Sustainable Strategic Management: Integrating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Factors
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 41
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
In an era marked by escalating environmental crises, profound social inequalities, and heightened demands for corporate accountability, the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into strategic management has become a central pillar of sustainable business practice. This paradigm shift is driven by two dynamics. On the one hand, mounting stakeholder expectations, stringent regulatory pressures, and a clear recognition of the long-term business risks associated with unsustainable practices are compelling firms to move beyond mere compliance and fundamentally rethink their value creation models. On the other hand, there is a growing understanding that a proactive and authentic integration of ESG factors can unlock new opportunities, enhance brand reputation, attract and retain top talent, secure investment, and ultimately contribute to more resilient and adaptive business models.
Despite the increasing attention being paid to ESG, the path to effective ESG integration is fraught with practical challenges, and significant research gaps remain. Organizations grapple with issues such as the risk of "greenwashing," the complexities of measuring and reporting non-financial performance, managing the trade-offs between short-term financial goals and long-term sustainability investments, and embedding ESG principles throughout complex global supply chains. The linkages between specific strategic actions, measurable ESG outcomes, and long-term financial performance need further theoretical development. Therefore, this Special Issue aims to advance our theoretical and empirical understanding of how organizations strategically integrate ESG factors into their core management processes.
In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Their research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:
- The role of ESG in shaping corporate mission, vision, and strategic planning;
- The integration of ESG factors into strategic decision-making processes (e.g., mergers and acquisitions, R&D, market entry strategies);
- Developing and implementing ESG-centric business models;
- The relationship between ESG integration, competitive advantages, and firm performance;
- Innovations in measuring, monitoring, and verifying ESG performance;
- The role of digital technologies in enhancing ESG management and implementation;
- ESG performance and strategy in global supply chain management;
- The relationship between ESG strategy and organizational innovation;
- The impact of ESG rating discrepancies on corporate strategy and stakeholder decision-making.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Prof. Dr. Zongjun Wang
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
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
- ESG
- sustainable strategy
- sustainability
- long-term value creation
- environmental strategy
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
