Business models in a sustainable enterprise: examples from selected European countries

Business models require the inclusion of sustainability to mitigate environmental and social impacts and to ensure long-term viability, fostering resilience in the face of global ecological challenges. By embracing sustainability, enterprises contribute to preserving the planet, attracting socially responsible clients and investors, and gaining a competitive edge. The objective of the paper is to analyse the sustainable aspects implemented in selected enterprises in eight European countries according to the established selection criteria. Qualitative analysis and interviews were the main research methods. The results revealed that enterprises are aware of the need to protect the planet, and that is why they implement various sustainable activities. The presented ‘green’ aspects of business models may offer inspirations for enterprises that wish to implement sustainable elements, or which are in the initial stages of doing so. The originality of the paper comes from the fact that there are no complex analyses on this aspect available in the literature.