A Thematic Analysis of Sustainable Business Model (SBM) Literature

Abstract

Sustainable business models (SBMs) represent a crucial area of research at the intersection of sustainability and business strategy. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis to map the intellectual structure and evolution of SBM research, utilizing data from the SCOPUS database and the R-based Bibliometrix package through its Biblioshiny interface. The analysis examines 1,878 documents from 958 sources spanning 2002 to 2024, highlighting publication trends, influential works, and thematic networks. Findings indicate exponential growth in SBM research over the past decade, with a concentration in high-impact journals and international authorship. Seminal works by Stubbs et al. [1] and Bocken et al. [2] established the groundwork for the triple bottom line and stakeholder value. Co-occurrence analysis of keywords reveals key thematic clusters—including sustainable business model innovation, circular economy strategies, corporate sustainability, and emerging topics like digitalization [3, 4]. The paper addresses foundational knowledge, temporal evolution, thematic structure, and future directions in SBM research. These insights aim to guide researchers and practitioners while inspiring the next generation of sustainable business model innovations.