Green business models transformation: evidence from the UK construction sector
Built Environment Project and Asset Management
ISSN: 2044-124X
Article publication date: 7 November 2016
Abstract
Purpose
Sustainability has the potential to bring enormous benefits to our built environment. To release this potential, a change in business models is required. The purpose of this paper is to investigate green business models (GBMs) transformation by adopting five essential elements of green value creation and capture: green value proposition (GVP), target group (TG), key activities (KA), key resources (KR), and financial logic (FL).
Design/methodology/approach
In this qualitative study, 19 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Interviewees were selected purposively. The emergent data were analysed with the aid of themes.
Findings
It was observed that significant effort was being made towards enabling the transformation of certain elements pertinent to green value creation: KA and KR. This was particularly so when compared to other elements like GVP, TG, and FL.
Practical implications
Findings from this study should encourage construction managers to align their extant BMs to green activities hence enabling new approaches to green value creation and capture. Furthermore, the study will aid in improving the environmental and economic positions of the value chain within the construction sector.
Originality/value
This research is one of the few empirical academic works investigating GBMs in the construction sector.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was carried out as a PhD study conducted by the first author. The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the EPSRC at the School of the Built Environment, University of Salford. The authors are thankful to the research participants from the UK academic and construction sector.
Citation
Abuzeinab, A., Arif, M., Kulonda, D.J. and Awuzie, B.O. (2016), "Green business models transformation: evidence from the UK construction sector", Built Environment Project and Asset Management, Vol. 6 No. 5, pp. 478-490. https://doi.org/10.1108/BEPAM-10-2015-0060
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited