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Sustainability Challenges across Industries, Services and Markets

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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 May 2023) | Viewed by 27052

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. João F. Proença

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Guest Editor

1. Faculty of Economics, University of Porto, 4200-464 Porto, Portugal
2. Advance, CSG, ISEG, University of Lisbon, 1249-078 Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: sustainability; services and B2B marketing; relationships and business networks, industrial and services networks; links between industry and services; business models

Prof. Dr. Raquel Reis Soares

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Guest Editor

1. IPAM Porto, 4100-320 Porto, Portugal
2. Universidade Europeia, 1500-210 Lisboa, Portugal
3. UNIDCOM/IADE, Unidade de Investigação em Design e Comunicação, 1200-649 Lisboa, Portugal
4. CinTurs - Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Interests: sustainability; service marketing and strategy; digital marketing; consumer behavior; branding; business models and business-to-business innovation and entrepreneurship

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainability will be one of the biggest business challenges in the forthcoming decades. Significant changes have occurred in the competition at diverse industrial sectors, services, and markets (e.g., textile, chemical, food and beverage, technology industries, etc.). Business to business (B2B) companies will become increasingly more aware of the power of sustainability, and how to do business sustainably, which will also occupy a key position in the minds of consumers. Sustainability and the circular economy are drivers for long-lasting competitiveness, influencing B2B markets and often implying a redefinition of business models.

This Special Issue invites the submission of manuscripts (both original and review articles) on the following topics:

Firms that are able to encourage sustainable business and consumption, designing and implementing business processes and practices sustainably and redefining business models;
Interventions and policies to promote a sustainable business and to develop circular economy capabilities as drivers for long-lasting competitiveness;
Environmental improvements in businesses to encourage companies to think and act toward reducing the negative effects from ill environmental performance;
Research on good sustainability practices and/or about of sustainability problems and challenges across industries, services, and markets.

Sustainability is one of the biggest challenges currently faced by companies (Johnsen et al., 2017), and is a research topic that has been gathering more and more attention and becoming a global concern. Politicians are concerned with the issue and are trying to develop public policies to regulate markets and industries in order to deal with this global challenge. Moreover, the literature shows that some organizations that are committed to green strategies and have goals to contribute to a positive economic development, social cohesion, and the protection and valorization of the environment (Apenko and Fomina, 2021, Farooque et al., 2019) have managed, at the same time, to gain significant competitive advantages such as cost reduction, better risk management, and a growing positive reputation in the market (Iacobucci et al., 2020; Garrett et al., 2019, Geissdoerfer et al., 2017, Langert, 2019, Szulecka, 2019). Conversely, consumers are showing a growing preference for green products and services, while employees and organizations are more concerned and, at the same time, enthusiastic about developing relationships with other companies that already have sustainable practices in place (Iacobucci et al., 2020, Abreu et al., 2020, Santos and Proenca, 2021).

The need to develop sustainable procedures is due to the awareness of the high consumption of natural resources, which has a huge impact on the environment (Farooque et al., 2019). These consumptions affect the lives of populations as well as industries and, as a result, impact all the processes developed (Garrett et al., 2019, Geissdoerfer et al., 2017, Langert, 2019, Szulecka, 2019). Thus, commitment to sustainability requires that business process maintain their activities keeping profit in mind but also develop responsible activities that consider the society and communities where they are located and that contribute to wellbeing (Slager et al., 2020, Spieth et al., 2019).

Thus, this Special Issue aims to discuss these challenges in different industries, services, and markets. Despite a large number of recent studies related to sustainability, a lot of research is still needed, and particularly research that makes it possible to investigate the phenomenon across and comparatively analyzing different industries, services, and markets. Strategy, marketing, R&D, HRM and B2B buying processes, and other organizational functions being responsible means that companies must consider a number of sustainable criteria for their choices as well as the management of the relationships with their stakeholders. Research focused on those processes across several different sectors, industries, and markets is scarce. Accordingly, our Special Issue will answer to this literature gap by gathering a rich and diversified collection of papers on those sustainability-related challenges, practices, and problems around diverse industries, services, and markets.

