Special Issue "Corporate Sustainability and Sustainable Management in Changing Environments"

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: 30 April 2022.

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Josep Maria Raya
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Universitat Pompeu Fabra Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Interests: economic sustainability, economic impact, housing policy, sustainable tourism, social impact
Dr. Marian Buil
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Escola de Ciències Socials i de l’Empresa Tecnocampus - Universitat Pompeu Fabra Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Interests: Sustainable business models Sustainability commitment, Sustainability competences, Sustainable development, Sustainable development goals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The current global economy has shown that increasing volatility and growing challenges, such as climate change, inequalities, and pandemics, require the transformation of managerial models from a financial perspective to a sustainable management according to sustainable environmental and social criteria. In changing environments, companies must be capable of adaptation to enable long-term sustainability. To that end, internal and external changes are needed in the business of keeping the relevant stakeholders: employees, customers, and suppliers involved. To address this situation, capabilities must be developed that enable the creation, retention, and sustainability of new values required in situations of change, as they create a disruption in the market and thus directly affect the results of the company, its commitment to stakeholders, and their/​its impact on the economy. This Special Issue presents different approaches of corporate sustainability to address changes in markets and economies.

This Special Issue is focused on but not limited to the following topics:

  • Corporate sustainability and corporate social responsibility practices
  • Sustainability commitment of business stakeholders
  • Sustainable management in companies
  • Sustainable business models
  • Capabilities to foster sustainable management
  • Sustainable value creation

Dr. Josep Maria Raya
Dr. Marian Buil
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 papers will be 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 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

  • Corporate sustainability
  • Corporate social responsibility
  • Economic sustainability
  • Sustainability training
  • Sustainability perception
  • Sustainable management
  • Sustainability capabilities

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

Article
Construction of Biophysical Indicators for the Catalan Economy: Building a New Conceptual Framework
Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7462; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137462 - 04 Jul 2021
Viewed by 467
Abstract
The main objective of this work is to create an environmental vision of the Catalan economy based on various indicators. To do this, we started from the fundamental idea of obtaining new metrics to measure impacts on the economy. The methodology used is [...] Read more.
The main objective of this work is to create an environmental vision of the Catalan economy based on various indicators. To do this, we started from the fundamental idea of obtaining new metrics to measure impacts on the economy. The methodology used is focused on the systematization of descriptive statistics and econometric review. In this sense, GDP and GDP per capita are valued as chrematistic units, and biophysical variables are incorporated. For the period 2000–2016, the figures for energy consumption, CO2 emissions, energy intensity of the economy and water consumption were collected. In addition, demographic evolution and the Gini index were also ordered as factors that contribute to explaining not only population trajectory but also some of the social factors. Greater technological efficiency in regard to environmental aspects is intuited as sensitive to the economic cycle. The study is novel in the panorama of the regional economy of Spain, by incorporating biophysical variables to the applied economic analysis. Full article
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Article
Economic and Social Yield of Investing in a Sporting Event: Sustainable Value Creation in a Territory
Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7033; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137033 - 23 Jun 2021
Viewed by 324
Abstract
Sporting events are a stimulant for the economy and for improving social benefits. This paper aims to estimate a sporting event’s economic and social impact through input–output tables and cost-benefit analysis methodologies. Tangible and non-tangible impacts, such as health benefits and the value [...] Read more.
Sporting events are a stimulant for the economy and for improving social benefits. This paper aims to estimate a sporting event’s economic and social impact through input–output tables and cost-benefit analysis methodologies. Tangible and non-tangible impacts, such as health benefits and the value of the host city’s tourism image are investigated. Using data collected from the MedSailing event in 2019, the results show a positive return from every euro invested in the sporting event both economically and socially. Additionally, the results related to the media impact of the sporting event are shown. A single figure of net returns to society enables policymakers to assess the social value of the investment itself and make decisions that improve the economic development of the territory. Full article
Article
Home Bias and Corporate Environmental Social Responsibility
Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 5860; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13115860 - 23 May 2021
Viewed by 489
Abstract
This paper analyzes the impact of executives’ hometown identification on corporate environmental social responsibility (CESR) using a sample of Chinese A-share-listed companies from 2007 to 2018. It finds that: the CESR scores of companies are higher when executives work in their hometowns, indicating [...] Read more.
This paper analyzes the impact of executives’ hometown identification on corporate environmental social responsibility (CESR) using a sample of Chinese A-share-listed companies from 2007 to 2018. It finds that: the CESR scores of companies are higher when executives work in their hometowns, indicating that executives’ hometown identification significantly improves the fulfillment of CESR; mechanism tests show that the above relationship is more significant in regions with superior environmental quality, indicating that executives take CESR more seriously in their hometowns more due to social pressure; further tests found that executive characteristics, such as executive type and age, have a regulating effect on this relationship. In addition, the nature of property rights of listed companies also affects executives’ hometown identification. Executives of state-owned enterprises have a stronger hometown identification, which enhances the fulfillment of CESR to a higher extent. In the context of the micro level of the enterprise, this paper provides positive evidence that an informal system, named as “hometown identity”, can enhance the performance of CESR and the pressure effect implicitly behind the social network, which enriches and expands the research related to CESR fulfillment. Full article
Article
Excellence in Sustainable Management in a Changing Environment
Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 2296; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042296 - 20 Feb 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 524
Abstract
In the current changing environment, organizations need to evolve from a profitable perspective to a more sustainable focus. To deal with this change, the implementation of specific quality models and principles might help. Thus, the present article aims to study whether sustainable management [...] Read more.
In the current changing environment, organizations need to evolve from a profitable perspective to a more sustainable focus. To deal with this change, the implementation of specific quality models and principles might help. Thus, the present article aims to study whether sustainable management can be achieved in specific organizations (enterprises, associations, and government institutions) by identifying the EFQM principles. Moreover, it analyses which of these quality principles positively and directly impacts the performances studied (environmental, social, and economic). To achieve these objectives, Ordinal Logistic Regression (ORL) was performed using data corresponding to the sample compiled by the Càtedra Universitària de Responsabilitat Social (RSU) from University of Girona. The research results indicate that implementing specific quality principles all the dimensions improved; thus, the organization becomes more sustainable. The value of this research lies in its contribution to the sustainable management literature; adds knowledge to the ongoing debate about the possible influence of TQM principles on the specific dimensions of sustainable management and highlight the importance of having a clear strategy to obtain the highest sustainable performance. Full article
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Article
Corporate Sustainability: It’s Mine! Effect of Green Product Psychological Ownership on the Environmental Behavior and Performance of Employees
