Case study of ECOALF: Sustainable Business Model in Fashion Industry

Authors

Barbara Bradač Hojnik
University of Maribor, Faculty of Economics and Business,
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1314-9088

Synopsis

This case study focuses on sustainable business models and startups by exploring how sustainability can be integrated into the core strategy of a new venture. Sustainable startups, such as ECOALF, are designed to address environmental and social challenges while maintaining profitability. ECOALF, a Spanish fashion brand founded in 2009, exemplifies this approach by transforming waste materials such as plastic bottles, fishing nets and tires into high-quality fashion products. As a B Corp certified company, ECOALF operates within a circular business model, demonstrating that sustainability can be a competitive advantage in the fashion industry. The primary objective of this case study is to analyze ECOALF's sustainable business model and illustrate how the company has successfully balanced environmental and economic goals. By exploring ECOALF's innovative processes, stakeholder partnerships, and strategic initiatives, this case provides insights into how startups can implement sustainable business models to achieve long-term growth and positive environmental impact. It also offers practical lessons for using the Sustainable Business Model Canvas to enhance sustainability in business strategy.

Author Biography

Barbara Bradač Hojnik, University of Maribor, Faculty of Economics and Business,

Barbara Bradač Hojnik, PhD is a full professor of entrepreneurship at the Faculty of Economics and Business UM. As a member of the research team of the Institute of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, she participates in numerous national and international research projects. She is the project leader of the Slovenian Entrepreneurship Observatory and a member of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Slovenia and the longitudinal research programme Entrepreneurship for nnovative Society. She is an expert in the SME Performance Review project for Slovenia and a member of the Strategic Council for the Economy. Her main research areas are sustainable and corporate entrepreneurship, international and digital entrepreneurship.

Maribor, Slovenia. E-mail: barbara.bradac@um.si

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Published

December 24, 2024

License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Case study of ECOALF: Sustainable Business Model in Fashion Industry. (2024). In Študije primerov EPF: Razvoj, trajnost in inovacije v poslovni praksi 2024 (pp. 129-168). University of Maribor Press. https://press.um.si/index.php/ump/catalog/book/952/chapter/232