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Sustainable Business Model Innovation, Regeneration, Resilience, and Circular Economy

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 1337

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Economics, Management, Institutions, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
Interests: management; marketing; retailing; sustainability; business model innovation; sustainable and circular business models

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Guest Editor
Department of Economics Management Institutions, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
Interests: sustainable business model; entrepreneurship; management; circular economy

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Guest Editor
Department of Law, University of Turin, Lungo Dora Siena, 100, 10153 Turin, Italy
Interests: space economy; entrepreneurial methodologies related to agile organizations; Industry 5.0; tourism; digital marketing and customer experience
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Economics, Statistics and Business, Faculty of Economics and Law, Mercatorum University, Rome, Italy
Interests: sustainable business model; strategic management; supply chain resilience; omnichannel management; international business

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, global challenges related to climate change, resource depletion, and increasing social pressures on firms have made it essential to reflect deeply on business models and management strategies oriented toward sustainability. In this context, concepts such as sustainable business model innovation, regeneration, resilience, and circular economy are taking on a central role in both scientific debate and the agendas of public and private organizations.

Sustainable business model innovation emerges as a strategic driver capable of not only improving firms’ environmental and social performance but also strengthening their long-term competitiveness and resilience. Simultaneously, regenerative approaches and circular logic provide new opportunities to rethink value flows, reduce negative externalities, and generate positive impacts on society and ecosystems.

This Special Issue aims to synthesize theoretical and empirical contributions that explore the various dimensions of sustainable business model innovation, with particular attention paid to

  • Mechanisms and practices of business model innovation for sustainability;
  • Approaches to organizational regeneration and resilience in contexts of crisis and transformation;
  • Strategies and tools of the circular economy applied across different industries;
  • Managerial and policy implications to support the transition toward sustainable economic systems.

The objective is to stimulate interdisciplinary debate and propose new perspectives capable of enriching the academic literature while providing relevant insights for the professional community and policymakers.

Dr. Vincenzo Basile
Dr. Nunzia Capobianco
Prof. Dr. Luca Giraldi
Dr. Marco Valerio Rossi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainable business model innovation
  • circular economy
  • regenerative business models
  • organizational resilience
  • sustainability transitions
  • corporate sustainability
  • strategic management for sustainability
  • value creation and capture
  • green entrepreneurship
  • sustainable innovation practices

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 269 KB  
Article
Perception of Sustainable Business Model Practices in Polish Enterprises: The Role of Organizational and Individual Characteristics
by Anna Walczyna, Barbara Mazur and Weronika Wilczewska
Sustainability 2026, 18(5), 2593; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18052593 - 6 Mar 2026
Viewed by 268
Abstract
The purpose of the study is to conduct an empirical assessment of how employees perceive sustainable business model practices within Polish companies operating across the manufacturing, trade, and service industries. The novelty of the study lies in incorporating the perspective of employees as [...] Read more.
The purpose of the study is to conduct an empirical assessment of how employees perceive sustainable business model practices within Polish companies operating across the manufacturing, trade, and service industries. The novelty of the study lies in incorporating the perspective of employees as key stakeholders and in comparing evaluations of sustainability practices across industries and enterprises of different sizes. The analysis is based on a three-dimensional model of sustainable development practices, encompassing the green economy, the social dimension, and employee development, whose structure was previously confirmed through factor analysis. The study involved 231 employees representing enterprises of various sizes, and the data was collected using a validated measurement instrument. Statistical analyses, including Kruskal–Wallis tests and linear regression models, revealed that employees rate initiatives related to employee development the highest, followed by social practices, while green economy initiatives receive the lowest evaluations. The perception of practices varies by industry and enterprise size, while seniority and position are of limited importance. The results highlight the differentiated perception of sustainability initiatives within organizations and indicate areas requiring strengthening, particularly regarding environmental actions. The article provides practical guidance for designing sustainability strategies and HR policies and serves as a foundation for further research on employees’ perceptions of sustainable development practices. Full article
20 pages, 953 KB  
Article
Hybrid Fuzzy Optimization Integrating Sobol Sensitivity Analysis and Monte Carlo Simulation for Retail Decarbonization: An Investment Framework for Solar-Powered Coffee Machines in Taiwan’s Convenience Stores
by Yu-Feng Lin
Sustainability 2026, 18(1), 466; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18010466 - 2 Jan 2026
Viewed by 573
Abstract
This study develops a carbon emissions reduction strategy for solar-powered coffee machines in Taiwanese convenience stores, aiming to strike a balance between profitability and decarbonization. An integrated framework of the fuzzy nonlinear multi-objective programming (FNMOP) model, Sobol sensitivity analysis, and Monte Carlo simulation [...] Read more.
This study develops a carbon emissions reduction strategy for solar-powered coffee machines in Taiwanese convenience stores, aiming to strike a balance between profitability and decarbonization. An integrated framework of the fuzzy nonlinear multi-objective programming (FNMOP) model, Sobol sensitivity analysis, and Monte Carlo simulation was applied to quantify uncertainties in electricity supply, consumer demand, and investment costs. Solar-powered machines reduce annual CO2 emissions by 172–215 kg per store. Allocating 0.49–0.61% of coffee profits as subsidies shortens payback to [6.5, 9.375] years. Monte Carlo simulation confirms robustness with a 95% confidence interval of [5.8, 11.2] years, while urban stores achieve payback 18–25% faster. Sobol analysis identifies annual savings and net profit margins as key drivers. The framework demonstrates scalability and international applicability, providing empirical evidence for policymakers and retailers to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy in consumer-facing operations. Its methodological integration and consumer-side focus offer a replicable model for convenience store chains in high-density retail markets worldwide, with potential multiplier effects across sectors and supply chains. Full article
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