Sustainability 2020, 12(24), 10514; https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410514 - 15 Dec 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 562
Abstract
Green shared vision (GSV) has provided a research prototype for past green management research topics; however, few studies have examined the confusion related to environmental issues among employees. Therefore, to fill the aforementioned research gap, this study used psychological ownership theory and expectancy–valence [...] Read more.
Green shared vision (GSV) has provided a research prototype for past green management research topics; however, few studies have examined the confusion related to environmental issues among employees. Therefore, to fill the aforementioned research gap, this study used psychological ownership theory and expectancy–valence theory to establish a research framework for GSV. This study explored the relationships of GSV with employee green confusion (EGC) and employee environmental performance (EEP) as well as the mediating effect of green product psychological ownership (GPPO) on these relationships. The research results indicate that GSV positively affects GPPO, EGC, and EEP. Moreover, GSV also influences behavior and performance through personal psychological processes. Thus, if an enterprise wishes to establish GSV, it must adopt a series of supporting measures, including improving members’ GPPO, to effectively reduce EGC and improve EEP to realize the goal of sustainable development. Full article
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Article
Research on the Sustainability of the Enterprise Business Ecosystem from the Perspective of Boundary: The China Case
Sustainability 2020, 12(16), 6435; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12166435 - 10 Aug 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 669
Abstract
In the context of the Internet, the business environment shows great uncertainty. This kind of uncertainty has not only changed the original competitive boundary of enterprise completely, but also the competition rules of enterprise. The cooperation of enterprises with suppliers, producers, sellers, customers, [...] Read more.
In the context of the Internet, the business environment shows great uncertainty. This kind of uncertainty has not only changed the original competitive boundary of enterprise completely, but also the competition rules of enterprise. The cooperation of enterprises with suppliers, producers, sellers, customers, other organizations and stakeholders is getting closer and closer. The competition among enterprises is no longer the competition between individual enterprises, but based on the co-evolution under the business ecosystem. Therefore, how to create a good business ecosystem and sustainable development is the main problem faced by enterprises. This paper conducts an exploratory case study on the sustainability of the business ecosystem of enterprises from the perspective of boundary, to provide a new theoretical basis for the sustainable development of enterprises. This study investigates the specific impact of various system elements on the sustainable development of enterprises, summarizes the theoretical model, and finally provides feasible suggestions on promoting the sustainable development of the business ecosystem from the perspective of boundary. Full article
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Article
The Relation between Environmental Management Systems and Environmental and Financial Performance in Emerging Economies
Sustainability 2020, 12(13), 5309; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12135309 - 01 Jul 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 902
Abstract
This study pursues to clarify the effect of environmental management systems (EMS) comprehensiveness on environmental performance and financial performance using an extensive quantitative dataset obtained in Brazil over an eight-year period. It is recognized that the implementation of environmental management differs per company [...] Read more.
This study pursues to clarify the effect of environmental management systems (EMS) comprehensiveness on environmental performance and financial performance using an extensive quantitative dataset obtained in Brazil over an eight-year period. It is recognized that the implementation of environmental management differs per company varying in how many environmental practices are adopted and hence how comprehensive the EMS is. The relationship between EMS comprehensiveness, environmental performance, and financial performance proves to be complex. First of all, the overall negative effect of environmental performance on financial performance may indicate that the resources needed to realize an improved environmental performance do not outweigh the cost reductions resulting from eco-efficiency or improved reputation. The effect of EMS comprehensiveness on financial performance is in line with that, indicating that an above average EMS comprehensiveness results in lower financial performance, which may correspond to high environmental management- and overhead costs. Across sectors, the companies operating in sector industries have high quality EMS comprehensiveness, while the companies in agriculture, commerce, and services exhibit a lower EMS. Full article
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Article
Learning from the Anthropocene: Adaptive Epistemology and Complexity in Strategic Managerial Thinking
Sustainability 2020, 12(11), 4427; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12114427 - 29 May 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 880
Abstract
Turbulence experienced in the business and social realms resonates with turbulence unfolding throughout the biosphere, as a process of accelerating change at the stratigraphic scale termed the Anthropocene. The Anthropocene is understood as a multi-dimensional limit point, one dimension of which concerns the [...] Read more.
Turbulence experienced in the business and social realms resonates with turbulence unfolding throughout the biosphere, as a process of accelerating change at the stratigraphic scale termed the Anthropocene. The Anthropocene is understood as a multi-dimensional limit point, one dimension of which concerns the limits to the lineal epistemology prevalent since the Age of the Enlightenment. This paper argues that future conditions necessitate the updating of a lineal epistemology through a transition towards resilience thinking that is both adaptive and ecosystemic. A management paradigm informed by the recognition of multiple equilibria states distinguished by thresholds, and incorporating adaptive and resilience thinking is considered. This paradigm is thought to enhance flexibility and the capacity to absorb influences without crossing thresholds into alternate stable, but less desirable, states. One consequence is that evaluations of success may change, and these changes are considered and explored as likely on-going challenges businesses must grapple with into the future. Full article
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