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Green Innovation and CSR: Driving Sustainable Solutions for Environmental Challenges

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 2428

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Finance, School of Management, University of Quebec in Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
Interests: finance; development finance; financial institutions; financial markets; microfinance; corporate governance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Green innovation and corporate social responsibility (CSR) are essential drivers for sustainable development, addressing critical environmental challenges such as climate change, pollution, and resource depletion. Green innovation involves the development and implementation of eco-friendly technologies, products, and processes that reduce environmental impacts while promoting economic growth. CSR, on the other hand, ensures that businesses integrate environmental and social considerations into their operations, aligning corporate strategies with sustainability goals.

The synergy between green innovation and CSR enables companies to enhance their competitive advantage, improve brand reputation, and meet regulatory requirements while contributing to global sustainability efforts. Organizations adopting green innovation practices, such as renewable energy integration, waste reduction, and circular economy models, can achieve long-term environmental and economic benefits. Moreover, CSR initiatives, including sustainable supply chain management, carbon footprint reduction, and corporate sustainability reporting, help firms foster stakeholder trust and societal wellbeing.

By embracing green innovation and CSR, businesses can play a pivotal role in driving sustainable solutions, fostering environmental responsibility, and achieving long-term resilience in the face of global environmental challenges.

Prof. Dr. Jean-Pierre Gueyie
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • green innovation
  • corporate social responsibility (CSR)
  • environmental challenges
  • circular economy
  • waste reduction
  • carbon footprint
  • corporate sustainability reporting
  • stakeholder trust

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 3009 KB  
Article
How Environmental Assurances and Certifications Shape Environmental Scores and Their Relationship with Environmental Controversies: Evidence from the Main European Union Companies
by Francisco José González Sánchez, Ana María Moreno Adalid, Gracia Rubio Martín and Daniel Cid Moreno
Sustainability 2026, 18(2), 908; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18020908 - 15 Jan 2026
Viewed by 381
Abstract
This study examines whether environmental assurance and environmental management certifications are associated with subsequent environmental performance and reputational exposure in European Union listed firms. Using Refinitiv Eikon panel data for 441 firms (1773 firm-year observations) from 2017–2023, we analyze environmental pillar sub-scores (Emissions, [...] Read more.
This study examines whether environmental assurance and environmental management certifications are associated with subsequent environmental performance and reputational exposure in European Union listed firms. Using Refinitiv Eikon panel data for 441 firms (1773 firm-year observations) from 2017–2023, we analyze environmental pillar sub-scores (Emissions, Resource Use, and Innovation) and three intensity indicators (energy, pollution, and recycled waste intensity). We estimate firm fixed-effects models for performance outcomes and Firth’s logistic regression models for media-reported environmental controversies, using lagged assurance/certification indicators. Environmental assurance is consistently associated with higher environmental sub-scores and with lower energy and pollution intensity, alongside higher recycled waste intensity. In contrast, certification effects are weaker and more heterogeneous across intensity-based indicators. Regarding reputational exposure, assured firms show a higher likelihood of subsequent media-reported environmental controversies, which is consistent with heightened scrutiny and visibility rather than evidence of intent. These findings inform boards, assurance providers, investors, and policymakers seeking to strengthen the credibility and use of corporate environmental information. Full article
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23 pages, 5121 KB  
Article
Spatial Assessment of Ecotourism Development Suitability Incorporating Carrying Capacity in the Yellow River Estuary National Park
by Haoyu Wang, Yanming Zhang, Quanbin Wang, Jing Yu and Chunjiu Yuan
Sustainability 2025, 17(18), 8449; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17188449 - 20 Sep 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1403
Abstract
Ecotourism is vital for harmonious human–nature coexistence in national parks, making the quantification of its spatial suitability an urgent scientific priority. This study took the Yellow River Estuary National Park (YRENP) as the study area and constructed a multi-criteria evaluation model by interpreting [...] Read more.
Ecotourism is vital for harmonious human–nature coexistence in national parks, making the quantification of its spatial suitability an urgent scientific priority. This study took the Yellow River Estuary National Park (YRENP) as the study area and constructed a multi-criteria evaluation model by interpreting the relationship between Ecotourism Environmental Carrying Capacity (EECC) and Ecotourism Development Suitability (EDS), addressing the critical gap in the integrated land–sea ecotourism suitability assessment for coastal national parks, using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to determine indicator weights and ArcGIS for spatial visualization. Multi-source geospatial data, including land use, NDVI, DEM, and socio-economic datasets, were integrated. The results revealed the following: (1) Overall moderate EECC levels with stronger terrestrial capacity contrast with weaker marine capacity—high-carrying zones being limited to nearshore areas; (2) The overall EDS level was favorable, where southern section significantly outperformed northern zones, forming concentrated high-suitability clusters encircling lower-suitability areas; (3) Marine EDS slightly exceeds terrestrial suitability, with optimal coastal zones transitioning landward toward progressively higher suitability. This research provided a replicable methodology for ecotourism suitability assessment in coastal protected areas and supported sustainable spatial planning in land–sea integrated national parks. Full article
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