Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.8
3.9
Journals
Sustainability
Special Issues
Advances in Sustainability Oriented Innovations
sustainability-logo
Submit to Sustainability Review for Sustainability Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Advances in Sustainability Oriented Innovations

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2020) | Viewed by 19967

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Nuria González-Álvarez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Management, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n 24007 León, Spain
Interests: innovation; entrepreneurship; strategic management
Dr. Laura Cabeza-García

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Management, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n 24071 León, Spain
Interests: corporate governance; corporate social responsibility; strategic management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will focus on the study of sustainability-oriented innovations (SOI). They “involve making intentional changes to an organization’s philosophy and values, as well as to its products, processes or practices to serve the specific purpose of creating and realizing social and environmental value in addition to economic returns” [1]. Although SOI has gained recognition as a priority topic for studies in environmental management, sustainability and innovation areas [2,3], a critical reading of previous literature reveals that what is known about SOI is deficient [1].

Accordingly, the purpose of this Special Issue is to shed light on SOI literature. For example, trying to advance SOI definition and measures, identifying and analyzing institutional/organizational factors that influence its development, how firms implement these actions, and the influence of SOI on firm performance, among other topics. We seek articles on innovative approaches and developments in SOI as well as fresh perspectives on continuing challenges. We encourage theoretical, methodological, and empirical research works focused on SOI development.

References

[1]. Adams, R., Jeanrenaud, S., Bessant, J., Denyer, D., Overy, P. Sustainability-oriented innovation: A systematic review. Inter. J. manag. rev. 2016, 18, 180–205.

[2]. Igarashi, Y.; Okada, M. Social innovation through a dementia project using innovation architecture. Technol. Forecast. Soc. Chang. 2015, 97, 193–204.

[3]. Iñigo, E.A.; Albareda, L. Sustainability oriented-innovation dynamics: Levels of dynamics capabilities and their path-dependent and self-reinforcing logics. Technol. Forecast. Soc. Chang. 2019, 139, 334–351.

Dr. Nuria González-Álvarez
Dr. Laura Cabeza-García
Guest Editors

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.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Editorial

Jump to: Research

5 pages, 207 KiB  
Editorial
Introduction to Special Issue “Advances in Sustainability-Oriented Innovations”
by Nuria González-Álvarez and Laura Cabeza-García
Sustainability 2020, 12(21), 8836; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12218836 - 24 Oct 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1590
Abstract
This Special Issue focuses on the study of Sustainability-Oriented Innovations (SOIs). Our purpose is to shed light on the SOIs literature regarding their determining factors, implications and new challenges for the future. In this editorial, we are delighted to present the three papers [...] Read more.
This Special Issue focuses on the study of Sustainability-Oriented Innovations (SOIs). Our purpose is to shed light on the SOIs literature regarding their determining factors, implications and new challenges for the future. In this editorial, we are delighted to present the three papers included in this Special Issue. Each of them tackles different issues related to SOIs having important academic and managerial implications. Two papers analyze the influence of SOIs on urban development and resource productivity, respectively, and the third studies SOIs determinants, in particular, cooperation networks. Moreover, two of the papers analyze SOIs considering territory (cities or countries) as their unit of analysis while the third focuses on firms. This denotes that SOIs’ actions are important whatever the level of analysis and as either a determinant or a consequence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainability Oriented Innovations)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

