Submit to Sustainability Review for Sustainability Propose a Special Issue

Journal Browser

Research on Corporate Sustainability

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

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: closed (30 November 2022) | Viewed by 48339

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special issue Research on Corporate Sustainability book cover image

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Sooksan Kantabutra

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Center for Research on Sustainable Leadership, College of Management, Mahidol University, Bangkok 73170, Thailand
Interests: sustainable business; corporate sustainability; theory building; sustainable leadership; sustainability organizational culture; social enterprise; organizational resilience
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As we know, corporate sustainability is of great interest among scholars and practicing managers. However, many fundamental gaps exist in the literature. Among them, a stronger theoretical foundation is needed as researchers in the field need a whole theory to comprehend, describe and forecast events, actions and/or circumstances or even to challenge and progress the current body of knowledge. In terms of practice, ensuring corporate sustainability is highly challenging. Practicing managers still have limited insight into incorporating sustainability strategies and practices within corporations. In my view, corporate sustainability requires management of both internal and external factors since any corporation is simply an entity operating within the society. If the society cannot exist, neither can the corporation.

Therefore, this Special Issue aims at contributing the latest knowledge to the corporate sustainability field. Conceptual, review and empirical papers are welcome. In response to the lack of theory in the corporate sustainability field, papers concerning theory building are of particular interest.

In this issue, we seek answers to the following focal questions: What are factors leading to corporate sustainability? How do they lead to corporate sustainability? Do these factors improve the prospect of organizational resilience?

Topics include, but are not limited to:

Corporate Sustainability
Sustainable Supply Chain
Sustainable Consumption
Organizational Culture
Sustainable Leadership
Sustainable Business
Social Entrepreneurship
Sustainable Production
Stakeholder Management
Organizational Resilience

Dr. Sooksan Kantabutra
Guest Editor

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.

Keywords

corporate sustainability
sustainable supply chain
sustainable consumption
organizational culture
sustainable leadership
sustainable business
social entrepreneurship
sustainable production
stakeholder management
organizational resilience

Published Papers (13 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

Jump to: Review

20 pages, 1047 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Has the COVID-19 Crisis Transformed Entrepreneurs into Sustainable Leaders?

by Murtaza Haider, Randall Shannon, George P. Moschis and Erkko Autio

Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 5358; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15065358 - 17 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3054

Abstract

EntREsilience, a five-country longitudinal qualitative study, was launched in 2020 in China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and the UK to understand how entrepreneurs manifested resilience in response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis events from March 2020 to February 2022. EntREsilience proposed a resilience-manifestation process model describing how entrepreneurs responded to the COVID-19 disruption, aided by external and internal enablers, adjusting their businesses to stabilise and even hunting for opportunities to grow their businesses. The present research adds to the findings of EntREsilience by analysing the strategies applied by entrepreneurs in their response to the crisis. This exploratory study focused on the entrepreneurs’ community interactions and studied the effects of these interactions on the response measures adopted by the entrepreneurs. The results describe how the awareness of their stakeholder challenges shaped the entrepreneurial response. Realising the importance of stakeholder well-being to the sustainability of their enterprise motivated the entrepreneurs to develop sustainability competencies towards their stakeholder challenges, innovating solutions for their mutual well-being. By extending the resilience-manifestation process model, this paper proposes a transformation model depicting the process of entrepreneurs transforming into sustainable leaders triggered by stakeholder challenge awareness and moderated by contextual factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Corporate Sustainability)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 4108 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Unpacking Key Sustainability Drivers for Sustainable Social Enterprises: A Community-Based Tourism Perspective

by Trin Thananusak and Suparak Suriyankietkaew

Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3401; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15043401 - 13 Feb 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3296

Abstract

This study unpacked the key sustainability drivers for successful social enterprises or community-based tourism enterprises (CBTEs), based on a study of a Thailand’s Best Responsible Tourism award-winner at Sapphaya Community in Chai Nat Province. Using a grounded-theory qualitative case study, our key research objective is to gain insights into how community and enterprise leaders of a national award-winning CBTE in Thailand can generate value by revalorizing its cultural heritage and local assets to achieve sustainable community-based tourism. The research also explores how the CBTE can increase local engagement with multi-stakeholders. Our findings indicated two key sustainability drivers, including leadership and local engagement, for sustainable social enterprises. An emergent model of leadership and local engagement in driving the sustainability of CBTEs is proposed. It implies an importance of CBTE leadership as a critical factor that helps preserve community endowments (e.g., historical sites and cultural heritage) as well as develops social capital. The local engagement with a good sense of ownership and community participation is the key enabler toward sustainable tourism. The results also suggest how-to processes in cultivating sustainable social enterprises in practice and toward policy implications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Corporate Sustainability)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1263 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing Organizational Resilience through Mindful Organizing

by Siriwut Buranapin, Wiphawan Limphaibool, Nittaya Jariangprasert and Kemakorn Chaiprasit

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2681; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15032681 - 02 Feb 2023

Viewed by 3229

Abstract

Organizational resilience and mindfulness are inextricably connected and have specific characteristics related to responding to challenging events. This mixed-method research study aimed to explore the relationship between mindful organizing and organizational resilience. A qualitative critical incident analysis was conducted with executives to explore insights into mindfulness and resilience at the organizational level. Using the analysis of a moment structures (AMOS) program, the structural equation modeling method was employed to assess the relationships between mindfulness, mindful organizing, and organizational resilience. A total of 639 usable cross-sectional questionnaires from diverse organizations in Thailand were used for data analysis. The findings of the current study reveal that mindful organizing has a positive influence on organizational resilience. This paper discusses the implications and limitations of these findings, along with suggestions for future research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Corporate Sustainability)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 1099 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Disclosure Types of Sustainability Performance Impact Consumers’ Relationship Quality and Firm Reputation

by Warat Winit, Erboon Ekasingh and Jomjai Sampet

Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 803; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15010803 - 02 Jan 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2606

Abstract

Given that firms attempt to gain competitive advantages from corporate sustainability schemes, we employed an experiment to examine different types of sustainable performance disclosure—output, outcome and impact—that best promote the quality of relationships with consumers, relationships with the firm around satisfaction and trust, and perceived reputation. Derived from a student sample of 254 respondents from a business school in Thailand, the findings indicate that, among different levels of sustainability performance disclosure, consumers are more likely to perceive the satisfaction, trust, and reputation of the firm as higher if the firm demonstrates the impact (rather than output or outcome) of sustainable performance. Results are consistent across observed product and service categories. Implications of findings and directions for future studies are also discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Corporate Sustainability)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 3345 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bibliometric Analysis of Corporate Social Responsibility in Tourism

by Chanin Yoopetch, Suthep Nimsai and Boonying Kongarchapatara

Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 668; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15010668 - 30 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2809

Abstract

The large amount of research on corporate social responsibility in tourism shows its importance as a field of study. The role of tourism organizations and their impacts on sustainability have become increasingly important in recent decades. In addition, research on corporate social responsibility has expanded in scale and scope and can be found in a number of academic journals. The aim of this paper is to present the details of the academic work on corporate social responsibility in tourism and to demonstrate the intellectual structure of research in this field. This study analyzes 571 articles obtained from Scopus and published from 2002 to 2022 (August) and presents the development and growth of knowledge in corporate social responsibility and tourism. The study method used to extract the articles was based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA). The results indicate that this field of study has expanded significantly from being studied primarily in Europe towards being studied also in developing countries, such as China and India. In addition, the research themes emerging in the field of corporate social responsibility in tourism include tourism behaviors and strategic approaches to corporate social responsibility. This review highlights the emerging trends in research on corporate social responsibility in tourism, the dominant academic journals, and the countries that focus on research in this area. Furthermore, directions for future research are also presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Corporate Sustainability)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

31 pages, 1797 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Quest for a Sustainable Social Enterprise Model: The Case of Amphawa Chaipattananurak, the Kingdom of Thailand

by Phallapa Petison and Sooksan Kantabutra

Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 326; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15010326 - 25 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2661

Abstract

The social enterprise concept, a business with specific social objectives, has been questioned by scholars and practitioners for its sustainability. More importantly, a paucity of research exists on how a social enterprise can be sustainable, indicating the necessity of developing a sustainable model of social enterprise, particularly in the Asian context. Filling in the gap in the literature, the present study’s prime objective is to explore a sustainable social enterprise model. The bodies of knowledge on social enterprise and sustainable enterprise are reviewed, followed by identifying a sustainable social enterprise model for exploration. The identified model is among the few sustainable social enterprise models available, thus making it appropriate for the exploration. To explore the model, the phenomenological paradigm is adopted. The study uses the case study approach with open-ended, semi-structured interview methods as well as documentation to explore a case enterprise called Amphawa Chaipattananurak (ACCP) in Thailand. To ensure data validity, the data, method, investigator, and theory triangulation methods are adopted. Ninety-five stakeholder informants were interviewed, ranging from the management team, staff, community people, and visitors to customers. In terms of analysis, the working analytical framework is adopted to analyze the collected data. Findings indicate that the ACCP practices and outcomes are consistent with those of the sustainable social enterprise model, indicating the model’s applicability. Based on the findings, a refined sustainable social enterprise model is derived. Limitations, future research directions, theoretical contributions and implications, and managerial implications are also discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Corporate Sustainability)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 253 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tourism Forecasting Using the Delphi Method and Implications for Sustainable Tourism Development

