Search Results (1,178)

This study evaluates the effectiveness of the B Impact Assessment (BIA) as a catalyst for integrating sustainability into industrial firms through a qualitative case study of LC Paper, the first B Corp-certified tissue manufacturer globally and a pioneer in applying BIA in the pulp and paper sector. Based on semi-structured interviews, organizational documents, and direct observation, this study examines how BIA influences corporate governance, environmental practices, and stakeholder engagement. The findings show that BIA fosters structured goal setting and the implementation of measurable actions aligned with environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic resilience. Tangible outcomes include improved stakeholder trust, internal transparency, and employee development, while implementation challenges such as resource allocation and procedural complexity are also reported. Although the single-case design limits generalizability, this study identifies mechanisms transferable to other firms, particularly those in environmentally intensive sectors. The case studied also illustrates how leadership commitment, participatory governance, and data-driven tools facilitate the operationalization of sustainability. By integrating stakeholder and institutional theory, this study contributes conceptually to understanding certification frameworks as tools for embedding sustainability. This research offers both theoretical and practical insights into how firms can align strategy and impact, expanding the application of BIA beyond early adopters and into traditional industrial contexts. Full article

This study intends to provide insights and challenges for the shape of the B movement, an emerging paradigm that fosters cross-sectoral partnerships and encourages ethical business practices through so-called purpose-driven businesses. Focusing on Italy, the first European country to adopt this managerial model, the research investigates Italian Benefit Corporations, known as Società Benefit (SB), and their most appealing sustainability claims from a consumer perspective. The analysis intends to inform theory development by assuming the cultural and creative industry (CCI) as a field of interest, utilizing a within-subjects experimental design to analyze data from a diverse consumer sample across various contexts. The results indicate that messaging centered on economic sustainability emerged as the most effective in generating positive consumer responses, highlighting a prevailing inclination toward pragmatic factors such as affordability, economic accessibility, and tangible benefits rather than social issues. While sustainable behaviors are not yet widespread, latent ethical sensitivity for authentic, value-driven businesses suggests that economic and ethical dimensions can be strategically synthesized to enhance consumer engagement. This insight highlights the role of BCs in catalyzing a shift in consumption patterns within ethical-based and creative-driven sectors. Full article

With the increasing global emphasis on sustainable development goals, and in the context of pursuing high-quality sustainable development of the economy and enterprises, this study empirically examines the effect of digital finance on corporate financing constraints and the impact on corporate green innovation with a sample of China’s A-share-listed companies in the period of 2011–2020 and explores the issue from the perspectives of management power and corporate social responsibility (CSR) at the micro level of enterprises. The empirical results show that digital finance can indeed alleviate corporate financing constraints. Still, the synergistic effect of the two on corporate green innovation produces a “quantitative and qualitative separation” effect, which only promotes the enhancement of iconic green innovation, and the effect on substantive green innovation is not obvious. The power of management and CSR performanceshave different moderating roles in the alleviation of financing constraints by the empowerment of digital finance. Management power and corporate social responsibility have different moderating effects on digital financial empowerment to alleviate financing constraints. The findings of this study enrich the research in related fields and provide more basis for the promotion of digital financial policies and more solutions for the high-quality development of enterprises. Full article

In the context of pursuing the goal of strategic imperatives of sustainable development, the ESG performance of enterprises has become a key yardstick for measuring their comprehensive environmental contribution and economic efficiency. Enhancing ESG performance has far-reaching significance in promoting green and sustainable development of enterprises and society. Drawing on the upper echelons theory, this paper investigates the impact of the chief executive officer’s (CEO’s) green experience on corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance, utilizing a sample of publicly listed Chinese companies from 2011 to 2023. The study demonstrates that CEOs with green experience significantly enhance corporate ESG performance, a conclusion that remains consistent following a series of rigorous robustness checks. Mechanistic analysis reveals that CEOs’ green experience primarily facilitates corporate ESG performance enhancement through green innovation initiatives. Furthermore, CEO discretion amplifies the positive influence of green experience on ESG performance. Heterogeneity analysis demonstrates that the influence of the CEOs’ green experience on ESG performance is more pronounced in high-tech enterprises, in markets characterized by lower levels of competition, and in firms situated in regions exhibiting higher degrees of social trust. These findings impart both theoretical and practical implications for enhancing corporate ESG performance and offer novel strategic perspective to advance environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and corporate governance frameworks. Full article

Background: Sustainability in supply chain management (SCM) practices is becoming increasingly important as environmental responsibility and social concerns, as well as enterprises’ competitiveness in terms of innovation, risk, and economic performance, become increasingly urgent. This paper aims to identify and prioritize concepts for implementing sustainable supply chains, drawing on sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) and green supply chain management (GSCM) techniques. Corporate supply chain managers across various industries, markets, and supply chain segments brainstormed management practices to enhance the sustainability of their supply chains. Four industry sectors were surveyed across five different value chain segments. Methods: A group concept mapping (GCM) approach incorporating multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was used. A hierarchy of practices is proposed, and hypotheses are developed about achievability and impact. Results: A decision-making matrix prioritizes eight solution concepts based on two axes: impact (I) and ease of implementation (EoI). Conclusions: Eight concepts are prioritized based on the optimal effectiveness of implementing the solutions. Pattern matching reveals differences between emerging and developed markets, as well as supply chain segments, that decision-makers should be aware of. By analyzing supply chains from a multi-part perspective, this research goes beyond empirical studies based on a single industry, geographic region, or example case. Full article

Ensuring sustainable food systems is an urgent global priority as populations grow and environmental pressures mount. Technological innovations such as genetic engineering (GE) and nanotechnology (nano) have been promoted as promising pathways for achieving greater sustainability in agriculture and food production. Yet, the sustainability of these technologies is not defined by technical performance alone; it hinges on how they are perceived by key stakeholders and how well they align with broader societal values. This study addresses the critical question of how expert stakeholders evaluate the sustainability of GE and nano-based food and agriculture (agrifood) products. Using a multi-method online platform, we engaged 42 experts across academia, government, industry, and NGOs in the United States to assess six real-world case studies—three using GE and three using nano—across ten different dimensions of sustainability. We show that nano-based products were consistently rated more favorably than their GE counterparts in terms of environmental, economic, and social sustainability, as well as across ethical and societal dimensions. Like prior studies, our results reveal that stakeholders see meaningful distinctions between nanotechnology and biotechnology, likely due to underlying value-based concerns about animal welfare, perceived naturalness, or corporate control of agrifood systems. The fruit coating and flu vaccine—both nano-enabled—received the most positive ratings, while GE mustard greens and salmon were the most polarizing. These results underscore the importance of incorporating stakeholder perspectives in technology assessment and innovation governance. These results also suggest that responsible innovation efforts in agrifood systems should prioritize communication, addressing meaningful societal needs, and the contextual understanding of societal values to build trust and legitimacy. Full article

Energy-intensive industries (EIIs) face mounting pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining international competitiveness—a balance that is central to achieving the EU’s 2030 and 2050 climate objectives. In this context, energy management (EM) emerges as a strategic instrument to decouple industrial growth from fossil energy consumption. This study proposes a redefinition of EM to support carbon-neutral supply chains within the European Union’s EIIs, addressing critical limitations of conventional EM frameworks under increasingly stringent carbon regulations. Using a modified systematic literature review based on PRISMA methodology, complemented by expert insights from EU Member States, this research identifies structural gaps in current EM practices and highlights opportunities for integrating sustainable innovations across the whole industrial value chain. The proposed EM concept is validated through an analysis of 24 EM definitions, over 170 scientific publications, and over 80 EU legal and strategic documents. The framework incorporates advanced digital technologies—including artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data analytics—to enable real-time optimisation, predictive control, and greater system adaptability. Going beyond traditional energy efficiency, the redefined EM encompasses the entire energy lifecycle, including use, transformation, storage, and generation. It also incorporates social dimensions, such as corporate social responsibility (CSR) and stakeholder engagement, to cultivate a culture of environmental stewardship within EIIs. This holistic approach provides a strategic management tool for optimising energy use, reducing emissions, and strengthening resilience to regulatory, environmental, and market pressures, thereby promoting more sustainable, inclusive, and transparent supply chain operations. Full article

In an era where sustainable development is increasingly a core strategic issue for businesses, how top management, as the architects of corporate strategy, can achieve a synergy of economic, social, and environmental benefits through internal management mechanisms to promote corporate sustainability is a central focus for both academia and practice. This study aims to explore how Executive Cognitive Flexibility (CF) influences Firm Performance and to uncover the mediating effects of Non-market Strategy. We use panel data from Chinese A-share listed companies between 2016 and 2022 to examine and empirically analyze this mechanism. Our findings indicate that CF has a positive impact on Firm Performance. This relationship is realized through the pathway of Non-market Strategy, specifically manifesting as a reduction in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and an increase in Corporate Political Activity (CPA). Further analysis reveals that the impact of executive cognitive flexibility on firm performance is differentially influenced by internal and external environmental contexts. The findings of this study provide important practical insights and policy recommendations for companies on cultivating executive cognitive flexibility, optimizing non-market strategies, and enhancing firm performance in various internal and external environments. Full article

This paper examines the moderating role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on the relationship between environmental, social, and governance (ESG) dimensions and investor decision-making in Jordan. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire designed for institutional investors and financial analysts, capturing perceptions of ESG, CSR, and investment behavior. A stratified random sample of 350 professionals across the financial, industrial, and service sectors was surveyed. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 4. The findings show that environmental and social dimensions have positive effects on investor decisions, with governance dimensions having a negative effect. Notably, CSR has a negative moderating effect on the governance dimensions and investor decision, with no observed statistical moderating effect for environmental or social dimensions. This research unravels the multidimensional role of CSR in building the ESG-investor decision interface and identifies a counterintuitive negative moderating impact of CSR on governance, contributing to the existing literature on sustainability alignment in emerging markets. The results offer practical implications for companies aiming to attract sustainability-oriented investors by indicating the necessity for an integrated and genuine CSR and ESG approach. Full article

Prior research often portrays Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a coercive institutional force compelling firms to passively conform for legitimacy. More recent studies, however, suggest firms actively pursue CSR to gain sustainable competitive advantages. Yet, how and when CSR buffers firms against adverse shocks of crises remains insufficiently understood. This study addresses this gap by using multiple regression analysis to examine the buffering effects of CSR investments during the COVID-19 crisis, which severely disrupted capital markets and firm valuation. Drawing on signaling theory and CSR literature, we analyze the stock market performance of China’s A-share listed firms using a sample of 2577 observations as of the end of 2019. Results indicate that firms with higher CSR investments experienced significantly greater cumulative abnormal returns during the pandemic. Moreover, the buffering effect is amplified among firms with higher debt burdens, greater financing constraints, and those operating in regions with stronger social trust and more severe COVID-19 impact. These findings are robust across multiple robustness checks. This study highlights the strategic value of CSR as a resilience mechanism during crises and supports a more proactive view of CSR engagement for sustainable development, complementing the traditional legitimacy-focused perspective in existing literature. Full article

The aim of this study was to compare IC and CSR and to examine ICr as a mediating variable. The study employed a relational survey design and involved participants drawn from industrial organizations based in Tehran. To evaluate participants’ perceptions of innovation climate, corporate social responsibility, and Individual Creativity, standardized questionnaires were used. In analyzing the findings, the structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was adopted, and the analyses were conducted using SPSS AMOS version 26. The analysis revealed that an Innovative Climate exerts a positive and statistically significant influence on CSR. In addition, a positive and significant association was identified between Innovative Climate and Individual Creativity. The results further demonstrated a meaningful relationship between Individual Creativity and CSR. Finally, to test the hypothesis of partial mediation, the study confirmed that Individual Creativity functions as a mediating mechanism between IC and CSR. Overall, these findings highlight the critical role of an innovative environment in enhancing CSR efforts from the perspective of Individual Creativity, and they provide insight for future studies aimed at developing strategies to strengthen creativity as a strategic means of achieving more effective CSR outcomes. The study advocates the development of an innovation-oriented mindset as a pathway to promoting socially responsible practices within Tehran’s industrial sector. Full article

Cross-docking operations in Eastern and Central European markets face increasing complexity amid persistent uncertainty and inflationary pressures. This study provides the first comprehensive comparative analysis integrating economic efficiency with sustainability indicators across strategic locations. Using mixed-methods analysis of 40 bibliographical sources and quantitative modeling of cross-docking scenarios in Bratislava, Prague, and Budapest, we integrate environmental, social, and governance frameworks with activity-based costing and artificial intelligence analysis. Optimized cross-docking achieves statistically significant cost reductions of 10.61% for Eastern and Central European inbound logistics and 3.84% for Western European outbound logistics when utilizing Budapest location (p < 0.01). Activity-based costing reveals labor (35–40%), equipment utilization (25–30%), and facility operations (20–25%) as primary cost drivers. Budapest demonstrates superior integrated performance index incorporating operational efficiency (94.2% loading efficiency), economic impact (EUR 925,000 annual savings), and environmental performance (486 tons CO₂ reduction annually). This is the first empirically validated framework integrating activity-based costing–corporate social responsibility methodologies for an emerging market cross-docking, multi-dimensional performance assessment model transcending operational-sustainability dichotomy and location-specific contingency identification for emerging market implementation. Findings support targeted infrastructure investments, harmonized regulatory frameworks, and public–private partnerships for sustainable logistics development in emerging European markets, providing actionable roadmap for EUR 142,000–EUR 187,000 artificial intelligence implementation investments achieving a 14.6-month return on investment. Full article

As Chinese firms play pivotal roles in global supply chains, multinational corporations face increasing pressure to ensure ESG accountability across their sourcing networks. Current ESG rating systems lack transparency in incorporating China’s unique industrial, economic, and cultural factors, creating reliability concerns for stakeholders managing supply chain sustainability risks. This study develops an explainable artificial intelligence framework using SHAP and permutation feature importance (PFI) methods to predict the ESG performance of Chinese firms. We analyze comprehensive ESG data of 1608 Chinese listed companies over 13 years (2009–2021), integrating financial and non-financial determinants traditionally examined in isolation. Empirical findings demonstrate that random forest algorithms significantly outperform multivariate linear regression in capturing nonlinear ESG relationships. Key non-financial determinants include patent portfolios, CSR training initiatives, pollutant emissions, and charitable donations, while financial factors such as current assets and gearing ratios prove influential. Sectoral analysis reveals that manufacturing firms are evaluated through pollutant emissions and technical capabilities, whereas non-manufacturing firms are assessed on business taxes and intangible assets. These insights provide essential tools for multinational corporations to anticipate supply chain sustainability conditions. Full article

Indonesia’s post-mining landscapes require an integrated governance approach to achieve equitable and sustainable reclamation. This study developed and evaluated the TILANG Framework (Triple-Bottom-Line Integrated Land Governance) as a multidimensional model that aligns ecological restoration, community empowerment, and institutional accountability. Based on a meta-synthesis of 773 academic and institutional remarks coded using NVivo 12, the study identified sustainable cacao agriculture as a viable compensation mechanism that supports livelihood recovery while restoring degraded land. The framework draws on six foundational theoretical components—Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Stakeholder Theory, Legitimacy Theory, the Theory of Planned Behavior, the Triple Bottom Line, and multi-level governance—and is operationalized through six implementation principles: Trust, Inclusivity, Legitimacy, Alignment, Norms, and Governance. The findings support performance-based land reclamation by embedding behavioral readiness and institutional co-financing into sustainability strategies. This model is particularly relevant to Indonesia’s ongoing land-use transformation, where post-extractive zones are shifting toward agroecological and community-centered recovery. The study found that (1) reframing land compensation as a restorative, performance-based mechanism enables more legitimate and inclusive post-mining governance; (2) sustainable cacao agriculture represents a viable and socially accepted strategy for ecological recovery and rural livelihood revitalization; and (3) the TILANG Framework advances land-use transformation by integrating corporate responsibility, behavioral readiness, and multi-level governance into a cohesive performance model. Full article

As the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism industry is experiencing a surge in demand. While this growth is essential for economic recovery, it also presents significant challenges in terms of sustainability. The tourism industry is under increasing pressure to adopt business practices that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has emerged as a critical framework for addressing these challenges. This study seeks to understand how CSR can contribute to the achievement of the SDGs within the tourism industry, with a focus on identifying the best practices of management. A systematic literature review was conducted to address this research question. A comprehensive search of the literature was performed using Boolean operators in databases including Web of Science, ABI/Inform Collection, Business Source Complete, and Emerald Insight. After applying pre-determined inclusion criteria, the selected studies were analysed using the population/problem, intervention, comparison, and outcome (PICO) framework. The quality of the evidence was assessed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines to ensure the rigor and reliability of the findings. Full article