This Whitepaper on Circular Business Models - A study to classify existing and emerging forms of value retention and creation consists of three parts:

1. The first part discusses the background and explains the circular economy (CE), the connection with sustainability, business models and an overview of circular business models.
2. The second part provides an overview of the developed classification of CBM and describes each basic type according to its characteristics. As a result, it identifies seven knowledge maps.
3. The third part looks back briefly at the reliability of the classification made and then at the aspects of change management in working on and with a CBM. 

The CBM classification has been used to develop a Quick Scan CBM.