Conceptualising natural resources in industrial systems

Natural resource use is core to society yet assumptions of (super)abundance are no longer appropriate because they disregard planetary boundaries. Natural resources have received only limited consideration in the management literature (George, Schillebeeckx, & Lit Liak, 2015, 2018). In this paper, we conceptualise the inclusion of natural resources in analyses of industrial systems using Resource Interaction within the Industrial Network Approach (INA). An extension of Penrose's (1959) distinction between free resources and the services rendered by free resources is developed and used to discuss air as an illustrative example of natural resources. We address three challenges regarding classifying resources, the status of resource interfaces, and the suitability of core assumptions. The contribution is in proposing natural resources as a previously overlooked resource class by including their ‘free services rendered’ within Resource Interaction. We also add to existing understandings of natural resources through using a different resource perspective than the NRBV (Natural Resource Based View) and RDT (Resource Dependency Theory). • Natural resources are overlooked in the management literature in general and in INA literature specifically. • Uses INA and Penrose to conceptualise the use of natural resources in industrial systems. • Extends Penrose's (1959) distinction between free resources and the services rendered by these. • Presents a framework for conceptualizing multiple classes of natural resources and their use in industrial settings.