Assessing the Impact of Sustainable Business Models: Challenges, Key Issues and Future Research Opportunities

Abstract

In this chapter, the authors discuss the challenges and key issues of assessing the impact of sustainable business models (SBMs). Such an assessment is needed to explore coherency of economic, social and environmental (sustainability) performance of SBMs and to provide decision-makers with accurate and relevant information. Building on literature in the field of business models and sustainability assessment methods, four normative propositions were developed to clarify prerequisites for the assessment of SBMs. In addition, the authors present and discuss examples of sustainability methods that can be applied in the context of SBM assessment, as they are widely known and partly or fully consider the concept of sustainable development. Finally, the authors conclude with some remarks as well as an outlook on future research.