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How to serve sustainability performance in businesses? An appetizing recipe to link practices to performance in business sustainability research

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  • Jean‐Pierre Imbrogiano
  • Elizabeth Nichols

Abstract

Recent critiques claim that business sustainability scholarship offers little evidence on how to effectively address business unsustainability. In this article, we demonstrate why this problem exists. Specifically, we argue that the literatures on internal practices of business sustainability, and on the sustainability performance of businesses, do not speak to each other and that explanatory models also fail to bridge a corresponding gap in the field. We argue for the development of a subfield of sustainability performance in businesses and explain the types of inquiries that should be developed. Finally, we suggest how scholars in the business sustainability field could contribute to the development of better understanding of sustainability performance in businesses.

Suggested Citation

  • Jean‐Pierre Imbrogiano & Elizabeth Nichols, 2021. "How to serve sustainability performance in businesses? An appetizing recipe to link practices to performance in business sustainability research," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 1610-1622, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:30:y:2021:i:4:p:1610-1622
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.2697
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    4. Elena D. Vaisman & Maria V. Podshivalova & Andrew Adewale Alola, 2022. "Examining the interaction of sustainable innovation activity and the life cycle of small high‐tech enterprises," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3), pages 1018-1029, March.

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