungsprozess kommunikativ zu begleiten hat. Ziel dieses Beitrags ist es, Grundlagen, Rahmenbedingungen und Erfolgsfaktoren der internen Veränderungskommunikation im Zusammenhang mit der Etablierung einer Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie im Unternehmen zu analysieren und deren kommunikative Implementierung und Institutionalisierung zu beleuchten. Im Rahmen einer qualitativen Studie wurden Leitfadengespräche mit Verantwortlichen für interne Nachhaltigkeitskommunikation in Großunternehmen geführt. Die Ergebnisse bestätigen, dass interne Kommunikation unter bestimmten Rahmenbedingungen Treiber für eine neue, nachhaltigkeitsorientiere Unternehmensstrategie und die damit einhergehenden Wandlungsprozesse sein kann. Es deuten sich aber auch Besonderheiten an, die – anders als in allgemeinen Veränderungsprozessen – bei der Etablierung von Nachhaltigkeitsstrategien qualitativ wichtiger zu sein scheinen. Um die neue Strategie kognitiv und affektiv in den Köpfen und Herzen der Mitarbeitenden zu verankern, bedarf es einer systematischen Veränderungskommunikation, die über Werte, Kultur und kommunikatives Sensegiving Nachhaltigkeit verankert. Dazu kommen spezifische Kommunikationsmodi, -formate und -medien zum Einsatz. Für die Forschung liefert der Beitrag explorative Hinweise an einer bislang kaum beleuchteten Nahtstelle von interner Veränderungs- und Nachhaltigkeitskommunikation. Für die Unternehmenspraxis identifiziert er Rahmenbedingungen und Herausforderungen und zeigt auf, wie Ziele, Aufgabe und Maßnahmen der Kommunikationsarbeit für die Etablierung neuer Nachhaltigkeitsstrategien umgesetzt werden können.
  PubDate: 2022-01-18
  DOI: 10.1007/s00550-021-00523-7
Sustainable artificial intelligence: A corporate culture perspective
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  Abstract: Abstract In recent years, various studies have highlighted the opportunities of artificial intelligence (AI) for our society. For example, AI solutions can help reduce pollution, waste, or carbon footprints. On the other hand, there are also risks associated with the use of AI, such as increasing inequality in society or high resource consumption for computing power. This paper explores the question how corporate culture influences the use of artificial intelligence in terms of sustainable development. This type of use includes a normative element and is referred to in the paper as sustainable artificial intelligence (SAI). Based on a bibliometric literature analysis, we identify features of a sustainability-oriented corporate culture. We offer six propositions examining the influence of specific manifestations on the handling of AI in the sense of SAI. Thus, if companies want to ensure that SAI is realized, corporate culture appears as an important indicator and influencing factor at the same time.
  PubDate: 2022-01-10
  DOI: 10.1007/s00550-021-00524-6
Impact of Flow Based Market Coupling on the European Electricity Markets
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  Abstract: Abstract Flow Based Market Coupling is the target model for determining exchange capacities in the internal European Electricity Market. It has been in operation in Central Western Europe since 2015 and is scheduled to be extended to the wider Core region in the near future. Exchange capacities have a significant impact on market prices, exchanges and the energy mix, thus also determining the CO \({}_{2}\) footprint of electricity generation in the system. Stakeholders therefore need to develop an understanding for the impact of Flow Based Market Coupling and the parameter choice, like the minimum exchange capacities introduced in 2020, on the market outcome. This article presents a framework to model Flow Based Market Coupling and analyse the impact of different levels of regulatory induced minimum trading capacities as well as the effect of the extension towards the Core region. Electricity prices, exchange positions and the number and nature of binding constraints in the market results under different market coupling scenarios are investigated. The results show that increased level of minimum trading capacities in CWE market coupling decrease the German net export position by up to 7 TW h or 23%, while French exports increase by up to 10 TW h or 9%. The different transfer capacity in the scenarios induce a price difference of up to 13%. Increased exchange capacities allow for more base load generation with the corresponding effects for the CO \({}_{2}\) emissions of the system. The nature of coupling constraints is highly dynamic and dependent on the system state, which makes the suitability of static NTC values in energy system scenarios questionable.
  PubDate: 2021-11-18
  DOI: 10.1007/s00550-021-00520-w
Klimaschutz, Ressourcenschonung und Circular Economy als Einheit denken
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  PubDate: 2021-11-16
  DOI: 10.1007/s00550-021-00521-9
Model-based analysis of the limits of recycling for its contribution to
climate change mitigation
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  Abstract: Abstract The concept of Circular Economy (CE) and its main strategy recycling are seen as one of the most important measures to achieve sustainable development. Meanwhile, however, concerns are being raised in the scientific community about the conceptualization and orientation of CE. One major issue is that CE is in danger of becoming an end in itself, with the goal of completely closed material cycles. Its contribution to sustainable development is gradually fading into the background. To contribute to this ongoing discussion, we focus in our article on the recycling of metals as part of CE and its contribution to climate protection, as one of the main aspects of sustainable development. Based on life cycle assessment and substance flow modelling carried out in our previous works, we show that metal recycling in most cases requires much less energy and therefore results in much lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than primary production. However, this is by no means without limitations. We show empirically that metal concentration is a significant factor that determines the energy required for recycling. If the metals are too diluted in the technosphere, as it is indeed the case for several metal applications, their recycling require much more energy than the alternative primary production, and thus intensifying rather than mitigating climate change.
  PubDate: 2021-11-05
  DOI: 10.1007/s00550-021-00515-7
Energetischer Aufwand der Bereitstellung von Primärkupfer für
Deutschland
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  Abstract: Zusammenfassung Die geologisch verfügbare Menge an Metallen wie Kupfer wird kontrovers diskutiert. Die Rohstoffpolitik sollte sich besser am eigentlich einschränkenden Faktor, der erforderlichen Energie zur Rohstoffbereitstellung, statt an dieser spekulativen Diskussion orientieren. Dazu ist ein Verständnis des energetischen Aufwands und seiner Einflussfaktoren unerlässlich. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird ein generisches Modell der Kupfergewinnung vorgestellt und der kumulierte Energieaufwand (KEA) sowie das Treibhausgaspotential (GWP) der Primärkupferbereitstellung für Deutschland ermittelt. Der mittels des Modells berechnete KEA beträgt 40 MJ/kg Cu, das GWP 3,3 kg CO2-Äq/kg Cu. Eine detaillierte Betrachtung zeigt, dass KEA und GWP des importierten Kupfers abhängig von der Bezugsquelle deutlich variieren. Die Bezugsquelle und die mit ihr einhergehenden geologischen und technischen Parameter stellen somit wichtige Einflussfaktoren hinsichtlich des energetischen Aufwands und der Emission von Treibhausgasen dar. Neben den Bezugsquellen spielt auch die Art des importierten Guts, d. h. Kupferkonzentrat oder Kupferkathode, eine Rolle. Der Transportaufwand ist beim Import von Kupferkonzentrat aufgrund dessen geringen Metallgehalts deutlich höher. Unter gleichen technischen Voraussetzungen ist es daher sinnvoll, dass die metallurgische Behandlung möglichst in der Nähe der Minen stattfindet. Dies gilt es jedoch im Einzelfall und unter Berücksichtigung weiterer z. B. rohstoffpolitischer Aspekte zu prüfen.
  PubDate: 2021-11-02
  DOI: 10.1007/s00550-021-00518-4
Treiber und Hemmnisse betrieblicher Effizienzmaßnahmen – Vernetzung
als Erfolgsfaktor
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  Abstract: Zusammenfassung Produzierende Unternehmen können durch betriebliche Effizienzmaßnahmen einerseits einen Beitrag zur Minderung des Klimawandels leisten und andererseits ökonomische Vorteile generieren. Hinsichtlich Energieeffizienz wurde bereits umfangreich bestätigt, dass verschiedene Hemmnisse die Umsetzung von Maßnahmen verhindern. Als Gegenstück wurden Treiber ausgemacht, die Energieeffizienzmaßnahmen begünstigen. Bezüglich Materialeffizienz sind solche Untersuchungen noch selten, dennoch kann auch hier von Treibern und Hemmnissen ausgegangen werden. Da Energie- und Materialeffizienz im betrieblichen Kontext nicht strikt getrennt werden können und sich oft bedingen, stellt sich die Frage, welche Unterschiede es zwischen beiden Bereichen hinsichtlich Treibern und Hemmnissen gibt und wie sich diese bei Ressourceneffizienzmaßnahmen, die beide Bereiche kombinieren, verhalten. Anhand von Erkenntnissen hierzu können geeignete Strategien entwickelt werden. Daher wurden erfolgreich umgesetzte Energieeffizienz- und Materialeffizienzmaßnahmen sowie Maßnahmen, die in beiden Bereichen zu Steigerungen führten, hinsichtlich ihrer Treiber und Hemmnisse untersucht und verglichen. Hierfür wurde eine qualitative Inhaltsanalyse von Fallbeispielbeschreibungen durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass sich die Hemmnisse der untersuchten Beispiele hinsichtlich der Effizienzbereiche nicht wesentlich unterscheiden, wohl aber die Treiber. So waren für alle Effizienzbereiche ökonomische Vorteile ausschlaggebend, Material- und Ressourceneffizienzmaßnahmen waren zudem stark von ökologischen Bestrebungen getrieben. Vernetzung innerhalb der Unternehmen und entlang der Wertschöpfungskette, die hauptsächlich in Studien zu Materialeffizienz als Treiber thematisiert wurde, erwies sich in den Beispielen für alle Effizienzbereiche als wichtiger Erfolgsfaktor.
