Researchers Take a Hands-On Approach

Researchers from the Regenerative Business Models study enthusiastically contributed during workdays at Bamboo Import Europe and Wilder Land companies. In addition to providing a service and strengthening the relationship between them, it offered the participating researchers a fresh and practical perspective on the companies under investigation by getting actively involved.

Regenerative Business Relationships

The Regenerative Business Models research is an initiative of the Entrepreneurship professorship (lecturers and researchers Ingrid Wakkee, Linda Drupsteen, Claudia Cuypers, and research assistant Emiel van der Zwet) and the Circular Design and Entrepreneurship professorship (lecturers and researchers Inge Oskam and Kasper Lange). The research aims to identify the characteristics that make a company regenerative. For this purpose, they focus on two cases: Bamboo Import Europe, a leading company in the import of sustainable bamboo products, and Wilder Land, an organization that focuses on the preservation and restoration of natural ecosystems by creating products from indigenous and local Dutch crops. Since both companies gave the researchers time and space to investigate their issues, the researchers felt it was a good idea to give something back. That's why researchers Linda Drupsteen, Claudia Cuypers, Kasper Lange, and student-assistant researcher Emiel van der Zwet rolled up their sleeves. They look back on two productive days with enthusiasm. "They provide us with extremely valuable insights for our research, but it takes a lot of time and we want to handle that carefully, so we wanted to give something back. It's relevant but also good for your relationship," says teacher and researcher Claudia Cuypers about her experience with the workdays. "It's valuable to spend a day working because it helps you better understand how the processes work." During one of the workdays, the researchers worked in the impressive warehouse of Bamboo Import Europe, where bamboo poles measuring up to 6 meters in height were stored, sourced from forests where bamboo can grow up to 30 meters tall.

"Participate instead of just observing"

In addition to working at Bamboo Import Europe, the researchers also filled, sealed, labeled, and prepared kombucha bottles for transport at Wilder Land. Teacher and researcher Linda Drupsteen shares her experience of "bottling" at Wilder Land: "I found it particularly valuable to come out of the 'ivory tower' as a researcher and participate instead of just observing. It was also valuable for the research because you get to talk about the content and your perspective as a researcher shifts." It wasn't only the researchers who saw the value of actively participating on the shop floor. "I was thrilled that the researchers spent a day working with us among the bamboo. I think a workday is crucial to contextualize an organization and thus the research. Especially when it comes to a relatively unknown product like bamboo," says Casper de Nooijer, director of Bamboo Import Europe. It was a successful collaboration with innovative practical insights and strengthened relationships.