Sustainable business models in Brazil: Evidence and conceptual expansion focused on diversity and inclusion

Abstract

Purpose: This study examines the application of sustainable business model archetypes in Brazilian companies, focusing on how these organizations communicate their sustainability practices through sustainability reports. Originality/value: The article is original in proposing a new archetype for sustainable business models: “Promoting Diversity and Inclusion”. Design/methodology/approach: The research adopts a qualitative approach, with documentary analysis of reports from Brazilian companies listed in S&P Global’s Sustainability Yearbook 2024. MAXQDA software was used to code and analyze textual excerpts related to existing archetypes, allowing the identification of emerging patterns. Findings: The results reveal an emphasis on practices aimed at optimizing resources, reducing environmental impacts, and transitioning to a circular economy, while strategies based on access and functionality, rather than ownership, remain underexplored. Contribution/Implication: As the main theoretical contribution, we propose a new archetype, “Promoting Diversity and Inclusion,” based on empirical evidence of issues such as gender diversity, inclusion of people with disabilities, ethnic integration, and combating discrimination. This proposal extends the existing conceptual framework by incorporating critical social dimensions to facilitate the evolution of more integrated, sustainable business models.