Managing Business Models for Achieving Sustainable Transition in the Dairy Industry: A Multi-Case Analysis from Spain

It is largely acknowledged that the dairy industry faces momentous challenges to make progress toward major environmental goals in balance with economic and social sustainability. This study addresses this concern by examining the processes of sustainability transition in the dairy industry in Spain. In particular, we analyzed the process of shifting from the classical, purely economic-driven business models toward more sustainable business models and also integrating environmental and social concerns. We provide a conceptual model for assessing sustainability transformation in the dairy industry and test the applicability of this model using a combination of evidence from the literature and primary information. Primary data were obtained through a dedicated questionnaire addressed to four dairy companies purposefully selected as illustrative case studies. The findings suggest that sustainability goals in the dairy industry can be represented appropriately through the proposed framework both at the sector and company levels, facilitating the identification of concrete business areas better suited for potential innovations and improvements in terms of sustainable value creation and delivery. The results also reveal the need for activity-specific assessments and a more-focused approach to sustainability practices, including the development of more comprehensive sustainability metrics and measurement methods specifically tailored to the dairy industry.