IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/aes/jetimm/v1y2025i2p77-91.html

Towards the Sustainable Organization: Challenges and Barriers to Sustainability Integration

Author

Listed:
  • Marjan ENTEKHABI

    (The “Lucian Blaga†University of Sibiu)

Abstract

This integrative review explores primary barriers to embedding sustainability in organizational operations globally and proposes practical solutions to advance sustainable practices. It identifies key challenges and effective strategies across diverse organizational contexts. The review synthesizes insights from scholarly sources, including peer-reviewed journal articles, books, and reports, primarily sourced from databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and JSTOR, spanning the years 2000 to 2023. Using thematic analysis, it highlights ten critical barriers: resistance to change, resource limitations, measurement challenges, insufficient leadership commitment, short-term financial priorities, unclear metrics, regulatory complexities, supply chain intricacies, limited consumer demand, and lack of expertise. Findings indicate that fragmented regulations require proactive transparency, internal resistance demands robust communication and training, supply chain issues need advanced technologies and collaborative supplier relationships, and consumer demand benefits from education and certifications. Strategic partnerships, phased implementation, and targeted training address resource and expertise gaps, while standardized frameworks and enhanced data systems overcome measurement difficulties. The review offers a conceptual model linking barriers, impacts, and solutions, recommending stakeholder engagement, analytics investment, and adoption of frameworks like the Triple Bottom Line and SDGs. This study enriches understanding of sustainability integration by clarifying obstacles and providing actionable guidance for organizations pursuing sustainable outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Marjan ENTEKHABI, 2025. "Towards the Sustainable Organization: Challenges and Barriers to Sustainability Integration," Journal of Emerging Trends in Marketing and Management, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, vol. 1(2), pages 77-91, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:aes:jetimm:v:1:y:2025:i:2:p:77-91
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.etimm.ase.ro/RePEc/aes/jetimm/2025/JETIMM_V02_2025_162.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bui, Binh & de Villiers, Charl, 2017. "Business strategies and management accounting in response to climate change risk exposure and regulatory uncertainty," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(1), pages 4-24.
    2. Rodrigo Lozano, 2015. "A Holistic Perspective on Corporate Sustainability Drivers," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 22(1), pages 32-44, January.
    3. Hess, David, 2008. "The Three Pillars of Corporate Social Reporting as New Governance Regulation: Disclosure, Dialogue, and Development," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 18(4), pages 447-482, October.
    4. D'Amato, D. & Korhonen, J., 2021. "Integrating the green economy, circular economy and bioeconomy in a strategic sustainability framework," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    5. Thomas Dyllick & Kai Hockerts, 2002. "Beyond the business case for corporate sustainability," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 11(2), pages 130-141, March.
    6. Charl de Villiers & Pei-Chi Kelly Hsiao & Stefano Zambon & Elisabetta Magnaghi, 2022. "Sustainability, non-financial, integrated, and value reporting (extended external reporting): a conceptual framework and an agenda for future research," Meditari Accountancy Research, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 30(3), pages 453-471, May.
    7. Claudia Lood Alayón & Kristina Säfsten & Glenn Johansson, 2022. "Barriers and Enablers for the Adoption of Sustainable Manufacturing by Manufacturing SMEs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-34, February.
    8. Sara Saberi & Mahtab Kouhizadeh & Joseph Sarkis & Lejia Shen, 2019. "Blockchain technology and its relationships to sustainable supply chain management," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(7), pages 2117-2135, April.
    9. Adams, Carol A. & Frost, Geoffrey R., 2008. "Integrating sustainability reporting into management practices," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 288-302.
    10. Pratima Bansal, 2005. "Evolving sustainably: a longitudinal study of corporate sustainable development," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(3), pages 197-218, March.
    11. Gleim, Mark R. & Smith, Jeffery S. & Andrews, Demetra & Cronin, J. Joseph, 2013. "Against the Green: A Multi-method Examination of the Barriers to Green Consumption," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 89(1), pages 44-61.
    12. Adelaide Martins & Manuel Castelo Branco & Pedro Novo Melo & Carolina Machado, 2022. "Sustainability in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-26, May.
    13. Jane Boeske & Peter A. Murray, 2022. "The Intellectual Domains of Sustainability Leadership in SMEs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-19, February.
