- Published by
- Oxfam Novib
This discussion paper summarises research on how Responsible Business Models (RBMs) can move from niche pilots to sector-wide norms. In this paper, RBMs are presented as a practical pathway for shifting market systems by embedding social and environmental responsibility into core business practice.
Organised around four phases - inception, adoption, critical mass and institutionalisation - it explains how civil society can support innovation, replication, adaptation and regulatory change.
Through examples such as cocoa pricing reforms and EU due diligence legislation, it illustrates how awareness raising, coalition building, capacity support and advocacy contribute to mainstreaming responsible business practices.
The paper emphasises the importance of enabling conditions, including access to finance, business support services and supportive governance. It positions civil society as both partner to frontrunners and advocate for stronger regulation to ensure responsible business becomes standard practice.