Integrated Sustainability Management Across Processes, Supply Chains, and Innovation Systems as Drivers of Change

Dear Colleagues,

In the face of growing geopolitical tensions, the climate crisis, limited resources, and increasing regulatory requirements (e.g., CSRD, CSDDD, Fit for 55), companies are compelled to transform the way they design, implement, and manage their processes, supply chains, and innovations. Sustainability is no longer a peripheral (optional) concern—it is becoming the core of business process management, both regulatory- and society-driven, and serves as a catalyst for profound systemic change.

An increasing number of companies are taking action to reduce emissions, minimize resource consumption, and manage supply chains ethically. Research highlights a variety of practices, (1) both universal and comprehensive and (2) specialized [Grzybowska, Tundys]. For example, automotive corporations are introducing emission tracking across their entire supply chains in response to the requirements of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Sustainability is becoming a strategic imperative.

In this context, integrated sustainability management emerges as a critical concept, bringing together three fundamental areas: (1) processes (production, logistics, services); (2) supply chains (local and global); and (3) innovation systems (technological, organizational, social).

Integrating these three areas forms the foundation for effective transformation toward sustainable development. This approach not only enables the achievement of environmental and social objectives, but also facilitates the more effective implementation of enabling technologies—such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), and digital twins.

This Special Issue responds to the growing need for in-depth research on integrated sustainability management across the full range of organizational activities—from strategies around supply chains, processes, and operations, to innovation. Our aim is to bring together interdisciplinary scientific papers and practical analyses that offer new insights into how to build resilience, efficiency, and accountability within complex organizational systems and value chains.

We welcome submissions of empirical research, case studies, and conceptual and theoretical papers that present innovative approaches, models, and methods for sustainable development, with a particular emphasis on integration and transformation.

Suggested thematic areas include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Integrated management of sustainable processes and operations;
• Industry 5.0, Industry 4.0, and technologies supporting climate goals;
• Systemic and social innovation for sustainable development;
• Transformation of business models toward sustainability;
• Designing resilient and ethical value chains;
• Indicators and methods for measuring the impact of sustainable practices;
• Integrated reporting and ESG due diligence;
• ESG integration strategies in strategic and operational management.

Dr. Katarzyna Grzybowska
Dr. Blanka Tundys
Dr. Piotr Cyplik
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 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.

• integrated sustainability management
• sustainable development
• supply chain management
• business process transformation
• innovation systems
• ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance)
• digital technologies (AI, blockchain, IoT, digital twins)
• Industry 4.0/Industry 5.0
• sustainable value chains
• Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)
• sustainability metrics and indicators
• resilience and responsibility
• sustainable business models