Sustainable development goals (SDGs) through business models: a bibliometric and content analysis
Authors: Gómez Pescador Irune , Arzadun Paula 
Published: February 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the overall state and trends of the SDGs concerning business model backgrounds. Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by the United Nations in 2015, encompassing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), there has been a substantial increase in publications highlighting the contributions of the SDGs. Recent research underscores the pivotal role of business models and management frameworks in advancing the SDGs. However, key information, such as theoretical approaches, the most influential authors, journals, articles, and keywords, has yet to be fully determined. To address this gap, a comprehensive analysis was conducted on 167 high-impact articles in the relevant field.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a mixed-method approach, combining quantitative bibliometric analysis (performance analysis and science mapping) with qualitative content analysis.

Findings

Bibliographic coupling analysis has illuminated the intellectual structure of the literature connecting SDGs and business models, revealing six primary clusters: frameworks, management systems and reporting tools; sustainable business models (SBMs); circular business models; stakeholder and community involvement, industrial ecology and consumption; inclusive and responsible innovation; and sharing and collaborative economy business models. For Ibero-America, these findings highlight both opportunities and challenges. While there is notable progress in advancing SBMs, the analysis also points to a lack of interlinkages between countries, suggesting potential barriers to knowledge exchange and collaborative innovation within the region.

Research limitations/implications

For Iberoamerica, these findings highlight both opportunities and challenges. While there is notable progress in advancing SBMs, the analysis also points to a lack of interlinkages between countries, suggesting potential barriers to knowledge exchange and collaborative innovation within the region.

Practical implications

The practical implications of this research are manifold. The identification of prolific authors such as Di Vaio, Palladino and Hassan, and leading journals such as Sustainability andJournal of Cleaner Production, underscores the importance of these sources for practitioners seeking to understand the intersection of SDGs and business models. The prominence of Spain and Italy, along with key institutions such as the University of Naples Parthenope and the Polytechnic University of Madrid, highlights regions and organizations that are at the forefront of this research. Practitioners can look to these sources for insights into effective strategies and frameworks for integrating SDGs into business practices. The prominence of certain clusters, such as SBMs and circular economy, suggests areas where businesses can focus their efforts to align with sustainable practices and leverage innovations in the field.

Originality/value

This study offers valuable insights into the evolving relationship between business models and the achievement of SDGs and proposes a novel research agenda for exploring this dynamic in Iberoamerica.