The Contribution of Innovation to CSR and Sustainability Implementation by Firms in Emerging Markets

Dear Colleagues,

Innovations have always been a fundamental driver of society’s development. Innovation continues to be a powerful force that allows us to address many challenges that we are now facing on a global scale, especially in the context of sustainability. Inclusive and sustainable industrialization and innovation is the 9th of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by United Nations for 2030. Moreover, sustainable innovation is critical for reaching many if not all of these goals. This is acute in our time of accelerating climate change, the on-going pandemic, and multiple deprivations caused by these forces globally and, especially, in the developing part of the world.

Sustainable innovation refers to the successful implementation of technical, organizational, and business-related solutions that are significantly improved or novel, contributing to the triple bottom line (Adams et al, 2016; Berset & Fichter, 2015; Elkington, 1997). More specifically, they aim at creating environmental and social value in addition to economic returns to target people, planet, and profit (Elkington, 1997). Environmental value primarily manifests itself in reducing negative (and increasing positive) impact on the natural environment, while social value refers to equal structures and secure well-being for all people in societies.

Sustainable innovations can differ depending on their degree of environmental or social impact: types (i.e., green innovation, eco-innovation, responsible innovation), purposes (i.e., CSR, increased competitiveness, better brand image and reputation, entry into new markets, etc.), agencies (e.g., SMEs, born globals, MNCs from developed markets, MNCs from developing markets), and contexts (i.e., emerging markets, developed markets, global markets). Consider for example innovative initiatives to reduce waste (e.g., Apple using recycled parts in off-shore production), to increase work site safety (e.g., Ericsson remote site surveillance in Indonesia), and to promote more efficient use of water (e.g., Nestlé implementing drip irrigation systems in Pakistan).

The objective of this Special Issue is to highlight the importance of innovation to the implementation of CSR and sustainability goals by a wide range of companies with a special focus on emerging markets. The reason for focusing on emerging markets is the complexity of the environment and multiple challenges that companies are facing while implementing CSR and sustainability principles and goals.

We call for all papers that address the issue of sustainable innovation in the context of MNCs, SMEs, and/or born globals, with a focus on emerging/developing markets (in a broad sense). The conceptual angles might include: innovation and marketing, branding (value creation and co-creation), digitalization, management, and HR. We encourage empirical, methodological, and conceptual contributions, but empirical studies linking these concepts to relevant phenomena will be prioritized for the Special Issue.

This Special Issue focuses its attention on the following topics, but is not limited to them:

• Sustainable modes of production and consumption;
• Creating sustainable value—sustainable brands;
• Challenges of sustainability and innovations in emerging markets;
• Sustainable innovations for whom? Who benefits from them? Companies or consumers?
• Sustainable innovations and the paradox of growth;
• Can sustainable innovations trigger de-growth?
• Sustainable innovations and the search for justice;
• Sustainable entrepreneurship, innovations, and economy;
• Decent work, economic growth, and sustainable innovation;
• Circular economy and sustainable innovation;
• Management challenges of sustainable innovation;
• Types of sustainable innovations: technological, social, institutional, etc.;
• Sustainable innovations and the foreign market context: e.g., cultural and institutional influence.

Dr. Veronika Tarnovskaya
Dr. Tolstoy Daniel
Dr. Sara Melén Hånell
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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.

• sustainable innovation
• innovation
• sustainability circular economy
• digitization
• branding
• born globals
• MNCs
• SMEs
• emerging markets
• implications for economic development