This book explores the interaction between sustainability, corporate responsibility, consumers, and the market. It aims to discover if consumers are seeking out small, ethical, socially responsible firms to buy from rather than large corporations; if markets and organisations are supported by a new sensitivity to social responsibility and sustainability ideas; if the integration of corporate responsibility strategies and practices change how market sectors are assembled. Bringing together international case studies - including research on the Italian wine industry, German butchers, Spanish football, Polish marketing and the Portuguese financial sector - this book is valuable reading for scholars working on corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and good governance. Chapter 12 is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

In 2015, the United Nations launched the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to define and coordinate global priorities and aspirations up to 2030 in response to the economic, social and environmental challenges faced by the planet. Many governments across the world signed up to these goals. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon noted at the outset that business would be a vital partner in achieving the SDGs. This easy-to-digest book provides a critical evaluation of how a range of multinational companies from across different commercial sectors are currently addressing the SDGs and the challenges they are facing in contributing to them. The private sector has thus been set the challenge of responding positively in support of the SDGs whilst at the same time acting in the shorter-term interests of its stakeholders. Using a wealth of illustrative materials drawn from company reports and other sources, this book looks at the response of 80 companies and organisations from eight different industry sectors. It examines the different approaches taken, discusses how far the SDGs are actively supported and reviews how progress is being assessed against related targets and objectives. In addition to an analysis of each industry sector, the book provides a summary overview of all industry sectors studied, identifying the most and least supported SDGs overall. This book will be of interest to the fast-growing body of academics studying and researching sustainability, as well as to industry managers and public-sector operators involved in sustainability management and reporting. It provides detailed commentary and insights, and identifies both key themes from the research and critical issues for the successful implementation of the SDGs in the period up to 2030.

The make-take-waste paradigm of fast fashion explains much of the producer and consumer behavior patterns towards fast fashion. The evolution from a two-season fashion calendar to fast fashion, characterized by rapid product cycles from retailers and impulse buying by consumers, presents new challenges to the environment, workplace and labour practices. This book provides a comprehensive overview of new insights into consumer behaviour mechanisms in order to shift practices toward sustainable fashion and to minimize the negative impacts of fast fashion on the environment and society. Concepts and techniques are presented that could overcome the formidable economic drivers of fast fashion and lead toward a future of sustainable fashion. While the need for change in the fashion industry post-Rana Plaza could not be more obvious, alternative and more sustainable consumption models have been under-investigated. The paucity of such research extends to highly consumptive consumer behaviours regarding fast fashion (i.e. impulse buying and throwaways) and the related impediments these behaviours pose for sustainable fashion. Written by leading researchers in the field of sustainable fashion and supported by the Textile Institute, this book evaluates fashion trends, what factors have led to new trends and how the factors supporting fast fashion differ from those of the past. It explores the economic drivers of fast fashion and what social, environmental and political factors should be maintained, and business approaches adopted, in order for fast fashion to be a sustainable model. In particular, it provides consumer behaviour concepts that can be utilized at the retail level to support sustainable fashion.

Crowdfunding: Fundamental Cases, Facts, and Insights presents fundamental knowledge about a maturing economic field. Assembling and arranging datasets, case analyses, and other foundational materials on subjects associated with crowdfunding, it systematically, comprehensively, and authoritatively provides access to a consistent body of crowdfunding research. With the crowdfunding industry now consolidated, this core reference can serve as the basis for research projects and applied work. Acclaim for Crowdfunding "This book provides insightful cases and statistics from around the world on how rewards and equity crowdfunding markets work. It also includes useful information on marketplace lending. It is a great resource for entrepreneurs and investors, as well as for policymakers, academics, and students." - Craig Asano, Founder and CEO, National Crowdfunding and Fintech Association "Crowdfunding offers detailed analyses of rewards and equity crowdfunding markets using statistical methods and case studies. I recommend it for academics, practitioners, and policymakers who seek a rigorous look at crowdfunding markets around the world." - Jay Ritter, Joseph B. Cordell Eminent Scholar Chair, Warrington College of Business, University of Florida

In this ground-breaking book, pre-eminent thought leader in the fields of sustainability and flourishing, John R. Ehrenfeld, critiques the concept of sustainability as it is understood today and which is coming more and more under attack as unclear and ineffective as a call for action. Building upon the recent work of cognitive scientist, Iain McGilchrist, who argues that the human brain's two hemispheres present distinct different worlds, this book articulates how society must replace the current foundational left-brain-based beliefs - a mechanistic world and a human driven by self interest - with new ones based on complexity and care. Flourishing should replace the lifeless metrics now being used to guide business and government, as well as individuals. Until we accept that our modern belief structure is, itself, the barrier, we will continue to be mired in an endless succession of unsolved problems.

