The Sustainable Business Model Database: 92 Patterns That Enable Sustainability in Business Model Innovation

Abstract

Humanity’s consumption of resources is many times greater than nature’s capacity for regeneration. Companies need to innovate their own business models to incorporate sustainability in all dimensions, as they are the main producers of greenhouse gases and environmental damage. However, obstacles such as dominant logics hinder the necessary processes. One way of overcoming these problems is to use sustainable business model patterns as an exemplary description of the business activities of existing and successful companies. The aim of this publication is to provide a holistic collection of relevant business model patterns for sustainability. The basis for this is the rich body of research in this area, which is, however, hampered by small-scale representations, overlaps, and problems of understanding. This will be addressed by conducting a comprehensive literature review, standardising, clustering, and eliminating duplication. The resulting database will enable sustainable business model innovation.