Business experimentation for sustainability

This special issue explores ‘business experimentation for sustainability’ as an approach to accelerate sustainability transitions in business. It aims to create understanding on the concepts; methods, strategies and approaches; and ways of implementing business experimentation for sustainability. Natural resource and climate challenges are becoming increasingly urgent and businesses need to adapt their way of generating social, environmental and economic value. The purpose of business experimentation for sustainability (BES) is to learn about aspects of novel products, services and ways of value generation with limited risks and resources. Research is needed to understand the BES concept; ways in which BES can be implemented; and how it can help accelerate sustainability transitions in business. Papers may address the following questions, but are not limited in scope to these: • How can BES simultaneously test business, customer and sustainability viability? • How can BES lead to solutions that create ‘strong’ as opposed to weak sustainability? • How can the factor of time be embedded in methods and theory of BES? • What evaluation methods of BES may be appropriate to ensure sustainable business transformation? • What is the link or the difference between BES in large businesses and small startups? • How may BES take place jointly with stakeholders; with resulting value distributed across stakeholders? • How can businesses and research organizations collaborate in the BES process? • How might governance theory inform the planning and design of BES in businesses? • How to design and manage the learning cycles enabled by BES?