  PubDate: 2021-10-26
  DOI: 10.1007/s00550-021-00512-w
Automatic energy demand and system simulation at district level
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  Abstract: Abstract The importance of climate protection and sustainability is steadily increasing all over the world. However, there is a large potential for reducing emissions in the heating demand reduction and renewable heat supply of buildings that needs to be addressed. Therefore, a method was developed within the scope of this work that allows local decision-makers such as energy supply companies, project developers and the public sector to calculate, evaluate and compare different scenarios to make buildings and city districts more sustainable based on few and widely available input data. It includes both the determination of the heat demand and measures for its reduction as well as the selection and simulation of centralised and decentralised supply systems. A combination of different methods from the fields of geoinformatics, heuristic decision-making and object-oriented modelling is used. The latter forms a focal point in the work with the development of a data model for energy system components to enable automatic simulation. The applicability as well as the transferability of the method is shown in several case studies. Based on the simulations results, which can be related to CO2 emissions as well as costs, recommendations for the implementation of measures can be given and implemented. The paper is a summary of the dissertation with the title “Automatische Simulation von Wärmebedarf und -versorgung auf Quartiersebene” by the first author at Karlsruhe Institute for Technology.
  PubDate: 2021-10-22
  DOI: 10.1007/s00550-021-00519-3
Eco-efficiency of system alternatives of the urban water-energy-waste
nexus
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  Abstract: Abstract Wastewater systems in developed cities contribute significantly to public health. The related systems are energy and resource intensive and do not recover nutrients in an efficient and effective way. Separating wastewater to greywater and blackwater at the source and exploiting organic municipal solid waste as an additional feed to an adjunct biogas plant could support efforts to make use of the potentials to reduce the environmental impacts, to increase the energy efficiency of winning nutrients, and to implement an additional, locally available energy source. However, the implementation of such systems is seen as expensive. The overarching aim of the paper is to analyze the eco-efficiency of transforming the current separately organized wastewater-energy-waste systems to an integrated one. The study differs between three system alternatives. The least invasive system change assumes a separation of wastewater at the source without a complete overhaul of the current system; the most elaborated one takes the current wastewater system fully out of operation. The reference for the current system is the existing system of a German medium-sized urban neighborhood. The analysis considers the eco-efficiency of two resource-related (fossil and metal depletion) and three emissions-related (climate change, photochemical oxidant formation and terrestrial acidification) impacts. Under the conditions of the settlement investigated, a transformation to the system alternatives will generate in all cases a weak eco-efficiency, i.e. the higher costs of implementing a new system counteracts with the noteworthy environmental improvement. Of the three options, the most elaborated one sees the best performance.
  PubDate: 2021-09-27
  DOI: 10.1007/s00550-021-00517-5
A holistic approach to model electricity loads in cities
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  Abstract: Abstract Time-resolved, occupancy-dependent electricity load profiles at building level for city quarters or entire cities are important for planning authorities, project developers, utilities or other stakeholders in order to develop energy saving strategies and meet climate targets. Firstly, this information enables a more accurate modelling of renewable energy systems. Secondly, aspects like sector coupling, storage decisions and the impact of technologies such as electric vehicles or heat pumps on the grid can be considered. Thirdly, it allows a more detailed economic analysis. This paper contains the newly added features to the simulation environment SimStadt, which is used for strategic modelling of sustainable urban or regional areas with a spatial resolution at the building level. SimStadt interlinks 3D CityGML models with parameters for buildings physics to simulate energy demands and renewable energy potential. It was enhanced by the development of an electricity load profile generator with variable resolution and the addition of an hourly resolved PV potential analysis including a variable economic analysis. This enables e.g. the evaluation of photovoltaic potential with the associated investment, operating and levelized costs over the lifetime of hundreds of individual buildings in parallel. Together with additional electric building demand from heat pumps, electric vehicles or load shifting options through the use of battery storage, it will be possible to assess and compare the feasibility, benefits and economic viability of energy/electricity-related urban renewal measures in even greater detail and with a holistic perspective. The simulation platform enables the development of granular sustainable urban (sub)strategies and energy concepts through a holistic, time-resolved, building-specific approach to support transformation of the building stock to a sustainable, low-carbon one.
