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Critical factors for the success of Sustainable Development Goal 12 in the digital transformation era: The effect of ISO 14001

Author

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  • Joana Morgado Oliveira
  • Carlos F. Gomes

Abstract

Competing in the global market requires organizations to change rapidly, addressing both digital transformation and sustainable development challenges. This study uncovers new relationships and critical factors, enriching current knowledge and guiding future research on how digital transformation enhances sustainable consumption and production (Sustainable Development Goal 12 [SDG12]) success. It identifies key factors that enhance or inhibit these relationships by combining structural model and necessary conditions analysis. The findings reveal that organizations must excel in digital capabilities directly and through excellence practices to achieve SDG12 success. ISO 14001 further strengthens the impact of digital transformation and excellence practices on SDG12. The results empirically demonstrate what European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) and American Society for Quality (ASQ) advocate: excellence practices are a tool for sustainable development. This study adds both to the literature and practice on the relationships between digital transformation, excellence models, and sustainable development and how these relationships are influenced by ISO standards.

Suggested Citation

  • Joana Morgado Oliveira & Carlos F. Gomes, 2025. "Critical factors for the success of Sustainable Development Goal 12 in the digital transformation era: The effect of ISO 14001," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(1), pages 788-803, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:34:y:2025:i:1:p:788-803
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.4023
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    1. Panagiota Xanthopoulou & Alexandros Sahinidis, 2025. "Mapping the Intersection of Entrepreneurship, Digitalization, and the SDGs: A Scopus-Based Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-24, September.
    2. Qinghua Pang & Huilin Zhai & Jingyi Liu & Luoqi Yang, 2025. "Does ICT Exacerbate the Consumption-Based Material Footprint? A Re-Examination of SDG12 Challenges in the Digital Era Across G20 Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-24, July.

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