Winner of the 2020 Book Award for the Organizations and the Natural Environment (ONE) Division of the Academy of Management. Climate change, and the resultant impact on resource management and societal wellbeing, is one of the greatest challenges facing businesses and their long-term performance. Uncertainty about access to resources, unanticipated weather events, rapidly changing market conditions and potential social unrest is felt across all business and industry sectors. This book sets out an engaging step-by-step scenario-planning method that executives, Board members, managers and consultants can follow to develop a long-term strategy for climate change tailored for their business. Most climate change strategy books discuss climate mitigation only, focusing on how companies engage with carbon policy, new technologies, markets and other stakeholders about reducing carbon emissions. This book explores these themes but also looks at strategizing for climate change adaptation. Adaptation is equally important, especially given that companies cannot negotiate with nature. There is a need to interpret climate science for business in a way that acknowledges the realities of climate change and identifies a way forwards in responding to this uncertain future.

This innovative and engaging book discusses the contribution of business to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015. It critically analyses selected impact measurement and management tools to highlight their respective benefits and limitations, and also provides guidance on critical management decisions to support high-quality impact measurement and management. The analyses underlying this book are the result of a three year research project conducted by an international consortium in the EU-funded research project GLOBAL VALUE - Managing Business Impact on Development. The research is complemented by examples from corporate practice and expert interviews to demonstrate and measure the contribution of business to sustainable development in the context of the SDGs.

Erfolg in Organisationen basiert auf dem erfolgreichen Management sozialer Interaktionen: Meetings, Kundenkontakte, Mitarbeitergesprache, Verhandlungen - gemeinsames Handeln, das die Weichen fur die Zukunft stellt. Was macht solche Prozesse produktiv? Welche Fallen sind zu meiden, welche Strategien hilfreich? Die Autoren stellen ein Set elementarer Pole vor, zwischen denen sich soziale Prozesse bewegen und deren Balance Erfolg oder Misserfolg pragt. Mit hilfreichen Steuerungselementen und praxisnah u.a.: Integration sachrationaler/psychosozialer Prozesslogik, Umgang mit Entscheidungen, die Kunst des Fragens, Wege gemeinsamer Reflexion."

The ebook edition of this title is Open Access and freely available to read online. The UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set an ambitious agenda for global problem-solving and create a framework to achieve it through the power of partnerships. Goal 17 points to the central importance of partnerships, networks, and multi-stakeholder collaborations for bringing together a broad range of actors to accomplish the first 16 goals. Only through such partnerships can the distributed knowledge, resources and capacity of government agencies, private enterprises, political activists, local communities, and international NGOs be effectively combined to produce the major breakthroughs in sustainability that the SDGs envision. Co-Creation for Sustainability sets out a strategy of partnership, with an emphasis on how global goals can be translated into local action. Co-creation brings multiple parties together-including citizens-to collaboratively engage in innovative problem-solving. The book explains this strategy and describes how to foster the conditions necessary for its success. It details how leaders can spur co-creation and manage and overcome its practical challenges. Written to inspire public and private changemakers to find fundamental solutions to the pressing challenges that confront our social and natural environment, Co-creation for Sustainability: The UN SDGs and the Power of Partnerships provides intellectual resources and practical advice relevant for those who aspire to harness the talents, energy and perspectives of different sectors to build the momentum we need to realize a sustainable future.

The cooperative movement has played a vital role in economic development around the world. Cooperatives also contribute to the achievement of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They generate revenue for economic growth, support the development of communities and local culture and help protect the environment. Cooperatives in Asia have been leaders in their approaches with comprehensive and supportive policies. Across Asia, there are unique models of cooperatives - some of which can be replicated internationally. They utilise collectivisation as an economic model with the cooperation of their populations. Cooperatives from Bangladesh, India, Israel, Japan, Nepal and the United Arab Emirates are also well-known for their proactive approach to sustainability.This book seeks to document the governance, leadership and sustainable best practices of cooperatives, to pave the way for the development of cooperatives internationally, utilising the sustainable cooperatives of Asia as examples. Addressing the current gap in research about cooperatives, the chapters showcase lessons for the cooperative world in its movement towards sustainability through the examination of original case studies, as well as quantitative studies. The volume offers new insights to researchers and policymakers to understand the ecosystem surrounding cooperatives and actions to take to work towards their strengthening and welfare.

Often highlighted for being a microcosm within the greater global context, Icelandic businesses and institutions provide the perfect opportunity to advance knowledge of corporate governance and business ethics amidst once-in-a-lifetime events such as the 2008 Financial Crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Corporate Governance and Business Ethics in Iceland provides real-world case studies of how institutions approach governance and ethics in a country where one organization's actions often have a massive ripple effect throughout the entire nation. The book offers valuable insights to businesses around the world including themes as diverse as board independence, stakeholder relations, crisis management, environmental practices, international business, marketing ethics and privacy across a wide range of industries. The combination of current case studies coupled with a practical approach to academic theory is suitable for a wide range of readers, from undergraduate students to CEOs and boards of directors. Contributing to innovative discussions surrounding Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) frameworks, Corporate Governance and Business Ethics in Iceland prompts sustainable and positive pathways forward.

Since the late 1980s, green consumerism has been hailed in the West as an efficient solution to environmental problems. However, Chinese consumers have been slow to warm up to eco-friendly products. Consumers prefer SUVs to hybrid cars, health supplements and snake oil medicines to organic foods and eco-fashion is still secluded in high-end designer studios. These choices contradict the findings of many sustainable lifestyle surveys that claim to register a rising desire for green products among the Chinese. This book examines the psycho-cultural differences that disrupt the translation of "eco-friendly" appeals to China by analyzing environmental advertising. It explores the different notions of "green", the structures of desire that underlies the advertisements, and how they are shaped by ideological, cultural, and historical differences. Rather than arguing the superiority of the American or Chinese version of green consumerism, the book interrogates the role of advertising in the global spread of Western ideologies and explores the possibilities for consumers to resist transnational corporate hegemony in the green movement. This book fills an important gap in the critical scholarship on green marketing and should be of interest to students and scholars of environment studies, green advertising and marketing, environmental communication and media studies, China studies and environmental sociology, ethics and cultural studies.

Create a Better World Through the Power of Profit! Imagine your business making a big impact solving problems like hunger, poverty, war, violence, and catastrophic climate change while making a healthy profit. Guess what: you don't have to just imagine; you can make it real. "Guerrilla Marketing to Heal the World" shows dozens of practical examples of successful companies doing well by doing good---from solopreneurs to Fortune 100 global corporations. You'll discover dozens of ways business can heal the world---and gain the practical marketing savvy to turn your values into business success. Learn how to: Create projects (and products) that accomplish social change, profitability, and cost reduction all at once Green your company in ways that save money and make money Gain enormous positive reputation as a visionary company worth supporting Expand successfully into totally new markets through strategic thinking, powerful partnerships, and commitment to core principles Turn marketing from a cost to a revenue stream Embrace abundance and transformation---and stop worrying about market share

A Good Disruption describes how disruptive technology can be used to combat the economic challenges of our age and sets out an inspirational vision of a more effective and sustainable growth model. Disruptive technology is one of the defining economic trends of our age, transforming one major industry after another. But what is the true impact of such disruption on the world's economies, and does it really have the potential to solve global problems such as low growth, inequality and environmental degradation? The provocative answer is that such disruption could indeed solve many of these issues, but that it won't... at least, not on its current trajectory. A Good Disruption highlights some of the huge costs that are at stake, and argues that managing such disruption will be the defining business challenge of the next decade. In order for us to meet that challenge, the book sets out a bold and inspirational vision for a more robust and sustainable economic model. Rich in relevant case studies, and incorporating industry examples from around the world, A Good Disruption accomplishes the remarkable feat of synthesizing key contemporary trends into a coherent world view of how to seize the potential of our collective futures. This is essential reading for policy makers, politicians, business executives and social scientists, as well as anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the impact of disruptive technology and how it can be transformed into a major force for the global good.

Environmental sustainability is perhaps the key societal challenge of our times. Achieving it will require a significant level of financing and investment, and here the role of the banking industry is fundamental. Banks can play a broader and far-reaching role by adopting environmental concerns in their internal and external business operations. Principles of Green Banking is a comprehensive account of the different aspects of green banking and offers theories and principles as well as practical how-to guidelines to adopt green banking practices. This book discusses why green banking is central to achieving sustainable development. It illustrates the evolution of green banking around the world, different types of environmental risks created by firms and how these risks offer threats to sustain ability, and ongoing trends and patterns of green banking practice. Critically, it also presents an outline of the regulatory framework necessary to help the entire banking sector adapt to the change towards green banking. It is a valuable resource for financial sector professionals and scholars in the fields of sustainable finance and banking.

The stakeholder perspective is an alternative way of understanding how companies and people create value and trade with each other. Freeman, Harrison and Zyglidopoulos discuss the foundation concepts and implementation of stakeholder management as well as the advantages this approach provides to firms and their managers. They present a number of tools that managers can use to implement stakeholder thinking, better understand stakeholders and create value with and for them. The Element concludes by discussing how managers can create stakeholder oriented control systems and by examining some of the important stakeholder-related issues that are worthy of future scholarly and managerial attention.

Women and Sustainability in Business: A Global Perspective, brings together original research from a dozen countries, concerning the issues and challenges facing women in sustainable business. This is a recurrent topic among researchers, regulators, companies and rating agencies. Governments pay special attention to how women impact the economy when shaping their strategies on economic sustainability. Women's contribution to business is fundamental to creating a sustainable economy, such that businesses try to strengthen 'women's presence' within their organisations, especially on their boards. Today, sustainable companies cannot survive without strategies involving women. Stakeholders, regulators, NGOs and rating agencies track both women-focused strategies and the corporate sustainability reports of companies. Well-designed strategies for women workers help companies to develop their financial and social sustainability initiatives progressively. This book analyses the practice of women in sustainable business, in terms of company performance, social responsibility, board management, entrepreneurship, employment, education, management, social sustainability, environmental politics and technology, from a wide range of diverse, regional perspectives and highlights the differences between the underdeveloped, developing and developed world.

This book focuses on corporate sustainability and how it evolves through innovation and new business models. Despite what has been accomplished to date, there is an urgent need for further steps to be taken and this book presents a nuanced but compelling plea for collaboration between businesses, government and civil society. Drawing upon empirical research, the authors look at recent approaches to corporate sustainability, the circular economy and strategic corporate social responsibility. The book examines these issues from multiple viewpoints, including cultural, social and religious. More specifically, the book explores the freight sector (smart freight leadership), the banking sector (sustainable banking) and Islamic finance and sustainability, detailing the contribution of faith-based organizations to promoting sustainability and the greening of church buildings. Overall, this book captures the emerging new business models and capabilities firms need to implement sustainability. This book will be of great relevance to students, scholars and professionals with an interest in corporate sustainability, social responsibility, environmental management and eco-innovation.

With deep thought and inspiring examples, this updated book engages readers by increasing their understanding and awareness of what sustainability means conceptually, practically, personally, and professionally. It provides readers with the tools and techniques to improve the social, environmental, and economic performance of their organizations in both the short and long term. Since sustainability is not achieved in a siloed environment, everyone has a critical role to play on this journey. The Sustainable Enterprise Fieldbook, with full companion materials at https://TheSustainableEnterpriseFieldbook.com, engages today's managers and leaders of organizations, in both the private sector and civil society, who are being challenged as never before to find ways to play a proactive role in understanding and addressing the risks and opportunities of sustainability. It teaches them how to apply systems thinking to turn our most intractable problems into exciting business opportunities, and offers ground breaking frameworks in new chapters on globalization, strategy, metrics, and sustainability models for collaboration, technology, and community. That is why this book is structured to be a fieldbook to provide practitioners the Activities, Cases, and Tools that they can use to help move their enterprise through progressively higher performing stages of sustainability. Readers also have access to the innovative Living Fieldbook, an online community forum filled with supporting materials: https://www.thesustainableenterprisefieldbook.com/webinars.html.

