Special Issue "Innovation for Sustainable Business"

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2022.

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Iwona Zdonek
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Organization and Management, The Silesian University of Technology, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland
Interests: CSR; society 5.0; open data in innovation; management; sustainability
Prof. Dr. Adam R. Szromek
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Organization and Management, The Silesian University of Technology, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland
Interests: tourism; health resorts; business models; spa tourism; management; sustainability
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We invite you to participate in this Special Issue entitled “Innovation for Sustainable Business”.  The need for sustainable development creates opportunities for businesses by implementing innovations that are designed to provide a competitive advantage to those who apply more sustainable practices and who offer more sustainable products.

These innovations are related to concepts such as industrial ecology, ecological modernization, triple bottom line, and cradle-to-cradle design. However, in innovation for sustainable business, we must not only consider the ecological dimension. The pillar of these innovations is threefold: ecological, social, and economic. This approach enables the consideration of sustainable innovations at various levels, ranging from operational optimization through organizational transformation to systems building.

We are pleased to invite you to submit your contributions in the research field of the defined area. To promote the effectiveness of innovations for sustainable business, there is an urgent need to understand the conditions that influence the success or failure of their implementation, and to comprehend the complexities of their social, economic, and environmental dimensions.

This Special Issue arises at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has been affecting the global economy for over a year, and still thrives. It has strongly affected many activities that companies carry out, but the full effects of this have not been researched to date. This renders all research in this matter of high importance for the development of innovation for sustainable business and its functioning in the future. This Special Issue intends to bridge these gaps by tackling the aforementioned issues.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Conditions for successful innovation towards sustainability;
  • Models of sustainability-oriented innovation;
  • Case studies describing contexts and activities of sustainability-oriented innovation;
  • Social, economic, and environmental dimensions of innovation for sustainable business;
  • Management methods and tools dedicated to the implementation of sustainability-oriented innovation;
  • The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on innovation for sustainable business;
  • Sustainable business models.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

References:

  1. Adams, R., Bessant, J., Jeanrenaud, S., Overy, P., Denyer, D., 2012. Innovating for sustainability: a systematic review of the body of knowledge, In: Bansal T. (Ed.), Topic: Innovation. Western University, http://nbs.net/wp-content/uploads/NBS-Systematic-Review-Innovation1.pdf
  2. Adams R., Jeanrenaud S., Bessant J., Denyer, D. Overy P., Sustainability-oriented innovation: a systematic review Int. J. Manage. Rev., 18 (2015), pp. 180-205
  3. Luqmani, A., Leach, M., Jesson, D., Factors behind sustainable business innovation: The case of a global carpet manufacturing company, Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, Vol. 24, 2017, pp. 94-105, ISSN 2210-4224, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2016.10.007
  4. Latapí Agudelo, M.A., Jóhannsdóttir, L.. Davídsdóttir, B.. A literature review of the history and evolution of corporate social responsibility. Int J Corporate Soc Responsibility 4, 1 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40991-018-0039-y
  5. Carroll, A. B. (2008). A history of corporate social responsibility: concepts and practices. In A. M. Andrew Crane, D. Matten, J. Moon, & D. Siegel (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of corporate social responsibility (pp. 19-46). New York: Oxford University Press.
  6. Dyllick, T., Hockerts K. Beyond the business case for corporate sustainability Bus. Strategy Environ., 11 (2002), pp. 130-141
  7. Dyczkowska, Joanna, Joanna Krasodomska, and Jan Michalak. "CSR in Poland: Institutional context, legal framework and voluntary initiatives." Accounting and Management Information Systems 15.2 (2016): 206. Available online: http://online-cig.ase.ro/RePEc/ami/articles/15_2_2.pdf
  8. Witek-Crabb, A. CSR Maturity in Polish Listed Companies: A Qualitative Diagnosis Based on a Progression Model. Sustainability 2019, 11, 1736. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061736
  9. Isadora Sánchez‐Torné Juan Carlos Morán‐Álvarez  José A. Pérez‐López, The importance of corporate social responsibility in achieving high corporate reputation. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.1993
  10. Du Pisani, J. A. (2006). Sustainable development – historical roots of the concept. Environmental Sciences, 3(2), 83–96. https://doi.org/10.1080/15693430600688831
  11. Sołtysik-Piorunkiewicz A., Zdonek I., How Society 5.0 and Industry 4.0 ideas shape the open data performance expectancy. 2021 Sustainability, vol. 13 iss. 2 pp. 1-24. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13020917
  12. Hysa, B.; Karasek, A.; Zdonek, I. Social Media Usage by Different Generations as a Tool for Sustainable Tourism Marketing in Society 5.0 Idea. Sustainability 2021, 13, 1018. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031018

Dr. Iwona Zdonek
Prof. Dr. Adam R. Szromek
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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 1900 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

  • sustainability-oriented innovation
  • sustainable development
  • management of eco-innovations
  • models of sustainability-oriented innovation
  • COVID-19 in sustainability-oriented innovation
  • sustainable business models

