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Clarifying the Epistemology of Corporate Sustainability

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  • Vildåsen, Sigurd Sagen
  • Keitsch, Martina
  • Fet, Annik Magerholm

Abstract

Business research is placing increasing focus on the relationship between the natural environment and the political concept of sustainable development. Within this nexus, one area, labelled ‘Corporate Sustainability’, emphasizes the interactions between economic, environmental and social values. The need to consider multiple values has contributed to a blur in the conceptual landscape. This is partly due to the fact that authors often address epistemological challenges on an implicit level. Moreover, hidden ideologies, e.g. the profit maximization paradigm, can explain the conceptual obscurity.

Suggested Citation

  • Vildåsen, Sigurd Sagen & Keitsch, Martina & Fet, Annik Magerholm, 2017. "Clarifying the Epistemology of Corporate Sustainability," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 40-46.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:138:y:2017:i:c:p:40-46
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2017.03.029
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Thaís Vieira Nunhes & Merce Bernardo & Otávio José de Oliveira, 2020. "Rethinking the Way of Doing Business: A Reframe of Management Structures for Developing Corporate Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-32, February.
    7. Zaheer Alam & Yasir Bin Tariq, 2023. "Corporate Sustainability Performance Evaluation and Firm Financial Performance: Evidence from Pakistan," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(3), pages 21582440231, July.
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    9. Dayana Jimenez & Isabel B. Franco & Tahlia Smith, 2021. "A Review of Corporate Purpose: An Approach to Actioning the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-21, April.
    10. Ming‐Lang Tseng & Ming K. Lim & Kuo‐Jui Wu, 2018. "Corporate sustainability performance improvement using an interrelationship hierarchical model approach," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(8), pages 1334-1346, December.
    11. Conteratto, Caroline & Artuzo, Felipe Dalzotto & Benedetti Santos, Omar Inácio & Talamini, Edson, 2021. "Biorefinery: A comprehensive concept for the sociotechnical transition toward bioeconomy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
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