    14. Jan Anton van Zanten & Rob van Tulder, 2018. "Multinational enterprises and the Sustainable Development Goals: An institutional approach to corporate engagement," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 1(3), pages 208-233, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ana T. Ejarque & Vanessa Campos, 2020. "Assessing the Economy for the Common Good Measurement Theory Ability to Integrate the SDGs into MSMEs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-17, December.
    2. Enes Ünal & Vikash Kumar Sinha, 2023. "Sustainability trade‐offs in the circular economy: A maturity‐based framework," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(7), pages 4662-4682, November.
    3. Nurisyal Muhamad & Sofiah Md Auzair & Amizawati Mohd Amir & Md Daud Ismail, 2016. "Measuring Sustainability Performance Measurement System," EuroEconomica, Danubius University of Galati, issue 3(12), pages 182-199, JUNE.
    4. Samuel Roscoe & Nachiappan Subramanian & Romina Prifti & Lin Wu, 2020. "Stakeholder engagement in a sustainable sales and operations planning process," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 3526-3541, December.
    5. Lan Li & Fred Lemke, 2025. "Shaping the Future of Business Sustainability: LDA Topic Modeling Insights, Definitions, and Research Agenda," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 201(2), pages 391-456, October.
    6. Mehrnaz Ashrafi & Gregory M. Magnan & Michelle Adams & Tony R. Walker, 2020. "Understanding the Conceptual Evolutionary Path and Theoretical Underpinnings of Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-17, January.
    7. Nurisyal Muhamad & Sofiah Md Auzair & Amizawati Mohd Amir & Md Daud Ismail, 2016. "Measuring Sustainability Performance Measurement System," Acta Universitatis Danubius. OEconomica, Danubius University of Galati, issue 12(3), pages 182-199, JUNE.
    8. Winston Jerónimo Silvestre & Ana Fonseca, 2020. "Integrative Sustainable Intelligence: A holistic model to integrate corporate sustainability strategies," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(4), pages 1578-1590, July.
    9. Jose Manuel Diaz‐Sarachaga, 2021. "Shortcomings in reporting contributions towards the sustainable development goals," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(4), pages 1299-1312, July.
    10. Ambra Galeazzo & Toloue Miandar & Michela Carraro, 2024. "SDGs in corporate responsibility reporting: a longitudinal investigation of institutional determinants and financial performance," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 28(1), pages 113-136, March.
    11. S. J. Chang, 2016. "Sustainable Evolution for Global Business: A Synthetic Review of the Literature," Journal of Management and Sustainability, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 6(1), pages 1-23, March.
    12. Lueg, Rainer & Radlach, Ronny, 2016. "Managing sustainable development with management control systems: A literature review," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 34(2), pages 158-171.
    13. Ioana Gutu & Daniela Tatiana Agheorghiesei & Alexandru Tugui, 2023. "Assessment of a Workforce Sustainability Tool through Leadership and Digitalization," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-30, January.
    14. Tobias Hahn & Jonatan Pinkse & Lutz Preuss & Frank Figge, 2015. "Tensions in Corporate Sustainability: Towards an Integrative Framework," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 127(2), pages 297-316, March.
    15. Florentina Moisescu, 2025. "Sustainability and Financial Performance: Exploring the Interconnections Through the Accounting Perspective in Romania," Economics and Applied Informatics, "Dunarea de Jos" University of Galati, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, issue 2, pages 250-257.
    16. Simone Carmine & Valentina De Marchi, 2023. "Reviewing Paradox Theory in Corporate Sustainability Toward a Systems Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 184(1), pages 139-158, April.
    17. Maurizio Massaro & Francesca Dal Mas & Charbel Jose Chiappetta Jabbour & Carlo Bagnoli, 2020. "Crypto‐economy and new sustainable business models: Reflections and projections using a case study analysis," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(5), pages 2150-2160, September.
    18. Fabien Martinez, 2014. "Corporate strategy and the environment: towards a four-dimensional compatibility model for fostering green management decisions," Post-Print hal-02887618, HAL.
    19. Zhao, Feng & Wang, Jinhai & Chen, Qian, 2025. "Climate change exposure and corporate strategic aggressiveness: Evidence from Chinese listed companies," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 26-53.
    20. Anca Băndoi & Claudiu George Bocean & Mara Del Baldo & Lucian Mandache & Leonardo Geo Mănescu & Cătălina Soriana Sitnikov, 2021. "Including Sustainable Reporting Practices in Corporate Management Reports: Assessing the Impact of Transparency on Economic Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-20, January.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • Q01 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - Sustainable Development
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth
    • L21 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Business Objectives of the Firm
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility
    • M16 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - International Business Administration

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:aes:jetimm:v:1:y:2025:i:2:p:77-91. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Lucian Onisor (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/aseeero.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.