IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/elcore/v23y2023i2d10.1007_s10660-021-09509-5.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Exploring the development of environmentally sustainable products through reward-based crowdfunding

Author

Listed:
  • Filippo Corsini

    (Istituto di Management (Institute of Management))

  • Marco Frey

    (Istituto di Management (Institute of Management))

Abstract

Literature on crowdfunding is rapidly expanding by exploring typologies of crowdfunding projects, success factors of the projects, and how success factors might change depending on the project typologies. Firstly, based on the literature that suggests crowdfunding platforms provide a good alternative for financing innovative ideas, the present exploratory research aims to analyze how the crowdfunding instrument has been used in supporting the development of sustainable products. Secondly, based on researches that focus on success factors of crowdfunding campaigns, the present work aims to explore the success determinants of projects developing sustainable products. The results of the investigation show that the impact of crowdfunding in supporting the development and commercialization of sustainable products is quite marginal and only a few successful projects showed a high impact potential to contribute to the pathway to more sustainability by directing influencing incumbents. Moreover, through an in-depth examination of the campaigns aimed at developing sustainable products, we found that adopting just a generic keyword (i.e. sustainable, ecologic) to describe a sustainable product might weaken the success probability of the campaign. In light of the results achieved, the paper formulates some managerial suggestions illustrating how crowdfunding platforms could stimulate the collection of more environmentally friendly projects.

