Business transition management exploring a new role for business in sustainability transitions.pdf.pdf

Journal of Cleaner Production 45 (2013) 20e28
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Journal of Cleaner Production
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Business transition management: exploring a new role for business
in sustainability transitions
Derk Loorbach*, Katinka Wijsman 1
Dutch Research Institute For Transitions (DRIFT), Erasmus University Rotterdam, . Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, herlands
article info abstract
Article history: This paper explores the co-evolution between societal sustainability transitions and fundamental shifts
Received 23 January 2011 within individuals businesses. We argue that there is an emergent trend of businesses and industries that
Received in revised form move beyond optimizing anization’s individual performance by mitigating negative environ-
31 October 2012
mental and social impacts, to fundamentally restructuring and rethinking existing businesses in light of
Accepted 1 November 2012
broader societal changes. Arguably, the frontrunner businesses that orient themselves towards
Available online 16 November 2012
sustainable market transitions develop petitive advantage by co-creating these sustainable markets
and on the short term develop renewed ambition and enthusiasm. By means of the transition frame-
Keywords:
Business transition work, we argue that the fundamental societal changes emerging lead to a ne