  PubDate: 2021-09-21
  DOI: 10.1007/s00550-021-00516-6
The feasibility of energy autonomy for municipalities: local energy system
optimisation and upscaling with cluster and regression analyses
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  Abstract: Abstract The sheer number of alternative technologies and measures make the optimal planning of energy system transformations highly complex, requiring decision support from mathematical optimisation models. Due to the high computational expenses of these models, only individual case studies are usually examined. In this article, the approach from the author’s PhD thesis to transfer the optimisation results from individual case studies to many other energy systems is summarised. In the first step, a typology of the energy systems to be investigated was created. Based on this typology, representative energy systems were selected and analysed in an energy system optimisation model. In the third step, the results of the representative case studies were transferred to all other energy systems. This approach was applied to a case study for determining the minimum costs of energy system transformation for all 11,131 German municipalities from 2015 to 2035 in the completely energy autonomous case. While a technical potential to achieve energy autonomy is present in 56% of the German municipalities, energy autonomy shows only low economic potential under current energy-political conditions. However, energy system costs in the autonomous case can be greatly reduced by the installation and operation of base-load technologies like deep-geothermal plants combined with district heating networks. The developed approach can be applied to any type of energy system and should help decision makers, policy makers and researchers to estimate optimal results for a variety of energy systems using practical computational expenses.
  PubDate: 2021-08-31
  DOI: 10.1007/s00550-021-00514-8
A survey on the user acceptance of PV battery storage systems
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  Abstract: Abstract This study presents the results of an analysis of user acceptance of PV battery storage systems. A structural equation model is developed based on Davis’ technology acceptance model (TAM). It is expanded by integrating elements of Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior (TPB). The main factors influencing the acceptance of PV battery storage systems are evaluated and analyzed. Empirical findings indicate that survey participants’ acceptance of PV battery storage systems is mainly influenced by their behavioral beliefs, perceived knowledge about battery storage systems, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness of PV battery storage systems. The results indicate a high degree of acceptance for PV battery storage systems.
  PubDate: 2021-08-18
  DOI: 10.1007/s00550-021-00513-9
Upper and lower satisficing levels in efficiency analysis: a corporate
social responsibility perspective
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  Abstract: Abstract The analysis of efficiency and especially the analysis of so-called eco-efficiency have been broadly considered within the scope of Sustainable Development (SD) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Moreover, upper satisficing levels for output factors and lower satisficing levels for input factors have been already discussed within this context. In particular, upper satisficing levels for output factors can be viewed as relevant from a CSR perspective, since they can be used to remove the incentive to produce unnecessary high output quantities in order to receive better efficiency scores. However, lower satisficing levels for output factors and upper satisficing levels for input factors have not been addressed in the discussion so far. In this paper, a data transformation model to simultaneously consider lower and upper satisficing levels for output factors as well as for input factors is presented. The proposed model takes up the idea of linear representation of logical constraints. Subsequently, the benefits and perils of this approach are discussed from a CSR perspective. It is shown that changes in efficiency scores or even in efficiency rank positions due to considering satisficing levels can be indicators of behavior that is desirable from a CSR perspective.
  PubDate: 2021-06-10
  DOI: 10.1007/s00550-021-00511-x
“Corporate Digital Responsibility”
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  Abstract: Abstract Digitalization is leading to profound changes in our private and work lives. New technologies are pervasive and create opportunities for new business models and lifestyles. Recently, the term “Corporate Digital Responsibility” has been coined to summarize the emerging responsibilities of corporations relating to their digitalization-related impacts, risks, challenges, and opportunities. The paper at hand reviews the topic of CDR using a multi-step approach. First, results from an opinion poll of 509 US-based respondents are reported which illustrate the perceived opportunities and threats associated with the topic of digitalization, underlining the need for a strategic approach to CDR implementation. Second, existing uses and definitions of the CDR terminology are summarized and a definition of CDR is derived. Third, twenty important topics related to CDR are identified, summarized and categorized into three categories using the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) framework. Finally, results are discussed with regards to their theoretical and managerial contributions and a hands-on guide which companies can use to implement a suitable CDR strategy is presented.