References

Abreu, M.C.S.d., Ferreira, F.N.H., Proença, J.F. and Ceglia, D. (2020), "Collaboration in achieving sustainable solutions in the textile industry", Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JBIM-01-2020-0041

Apenko, S., Fomina, Y. (2021), Sustainability Management of Business Projects in Large Russian Companies, SHS Web of Conferences 90.

Farooque, M., Zhang, A., Thürer, M., Qu, T. & Huisingh, D. 2019. Circular supply chain management: A definition and structured literature review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 228, 882-900.

Garrett, R. D., Levy, S., Carlson, K. M., Gardner, T. A., Godar, J., Clapp, J., Dauvergne, P., Heilmayr, R., Le Polain De Waroux, Y., Ayre, B., Barr, R., Døvre, B., Gibbs, H. K., Hall, S., Lake, S., Milder, J. C., Rausch, L. L., Rivero, R., Rueda, X., Sarsfield, R., Soares-Filho, B. & Villoria, N. 2019. Criteria for effective zero-deforestation commitments. Global Environmental Change, 54, 135-147.

Geissdoerfer, M., Savaget, P., Bocken, N. M. P. & Hultink, E. J. 2017. The Circular Economy – A new sustainability paradigm? Journal of Cleaner Production, 143, 757-768.

Iacobucci, D., Gabriel, M. L., Schneider, M. J., & Hamza, K. M. (September 2020). Marketing Research On Environmental Sustainability. Review of Marketing Research, pp. 261-292.

Langert, B. 2019. The Battle to Do Good: Inside McDonald's Sustainability Journey, Emerald Publishing Ltd (January 19, 2019).

Santos , L. P. & Proença , J. F. (2021). Sustainable Business Practices and Supply Chain Negative Outcomes, International Journal of Marketing, Communication and New Media. Special Issue on Sustainable Marketing, June 2021, 6-29.

Slager, R., Pouryousefi, S., Moon, J. & Schoolman, E. D. 2020. Sustainability Centres and Fit: How Centres Work to Integrate Sustainability Within Business Schools. Journal of Business Ethics, 161, 375-391.

Spieth, P., Schneider, S., Clauß, T. & Eichenberg, D. 2019. Value drivers of social businesses: A business model perspective. Long Range Planning, 52, 427-444.

Szulecka, J. 2019. Towards Sustainable Wood-Based Energy: Evaluation and Strategies for Mainstreaming Sustainability in the Sector. Sustainability, 11, 493.

Prof. Dr. João F. Proença
Prof. Dr. Raquel Reis Soares
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

sustainability
business-to-business and services markets
sustainable business practices
sustainable production
sustainable consumption
circular economy

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 517 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Customer-Centric Sustainability on Brand Relationships

by Mafalda Nogueira, Bruno Silva and Sandra Gomes

Sustainability 2023, 15(16), 12212; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612212 - 10 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2236

Abstract

This paper contributes to the existing but scarce literature on customer-centric sustainability and measures consumers’ perceptions of fast-fashion brands regarding economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Furthermore, it aims to test the impact of each dimension of customer–brand relationships, specifically brand trust, affective brand commitment, and continuance brand commitment. A research model and nine hypotheses were tested through multiple linear regressions using a convenience sample of 228 Portuguese fast-fashion consumers. It also provides additional insights into how consumers’ perceptions of the three dimensions of sustainability might affect customer–brand relationships, namely brand trust and brand commitment. The results reveal a significant relationship between all dimensions of customer-centric sustainability and brand trust. Furthermore, economic sustainability and social sustainability were found to significantly predict effective brand commitment. Additionally, this study demonstrates that brand trust positively influences consumers’ intentions to maintain long-term relationships with fast-fashion brands. The implications of the results are discussed in detail, shedding light on the importance of incorporating customer-centric sustainability practices into brand management strategies within the fast-fashion industry. Further elaboration and discussion of the results can be found in this study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Challenges across Industries, Services and Markets)

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35 pages, 2242 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Sustainability on Psychological Ownership in Services Based on Temporary Access

by Leonardo M. Raimundo and João F. Proença

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 11374; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411374 - 21 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1452

Abstract

The search for solutions that address the issues related to sustainability and overconsumption seeks to create social and ecological value while also creating economic value for companies. The sharing economy has emerged as a viable solution. Nonetheless, it also has side effects that need to be addressed, namely, the loss of perceived ownership. This study seeks to respond to the question, “What is the role of sustainability in the relationship between psychological ownership and its antecedents?” By addressing it, the outcome of our research expands the literature on psychological ownership by employing variables related to sustainability (self-perception as a sustainable consumer, community, and personal connection to the sustainable positioning of the company) as moderators between psychological ownership and its precedent variables. Our paper contributes to knowledge of access-based services and consumer goods that have, until this moment, been limitedly investigated. Drawing upon prior research results about psychological ownership and variables related to sustainability, we employed a scenario-based self-report and evaluated the variables’ moderating effect on psychological ownership. We used SEM and smartPLS software. Our findings demonstrate the moderating effect of the (1) degree of intermediation of the platform, especially in the (2) low-intermediation scenario, and the (3) communal connection stemming from the sustainable position of the company. This paper contributes to the literature regarding intermediation and company positioning as variables with potential use in studies of psychological ownership, services, and, mainly, sustainability. Additionally, presents managers and marketeers the means to prevent the loss of perceived ownership while providing ways to leverage the sharing economy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Challenges across Industries, Services and Markets)

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27 pages, 4264 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Sustainable Design of Consumers’ Influence Factors of Huaihe Willow Weaving Based on AHP

by Nameng Sun, You He, Chang Wang and Junxue Zhang

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 11115; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411115 - 17 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1233

Abstract

Technology advancements and modern lifestyle changes have posed a threat to the preservation and development of traditional skills. This research focuses on the sustainable development of Huaihe willow weaving techniques, an intangible cultural heritage of China, with a specific focus on economic and environmental sustainability. The initial step involved analyzing the purchasing intentions of 350 consumers in the Yangtze River Delta region through a questionnaire survey. Based on this analysis, four theoretical hypotheses were formulated. Subsequently, an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model consisting of four standard layers and 20 factor layers was constructed. By utilizing judgment matrices, the relative weight values of the standard and factor layers were calculated. Notably, B4 (sustainable innovation) holds the highest weightage at 49%, followed by B2 (product innovation) and B3 (process innovation), each accounting for 20%. B1 (authentic innovation) has a weightage of 11%. This study delves into the interrelation among the crucial factors influencing design innovation in Huaihe willow weaving. Lastly, based on the outcomes of the AHP model, four sustainable design improvement strategies for the development of new Huaihe willow weaving products in the Yangtze River Delta region are proposed. This research sheds light on the sustainable effects of design innovation in the willow weaving traditional craft on commercial and economic progress, from the perspective of consumers. Additionally, it offers experimental data and strategic support for local willow weaving enterprises in the Yangtze River Delta region, aiding in the development of new products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Challenges across Industries, Services and Markets)

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25 pages, 1238 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of Climate-Related Disclosure Indicators for Application in Indonesia: A Delphi Method Study

by Prianto Budi Saptono, Gustofan Mahmud, Intan Pratiwi, Dwi Purwanto, Ismail Khozen, Muhamad Akbar Aditama, Siti Khodijah, Maria Eurelia Wayan, Rina Yuliastuty Asmara and Ferry Jie

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 10915; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151410915 - 12 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1733

Abstract

Indonesia is currently preparing to adopt the climate-related disclosure standard. Before this new standard is implemented effectively, the Institute of Indonesia Chartered Accountants (IAI), the Indonesia Task Force on Comprehensive Corporate Reporting (CCR) leader, recognised the importance of harmonising this standard’s key disclosure indicators with Indonesian regulations and business characteristics. In this case, input from various constituencies may be required, particularly regarding the mechanism that enables entities with varying capabilities and levels of preparation to apply this new standard. Hence, the main objective of this paper is to develop weighted and applicable climate-related disclosure indicators. We use the Delphi method to achieve this objective by involving several experts representing various user groups that influence accounting standard formulation in Indonesia. The Delphi method is a decision-making tool that establishes an effective communication process, facilitating complex problem solving. This study finalised 44 climate-related disclosure indicators based on the results of two Delphi rounds. Overall, 48% (21/44) of climate-related disclosure indicators were identified to be highly applicable. Among these high-relevance indicators, there were 10% (2/21) Governance, 24% (5/21) Strategy, 42% (9/21) Risk Management, and 24% (5/21) Metrics and Targets indicators. Additionally, around 20% (9/44) of climate-related disclosure indicators received 100% approval from the experts. Along with various essential implications, we argue that these results provide useful additional information for the national standard setter for the climate-related disclosure standard that are efficient and less burdensome to entities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Challenges across Industries, Services and Markets)

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18 pages, 672 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Determinants of the Purchase of Secondhand Products: An Approach by the Theory of Planned Behaviour

by Maria Rodrigues, João F. Proença and Rita Macedo

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 10912; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151410912 - 12 Jul 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3424

Abstract

In the context of sustainable consumption, this study aims to understand the determinants of the intention to purchase secondhand products, exploring the direct and indirect effect of each in the constructs of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). To the traditional variables of TPB, Attitude, subjective norm and perception of behavioural control, were added the price, the need for exclusivity, frugality, environmental concern and environmental knowledge. Quantitative approaches were used, data were collected through a questionnaire and 805 responses were analyzed through PLS-SEM. The results revalidated the TPB variables, frugality, price and environmental concern, as determinants of the intention to purchase secondhand products. Price and environmental concern were the greatest influence on purchase intention. The results also reveal differences between younger and older people in relation to secondhand purchasing and sustainable consumption. Environmental concern is only significant in the purchase intention of younger people, because in older people the price prevails as more influential. This study expands TPB, introducing secondhand and sustainability determinants and analyzing the direct and indirect effects of behavioural constructs applied to purchase intention of secondhand products. Firms and brands need to change from linearity to circular production and follow the intentions of consumers to buy secondhand products, especially young consumers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Challenges across Industries, Services and Markets)

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11 pages, 291 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Motivations for Peer-to-Peer Accommodation: Exploring Sustainable Choices in Collaborative Consumption

by Ana Catarina Delgado, Raquel Reis Soares and João F. Proença

Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 10276; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310276 - 29 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1117

Abstract

This research aims to contribute to the growing body of knowledge of Collaborative Consumption (CC) by exploring the motivations that influence the use of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) accommodation platforms from the demand side. There has been a significant increase in interest in sustainable choices regarding P2P accommodation in recent years. To address this gap and contribute to the collaborative consumption and P2P accommodation theory, a quantitative study was conducted through a survey yielding 235 responses from both users and non-users of P2P platforms. The findings of this study suggest that P2P accommodation platform usage is influenced by multiple factors, including sustainability, belonging, economic benefits, and convenience. Interestingly, the study also found that individuals with higher levels of academic qualifications are more likely to adopt this mode of consumption. Moreover, the study is the first of its kind to quantitatively address this topic. By understanding the motivations of P2P platform users, policymakers and practitioners can develop targeted strategies to promote sustainable choices in this sector. Overall, this study provides a useful framework for future research on collaborative consumption and sustainable P2P accommodation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Challenges across Industries, Services and Markets)

38 pages, 1714 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainability in Project Management and Project Success with Virtual Teams: A Quantitative Analysis Considering Stakeholder Engagement and Knowledge Management

by Gisele Blak Bernat, Eduardo Linhares Qualharini, Marcela Souto Castro, André Baptista Barcaui and Raquel Reis Soares

Sustainability 2023, 15(12), 9834; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129834 - 20 Jun 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 9887

Abstract

Project success is crucial for businesses, but the impact of virtual teams on it is still not fully understood. The global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 has led to the widespread adoption of virtual environment solutions to support geographically dispersed project teams. The growth in the use of virtual or hybrid teams in projects is expected to continue, as it presents an irreversible trend. Furthermore, there has been a significant increase in interest in sustainability in project management in recent years, emphasizing the long-term perspective for project success. To address this gap and contribute to the project success theory, a quantitative study was conducted to examine the impact of stakeholder engagement, knowledge management, and sustainable practices in project management on project success in virtual work environments using structural equation modeling. Experienced Portuguese-speaking project management professionals were surveyed. No evidence was found to support the moderating role of virtual teams, concluding that the virtual nature of a team does not diminish stakeholder engagement, knowledge-sharing, or sustainability in project management and its influence on project success. This study provides valuable insights for enhancing project success in virtual work environments, as it is the first of its kind to quantitatively address the sustainable long-term approach of project success in virtual environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Challenges across Industries, Services and Markets)

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18 pages, 2046 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Striving to Achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Taiwanese SMEs by Adopting Industry 4.0

by Hsing-Chun Hung and Yuh-Wen Chen

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2111; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032111 - 22 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2074

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the potential transformation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Taiwan, China, to meet the United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals (SDGs) by adopting Industry 4.0. Taiwan is performing excellently at the core of Industry 4.0, information technology competence; however, we are curious if the competence required is available and acquainted by SMEs for achieving SDGs. As the consulting staff of the government, we hypothesized that adopting Industry 4.0 would lead to the success of sustainability. The analytical methodology is the model of technology, organization, and environment (TOE). We conducted the questionnaire survey to test if the adoption of Industry 4.0 will guarantee the success of sustainability. A systemic approach is employed to develop and parametrize the final model between adopting Industry 4.0 and sustainability, using structural equation modeling (SEM). Finally, we found a significant gap for Taiwanese SMEs to achieve sustainability via Industry 4.0 because only three hypotheses are supported: organizational resource availability influences Industry 4.0 adoption, investment costs impact sustainability, and external support pushes the adoption of Industry 4.0. We propose some possible solutions for the government to help SMEs reach the achievement of SDGs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Challenges across Industries, Services and Markets)

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20 pages, 2961 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ecological Efficiency Evaluation, Spatial Difference, and Trend Analysis of Logistics Industry and Manufacturing Industry Linkage in the Northeast Old Industrial Base

by Chong Wu, Jiahua Gan, Zhuo Jiang, Anding Jiang and Wenlong Zheng

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12724; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912724 - 6 Oct 2022

Viewed by 1179

Abstract

The ecological efficiency of industrial linkage considering unexpected output is an important indicator to measure the coordinated development of industrial linkage, resources, and the environment. It is an important basis for realizing the sustainable development of industry linkage. Taking the composite index of carbon emissions of the logistics industry and pollution emissions of the manufacturing industry as the unexpected output, we used the unexpected SBM model to evaluate the ecological efficiency of industrial linkage between the logistics industry and the manufacturing industry in Northeast China from 2011 to 2019, and used the spatial autocorrelation analysis method to analyze the spatial differences in industrial linkage efficiency. The results show that (1) considering the unexpected output, in Northeast China, the ecological efficiency cannot reach a high level of linkage development stage. (2) The results of the spatial correlation show that there are spatial differences between H-H agglomeration and L-L agglomeration in the linkage ecological efficiency of the two industries, and the spatial agglomeration attribute is relatively stable. (3) The analysis results of spatial agglomeration characteristics show that the spatial agglomeration of the two industries has a spatial evolution process from the southern coastal area to the central region. (4) Spatial trend analysis shows that in Northeast China, the western region is slightly higher than the eastern region, while the southern region is higher than the northern region. (5) From the development trend of linkage ecological efficiency, the linkage ecological efficiency of the study area will be improved in the future, but in the short term, the linkage ecological development level is not high and may still be at the primary linkage level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Challenges across Industries, Services and Markets)

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