TY - JOUR
T1 - Business model innovation in circular start-ups
T2 - Overcoming barriers in the circular plastics economy
AU - Lit, F.
AU - Huijben, J.C.C.M.
AU - Cloodt, M.M.A.H.
AU - Paredis, E.
PY - 2024/6/24
Y1 - 2024/6/24
N2 - Circular start-ups (CSUs) are crucial for implementing a circular economy; yet, little research has been undertaken on the specific barriers they face. Through a case study of CSUs in the Dutch plastics industry, we identify several key barriers encompassing technology dependence, poor credibility, constrained resources, collaboration challenges, lack of knowledge and inadequate institutional support. Additionally, we highlight four success factors (SFs) that enable CSUs to compete in circular plastics: circular value proposition design, market sensitivity, networking prowess and circular ambidexterity. Our study shows that CSUs can enact these SFs as strategies-in-use to overcome barriers. Yet still, CSUs in plastics continue focusing on recycling-centric business models, limiting their potential to drive the transition more radically along the waste hierarchy. This calls for support from various entities such as entrepreneurial ecosystems as well as a multi-stakeholder perspective that considers their business models as interdependent with other actors in the plastics value chain.
AB - Circular start-ups (CSUs) are crucial for implementing a circular economy; yet, little research has been undertaken on the specific barriers they face. Through a case study of CSUs in the Dutch plastics industry, we identify several key barriers encompassing technology dependence, poor credibility, constrained resources, collaboration challenges, lack of knowledge and inadequate institutional support. Additionally, we highlight four success factors (SFs) that enable CSUs to compete in circular plastics: circular value proposition design, market sensitivity, networking prowess and circular ambidexterity. Our study shows that CSUs can enact these SFs as strategies-in-use to overcome barriers. Yet still, CSUs in plastics continue focusing on recycling-centric business models, limiting their potential to drive the transition more radically along the waste hierarchy. This calls for support from various entities such as entrepreneurial ecosystems as well as a multi-stakeholder perspective that considers their business models as interdependent with other actors in the plastics value chain.
U2 - 10.1177/02662426231217954
DO - 10.1177/02662426231217954
M3 - Article
SN - 0266-2426
VL - 42
SP - 506
EP - 550
JO - International Small Business Journal
JF - International Small Business Journal
IS - 4
ER -