Supporting SMEs within textile industry in the process of adopting a Circular Business Model: a research on the Service Ecosystem Concept
Author
Salazar Jimenez, Marta
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2022
Abstract
This thesis examines how service design can support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the textile and fashion sector in adopting circular business models, given the industry's substantial environmental footprint. The primary question is the role service design can play in improving SMEs' experience and process of shifting to circularity; a parallel line of inquiry explores the service ecosystem concept and its applications to support circularity at a system level. The study combines literature reviews on circular economy, circular business models, and known SME barriers with stakeholder mapping and a case study conducted in collaboration with Sustainn. The design process follows the Design Council's Double Diamond, iterating the Discover and Define phases, and involves SMEs to surface needs and co-create solutions. The case work culminates in a platform-based service concept intended to address the identified needs and barriers; the concept is prototyped and tested with SMEs to gather feedback for further refinement. The thesis also reflects on service ecosystem levels and flows and discusses how an ecosystem perspective can strengthen the design of services that advance circularity. Detailed impact evidence is beyond this excerpt, but preliminary evaluation indicates that the platform approach responds to key user needs.
Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan servicedesign kan støtte små og mellemstore virksomheder (SMV'er) i tekstil- og modebranchen i at adoptere cirkulære forretningsmodeller i lyset af branchens betydelige miljøaftryk. Projektets hovedspørgsmål er, hvilken rolle servicedesign kan spille i at forbedre SMV'ers oplevelse og proces ved overgangen til cirkularitet; et parallelt spor udforsker serviceøkosystem-begrebet og dets anvendelser til at understøtte cirkularitet på systemniveau. Metodisk kombineres litteraturstudier om cirkulær økonomi, CBM'er og kendte barrierer for SMV'er med interessentkortlægning og et casestudie gennemført i samarbejde med Sustainn. Designarbejdet er struktureret efter Design Council's Double Diamond og itererer faserne Discover og Define, mens SMV'er inddrages for at afdække behov og samskabe løsninger. Casestudiet resulterer i et platformbaseret servicekoncept, der adresserer de identificerede behov og barrierer; konceptet prototypes og testes med SMV'er for at indsamle feedback til videre udvikling. Specialet giver desuden refleksioner over serviceøkosystemers niveauer og flows og drøfter, hvordan et økosystemisk perspektiv kan styrke design af tjenester, der fremmer cirkularitet. Detaljerede effektmålinger ligger uden for dette uddrag, men den foreløbige evaluering peger på, at platformtilgangen imødekommer centrale brugerbehov.
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