Description
Book SynopsisDrawing on contributions from more than thirty scholars and experts in the field, this book examines the role of business as an enabler, as an inhibitor, and ultimately as a co-actor in global sustainability transformations expected over the next few decades.
The Role of Business in Global Sustainability Transformations employs several theoretical perspectives and provides abundant examples and cases to discuss a variety of emerging concepts, phenomena, and trends shaping business sustainability. Weaving through the chapters, the editors present core tensions and sources of inertia towards transformative change, and acknowledge that envisioning multiple solutions and pathways are possible and desirable. They advocate for the need to align visions, actions and time horizons between policy, society and business in addressing the interlinked socio-ecological challenges that our society currently faces.
This book will be an important resource for scholars and profes
Trade Review
"This book is a little gem! It succeeds in the ambitious task of putting together what businesses, governments, and the civil society could do in tandem – through collaborative but also adversarial action – to forward a systemic transformation toward sustainability, especially within business. The readers are offered a comprehensive understanding of theories of sustainability transformation, particularly as concerns sustainability change within business, coupled with concrete examples from different parts and contexts of the globe. If you seeking for new ideas for how to change businesses toward sustainability in a systemic setting, this is book is a perfect choice."
Minna Halme, Professor of Sustainability Management, Aalto University School of Business
"As The Role of Business in Global Sustainability Transformations sets out, a green economy based on natural capital, as well as social and human capital, is going to be essential in the global sustainability transformation. The authors delve into the challenges of this and consider some of the potential solutions for business, connecting the jigsaw of activities in an engaging overview of where we find ourselves today."
Mark Gough, CEO, Capitals Coalition
"Society must find a way to halt the climate and biodiversity crisis if we are to leave a habitable world for future generations. Sustainable business approaches are recognised as being critical for achieving that aim. This extremely timely and important book is essential reading for policy makers, academics and those working in the private sector. It provides an insightful collection of essays critically reflecting on the most prominent business pathways, opportunities and challenges to the sustainability transition."
Lyndall Bull, Honorary Research Fellow, University of Melbourne
Table of ContentsTable of Contents
Part 1 – Business sustainability today
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- A little chapter on the big picture
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Robert Kozak, Anne Toppinen, Dalia D’Amato
- Towards the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in business strategy and operations
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Angelina Korsunova and Kaisa Korhonen-Kurki
- Sustainable business models: state of the art and emerging avenues
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Romana Rauter, Tomas Santa-Maria, and Josef-Peter Schöggl
Part 2 – Framing and managing sustainability
- Potential of the green economy discourse to advance sustainability in business
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Maria Fernanda Tomaselli, Kahlil Baker, Michael Barkusky, Noriko Kusumi
- The circular bioeconomy: company-level strategic perspectives
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Ari Jantunen and Anni Tuppura
- Strategies for brand owners and retailers in the circular bioeconomy transition
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Fabian Schipfer, Gülşah Yilan, Francesca Govoni, Piergiuseppe Morone
- Servitization and the future of business development – Insights from the forest industry
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Katja Lähtinen and Liina Häyrinen
Part 3 – Governance and policy mechanisms
- The private sector engagement paradox: the proliferation of finance and market driven sustainability tools alongside the acceleration of environmental degradation
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Ben Cashore
- Intact forest landscapes and the FSC: lessons for NGO-business cooperation
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William Nikolakis and Peter Wood
- The internet of trees and networked surveillance: a multi-stakeholder effort to protect the resilience of ecosystem
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Mario Schultz and Peter Seele
Part 4 – Business sustainability tomorrow?
- The quandary of sustainability-oriented innovations
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Eric Hansen, Jaana Korhonen, Rajat Panwar, Marko Hakovirta
- Business in a strongly sustainable society?
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Iana Nesterova and Ben Robra
- The quest for the sustainable hybrid business
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Ellen Stenslie
- Sustainable futures and the changing role of business vis-à-vis with society
Anne Toppinen, Robert Kozak, Dalia D’Amato
Index