  PubDate: 2021-03-01
  DOI: 10.1007/s00550-020-00509-x
Direkte und indirekte Umwelteffekte der Informations- und
Kommunikationstechnologie
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  Abstract: Zusammenfassung Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie (IKT) verursacht direkt, jedoch auch indirekt Umwelteffekte. Die direkten Effekte entstehen durch den Energie- und Ressourcenverbrauch entlang des Lebenszyklus von IKT-Hardware (Produktion, Betrieb und Entsorgung) und werden meist mit Lebenszyklusanalysen bestimmt. Indirekte Effekte sind Umweltauswirkungen, welche sich aus der Anwendung von IKT ergeben, beispielsweise durch veränderte Produktions- oder Konsummuster. Da IKT immer mehr Bereiche des Alltags durchdringt und durch verschiedenste Mechanismen sowohl positive wie auch negative Umweltauswirkungen herbeiführt, ist die Bestimmung indirekter Umweltauswirkungen konzeptuell herausfordernd. In diesem Artikel besprechen wir indirekte Umweltauswirkungen von IKT auf drei Ebenen: Auswirkungen einzelner Anwendungsfälle, Sektor-übergreifende Effekte und systemische Effekte. Wir zeigen, wie einzelne Telekommunikationsfirmen und Industrieverbände positive indirekte Auswirkungen von IKT postulieren und unterziehen diese Studien einer kritischen Betrachtung. Wir extrahieren daraufhin die inhärenten methodischen Schwierigkeiten derartiger Studien und zeigen anhand zweier Beispiele, wie IKT gleichzeitig sowohl positive als auch negative Umweltauswirkungen hervorrufen kann. Den Herausforderungen in deren Beurteilung bewusst, jedoch auch die prinzipiellen Wirkungsmechanismen indirekter Umweltauswirkungen von IKT verstehend, plädieren wir letztlich dafür, durch wirtschaftspolitische Maßnahmen Potenziale für den Umweltschutz durch IKT zu erschließen, auch wenn die genauen Effekte noch nicht in Zahlen erfasst werden können.
  PubDate: 2021-03-01
  DOI: 10.1007/s00550-020-00502-4
Chancen und Grenzen einer ‚3-D-Ökonomie‘:
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  Abstract: Zusammenfassung Digitale Technologien können eine regionale bzw. lokale Produktion durch uneingeschränkten Zugang zu Informationen und Märkten attraktiver und auch kostengünstiger machen. Zugleich ermöglichen digitale Technologien neue Kommunikationsweisen, die mehr Mitsprache, offenere Märkte und eine Begegnung von Marktteilnehmenden ‚auf Augenhöhe‘ ermöglichen. In diesem Beitrag leuchten wir die Chancen und Grenzen der Digitalisierung für eine Dezentralisierung und Demokratisierung der Ökonomie aus, veranschaulichen bestehende Potenziale anhand von zahlreichen Fallbeispielen und zeigen deren Beitrag zur ökologischen Nachhaltigkeit auf. Doch wir analysieren auch, dass diesen Potenzialen in der Realität eine historisch beispiellose Konzentration von Marktmacht in der Hand einiger weniger IT-Konzerne gegenübersteht. Nebst den Chancen zeigen wir in diesem Beitrag daher ebenfalls, aufgrund welcher Mechanismen die Digitalisierung der Ökonomie einer Dezentralisierung und Demokratisierung zuwiderlaufen kann. Abschließend stellen wir Perspektiven und Instrumente vor, wie eine ‚3-D-Ökonomie‘ – digital, demokratisch, dezentral – politisch unterstützt werden kann.
  PubDate: 2021-03-01
  DOI: 10.1007/s00550-021-00510-y
Entrepreneurial lean thinking for sustainable business modeling:
a workshop design for incumbent firms
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  Abstract: Abstract In times of increasing concerns and extensive political debates about social and environmental problems, incumbent firms are obliged to reduce their negative environmental impact by implementing sustainable business model innovation. Yet, realizing more sustainable business model variants entails several complexities and associated challenges that need to be overcome. To support this task, this article takes an entrepreneurship perspective on sustainable business model innovation and combines literature of business models and entrepreneurial lean thinking (ELT). In doing so, it derives a workshop design grounded in contemporary theory with state-of-the-art tools and methods. The workshop is framed as a stage-gate process facilitating the notions of ELT with iterative cycles of ‘create, test, and improve’ and spans the phases of opportunity identification, opportunity evaluation, opportunity development through sustainable business model design, and decision of opportunity exploitation. The article shows that ELT is an appropriate yet underutilized approach for sustainable business modeling. Further, it discusses how the workshop supports opportunities and mitigate pitfalls of ELT for sustainable business modeling. As such, the findings have theoretical implications for the intersection of sustainability and lean approaches in innovation research as well as implications for practitioners by providing a comprehensive framework to support sustainable business model innovation.
  PubDate: 2021-03-01
  DOI: 10.1007/s00550-020-00508-y