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An ecological modernist interpretation of sustainability: the case of Interface Inc

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  • Wendy Stubbs
  • Chris Cocklin

Abstract

This article seeks to extend understanding of how sustainability is operationalized in firms by considering the example of Interface Inc. In particular, we assess the sustainability policy and strategies of Interface Inc. within the frame recourse of an ecological modernization (EM) perspective of sustainability. One question of particular interest is whether organizations are able to implement an EM‐aligned worldview through their own internal capabilities or whether changes to the wider socio‐economic system are required. The analysis of Interface's experiences suggests that, at this stage, an organization cannot fully adhere to an EM perspective of sustainability; its success is also dependent on changes to the wider socio‐economic system in which the firm operates. The critical factors in implementing sustainability that emerged from the Interface case study are discussed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

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  • Wendy Stubbs & Chris Cocklin, 2008. "An ecological modernist interpretation of sustainability: the case of Interface Inc," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 17(8), pages 512-523, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:17:y:2008:i:8:p:512-523
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.544
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pratima Bansal, 2003. "From Issues to Actions: The Importance of Individual Concerns and Organizational Values in Responding to Natural Environmental Issues," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 14(5), pages 510-527, October.
    2. Korhonen, Jouni & Snakin, Juha-Pekka, 2005. "Analysing the evolution of industrial ecosystems: concepts and application," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(2), pages 169-186, January.
    3. Robinson, John, 2004. "Squaring the circle? Some thoughts on the idea of sustainable development," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(4), pages 369-384, April.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Hana Trollman & James Colwill, 2021. "The imperative of embedding sustainability in business: A model for transformational sustainable development," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(5), pages 974-986, September.
    3. Parisa Salimzadeh & Jerry Courvisanos, 2015. "A Conceptual Framework for Assessing Sustainable Development in Regional SMEs," Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (JEAPM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 17(04), pages 1-17, December.
    4. Genzhu Li & Xianliang Shi & Yefei Yang & Peter K. C. Lee, 2020. "Green Co-Creation Strategies among Supply Chain Partners: A Value Co-Creation Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-21, May.
    5. Silke Niehoff, 2022. "Aligning digitalisation and sustainable development? Evidence from the analysis of worldviews in sustainability reports," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 2546-2567, July.
    6. Olivier Boiral & Charles Baron & Olen Gunnlaugson, 2014. "Environmental Leadership and Consciousness Development: A Case Study Among Canadian SMEs," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 123(3), pages 363-383, September.
    7. Markus Milne & Rob Gray, 2013. "W(h)ither Ecology? The Triple Bottom Line, the Global Reporting Initiative, and Corporate Sustainability Reporting," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 118(1), pages 13-29, November.
    8. Taryn Mead & Sally Jeanrenaud & John Bessant, 2020. "Factors influencing the application of nature as inspiration for sustainability‐oriented innovation in multinational corporations," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 3162-3173, December.

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