An overview of sustainable business models for innovation in Swedish agri-food production

Abstract

Companies in the agri-food sector are under increasing pressure to adopt sustainable business models that consider not only economic but also both social and environmental aspects. This paper examines how Swedish food producers use sustainable business models to innovate their businesses. The empirical data comes from a telephone survey with 204 companies and from case studies of 4 companies. A conceptual framework regarding sustainabilityoriented innovation (SOI) and a eight sustainable business model archetypes are used to map and analyse the sustainability innovation practices and the sustainable business models. The results show a surprisingly sustainable business focus taken by many companies, which is not only on optimization, but also on organizational transformation and on systems building. The results show the companies vary as far as which archetypes they match. The most common archetype matches are 'Maximise material and energy efficiency' and 'Adopt a stewardship role'. Only 10% measure success solely in financial terms, while 80% measure success in financial terms as well as social and environmental terms. Another conclusion is that companies in the agri-food sector have unique characteristics and the value intention of the entrepreneurs is an important building block in sustainable business model innovation.

Sustainable innovation practices and the degree of innovation of business models in Brazilian industrial companies

“…The sustainable business model is a model that analyzes not only how organizations produce and deliver goods and services but also how they contribute to improving society from an environmental and social perspective (Ulvenblad et al, 2018). Thus, sustainable business models have a broad scope in their ambition to generate positive social impacts or eliminate negative ones (Velter et al, 2020).…”

Multidimensional Assessment of Eco-Innovation Implementation: Evidence from Spanish Agri-Food Sector

“…Other investigations highlight the importance of developing cooperation with stakeholders in the EI process [96,97]. Meanwhile, studies such us Drejeris and Miceikienè [98], Ulvenbland et al [99] and Barth et al [86] enhance the important value that a green organizational business model has in the transition towards sustainability. In this context, environmental attitudes, perceptions and intentions are included in the analysis of EI, and the staff environmental orientation is also a point of interest of investigations [86,98].…”

Development of Sustainable Business Models for Innovation in the Swedish Agri-sector: Resource-Effective Producer or Stewardship-Based Entrepreneur?

“…In this chapter, the framework developed by Adams et al (2016) focusing on sustainability-oriented innovations (SOI) is integrated with the framework containing eight different SBM archetypes developed by Bocken et al (2014) (see Table 5.5). The idea behind combining these two frameworks, which was developed by Ulvenblad et al (2019), is to categorize the business model innovations and study the organizational development (the sustainability-oriented innovation practices and processes) taken by agri-companies in Sweden. Barth et al (2017), based on a framework developed by Bocken et al (2014), Richardsson (2008), Osterwalder and Pigneur (2005) Eliminate "waste" by turning waste into useful and valuable input in other production activities, making better use of underutilized capacity 3.Substitute with renewables and natural processes Reduce the environmental impact and increase business resilience by addressing resource constraints associated with renewable resources and man-made artificial production systems 4.Deliver functionality, rather than ownership Provide services that satisfy the users' needs without having to own the physical products…”

“…Swedish consumers and citizens have a high level of confidence for the Swedish agricultural and food system". The majority of Swedish agri-companies regard social and environmental issues as part of their goals, besides economic revenue (Ulvenblad et al 2019).…”