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How businesses strategize for sustainability and overcome barriers within different economic paradigms

La Motte, Sofie LU (2024) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20231
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
Industrial society is the reason for the rising global ecological crisis, and companies are a primary contributor to this trend. To change this course, companies must transform along with society’s green transition. In the academic debate of economics and sustainability, various competing economic paradigms suggest how to steer society towards a sustainable transformation. Based on theoretical historical reasoning, three paradigms can be recognised: Techno-Optimism, Green Growth and Post-Growth. This study creates an analytical framework, identifying structural approaches and indicators for business strategies within each paradigm. Utilising this framework, the study performs an explorative multi-case study to understand the sustainable... (More)
Industrial society is the reason for the rising global ecological crisis, and companies are a primary contributor to this trend. To change this course, companies must transform along with society’s green transition. In the academic debate of economics and sustainability, various competing economic paradigms suggest how to steer society towards a sustainable transformation. Based on theoretical historical reasoning, three paradigms can be recognised: Techno-Optimism, Green Growth and Post-Growth. This study creates an analytical framework, identifying structural approaches and indicators for business strategies within each paradigm. Utilising this framework, the study performs an explorative multi-case study to understand the sustainable strategy in three dissimilar companies and the internal and external barriers they face in relation to the paradigms. The results reveal that, in the process of engaging in sustainability, companies explore solutions across different paradigms. The structural surroundings constitute barriers in the form of competitiveness and growth; however, corporate values significantly influence how these barriers are overcome in the search for more sustainable practices. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
La Motte, Sofie LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20231
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Sustainability Strategy, Barriers, Company, Economic Paradigms, Sustainability Science
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2024:001
language
English
id
9147451
date added to LUP
2024-02-05 12:00:14
date last changed
2024-02-05 12:00:14
@misc{9147451,
  abstract     = {{Industrial society is the reason for the rising global ecological crisis, and companies are a primary contributor to this trend. To change this course, companies must transform along with society’s green transition. In the academic debate of economics and sustainability, various competing economic paradigms suggest how to steer society towards a sustainable transformation. Based on theoretical historical reasoning, three paradigms can be recognised: Techno-Optimism, Green Growth and Post-Growth. This study creates an analytical framework, identifying structural approaches and indicators for business strategies within each paradigm. Utilising this framework, the study performs an explorative multi-case study to understand the sustainable strategy in three dissimilar companies and the internal and external barriers they face in relation to the paradigms. The results reveal that, in the process of engaging in sustainability, companies explore solutions across different paradigms. The structural surroundings constitute barriers in the form of competitiveness and growth; however, corporate values significantly influence how these barriers are overcome in the search for more sustainable practices.}},
  author       = {{La Motte, Sofie}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{How businesses strategize for sustainability and overcome barriers within different economic paradigms}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}