Trash to Treasure: Design Principles for Developing Cascading and Repurposing Business Models through Systemic Stakeholder Collaboration

Abstract

Global economies are facing a tremendous waste problem due to persisting linear economic models. Simultaneously, organizations lack guidance on how to develop and effectively operationalize business models through collaborations that yield potentials to solve this problem by serving a circular economic model. Cascading and Repurposing Business Models promise waste reduction by continuously reusing materials and energy, while allowing enhanced profitability. By applying the Design Science Research Methodology from the Information Systems field outlined by Peffers and colleagues in 2007, the present study inductively develops five design principles - based on 39 semi-structured interviews- with the intention to identify suitable partnerships for its operationalization and guide organizations in developing Cascading and Repurposing Business Models.