Digitala Vetenskapliga Arkivet

Change search
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf
Enabling Circular Economy with Digital Technology: A case study On the Swedish Online Secondhand Business Sellpy.
Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, Department of Earth Sciences.
2019 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (One Year)), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
Abstract [en]

Recognizing the responsibility businesses has in sustainable development, a rising number of entrepreneurs are attempting to innovate business models together with digital technology to address environmental and societal needs. Circular business models is an example of how businesses can become more sustainable. However, there is a growing phenomenon of entrepreneurs suggesting digital platforms as a supportive element in an enterprise to enable circular features. This research aims to investigate the role of a single entrepreneur as a transition intermediary to sustainable development by using digital platforms. Additionally, this research aims to explore the success factors and challenges this entrepreneur can uncover. Contrary to most studies, this thesis adopts the entrepreneur's perspective as being a key actor in sustainable development but also as an innovative force in a socio-technical system. A case study was conducted on the Swedish online secondhand store Sellpy. The qualitative data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Given the thesis' exploratory research design, the finding can be used in further research as artifacts for more conclusive and generalizing research. The entrepreneur, as a transition intermediary, can establish valuable partnerships and networks to accelerate circulation and sustainability awareness. Additionally, the entrepreneur can influence others by spreading knowledge to engage other entrepreneurs to innovate businesses towards sustainability. The main success factors found in this case study is the approach to develop with the user community, digital ownership, skilled and diverse workforce, and partnerships with similar businesses. The challenges discovered was to maintain and find new users to enter the circular system and the external skepticism towards sustainability-oriented businesses.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2019. , p. 49
Series
Examensarbete vid Institutionen för geovetenskaper, ISSN 1650-6553 ; 2019/45
Keywords [en]
Innovation management, Circular Economy, Transition Intermediaries, Sustainable Development, Strategic Management, Sustainable Business Models
National Category
Earth and Related Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-392703OAI: oai:DiVA.org:uu-392703DiVA, id: diva2:1349299
Educational program
Master Programme in Sustainable Development
Presentation
2019-05-22, Geocentrum, Villavägen 16, Uppsala, 17:38 (English)
Supervisors
Available from: 2019-09-10 Created: 2019-09-08 Last updated: 2025-02-07Bibliographically approved

Open Access in DiVA

fulltext(1786 kB)1762 downloads
File information
File name FULLTEXT01.pdfFile size 1786 kBChecksum SHA-512
7f97885df7f8b4cfd294038356a7c3678632fa088d16ec08fd175430e03ece50dc0633db36e2077639ee7bafa98ca9f5b3ed10a6c68fcb0cd71e6cd94f0dd4ff
Type fulltextMimetype application/pdf

By organisation
Department of Earth Sciences
Earth and Related Environmental Sciences

Search outside of DiVA

GoogleGoogle Scholar
Total: 1763 downloads
The number of downloads is the sum of all downloads of full texts. It may include eg previous versions that are now no longer available

urn-nbn

Altmetric score

urn-nbn
Total: 2056 hits
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf