Cogent Business & Management

Innovating for Sustainability: Business and Management Strategies for a More Sustainable World

The challenges of achieving a sustainable future require urgent and coordinated efforts across sectors, with businesses playing a critical role in driving change. The private sector has increasingly been recognized as a key player in fostering sustainability through innovation, leadership, and the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. Scholars have emphasized the concept of shared value, highlighting the potential for businesses to create economic value in ways that also address societal needs. Similarly, the principles of the circular economy and sustainable business models provide frameworks for aligning corporate profitability with ecological stewardship.

Despite growing awareness, many organizations still struggle to fully embed corporate sustainability into their core strategies and operations. The tension between short-term financial performance and long-term sustainability goals continues to challenge managers and policymakers alike. The need for innovative solutions that balance these objectives has never been more pressing, particularly in the context of global initiatives such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). This article collection aims to address these critical issues by showcasing research that provides actionable insights, interdisciplinary approaches, and forward-looking strategies for businesses to contribute meaningfully to sustainable development.

We welcome submissions from diverse theoretical and methodological perspectives, including empirical, conceptual, and case study research. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Sustainable Business Models: Innovations in creating value while reducing environmental impact.
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Trends, challenges, and opportunities in CSR implementation and reporting.
• Green Supply Chain Management: Strategies to enhance sustainability in procurement, production, and distribution.
• Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency: Business strategies to minimize waste and promote resource regeneration.
• Leadership for Sustainability: Traits, strategies, and practices of leaders driving sustainability initiatives.
• Sustainability and Digital Transformation: The role of technology in promoting sustainable business practices.
• ESG Metrics and Impact Assessment: Development and integration of metrics for environmental, social, and governance performance.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Approaches to fostering collaboration with communities, governments, and other stakeholders.
• Policy and Regulatory Impacts: The influence of global and local regulations on sustainable business practices.
• Behavioral Perspectives and Ethics on Sustainability: Examining consumer behavior, employee engagement, ethical issues and organizational culture.
• Other related topics on Corporate Sustainability

Ph.D. Ricardo Martínez-Cañas, is an Associate Professor in the Area of Business Organization at the University of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain). He has been a visiting Scholar in Lisbon School of Economics & Management (Portugal), Manchester Institute of Innovation Research (UK), Catholic School of Eichstät Ingolstadt (Germany) and. His research interests span various areas, including social capital, business ethics, leadership, human resources, entrepreneurship, and value co-creation. His research has appeared in Journal of Business Ethics, Journal of Management Journal, International Journal of Human Resource Management, European Management Review amongst others.

Ivo Hristov is an Associate Professor in Accounting, Sustainability, and Performance Management at the University L’Aquila and Tor Vergata University of Rome (Italy). He holds a Ph.D. in Management and Law from the same institution. His research focuses on integrating sustainability with corporate governance and performance management systems. Dr. Hristov has published extensively on topics such as sustainability key performance indicators and the strategic alignment of environmental drivers in business.

Cory Searcy is a Professor of Mechanical, Industrial, and Mechatronics Engineering at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University). He also serves as the Vice-Provost and Dean of the Yeates School of Graduate Studies. Dr. Searcy’s research focuses on sustainability, supply chain management, and performance measurement. He has published extensively on these topics and is known for his work on corporate sustainability performance measurement systems.

The Guest Advisors do not have any conflicts of interest to disclose.

For questions, please contact the Commissioning Editor, Dr. Molly Cole, for more information: molly.cole@taylorandfrancis.com