13 pages, 481 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Consumption and Production: Exploring the Links with Resources Productivity in the EU-28
by Gustavo Pineiro-Villaverde and María Teresa García-Álvarez
Sustainability 2020, 12(21), 8760; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12218760 - 22 Oct 2020
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3957
Abstract
In the framework of the European Union’s Sustainable Development Policy, the promotion of sustainable consumption and production patterns has been a key issue. The explanation is given by their capacity to address social and economic development within the carrying capacity of ecosystems and [...] Read more.
In the framework of the European Union’s Sustainable Development Policy, the promotion of sustainable consumption and production patterns has been a key issue. The explanation is given by their capacity to address social and economic development within the carrying capacity of ecosystems and decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation. The EU has established an extensive range of proposals on sustainable consumption and production (SCP), which include an energy- and resource-efficient economy, circular economy, waste prevention and recycling, among others. This paper contributes, by using both factorial and regression analysis, to the identification of fundamental constructs that define SCP in the EU-28, their links with resource productivity and the role of governments and enterprises in its improvement by means of investment in research, development and innovation over the period 2001–2018. Some recommendations to policy-makers are proposed in the paper in order to take actions directly on SCP, such as promoting the use of recycled raw materials in public works, or imposing the need for Ecolabel certification to contract with public administration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainability Oriented Innovations)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 4272 KiB  
Article
Artificial Intelligence in the Urban Environment: Smart Cities as Models for Developing Innovation and Sustainability
by Anabel Ortega-Fernández, Rodrigo Martín-Rojas and Víctor Jesús García-Morales
Sustainability 2020, 12(19), 7860; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12197860 - 23 Sep 2020
Cited by 45 | Viewed by 10480
Abstract
Climate change, overpopulation and the squandering of resources currently pose problems of such magnitude that they require a change in the trend to mitigate their effects. It is essential to make society aware of the facts and to educate the population about the [...] Read more.
Climate change, overpopulation and the squandering of resources currently pose problems of such magnitude that they require a change in the trend to mitigate their effects. It is essential to make society aware of the facts and to educate the population about the advantages that new technologies can provide for efficient urban development. We therefore ask whether an ordinary medium-sized city can become a Smart City. In order to assess this possibility, our study analyzes different models of Smart Cities implemented in Spain (e.g., Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Malaga and Santander), contrasting them with the specific case of one city that is not yet a Smart City (Granada) in order to discuss which strategic technological actions to implement in different topical areas of action: the economy, sustainability, mobility, government, population, and quality of life. The study uses Cohen’s wheel to give researchers in the field a series of indicators and factors that can be used to analyze public data with statistical methods in order to obtain clear positive scores for Madrid and Barcelona. The analysis shows Granada’s deficiencies in the scores for digital government, accessibility, the efficiency of public transport, and mobility, among others. Finally, the data obtained demonstrate the need to implement an integrated dashboard with different proposals in the strategic areas analyzed in order to achieve the transformation of conventional cities into Smart Cities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainability Oriented Innovations)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 440 KiB  
Article
Cooperation Networks as a Driver of Sustainability-Oriented Innovation
by Alberto Melane-Lavado and Agustín Álvarez-Herranz
Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 2820; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072820 - 2 Apr 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3450
Abstract
Companies can contribute to sustainable development in a dynamic and globalized market, such as today’s, through Sustainability-Oriented Innovation (SOI). However, to do this implies meeting specific requirements and dealing with greater complexity because of the higher level of sophistication of cooperation networks for [...] Read more.
Companies can contribute to sustainable development in a dynamic and globalized market, such as today’s, through Sustainability-Oriented Innovation (SOI). However, to do this implies meeting specific requirements and dealing with greater complexity because of the higher level of sophistication of cooperation networks for this kind of innovation. In this context, to meet the requirements demanded by SOI, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is considered fundamental. However, it is not known whether their capacity to focus more on heterogeneous knowledge sources, which, thanks to their cooperation networks, are broad and geographically diverse, would have a differential impact on SOIs. Through comparative analysis, this paper attempts to shed light on the possible network differences for companies, with and without FDI, looking to undertake SOI. It focuses on the knowledge framework and geographical scope stemming from cooperation for successfully undertaking sustainable developments. To this end, three networks had to be set up, which include diversity, scope, experience, and frequency of national, European, and global cooperation. The results lend strength to the theory that SOI is favored by European and global cooperation networks if companies have FDI, and by national networks if there is no foreign participation. For this, the role of absorptive capacity is key, understood as a joint analysis of R&D intensity and the skills and education of employees tasked with innovation, and the implementation of new organizational methods. Lastly, it is confirmed that having FDI allows companies to have qualified employees, and better methods and organizational practices in connection with an openness to innovation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainability Oriented Innovations)
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop