CONTENTS
Undertaking ii
Certificate iii
Acknowledgments iv
Abstract ix
Table of contents xiii
List of figures xxi
List of tables xxvii
1 Introduction 1
1.1 Nature of the environmental challenge 2
1.2 Potential of ecopreneurship as a game changer 5
1.3 Evidence of ecopreneurship in India 7
1.4 Research Question and Objectives 9
1.5 Limitations 10
1.6 Structure of the Thesis 10
2 Review of Literature 15
2.1 Context 15
2.2 Sustainable development and entrepreneurship . 16
2.3 Emergence of ecopreneurship as a special form of entrepreneurship 18
2.3.1 Meta-analysis of research on ecopreneurship . 19
2.3.2 Motivations and values as drivers of ecopreneurship 20
2.3.3 How green values colour business practices 21
2.3.4 Challenges faced by ecopreneurs 24
2.4 Defining ecopreneurship .. 25
2.5 Ecopreneurship and sustainable development goals . 26
2.6 Ecopreneurship in MSMEs 28
2.7 Ecopreneurship in India 29
3 Framework for Assessing Process of Ecopreneurship .. 33
3.1 Entrepreneurial process: A review of available literature . 33
3.1.1 Theoretical Frameworks in the commercial and social entrepreneurship Literature 35
3.1.2 The Business Model Canvas . 46
3.1.3 Sustainable entrepreneurship 47
3.2 Distinguishing features of ecopreneurship 50
3.3 Broad framework for exploring the process of ecopreneurship 51
4 Methodology 55
4.1 Epistemology and Ontology 55
4.2 Choice of method 55
4.3 Research Design 56
4.4 Criteria and process adopted for selecting ecopreneurs for the study 57
4.5 Profile of the sample . 58 4.5
4.6 Process adopted to carry out the case studies 59
4.6.1 Development of questionnaire/ check-list for the interviews 59
4.6.2 Conducting the Interviews 60
4.6.3 Other Sources of Information 60
4.7 Data Collection . 60 4.7
4.8 Data Analysis .. 61 4.8
5 Key Findings: .. 62
5.1 Claro Energy Private Limited .. 62
5.1.1 Introduction . 62
5.1.2 Context 63
5.1.3 The Eco enterprise 67
5.1.4 The Product – Solar-Powered Water Pumping Solution . 67
Ecopreneurship in India: Investigation of Strategies and Business Models
5.1.5 The Business Model 70
5.1.6 Socio-Economic and Environmental Impacts and Accomplishments 76
5.1.7 The Road Ahead 81
5.2 Daily Dump (PBK Waste Solutions Private Limited) 83
5.2.1 Introduction 83
5.2.2 Context 83
5.2.3 Daily Dump: The Eco Enterprise 88
5.2.4 Khamba: the Product, its Use and its Production System 91
5.2.5 Business Strategies . 96
5.2.6 Social and Environmental Impacts and Accomplishments 102
5.2.7 Future Prospects: 103
5.3 Tamul Plates Marketing Private Limited 105
5.3.1 Introduction . 105
5.3.2 Context 105
5.3.3 Eco-friendly Alternative: The All Natural Dinnerware 106
5.3.4 The Ecopreneurs and the Eco-Enterprise 108
5.3.5 Business Model and Strategies 116
5.3.6 Accomplishments: Socioeconomic and Environmental 124
5.3.7 Awards and Recognition 127
5.3.8 The Future . 130
5.4 NEEV- Handmade Herbal Soaps, Jamshedpur 132
5.4.1 Introduction 132
5.4.2 Context 132
5.4.3 The Eco-Enterprise. 134
5.4.4 Business Model 139
5.4.5 Social and Environmental Impact and Accomplishments . 147
5.4.6 Accomplishments and Awards 148
5.4.7 The Road Ahead: 148
6 Process of Ecopreneurship: Individual Case Analysis 150
6.1 Claro Energy Private limited.. 150 6.1
6.1.1 Genesis 150
6.1.2 Blended Value Creation . 153
6.1.3 Outcomes 156
6.1.4 Competitive Advantage . 157
6.1.5 Scaling up for Impact . 160
Daily Dump 164 6.2
6.2.1 Genesis 164
6.2.2 Blended Value Creation . 168
6.2.3 Outcomes 170
6.2.4 Competitive Advantage . 171
6.2.5 Scaling up for Impact . 173
6.3 Tamul 175
6.3.1 Genesis 175
6.3.2 Blended Value creation 178
6.3.3 Outcomes 180
6.3.4 Competitive Advantage 181
6.3.5 Scaling up for Impact 185
6.4 Neev Handmade Herbal Soaps Private limited 187
6.4.1 Genesis 187
6.4.2 Blended Value creation 191
6.4.3 Outcomes 192
6.4.4 Competitive Advantage 193
6.4.5 Scaling up for Impact . 196
Ecopreneurship in India: Investigation of Strategies and Business Models
7 Cross Analysis of Case Studies 199
7.1 Financial Performance 199
7.2 Analysis of growth over comparable time period . 200
7.3 Assessment of financial health through ratio analysis 202
7.4 Summary of Findings 204
7.5 Process of Ecopreneurship 205
Genesis . 206
7.6.1 Motivation, background and values of ecopreneurs 206
7.6.2 Recognizing a Social and/or Ecological Problem 207
7.6.3 Developing a Value Proposition . 208
7.6.4 Establishment of eco-enterprise 210
7.6.5 Leveraging Government policy 211
7.6.6 Technological Innovations to create environmental value 211
7.6.7 Genesis: Summing up 212
7.7 Creation of Value chain through strategic partnerships 212 7.7
7.8 Strategies deployed . 213 7.8
7.8.1 Leveraging government policy 213
7.8.2 Inclusive sourcing and/or production 213
7.8.3 Developing multiple delivery channels 213
7.8.4 Establishing entry barriers to ward off competition 214
7.8.5 Awareness and education campaign 214
7.8.6 Outcomes 215
7.8.7 Blended value creation: Cognitive level 218
7.8.8 Assessment of the four eco-enterprise cases on Blended value creation at Cognitive level 221
7.8.9 Sustaining blended value creation 226
7.8.10 Competitive advantage 230
7.8.11 Summing up: Blended value creation and outcomes 230
7.8.12 Possible routes of scaling up 231
7.8.13 Summing up: Scaling 233
Towards a process model of ecopreneurship 234 7.9
Business Models 237 7.10
Barriers and Facilitators faced by Ecopreneurs 250 7.11
8 Discussion of Key Findings 252
8.0 Introduction 252
8.1 What drives ecopreneurs? 252
8.2 Trigger for ecopreneurship 253
8.3 Importance of inclusiveness in solving environmental problems 254
8.4 Seeking business opportunity in environmental problems 256
8.5 Blended value creation: Cognitive level 256
8.6 Strategy making approaches in ecopreneurship 257
8.7 Innovation and ecopreneurship 259
8.8 Leveraging Policy as a strategy 260
8.9 Creating blended value: Physical level 262
8.10 Consumer behavior in ecopreneurship strategies 264
8.11 Sustaining blended value creation 266
8.12 Business Model Innovation and Scaling up Strategies 266
8.13 Role of enabling environment in fostering ecopreneurship 269
8.14 Fine tuning of the process model 269
8.15 Distinguishing features of ecopreneurship 272
9 Conclusions 277
9.1 Implications for research 278
9.2 Implications for Practice 281
9.3 Implications for policy: 284
Ecopreneurship in India: Investigation of Strategies and Business Models
10 Bibliography 287
11 Annexure 1: Shortlisted organisations 311
12 Annexure 2: Questionnaire checklist for case studies 315
13 Annexure 3 Framework for exploring the process of ecopreneurship 318