Title: Business models and sustainability: opportunities and challenges perceived by micro and small Brazilian companies

Authors: Lucas Conde Stocco; Paulo Afonso Granjeiro

Addresses: School of Economics, Business and Accounting RP (FEARP), University of Sao Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil ' Laboratory of Biotechnology Process and Purification of Macromolecules, Federal University of São João Del-Rei (UFSJ), Room 313 Block A, Brazil; Entrepreneurship and Innovation Nucleus (NETEC); Incubator for Technological Development and Traditional Sectors of Campo das Vertentes (INDETEC), Federal University of São João Del-Rei (UFSJ), Brazil

Abstract: This article aims to identify opportunities and challenges of innovation for sustainability perceived by micro and small enterprises (MSEs) for developing new business models. Questionnaires were applied to companies participating in the local innovation agent (agente local de inovação - ALI) Program in a Brazilian city to survey their perceptions and management practices concerning sustainability and innovation that allow the development of new business models, with 13 responses being obtained. Descriptive statistics analysed the data. The results show that innovation for sustainability generates opportunities such as new businesses, strengthening the supplier network, winning over new customers and generating better results. The study also highlighted challenges in business model innovation for sustainability, such as: finding suppliers and partners for sustainable inputs that practice sustainability, information and incentives from the public authorities, customer culture for acquiring sustainable products and services and lack of financial resources to invest in innovation were found.

Keywords: Latin America; sustainable development; entrepreneurship; innovation; sustainable management; agente local de inovação; ALI; emerging economies.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMOM.2022.130703

International Journal of Modelling in Operations Management, 2022 Vol.8 No.4, pp.379 - 391

Received: 26 Jul 2022
Accepted: 18 Dec 2022
Published online: 03 May 2023 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article