Blockchain Technology and Sustainable Business Models: A Case Study of Devoleum

Abstract

The lack of transparency along global supply chains poses challenges in the areas of fraud, pollution, human rights abuses, and inefficiencies. In this context, the blockchain has the potential to offer an unprecedented level of transparency, with a shared and decentralized database in which immutable and encrypted copies of information are stored on every node of the network. Using a single case study methodology, this paper investigates how blockchain technology can improve and facilitate sustainable business models. The aim of this paper is to understand how blockchain technology can drive the development of sustainable business models. Recent studies show the importance of sustainability perspectives for business models. The study was conducted by applying the CAOS (“Characteristic, Ambience, Organization, Start-up”) model to a start-up operating in the agri-food sector, not yet institutionalized, called Devoleum. The results indicate that blockchain technology can increase sustainability through realizing the traceability, security, and non-manipulability of information, which are particularly useful in the agri-food sector. Furthermore, the absence of intermediaries in blockchain technology contributes to reducing transaction costs and the time required to consolidate relations between the company and the environment. The limitations of this study must be identified in that the company is operational but not yet incorporated.

The link between sustainable business models and Blockchain: A multiple case study approach

“…For instance, Dal Mas, Dicuonzo, et al (2020) confirmed how smart contracts in the insurance sector could enable the development of SBMs. Tiscini et al (2020) and Mercuri et al (2021), through exploratory studies, deepened the introduction of Blockchain in commercial contracts in the agrifood sector. Massaro et al (2020), through the analysis of a case study, demonstrated how Blockchain could foster long-term sustainability by promoting a widespread distribution of benefits to multiple stakeholders.…”

Ciphertext Database Audit Technology Under Searchable Encryption Algorithm and Blockchain Technology

“…Once the lower node changes, it will extend upward to the tree root. All nodes contain hash values (Mercuri et al, 2021;Sarkar and Singh, 2021).…”

Gender Diversity and Resilience in Firms During COVID-19 Pandemic

“…links between the company and the consultants or professionals) and economic (e.g. links characterised by commercial exchanges with customers, suppliers and lenders) (Mercuri et al, 2021). Informal relationships are those that indirectly help the entrepreneur without creating constraints or obligations, such as relationships with relatives, family, friends or colleagues .…”