Sustainability is one of the most over-used words in business in the present time and the meanings attached to its use are so varied and vague as to render it effectively meaningless. In this chapter therefore we start by identifying an appropriate meaning for the concept before considering how...

Some researchers question the legitimacy of EMSs since organizations can claim to have one when in fact they make no attempt to reduce their environmental harms. In instances where EMSs enhance an organization's environmental performance, critics argue that improvements are likely to incur...

A significant development in the global economy over the last two decades has been the emergence of businesses that organize and define themselves as “platforms.” By platform, we refer to any organization that uses digital or other emerging technologies to create value by facilitating or...

In this paper, we ask whether benefit corporations have a role to play in the emerging EU sustainable governance framework. In sec. 2, we briefly introduce the benefit corporation with regard to US law and to the laws of some EU member States, such as France and Italy, which have adopted this...

In this paper, we investigate whether reform of EU company law is needed to make corporate governance more sustainable through an analysis of some of the key questions found in the European Commission's questionnaire in its public consultation on sustainable corporate governance. We also...

This paper explores the role of sustainable enterprise in the context of a rapidly emerging economy. It centres on a multiple case study analysis based upon observations and interview data from six organisations operating in Dubai. Preliminary results indicate that the motivation to transition...

This article analyzes the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and firm performance by proposing a theoretical model and by testing empirically its main predictions on a matched panel database for the biggest European listed firms over the 2002-2007 period. Our dataset...

The concept of sustainable development affects every part of economic life. The pro-vision of liquidity and capital should contribute to a habitable ecological and social environment. This paper surveys the role of finance in the concept of sustainability. It starts with a discussion of finance...

Purpose – Although the crucial role of business, and of business-based approaches, in development is increasingly emphasised by academics and practitioners, we lack insight into the ‘whether and how' of viable business models, in environmental, social and economical terms. This article...