DSM: Transforming to a sustainable business model

By Professor Knut Haanaes Knut Haanaes and Marc Chauvet

DSM was incorporated in the beginning of the 20th century as a mining company. With the depletion of Netherland’s coal resources, the company pivoted in the 1960s into a chemical company, producing fertilizer and plastics. By the end of the century, the company started successfully pivoting into life sciences, to support its growing focus on sustainability.

Learning Objective

Showcase how DSM managed to transform over the course of 5 decades from a mining company to a commodity chemicals company to life sciences

Keywords	Business Model Transformation, Clean Water, Good Health, Industry Infrastructure, Industry Innovation, Pivoting, Responsible Consumption, Responsible Production, Sanitation, Sustainability, Transformation, Well-being
Settings	Netherlands Dutch State Mines, Chemicals, Metals and Mining 1900-2022
Type	Published Sources
Copyright	©IMD 2022
Language	English

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Reference: IMD-7-2254

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