by Chanin Yoopetch, Boonying Kongarchapatara and Suthep Nimsai

Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 126; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15010126 - 21 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2309

Abstract

Tourism forecasting is one of the most important aspects of tourism studies in today’s competitive environment. It is crucial not only for tourism businesses to understand and foresee trends and future changes, but also for government agencies to develop the competitiveness of their tourism sectors in order to stay competitive or even outperform other tourist destinations. The purpose of this research is to conduct tourism forecasting using the Delphi technique and to collect data from experts in the field of tourism and hospitality, providing useful information about the future of Thailand’s tourism directions and sustainable development. The results show that Thailand could maintain its tourism strengths in many aspects, including tourism attractions for tourists from various income groups, and the cultural uniqueness of “Thai-ness”. Thailand’s tourism capabilities can support the growing importance of tourism development in Southeast Asia. In addition, the research findings reveal some areas for improvement for Thai tourism to support sustainable tourism development, including the necessity for improving the quality of training programs for human resources in tourism-related organizations, a less strict immigration policy, the adoption of new information technology, and more updated tourism information. The discussion of findings and practical implications for sustainable tourism development are also discussed in detail. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Corporate Sustainability)

22 pages, 957 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Three-Pillar Sustainability and Brand Image: A Qualitative Investigation in Thailand’s Household Durables Industry

by Preechaya Chavalittumrong and Mark Speece

Sustainability 2022, 14(18), 11699; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su141811699 - 18 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3766

Abstract

Many companies nowadays implement sustainable practices internally, and build brand images that communicate sustainability. However, there are different degrees of ‘sustainability’. This study examines the extent to which full three-pillar sustainability (environmental, social, economic) translates into a sustainable brand image among consumers in Thailand. Nine major companies producing household durables were scored based on their website information, using the Dow Jones Sustainability Index to identify those having high-, mid-, and low-level sustainability implementation. In-depth interviews were conducted with three managers in one company at each level, and three consumers who mainly buy household durables from each company were also interviewed. Manager interviews confirmed that the level of sustainability implementation evident on the website is fairly accurate. Consumers roughly translate this into brand image reflecting the degree of the company’s sustainability, but the mapping is not exact. Stronger communications about the company’s sustainability seem able to improve consumer perceptions somewhat. Consumers are quite aware of three-pillar sustainability, but often do not explicitly consider all three pillars in their product decisions. However, the long-term trend seems to be toward merging the separate market segments into a comprehensive, three-pillar sustainability-oriented segment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Corporate Sustainability)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 983 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing the Prospect of Corporate Sustainability via Brand Equity: A Stakeholder Model

by Warat Winit and Sooksan Kantabutra

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 4998; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14094998 - 21 Apr 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2811

Abstract

Given that brand equity is increasingly recognized as a measure of corporate sustainability, in the present study, we examine the relationships among stakeholder benefits, stakeholder trust and brand equity. Derived from a sample of 433 stakeholders from 115 companies in Thailand, the findings indicate that functional benefits improve brand equity indirectly and directly via stakeholder trust and psychological benefits. On the other hand, psychological benefits improve brand equity indirectly and directly via stakeholder trust. Psychological benefits create more direct, positive effects on brand equity than functional benefits. The effects of functional benefits on brand equity are enhanced through psychological benefits. Directions for future studies and practical implications are also discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Corporate Sustainability)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

32 pages, 3328 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review of the Global Climate Finance Literature

by Roy Kouwenberg and Chenglong Zheng

Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 1255; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15021255 - 09 Jan 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 6337

Abstract

This study conducts a bibliometric analysis and literature review of studies on climate finance. Since the Paris Agreement was adopted in December 2015, the academic community has paid closer attention to this emerging topic, as witnessed by a sharp increase in the number of publications. Our review lists this field’s most influential publications, authors, and journals, based on citations. The bibliometric analysis highlights the multidisciplinary nature of climate finance research, which spans environmental science, energy, economics, and finance. The citation analysis also reveals that, despite the exponential growth in publications related to climate finance, leading journals in finance and economics have so far published only a small number of articles in this literature. In addition, the citation analysis identifies four main themes in the knowledge domain: the financing of renewable energy; the impacts of climate change risks on the financial sector; investor preferences for green investments and the impact on corporations; and the pricing and hedging of climate change risk in financial markets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Corporate Sustainability)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

27 pages, 4117 KiB

Open AccessReview

Toward a System Theory of Corporate Sustainability: An Interim Struggle

by Sooksan Kantabutra

Sustainability 2022, 14(23), 15931; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142315931 - 29 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4960

Abstract

In response to the prevailing sustainability problems that are difficult to solve since they are characterized by complex interdependencies, and the effort to solve one aspect of a sustainability problem may lead to other problems, the present study’s objective is to develop an interim, system-based theory of corporate sustainability to fill in significant gaps in the corporate sustainability field. The paper starts by outlining the gaps, introducing a theory building approach, followed by discussing components of the emerging theory. As a system-based theory, the emerging theory is demonstrated through the Corporate Sustainability system, comprising Sustainability Culture, Resilience and Corporate Sustainability Performance subsystems. These subsystems interact to ensure a continuous delivery of sustainability performance outputs and outcomes. The resulting theory is highly dynamic in nature with a feedback loop of learning to reflect the actual reality of high-velocity environment. Implications for corporate practitioners and theorists are also discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Corporate Sustainability)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

27 pages, 1288 KiB

Open AccessReview

Integrative Review of Absorptive Capacity’s Role in Fostering Organizational Resilience and Research Agenda

by Nay Chi Khin Khin Oo and Sirisuhk Rakthin

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12570; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su141912570 - 02 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2278

Abstract

Organizational resilience (OR) has been studied as an important construct for maintaining an organization’s sustainability in today’s dynamic business world. However, the exact way to systematically achieve OR in real organizational settings is still unknown. In this paper, the scholars elucidate how OR can be fostered by developing knowledge absorptive capacity based on the knowledge-based view and dynamic capability theory. The paper highlights the significance of knowledge resources for a firm’s survival nowadays and provides conceptual clarity of how a firm’s ACAP could reinforce fostering OR. Thereby, this review fills the knowledge gaps of previous studies. Based on the review corpus, scholars also address other prominent antecedents for nurturing OR, such as leadership styles, dynamic capabilities, organizational learning, unlearning, networks, and social capital. Lastly, a conceptual model was developed for future organizational studies. In addition to the aforementioned contributions, the study’s novelty also lies in the review method, which is systematically conducted in an integrated manner by combining a bibliometric analysis and a scoping review. Furthermore, the study analyzes a more expansive database that includes 823 documents and covers documents published more recently, from 1992 to 2021. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Corporate Sustainability)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 2711 KiB

Open AccessReview

Sustainable Supply Chain Management in a Circular Economy: A Bibliometric Review

by Monrudee Theeraworawit, Suparak Suriyankietkaew and Philip Hallinger

Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9304; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14159304 - 29 Jul 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5796

Abstract

Since the mid-2010s, the circular economy has emerged as a key conceptual lever in corporate efforts to achieve greater environmental sustainability. Corporations have increasingly drawn upon the circular economy perspective in efforts to rethink sustainable supply chain management practices. This new corporate approach to sustainable supply chain management is evident in an emerging literature that has yet to be fully documented. In this systematic review of research, bibliometric methods were applied to a database of 709 Scopus-indexed documents. Author co-citation analysis identified four schools of thought comprising the intellectual structure of this literature: Sustainable Production and Environmental Management, Sustainable Supply Chain Management, Reverse Supply Chain Management, and Circular Economy. Synthesis of these themes suggests that the adoption of a circular economy perspective is transforming sustainable supply chain management in two important ways. First, this perspective reorients supply chain management away from a narrow focus on efficiency and waste reduction and towards a new paradigm of redesign, reuse, and product transformation. Second, adoption of the circular economy highlights and leverages reverse cycles in the supply chain. Thus, circular economy business models enable supply chain management to enhance corporate contributions to sustainable production and consumption. Drawing upon this framing of supply chain management within a circular economy, the review proposes a new framework for accelerating corporate sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Corporate Sustainability)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Research on Corporate Sustainability

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (13 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI