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New sustainable business models in China

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  • F. Birkin
  • A. Cashman
  • S. C. L. Koh
  • Z. Liu

Abstract

This research explores the need to establish new sustainable business models in China and uses multiple objectives to examine in a sample of Chinese companies the reality of the level of sustainable development, environmental awareness and performance, community responsibility, performance barriers and drivers and other sustainability issues. A mixed methodology was adopted, using a questionnaire survey and interviews with 20 manufacturing companies in Guangzhou and Shenzen. Evidence from the small sample of companies demonstrates the lack of significant sustainable development practices in China, although small and medium sized companies appeared to show interest in this area and would like to further contribute to for example triple bottom line objectives. Increasing concerns are found from the company level regarding the need to use renewable energy, source alternative sustainable materials, close the loop of the supply chain, improve the quality of products produced rather than reducing cost, export to Europe and treat employees as an asset. The lack of skills, finance and knowledge are found to be prohibiting the effective embedment of sustainable development within companies and hence cause an under‐performance in this regard. The study concludes that the establishing of a new business model for sustainable development in China is needed urgently, and this should be a joint effort with the Chinese government. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Suggested Citation

  • F. Birkin & A. Cashman & S. C. L. Koh & Z. Liu, 2009. "New sustainable business models in China," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(1), pages 64-77, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:18:y:2009:i:1:p:64-77
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.568
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Li-Min Chuang, 2019. "A reconceptualization of manufacturers’ sustainable product-service business models: Triple bottom line perspective," Advances in Management and Applied Economics, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 9(1), pages 1-4.
    2. Chris A. Kelsall, 2020. "Ecological Management Accounting—Taking into Account Sustainability, Does Accounting Have Far to Travel?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-20, October.
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    4. Marzanna Katarzyna Witek-Hajduk & Piotr Zaborek, 2016. "Does Business Model Affect CSR Involvement? A Survey of Polish Manufacturing and Service Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-20, February.
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    7. Wing Chow & Yang Chen, 2012. "Corporate Sustainable Development: Testing a New Scale Based on the Mainland Chinese Context," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 105(4), pages 519-533, February.
    8. Maurizio Massaro & Francesca Dal Mas & Charbel Jose Chiappetta Jabbour & Carlo Bagnoli, 2020. "Crypto‐economy and new sustainable business models: Reflections and projections using a case study analysis," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(5), pages 2150-2160, September.
    9. Li-Min Chuang & Yu-Po Lee & Te-Hui Liu, 2022. "Towards Sustainable Business Model Innovation for the Pharmaceutical Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-23, September.
    10. Steve Evans & Doroteya Vladimirova & Maria Holgado & Kirsten Van Fossen & Miying Yang & Elisabete A. Silva & Claire Y. Barlow, 2017. "Business Model Innovation for Sustainability: Towards a Unified Perspective for Creation of Sustainable Business Models," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(5), pages 597-608, July.
    11. David L. Olson & Scott R. Swenseth, 2014. "Trade‐offs in Supply Chain System Risk Mitigation," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(4), pages 565-579, July.
    12. Cumali Kılıç & Gaye Atilla, 2024. "Industry 4.0 and sustainable business models: An intercontinental sample," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 3142-3166, May.
    13. Arash Najmaei & Zahra Sadeghinejad, 2023. "Green and sustainable business models: historical roots, growth trajectory, conceptual architecture and an agenda for future research—A bibliometric review of green and sustainable business models," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 128(2), pages 957-999, February.
    14. Jeremy Hall & Marcus Wagner, 2012. "Integrating Sustainability into Firms' Processes: Performance Effects and the Moderating Role of Business Models and Innovation," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(3), pages 183-196, March.
    15. Joern H. Block & Marcus Wagner, 2014. "The Effect of Family Ownership on Different Dimensions of Corporate Social Responsibility: Evidence from Large US Firms," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 23(7), pages 475-492, November.
    16. Maria Rosa De Giacomo & Raimund Bleischwitz, 2020. "Business models for environmental sustainability: Contemporary shortcomings and some perspectives," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 3352-3369, December.
    17. Nadia Preghenella & Cinzia Battistella, 2021. "Exploring business models for sustainability: A bibliographic investigation of the literature and future research directions," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(5), pages 2505-2522, July.
    18. José F. Molina‐Azorín & María D. López‐Gamero, 2016. "Mixed Methods Studies in Environmental Management Research: Prevalence, Purposes and Designs," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(2), pages 134-148, February.
    19. Caterina Cavicchi & Emidia Vagnoni, 2020. "Sustainable Business Models in Hybrids: A Conceptual Framework for Community Pharmacies’ Business Owners," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-18, October.
    20. Giacomo Fabietti & Francesca Trovarelli, 2016. "The role of Eco-control in the implementation of Sustainable Business Models," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2016(3), pages 141-172.
    21. S. J. Chang, 2016. "Sustainable Evolution for Global Business: A Synthetic Review of the Literature," Journal of Management and Sustainability, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 6(1), pages 1-23, March.

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