Suggested Citation

  • Filippo Corsini & Marco Frey, 2023. "Exploring the development of environmentally sustainable products through reward-based crowdfunding," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 1183-1207, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:elcore:v:23:y:2023:i:2:d:10.1007_s10660-021-09509-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10660-021-09509-5
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10660-021-09509-5
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10660-021-09509-5?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Roland Geyer & Brandon Kuczenski & Trevor Zink & Ashley Henderson, 2016. "Common Misconceptions about Recycling," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 20(5), pages 1010-1017, October.
    2. Sha Zhou & Tao Ma & Zhengchi Liu, 2021. "Crowdfunding as a screener for collective investment," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 195-221, March.
    3. C. S. Richard Chan & Annaleena Parhankangas, 2017. "Crowdfunding Innovative Ideas: How Incremental and Radical Innovativeness Influence Funding Outcomes," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 41(2), pages 237-263, March.
    4. Benjamin T. Hazen & Diane A. Mollenkopf & Yacan Wang, 2017. "Remanufacturing for the Circular Economy: An Examination of Consumer Switching Behavior," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(4), pages 451-464, May.
    5. Hanna H. Salo & Johanna Suikkanen & Ari Nissinen, 2020. "Eco‐innovation motivations and ecodesign tool implementation in companies in the Nordic textile and information technology sectors," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(6), pages 2654-2667, September.
    6. Othmar M. Lehner & Alex Nicholls, 2014. "Social finance and crowdfunding for social enterprises: a public-private case study providing legitimacy and leverage," Venture Capital, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(3), pages 271-286, July.
    7. Vismara, Silvio, 2019. "Sustainability in equity crowdfunding," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 98-106.
    8. Darshana Rajapaksa & Moinul Islam & Shunsuke Managi, 2017. "Natural Capital Depletion: the Impact of Natural Disasters on Inclusive Growth," Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, Springer, vol. 1(3), pages 233-244, October.
    9. Mi (Jamie) Zhou & Baozhou Lu & Weiguo (Patrick) Fan & G. Alan Wang, 2018. "Project description and crowdfunding success: an exploratory study," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 259-274, April.
    10. Brown, Terrence E. & Boon, Edward & Pitt, Leyland F., 2017. "Seeking funding in order to sell: Crowdfunding as a marketing tool," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 60(2), pages 189-195.
    11. Söderholm, Patrik & Tilton, John E., 2012. "Material efficiency: An economic perspective," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 75-82.
    12. Jascha-Alexander Koch & Michael Siering, 2019. "The recipe of successful crowdfunding campaigns," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 29(4), pages 661-679, December.
    13. Roma, Paolo & Messeni Petruzzelli, Antonio & Perrone, Giovanni, 2017. "From the crowd to the market: The role of reward-based crowdfunding performance in attracting professional investors," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(9), pages 1606-1628.
    14. Michael Marcin Kunz & Ulrich Bretschneider & Max Erler & Jan Marco Leimeister, 2017. "An empirical investigation of signaling in reward-based crowdfunding," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 425-461, September.
    15. Xiaobei Liang & Xiaojuan Hu & Jiang Jiang, 2020. "Research on the Effects of Information Description on Crowdfunding Success within a Sustainable Economy—The Perspective of Information Communication," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-36, January.
    16. Patrick Rousseaux & Cécile Grémy-Gros & Marie Bonnin & Catherine Henriel-Ricordel & Pierrick Bernard & Léa Floury & Gwenaëlle Staigre & Philippe Vincent, 2017. "“Eco-tool-seeker”: A new and unique business guide for choosing ecodesign tools," Post-Print hal-02071245, HAL.
    17. Parhankangas, Annaleena & Renko, Maija, 2017. "Linguistic style and crowdfunding success among social and commercial entrepreneurs," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 215-236.
    18. Marian R. Chertow, 2007. "“Uncovering” Industrial Symbiosis," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 11(1), pages 11-30, January.
    19. Kuppuswamy, Venkat & Bayus, Barry L., 2017. "Does my contribution to your crowdfunding project matter?," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 72-89.
    20. Anna Makles, 2012. "Stata tip 110: How to get the optimal k-means cluster solution," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 12(2), pages 347-351, June.
    21. Casper Boks & Timothy C. McAloone, 2009. "Transitions in sustainable product design research," International Journal of Product Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 9(4), pages 429-449.
    22. Christopher Courtney & Supradeep Dutta & Yong Li, 2017. "Resolving Information Asymmetry: Signaling, Endorsement, and Crowdfunding Success," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 41(2), pages 265-290, March.
    23. Tetyana Pimonenko & Yuriy Bilan & Jakub Horák & Liudmyla Starchenko & Waldemar Gajda, 2020. "Green Brand of Companies and Greenwashing under Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-15, February.
    24. Gaia Bassani & Nicoletta Marinelli & Silvio Vismara, 2019. "Crowdfunding in healthcare," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 44(4), pages 1290-1310, August.
    25. Viotto da Cruz, Jordana, 2018. "Beyond financing: crowdfunding as an informational mechanism," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 371-393.
    26. Mollick, Ethan, 2014. "The dynamics of crowdfunding: An exploratory study," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 1-16.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Messeni Petruzzelli, Antonio & Natalicchio, Angelo & Panniello, Umberto & Roma, Paolo, 2019. "Understanding the crowdfunding phenomenon and its implications for sustainability," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 138-148.
    2. Sewaid, Ahmed & Garcia-Cestona, Miguel & Silaghi, Florina, 2021. "Resolving information asymmetries in financing new product development: The case of reward-based crowdfunding," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(10).
    3. Zhao, Liang & Shneor, Rotem & Sun, Zhe, 2022. "Skin in the game: Self-funding and reward crowdfunding success," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 65(1), pages 89-100.
    4. Berns, John P. & Jia, Yankun & Gondo, Maria, 2022. "Crowdfunding success in sustainability-oriented projects: An exploratory examination of the crowdfunding of 3D printers," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    5. Veronica Crescenzo & Angelo Bonfanti & Paola Castellani & Alfonso Vargas-Sánchez, 2022. "Effective entrepreneurial narrative design in reward crowdfunding campaigns for social ventures," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 773-800, June.
    6. Daniel Blaseg & Christian Schulze & Bernd Skiera, 2020. "Consumer Protection on Kickstarter," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 39(1), pages 211-233, January.
    7. Jiao, Hao & Wang, Lindong & Yang, Jifeng, 2023. "Standing head and shoulders above others? Complementor experience-based design and crowdfunding success on digital platforms," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    8. Susana Bernardino & J. Freitas Santos, 2020. "Crowdfunding: An Exploratory Study on Knowledge, Benefits and Barriers Perceived by Young Potential Entrepreneurs," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-24, April.
    9. Anna Prisco & Valerio Muto & Ciro Troise & Mario Tani, 2022. "How to Engage the Crowds to Create Value? Evidence from the Pathfinder Arena Case," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-22, April.
    10. Chan, Ho Fai & Moy, Naomi & Schaffner, Markus & Torgler, Benno, 2021. "The effects of money saliency and sustainability orientation on reward based crowdfunding success," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 443-455.
    11. Sewaid, Ahmed & Parker, Simon C. & Kaakeh, Abdulkader, 2021. "Explaining serial crowdfunders' dynamic fundraising performance," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 36(4).
    12. Christian Handke & Carolina Dalla Chiesa, 2022. "The art of crowdfunding arts and innovation: the cultural economic perspective," Journal of Cultural Economics, Springer;The Association for Cultural Economics International, vol. 46(2), pages 249-284, June.
    13. Diandian Xiang & Leinan Zhang & Qiuyan Tao & Yonggui Wang & Shuang Ma, 2019. "Informational or emotional appeals in crowdfunding message strategy: an empirical investigation of backers’ support decisions," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 47(6), pages 1046-1063, November.
    14. Chan, C.S. Richard & Parhankangas, Annaleena & Sahaym, Arvin & Oo, Pyayt, 2020. "Bellwether and the herd? Unpacking the u-shaped relationship between prior funding and subsequent contributions in reward-based crowdfunding," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 35(2).
    15. Tafesse, Wondwesen, 2021. "Communicating crowdfunding campaigns: How message strategy, vivid media use and product type influence campaign success," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 252-263.
    16. Lukas Maier & Christian V. Baccarella & Jörn H. Block & Timm F. Wagner & Kai-Ingo Voigt, 2023. "The Legitimization Effect of Crowdfunding Success: A Consumer Perspective," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 47(4), pages 1389-1420, July.
    17. Nakagawa, Koichi & Kosaka, Genjiro, 2022. "What social issues do people invest in? An examination based on the empathy–altruism hypothesis of prosocial crowdfunding platforms," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    18. Clarissa E. Weber & Norbert Steigenberger & Hendrik Wilhelm, 2023. "After successful fundraising: how overfunding and category spanning affect the release and audience-perceived quality of crowdfunded products," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(3), pages 1009-1026, October.
    19. Shuangfa Huang & David Pickernell & Martina Battisti & Thang Nguyen, 2022. "Signalling entrepreneurs’ credibility and project quality for crowdfunding success: cases from the Kickstarter and Indiegogo environments," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(4), pages 1801-1821, April.
    20. Felipe, Israel José dos Santos & Mendes-Da-Silva, Wesley & Leal, Cristiana Cerqueira & Braun Santos, Danilo, 2022. "Reward crowdfunding campaigns: Time-to-success analysis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 214-228.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:elcore:v:23:y:2023:i:2:d:10.1007_s10660-021-09509-5. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.