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The Role of Small and Medium Enterprises in Realizing the Sustainable Development Goals

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Development Goals towards Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 13 January 2025 | Viewed by 3695

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Luis Velazquez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Industrial Engineering Department, University of Sonora, Hermosillo 87287, Mexico
Interests: sustainability; cleaner production; climate change education; energy efficiency
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Nora Munguia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Industrial Engineering Department, University of Sonora, Hermosillo 87287, Mexico
Interests: industry; sustainability; cleaner production; occupational health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides a valuable global framework that the states could follow at national, regional, and local levels to accomplish the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Gathering reliable data is critical in accurately assessing the progress toward the 2030 agenda. However, unlike larger enterprises, SMEs may struggle to report correctly on sustainability because of lack of resources, knowledge, and budget. Nonetheless, considering their importance in most economies,  it is necessary to know to what extent small business sectors contribute to advance the SDGs.

Higher education institutions and governmental agencies have served as catalysts supporting SMEs' sustainability efforts, which generally are not considered in Voluntary National Reviews delivered to the UN High-Level Political Forum. On the other hand, the current collection of scientific literature about how small and medium-sized firms in all sectors are helping to advance the targets in the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development is limited.

Therefore, we aim to expand the literature on conceptual models, pragmatic experiences and reviews about SMEs-related strategies to accomplish the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by inviting sustainability scholars and practitioners to submit their high-quality papers to this Special Issue. We particularly welcome submissions from institutions located in the Global South or other institutions worldwide focusing on the role of SMEs in the Global South.

Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Energy efficiency;
  • Climate change;
  • Higher education institutions and partnership with SMEs;
  • Sustainability reporting;
  • Industry 4.0 and SMEs;
  • Sustainable finance;
  • Innovation and SMEs;
  • Sustainable development goals;
  • Circular economy;
  • Corporate social responsibility.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Luis Velazquez
Dr. Nora Munguia
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • energy efficiency
  • climate change
  • higher education institutions and partnership with SMEs
  • sustainability reporting
  • Industry 4.0 and SMEs
  • sustainable finance
  • innovation and SMEs
  • sustainable development goals
  • circular economy
  • corporate social responsibility

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Review

23 pages, 3494 KiB  
Review
Beyond the Financial Horizon: A Critical Review of Social Responsibility in Latin American Credit Unions
by Katherin Carrera-Silva, Olga Maritza Rodríguez Ulcuango, Paula Abdo-Peralta, Ángel Gerardo Castelo Salazar, Carmen Amelia Samaniego Erazo and Diego Haro Ávalos
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 7908; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16187908 - 10 Sep 2024
Viewed by 703
Abstract
Credit unions in Latin America play an important role in the financial system, making a significant contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through their focus on financial inclusion, sustainability, and economic resilience. Assessing the social responsibility of these cooperatives [...] Read more.
Credit unions in Latin America play an important role in the financial system, making a significant contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through their focus on financial inclusion, sustainability, and economic resilience. Assessing the social responsibility of these cooperatives ensures ethical, sustainable operations that benefit the population. Unlike traditional financial institutions, cooperatives are based on principles focused on mutual benefit, democratic participation, and responsibility toward their members and the community. This critical literature review, conducted through scientific databases, synthesizes findings on social responsibility in credit unions. The financial system is relevant for global economic stability and growth, comprising institutions like credit unions that facilitate capital flow. It operates through financial instruments, intermediaries, and markets, ensuring efficient resource allocation and risk management. Effective financial management involves planning, organizing, directing, and controlling resources to achieve stability and growth, integrating social responsibility. Credit unions in Latin America highlight cooperative principles, emphasizing member service, community development, and sustainable practices over profit maximization, thereby fostering economic inclusion and ethical business practices. In conclusion, credit unions provide affordable financial services while promoting values of solidarity and equity. However, as entities directly linked to communities, it is essential for them to monitor their actions in terms of social responsibility. This is important to measure and ensure their impact on society and its context. Finally, future research should focus on balancing economic viability with social responsibility, exploring innovative models, governance frameworks, and technological impacts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Small and Medium Enterprises in Realizing the Sustainable Development Goals)
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26 pages, 936 KiB  
Review
Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Trends and Future Perspectives for Sustainability and Digitalization in Germany
by Ricardo L. F. Bella, Walter Leal Filho, Tiago F. A. C. Sigahi, Izabela Simon Rampasso, Osvaldo L. G. Quelhas, Leticia Fernandes Bella, Gustavo Hermínio Salati Marcondes de Moraes and Rosley Anholon
Sustainability 2024, 16(16), 6900; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16166900 - 12 Aug 2024
Viewed by 800
Abstract
The objective of this research was to provide a review of the state-of-the-art literature related to sustainability and digitalization in SMEs to identify current trends and future perspectives within this vital sector. The focus is on German SMEs, which are considered benchmarks, given [...] Read more.
The objective of this research was to provide a review of the state-of-the-art literature related to sustainability and digitalization in SMEs to identify current trends and future perspectives within this vital sector. The focus is on German SMEs, which are considered benchmarks, given these firms’ critical role in the country’s economy and job market. A total of 55 peer-reviewed articles were analyzed with the support of the Atlas TI 24.1 software package, focusing on definitions, frameworks, research questions, hypotheses, primary findings, and direct reports from interviewees. Major current trends were identified, clustered in two groups: (1) digitalization, digital transformation, Industry 4.0, and performance; and (2) sustainability, innovation, entrepreneurship, and risk management. Three future perspectives were identified: disseminating digitalization in the market; incorporating sustainability into business models; and increasing investments in government support programs. While the study is focused on German SMEs, its findings are applicable to similar economies within the European Union and can serve as a reference for developing countries’ sustainable development goals (SDGs). This research advances knowledge on how SMEs play a critical role in the context of sustainability and digitalization, both now and in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Small and Medium Enterprises in Realizing the Sustainable Development Goals)
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19 pages, 608 KiB  
Review
Self-Employed Workers and the Achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: An Overview of Their Social Benefit Entitlements across 31 European Countries
by Mara Mațcu-Zaharia, Ioana Alexandra Horodnic, Colin C. Williams and George Cristian Nistor
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2625; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072625 - 22 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1283
Abstract
One of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8). While the actions suggested to reach this goal target numerous actors in the labor market, such as entrepreneurs running small [...] Read more.
One of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8). While the actions suggested to reach this goal target numerous actors in the labor market, such as entrepreneurs running small and medium-sized enterprises, unemployed people, students and young people, persons with disabilities, children and adults forced to work, and migrant workers, these are not the only important groups to focus on. This paper discusses a group receiving less attention: self-employed workers. Through a review of literature and the legislative framework on the social benefits of self-employment across 31 European countries, challenges to the self-employed achieving decent work are identified. The most prominent challenges are that, in many countries, these workers lack social protection against unemployment or accidents at work and that the conditions for their entitlement to social benefits are more demanding than for employees. These constitute impediments to achieving SDG 8‘s goal of “decent work for all”, and SDG 10′s aim to “reduce inequalities”. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Small and Medium Enterprises in Realizing the Sustainable Development Goals)
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