The outlook of current sustainable business models for single-use nonwovens
Rouhento, Viivi (2023)
2023
All rights reserved. This publication is copyrighted. You may download, display and print it for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohibited.
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202303203855
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202303203855
Tiivistelmä
Resource scarcity, biodiversity loss and climate change are disruptors of today and impose great risks to businesses. Regulation and stakeholder demands are driving sustainable transformation, but businesses need to take sustainability into their core, not only to mitigate the risks these disruptors pose, but also to find competitive advantage and business opportunities from sustainability.
This study aimed to bring clarity to the concept of sustainable business model and give an outlook to the current sustainable business models in use by the nonwoven industry. The scope of the study was narrowed to single-use nonwoven products, moreover to diapers and wipes. Firstly, a literature review was performed, then a company website search was performed to draw an outlook of the current sustainable practices and business models in use within the value chains of the studied nonwoven products. The findings from the literature and company review were used as a basis for semi-structured interviews to get more insights and validation. A questionnaire was also sent out to nonwoven industry representatives to understand better different drivers and barriers guiding the sustainable transformation within the nonwoven industry.
It was concluded that sustainable business model creates value not only from the economic point of view, but also to the environment and society, without the expense of each category. As a result, currently most sustainable business models in use by the industry within the scope are related to raw material choices, features, product safety and sustainable production practices. However, businesses need to consider their businesses’ sustainability throughout the life cycle of their product to call their business model sustainable.
This study aimed to bring clarity to the concept of sustainable business model and give an outlook to the current sustainable business models in use by the nonwoven industry. The scope of the study was narrowed to single-use nonwoven products, moreover to diapers and wipes. Firstly, a literature review was performed, then a company website search was performed to draw an outlook of the current sustainable practices and business models in use within the value chains of the studied nonwoven products. The findings from the literature and company review were used as a basis for semi-structured interviews to get more insights and validation. A questionnaire was also sent out to nonwoven industry representatives to understand better different drivers and barriers guiding the sustainable transformation within the nonwoven industry.
It was concluded that sustainable business model creates value not only from the economic point of view, but also to the environment and society, without the expense of each category. As a result, currently most sustainable business models in use by the industry within the scope are related to raw material choices, features, product safety and sustainable production practices. However, businesses need to consider their businesses’ sustainability throughout the life cycle of their product to call their business model sustainable.