What if the foundation of your family business were threatened by something out of your control? What if the livelihood of 70 employees and their families were at stake, as the license to operate your business became called into question? What if 57 years of family history, grown through generations of hard work and sacrifice, were at risk of being lost? What if the reasons were actually one with which you fundamentally agreed? Journey to 8 states, 3 national parks and 3 countries to experience the life-changing education and adventures that led Trent A. Romer to finding sustainability for his plastic bag manufacturing business and himself.

The tangible value of increased water efficiency, reuse and recycling and improved social license to operate are moving more companies to adopt water stewardship strategies. This book frames an expanded strategy for water stewardship and business value creation, including brand value, that benefits a range of stakeholders including consumers, customers, investors and employees. The book shows that until recently the linkage between full business value and water stewardship has been missing from the corporate agenda. This linkage and value creation from a leading water strategy is increasingly important to socially responsible investors and "aspirationals" who value companies that have a social mission or focus to their overall business strategy. In general the largest portion of a company's market capitalization is intangible value and understanding how a water strategy contributes to this intangible value is essential. The authors include cases studies and a framework or path forward to guide companies as they seek to build leading water strategy that goes beyond water stewardship to drive full business value from this investment. The book establishes the linkages and value from an integrated water and business strategy and an approach for companies to follow.

Firms adopt a wide variety of ecological strategies, ranging from the development of innovative products with reduced environmental impact to lobbying against governmental attempts to set standards for the way in which firms deal with the natural environment. This book explores this variety and is the first to provide a coherent evolutionary approach to the ecological strategies of firms. Drawing on insights from organization and management sciences and innovation studies, the author outlines an evolutionary framework enabling a deeper understanding of how firms shape ecological strategies and interact to create inertia or change at the level of systems of production and consumption. This framework is applied to the coffee and automobile production and consumption systems, yielding insight into the complex dynamics through which such systems evolve in dealing with ecological impact. The book advances theoretical insight into business strategies and the natural environment and illuminates the dynamics of production and consumption systems. Scholars, students and practitioners from organization and management sciences, innovation studies and industrial ecology interested in the relationship between business and the natural environment will find this book invaluable.

One of the greatest challenges of the 21st century is the problem of how the public and private sectors can sustain economic development, business growth, social well-being and ecosystem health in the face of accelerating demand for water, energy, and food. "Business as usual" projections of scarcity in water, energy, and food predict a lack of these resources sufficient to sustain economic and business growth as well as an adequate standard of living worldwide. Developments in technology are well documented, but this is the first book to explain the role of innovation in public policy and governance, a topic which is frequently overlooked and often frustrates developments in technology and business. Without innovation in public policy and governance, innovation in technology solutions will face persistent headwinds for adoption. The book showcases these innovations and creates a roadmap of what needs to change to drive economic development, business growth, social wellbeing and ecosystem health in the 21st century.

Following the Brexit and Trump election cycles, consistent, long-term policy solutions to environmental and other societal challenges are becoming increasingly difficult to achieve. Stepping into this breach is a clear opportunity for innovation by public and privately held companies, as well as the increasingly significant role of investment and consumption. Sustainable Innovation and Impact provides a roadmap of the many critical pathways of positive change emerging to achieve modern day societal success, including rapidly evolving corporate and investment innovation and impact strategy considerations. Exploring innovation around the future of energy, electricity and related technologies, as well as transportation and buildings efficiency, Krosinsky and Cort consider ideas framed around the circular economy, operational and supply chain strategies and the global economy. Drawing together a diverse range of contributors and case studies, this book will be of great relevance to students, scholars and professionals with an interest in innovation, economics and sustainability more broadly.