Crossing planetary boundaries.

This diagram by the Azote for Stockholm Resilience Centre from the Stockholm University presents us with the Planetary Boundaries concept. It highlights a visual map of our planet’s health over time, highlighting the limits we must respect to ensure a stable Earth. According to this diagram in 2009, we were already reaching a critical stage, having breached three out of the seven assessed ecological thresholds, such as climate change and loss of biodiversity. Fast forward to 2015, and the situation had escalated with one additional boundary crossed. By 2023, the diagram paints an even gloomier picture: out of nine researched boundaries, six had been exceeded, marking a distressing trend towards environmental instability. This evolving framework is a call to action, urging us to safeguard our planet's future by preserving its delicate ecosystems. Each passing year is a reminder that our actions have weight, and it is up to all of us to tip the scales back for a stable planet.

Act now and don't regret it later.

This deep-rooted crisis has been caused by human activity and stems from our continuous chase for economic growth. Ever since the start of the Industrial Revolution, over two centuries ago, the mantra has been “growth at any cost.” And the price has been steep: hazardous work environments, environmental pollution, declining local and global ecosystems, and exhaustion of resources. What we are seeing now is not just another crisis, it is a genuine existential crisis. If we do not act now, we will not survive as a species in the long run.

The sustainable business canvas.

At Business Models Inc., we have introduced this mindset through the business model canvas, by adding two additional building blocks: one visualizes the company’s footprint, the other its handprint. The handprint demonstrates how a business can generate positive socio-environmental effects and have a truly positive impact on people, planet, and profit: the Triple Bottom Line. By introducing environmental costs/benefits and societal costs/benefits to the canvas, we encourage you to think about the negative side effects that your activities (can) have outside of your business and what positive impact you can create.

6 business model shifts for positive change.

Want to get started but don’t know how? In our book, Business Model Shifts, we introduce six transformative shifts that are happening in the business landscape right now and that aim at fixing the flaws of the current economic system. Not only do these six shifts show you that you have to create new value for your customers, but they also show you this can go hand in hand with lowering your footprint and building your handprint. These shifts can lead to an amazing and profitable business and pave the way for a more sustainable future for our planet.

Explore the 6 shifts below:

Once you see your business as a system that is interconnected with a variety of a stakeholders, this eliminates the need for trade-offs. Of course, creating value for all stakeholders at once demands effort, conscious and consistent oversight, dedication, and commitment. However, these shifts can ensure that your business not only thrives but also positively contributes to the broader ecosystem it operates in, creating value for people and planet.

Want to get your hands on a copy of Business Model Shifts?

9 businesses shaping the future.

Throughout history, there have been great examples of companies that flipped their ways of creating, delivering, and capturing value. They did so by considering its externalities, letting go of the silo mindset, and collaborating with all their stakeholders. It is important to realize that these companies actively chose to pursue positive (side) effects across their entire value chain. Shifting to a business with a Triple Bottom Line is a conscious decision. These leaders look at their business with fresh eyes and ask the question: “Where is value next for all stakeholders?”