Circular Business Models: Innovation Journeys towards a Circular Economy

The need for more sustainable development demands that sustainability is integrated into the core of companies in new ways, and the development of new sustainable business models is a possible avenue to this. Circular business models are sustainable business models that align with a circular economy, where products, components and materials are kept at their highest function and value at all times to minimise the flow of resources through the economy.

This dissertation examines how companies can develop such circular business models. The research identifies different types of circular business models and outlines ways of initiating the business model innovation process, depending on the company setting. The research pinpoints barriers to the innovation process and suggests innovation strategies and tools that can help circumvent these barriers, and it investigates the link between experimenting with circular business model innovation and integrating the circular economy paradigm more broadly in a company.