Designing circular business model experimentation: Case study

In order to move towards sustainability and a circular economy, there is need for systemic innovation in all aspects of society, including our values and consuming practices, and technological and business innovations to all society structures (Wells 2016, Ellen MacArthur Foundation 2013). Companies need to consider how to close the material loops, reduce the resources needed and consider how materials and products are kept in the loop, as long as possible. With business model experimentations, companies can demonstrate a model's feasibility, consumer acceptance and the environmental impacts in a cost-efficient way (Thomke 2003). Academic research related to designing business model experimentation is lacking. The aim of this study is to improve our understanding of how to design circular business model experimentation that takes into consideration both the companies' and the research organizations' needs. In this paper, we describe a pilot of a five-stage process model for rapid experimentation that takes into account both the entrepreneur's and the research organisation's needs and objectives.