The role of linked legitimacy in sustainable business model development

Ecologically Embedded Design in Manufacturing: Legitimation within Circular Economy

“…Legitimacy is a relational property and is consequently relevant to ecological embeddedness with its focus on relations. Linked legitimacy may be considered a resource that is built around sustainable development projects and strategies [45].…”

Developing a strong sustainability research program in marketing

“…There are many examples of agricultural firms engaging in sustainability activities for the purposes of reducing their own risks. For example, McCain invests in local potato growers and partners with small sustainable entrepreneurs to gain legitimacy in local markets (Press et al 2020 ), Mars and Hershey engage in activities to increase productivity and market information transparency in cacao grower regions in hopes of securing their supply of cacao (Bonini and Swartz 2014 ) and Coca-Cola closely monitors its water use and impact, especially after numerous scandals around polluting sources (Whelan and Fink 2016 ; Earth Talk 2019 ) and decimating local water supplies (Agerholm 2017 ; Patsiaouras et al 2015 ). However, most of these “new” strategies are actually strategies to remain viable in the growth-based economic system that led to the current issues, with firms trying to shore up their status quo, and small entrepreneurs exploring new strategies.…”

“…Business model (BM) research in other fields is acknowledged as having the potential to incite systemic change (Bidmon and Knab 2018 ; Gambardella and McGahan, 2010; Johnson and Suskewicz 2009 ; Wells 2013). As such, BMs are seen as value creation mechanisms rather than operational frameworks (Bidmon and Knab 2018 ; Zott and Amit 2010 ; Press et al 2020 ). Recent scholarship has identified BM innovation as a necessary part of societal transitions because they have “the potential to disrupt entire industries, because they connect multiple actors, [and] mediate between the production and the consumption side of business” (Bidmon and Knab 2018 , 903).…”

“…Plateau Fertile; Fashion Green Days n.d. ). The fashion industry needs insight into how to keep their brand identity while radically shifting their business models (Holt 2004 ; Press et al 2020 ). In addition, it needs new customer and product approaches, which could be led by entrepreneurs who identify specific needs in localized communities (Scaraboto and Fischer 2013 ).…”

“…In a collaboration with the national gas company, the ArcelorMittal plant in Dunkirk, France built a combined cycle gas-powered power plant that recovers an estimated 5 billion m 3 of steel production gases. Spurred by social pressure, ArcelorMittal began to engage with local NGOs, civic groups, industrial partners and municipalities to measure and report air quality and to sponsor local entrepreneurial projects (Press et al 2020 ). The Dunkirk steel plant has become a hub of entrepreneurial activity that exploits the energy and waste flows from the plant, housing a cement company, a company that recovers precious metals, and a hydrogen conversion plant.…”