Abstract

Miying Yang has recently completed her PhD at Centre for Industrial Sustainability, IfM. She is going to present her research on sustainable product-service systems, and share her experience of tool development as an approach for bridging the gap between theory and practice.

Product-service systems (PSS) are regarded as promising sustainable business models with significant potential to synergise economic, environmental and social value, together termed ‘sustainable value’. This research investigates ways in which manufacturing firms can identify opportunities for sustainable value creation in PSS business models. A practical-research tool, Sustainable Value Analysis Tool, is developed to collect data and to provide business support.

The key research findings include: - the proposal of a new PSS classification system based on the ownership of products and changes in ownership; - the introduction of new concept, value uncaptured, as a novel perspective of studying value exchange in business models; and - the proposal of a model to understand how and where value uncaptured can be turned into value opportunities.

The findings are used to develop a framework for sustainable value creation in PSS business models. The proposed tool has been validated and used in workshops for purposes including research, consultancy, business education and university education. This research thus makes contributions to both theory and practice in the fields of sustainable business models, sustainable PSS and sustainable value.