Business Models for Sustainability: Sustainability at the core of business strategy and its implementation

Abstract

This thesis tests the novel concept of business models for sustainability (BMfS) for its practicability. The ever more present longing towards sustainable development is calling for all relevant actors, governments, people and businesses, to do their part. For businesses, a novel approach has recently been discussed in management literature: business models for sustainability (BMfS). As bridges between theory and practice are still few in number, Patagonia, a company that is widely recognized as highly sustainability-oriented, is analyzed to test whether the BMfS-concept applies and to identify how BMfS are implemented. The research finds that Patagonia is a valid example of a company that exhibits the fundamental qualities of BMfS and features multiple BMfS archetypes.