Triple Bottom Line impacts of traditional Product-Service Systems models: Myth or truth? A Natural Language Understanding approach

Abstract

Currently, there is in the literature a debate concerning the real impact of Product-Service Systems (PSS) models on society. It is now stated that PSS does not necessarily lead to sustainable solutions in practice from a Triple Bottom Line (TBL) perspective. On the other hand, a promising approach, i.e. the Sustainable Product-Service Systems (SPSS) approach, has received attention from scholars within this debate. However, due to the novelty of this discussion, there is insufficient understanding of the synergies and divergences between both approaches regarding the potential to deliver TBL solutions to society. To address these lacks, this study examines the synergies and divergences between PSS and the emerging SPSS to deliver TBL solutions to society. Qualitative and quantitative research approaches were adopted to address the research questions. First, a structured literature review was employed. The literature analysis was segmented into two distinct periods (i.e., first period from 1990 to 2009, and the second period from 2010 to 2021). Next, the Natural Language Understanding (NLU) tools based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Neural Networks were applied to analyse the conceptual definitions retrieved from the relevant literature and extract new knowledge regarding both approaches. Third, the patterns of new knowledge were analysed against the literature in the area leading to research findings. Overall, findings indicate that, from a TBL perspective, SPSS is an emerging and promising approach in which the environmental and social dimensions are more salient than in the traditional PSS models. The study also unveils the central concepts related to both approaches in the extant literature. The article extends the current knowledge on PSS and SPSS, guiding the research communities interested in this area and unlocking the present and future challenges towards an effective sustainable-oriented economy. This article is a pioneering study to examine how the PSS and SPSS concepts have advanced towards TBL solutions in society.