Open Business Model of Eco-Innovation for Sustainability Development

Dear Colleagues,

Not only businesses, but also society as a whole, require a broader and more systematic understanding of sustainability challenges and the ways in which they can play a role when solving such challenges. Profitable innovations appear to be the strongest players in sustainable models. They are becoming an essential element of innovative business models that lead to sustainability. A sustainable model represents the ability to maintain itself at a certain level and meets current needs without compromising future generations. Such models are based on expanding core assets and capabilities to solve significant environmental and social challenges in their local context. A sustainable business model is one that at least considers all stakeholders, assesses and addresses environmental impacts, and is transparent and thorough. Such a model creates new sources of value and a competitive advantage for a business in this way. A business model of innovation for sustainability development is a change in the way a company operates in order to create positive impacts or to reduce negative consequences for the environment and society. These business models do not focus on economic returns but emphasize the importance of incorporating the concept of sustainability into the company's business model. Incorporating innovations based on sustainable development into business models is a new challenge for companies. This challenge becomes greater as a company seeks to obtain a competitive advantage and simultaneously considers the social and environmental impacts associated with its productive activities, as well as the adoption of sustainable management that must exist in the composition of the entire production chain of activities. Therefore, the sustainability strategy must cover the whole spectrum, from suppliers to final consumers.

The full potential value of sustainable business innovation will only be achieved if the new business model incorporates metrics that examine people’s attitudes within the whole supply chain into the company’s networks and ecosystems to expand impacts and benefits.

This Special Issue of Sustainability, titled “Open Business Model of Eco-Innovation for Sustainability Development”, is intended to serve as a platform for sharing research findings and insights into this topic.

This Special Issue welcomes studies that consider the business models to environmental, social, and economic aspects of innovation supporting sustainable development. Within this framework, studies should focus on innovations to business models representing positive change aimed at significant or visible progress towards sustainable development by reducing environmental impacts or achieving a more efficient and responsible use of natural resources, as well as other related arguments.

We look forward to receiving your original research contributions.

Dr. Erika Loučanová
Dr. Zuzana Štofková
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• business model
• innovation
• sustainability
• stakeholders
• supply chain
• environment
• social environment or society
• economy