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The Leading Digital Technology Companies and Their Approach to Sustainable Development

Author

Listed:
  • Peter Jones

    (The Business School, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham GL50 2RH, UK)

  • Martin Wynn

    (School of Computing and Engineering, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham GL50 2RH, UK)

Abstract

The increasingly stellar attraction of the digital technologies and the growing, though not universal, consensus of the need to build a sustainable future, are two powerful trends within society. The aim of this article is to offer an exploratory review of how the leading companies within the digital transformation market have addressed sustainable development. As such, the article’s originality and value lie in offering a review of current corporate thinking within that market. The study adopts an inductive, qualitative approach based on an examination of published company reports, and identifies six major sustainability themes being actively promoted and supported. The article concludes that the current sustainability objectives of the technology companies are driven as much by commercial reality as any altruistic motives, and that support and promotion of the circular economy may offer the best opportunity for digital technologies to meaningfully impact sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Jones & Martin Wynn, 2021. "The Leading Digital Technology Companies and Their Approach to Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-12, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:12:p:6612-:d:572276
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Zhiqiang Zhou & Wenyan Liu & Pengfei Cheng & Zhenjin Li, 2022. "The Impact of the Digital Economy on Enterprise Sustainable Development and Its Spatial-Temporal Evolution: An Empirical Analysis Based on Urban Panel Data in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-23, September.
    2. Renato Camodeca & Alex Almici, 2021. "Digital Transformation and Convergence toward the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainability Development Goals: Evidence from Italian Listed Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-18, October.
    3. Min Zhao & Rong Liu & Debao Dai, 2021. "Synergistic Effect between China’s Digital Transformation and Economic Development: A Study Based on Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-19, December.
    4. Regina Diaz & Raul Montalvo, 2022. "Digital Transformation as an Enabler to Become More Efficient in Sustainability: Evidence from Five Leading Companies in the Mexican Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-19, November.
    5. Xiao Han & Yang Zheng, 2022. "Driving Elements of Enterprise Digital Transformation Based on the Perspective of Dynamic Evolution," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-19, August.
    6. Reihaneh Hajishirzi & Carlos J. Costa & Manuela Aparicio, 2022. "Boosting Sustainability through Digital Transformation’s Domains and Resilience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-16, February.
    7. Sambo Lyson Zulu & Ali M. Saad & Barry Gledson, 2023. "Individual Characteristics as Enablers of Construction Employees’ Digital Literacy: An Exploration of Leaders’ Opinions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-17, January.
    8. Junwei Zhao & Yuxiang Zhang & Anhang Chen & Huiqin Zhang, 2022. "Analysis on the Spatio-Temporal Evolution Characteristics of the Impact of China’s Digitalization Process on Green Total Factor Productivity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-21, November.

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