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

Article
The Green Side of Industry: The Drivers and the Impacts of ECO-Innovations in Brazil
Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 8065; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13148065 - 19 Jul 2021
Viewed by 818
Abstract
This study aimed to provide an overview of eco-innovations in the Brazilian industry. To address this issue, we analyzed specific data of eco-innovative companies. In addition, we applied the cluster heatmap technique, which allowed us to analyze the different drivers and impacts of [...] Read more.
This study aimed to provide an overview of eco-innovations in the Brazilian industry. To address this issue, we analyzed specific data of eco-innovative companies. In addition, we applied the cluster heatmap technique, which allowed us to analyze the different drivers and impacts of eco-innovations in different sectors. According to the results, companies that stated that innovation made it possible to reduce their environmental impact represent a third of all innovators. Moreover, they are companies that have shown greater effort to innovate and greater susceptibility to the benefits and obstacles of innovation. Furthermore, the eco-innovation strategy is mainly driven by market factors, such as reputation and codes of good practice. The impacts are mainly associated with the use of more widespread and less complex technologies, such as recycling. In addition to these results, the study considers some alternatives to guide the innovation policy, especially related to eco-innovations in semi-peripherical countries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation for Sustainable Business)
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Article
The Idea of Corporate Social Responsibility in the Opinion of Future Managers—Comparative Research between Poland and Georgia
Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7045; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137045 - 23 Jun 2021
Viewed by 309
Abstract
The article deals with the issue of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the awareness of economics students as future managers responsible for the implementation of this idea in enterprises. Due to the fact that CSR is a source of many innovations today, the [...] Read more.
The article deals with the issue of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the awareness of economics students as future managers responsible for the implementation of this idea in enterprises. Due to the fact that CSR is a source of many innovations today, the aim of the research was to learn about the awareness and opinions of students about CSR on such issues as: reasons for implementation, main activities, impact on profitability, and the need to explore and assess the usefulness of this knowledge. The research was conducted in 2019 among students from Poland and Georgia (as countries at various stages of advancement in the market economy). The results of the research were statistically analyzed in terms of obtaining answers to the hypotheses and research questions, checking the significance of differences in the answers due to nationality, and additionally, gender (chi-square test and test for two proportions). The primary contribution of this study is an exploration of the views of students on various issues of CSR and sustainability. The results showed that—according to students—ethical values, increased consumer awareness, and the desire to gain a competitive advantage are the most common reasons for the implementation of the CSR concept by companies. The vast majority of respondents indicated the need to enrich the knowledge of business ethics as an important aspect shaping the attitudes of employers and employees. The positive attitude of students regarding the impact of CSR on the company’s profitability was confirmed, although the authors expected more unambiguous results. Differences were also distinguished between the responses of students from both countries on some issues, such as: opinions on the developing ethical sensitivity, the need for the credibility of the EU economic policy, ecology and relations with the local community, as well as relations with the closest stakeholders of companies. The results of the conducted research suggest the need for intense activity in the field of public awareness and the requirement of personnel training for the skilful implementation of CSR principles in enterprises. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation for Sustainable Business)
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Article
The Drivers of Technological Eco-Innovation—Dynamic Capabilities and Leadership
Sustainability 2021, 13(10), 5354; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13105354 - 11 May 2021
Viewed by 417
Abstract
In the paper, a theoretical framework that combines the multidimensional conceptualization of dynamic capabilities (sensing, seizing, and reconfiguring) with two leadership styles (transactional and transformational) and two types of eco-innovation (incremental and radical) was developed and empirically tested. The purpose of this study [...] Read more.
In the paper, a theoretical framework that combines the multidimensional conceptualization of dynamic capabilities (sensing, seizing, and reconfiguring) with two leadership styles (transactional and transformational) and two types of eco-innovation (incremental and radical) was developed and empirically tested. The purpose of this study is to answer the key question: how different leadership styles influence the potential of dynamic capabilities to generate ecological changes. The research examining the theoretical framework was quantitative and was based on a deliberately selection of the sample, which included 54 of the most evo-innovative Polish companies. The results indicate that transformational leadership moderates the positive relationship between seizing capability and both incremental and radical technological eco-innovation, whereas transactional leadership moderates the positive relationship between reconfiguring capability and both types of analyzed changes. This paper contributes to the development of the literature by integrating three theoretical concepts, showing the importance of a given leadership style as a factor enhancing the potential of dynamic capabilities for the development of technological eco-innovation. Moreover, the study may be a contribution to a broader discussion on the specifics of eco-innovative activity and its behavioral conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation for Sustainable Business)
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: The drivers of technological eco-innovation – dynamic capabilities and leadership
Authors: Magdalena Pichlak
Affiliation: Faculty of Organization and Management, Institute of Economy and Informatics, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Abstract: In the paper, a theoretical framework that combines the multidimensional conceptualization of dynamic capabilities (sensing, seizing, and reconfiguring) with two leadership styles (transactional and transformational) and two types of eco-innovation (incremental and radical) was developed and empirically tested. The purpose of this study is to answer the key question: how different leadership styles influence the potential of dynamic capabilities to generate ecological changes. The research examining the theoretical framework was quantitative and was based on a deliberately selection of the sample, which included 54 of the most evo-innovative Polish companies. The results indicate that transformational leadership moderates the positive relationship between seizing capability and both incremental and radical technological eco-innovation, whereas transactional leadership moderates the positive relationship between reconfiguring capability and both types of analysed changes. This paper contributes to the development of the literature by integrating three theoretical concepts, showing the importance of a given leadership style as a factor enhancing the potential of dynamic capabilities for the development of technological eco-innovation. Moreover, the study may be a contribution to a broader discussion on the specifics of eco-innovative activity and its behavioural conditions.

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