IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i11p4667-d1405692.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Sourcing Sustainability Transition in Small and Medium-Sized Ports of the Baltic Sea Region: A Case of Sustainable Futuring with Living Labs

Author

Listed:
  • Laima Gerlitz

    (Wismar Business School, Hochschule Wismar, University of Applied Sciences: Technology, Business and Design, Philipp-Müller-Str. 14, 23966 Wismar, Germany)

  • Christopher Meyer

    (Wismar Business School, Hochschule Wismar, University of Applied Sciences: Technology, Business and Design, Philipp-Müller-Str. 14, 23966 Wismar, Germany)

  • Lawrence Henesey

    (Blekinge Institute of Technology, Biblioteksgatan 4, SE-37424 Karlshamn, Sweden)

Abstract

The present research points to an alternative concern against the mainstream research of future ports’ development by taking a transdisciplinary approach of a Living Lab (LL) concept for a better sustainability and innovation record in Small and Medium-Sized Ports (SMSPs). Deploying qualitative research for the examination of this new phenomenon of aggregating LLs into SMSPs, this research builds upon stakeholder workshops, in-depth interviews, and designed port pilots as case studies dedicated to innovation and sustainability transition in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) at the turn of 2030. Given its rich and significant empirical foundation, the present research substantially contributes to sustainability orientation and transitions in ports. The key original elements of this study are fourfold: (1) the research provides a theoretical and practical LL framework enabling innovation and sustainability to be grasped in ports in times of technological, social, and political disruption; (2) this research increases the minimal number of existing previous efforts studying SMSPs in the transitional discourse; (3) the paper addresses not only hard technological innovation concerns but also aspects of social acceptance and the role of social interactions; (4) the research goes beyond geographical boundaries of a single port, thus providing a joint and collaborative approach towards sustainability rather than an individual perception on sustainability transition, existing networks, and clusters.

Suggested Citation

  • Laima Gerlitz & Christopher Meyer & Lawrence Henesey, 2024. "Sourcing Sustainability Transition in Small and Medium-Sized Ports of the Baltic Sea Region: A Case of Sustainable Futuring with Living Labs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-38, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:11:p:4667-:d:1405692
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/11/4667/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/11/4667/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Irene Bouwma & Seerp Wigboldus & Jorieke Potters & Trond Selnes & Sabine van Rooij & Judith Westerink, 2022. "Sustainability Transitions and the Contribution of Living Labs: A Framework to Assess Collective Capabilities and Contextual Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-19, November.
    2. Steve Evans & Doroteya Vladimirova & Maria Holgado & Kirsten Van Fossen & Miying Yang & Elisabete A. Silva & Claire Y. Barlow, 2017. "Business Model Innovation for Sustainability: Towards a Unified Perspective for Creation of Sustainable Business Models," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(5), pages 597-608, July.
    3. Chang Soo Sung & Joo Y. Park, 2018. "Sustainability Orientation and Entrepreneurship Orientation: Is There a Tradeoff Relationship between Them?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-14, February.
    4. Bjerkan, Kristin Ystmark & Ryghaug, Marianne, 2021. "Diverging pathways to port sustainability: How social processes shape and direct transition work," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    5. McMeekin, Andrew & Geels, Frank W. & Hodson, Mike, 2019. "Mapping the winds of whole system reconfiguration: Analysing low-carbon transformations across production, distribution and consumption in the UK electricity system (1990–2016)," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(5), pages 1216-1231.
    6. Peter Nijkamp, 2000. "Infrastructure and Suprastructure in Regional Competition: A Deus ex Machina?," Advances in Spatial Science, in: Peter W. J. Batey & Peter Friedrich (ed.), Regional Competition, chapter 4, pages 87-107, Springer.
    7. Son-Tung Le & Trung-Hieu Nguyen, 2023. "The Development of Green Ports in Emerging Nations: A Case Study of Vietnam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-23, September.
    8. Magali Geerts & Michaël Dooms & Lara Stas, 2021. "Determinants of Sustainability Reporting in the Present Institutional Context: The Case of Port Managing Bodies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-23, March.
    9. Usman Khizar, Hafiz Muhammad & Iqbal, Muhammad Jawad & Khalid, Junaid & Adomako, Samuel, 2022. "Addressing the conceptualization and measurement challenges of sustainability orientation: A systematic review and research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 718-743.
    10. Nasrin Sultana & Ekaterina Turkina, 2023. "Collaboration for Sustainable Innovation Ecosystem: The Role of Intermediaries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-18, May.
    11. Mónica E. Edwards-Schachter & Cristian E. Matti & Enrique Alcántara, 2012. "Fostering Quality of Life through Social Innovation: A Living Lab Methodology Study Case," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 29(6), pages 672-692, November.
    12. Joseph Amankwah‐Amoah & Albert Danso & Samuel Adomako, 2019. "Entrepreneurial orientation, environmental sustainability and new venture performance: Does stakeholder integration matter?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(1), pages 79-87, January.
    13. Hafiz Muhammad Usman Khizar & Muhammad Jawad Iqbal & Muhammad Imran Rasheed, 2021. "Business orientation and sustainable development: A systematic review of sustainability orientation literature and future research avenues," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(5), pages 1001-1017, September.
    14. Fuenfschilling, Lea & Truffer, Bernhard, 2016. "The interplay of institutions, actors and technologies in socio-technical systems — An analysis of transformations in the Australian urban water sector," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 298-312.
    15. Anas S. Alamoush & Dimitrios Dalaklis & Fabio Ballini & Aykut I. Ölcer, 2023. "Consolidating Port Decarbonisation Implementation: Concept, Pathways, Barriers, Solutions, and Opportunities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-28, September.
    16. Nijkamp, Peter & Ubbels, Barry, 1999. "Infrastructure, suprastructure and ecostructure : a portfolio of sustainable growth potentials," Serie Research Memoranda 0051, VU University Amsterdam, Faculty of Economics, Business Administration and Econometrics.
    17. Lars Coenen & Bernhard Truffer, 2012. "Places and Spaces of Sustainability Transitions: Geographical Contributions to an Emerging Research and Policy Field," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(3), pages 367-374, March.
    18. Rodrigo Lozano, 2018. "Sustainable business models: Providing a more holistic perspective," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(8), pages 1159-1166, December.
    19. Danso, Albert & Adomako, Samuel & Lartey, Theophilus & Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph & Owusu-Yirenkyi, Diana, 2020. "Stakeholder integration, environmental sustainability orientation and financial performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 652-662.
    20. Stuart Danvers & Jonathan Robertson & Ambika Zutshi, 2023. "Conceptualizing How Collaboration Advances Circularity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-23, March.
    21. I. Argyriou & N. Sifakis & T. Tsoutsos, 2022. "Ranking measures to improve the sustainability of Mediterranean ports based on multicriteria decision analysis: a case study of Souda port, Chania, Crete," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(5), pages 6449-6466, May.
    22. Engels, Franziska & Wentland, Alexander & Pfotenhauer, Sebastian M., 2019. "Testing future societies? Developing a framework for test beds and living labs as instruments of innovation governance," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 48(9), pages 1-11.
    23. Ante Glavas & Jenny Mish, 2015. "Resources and Capabilities of Triple Bottom Line Firms: Going Over Old or Breaking New Ground?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 127(3), pages 623-642, March.
    24. Marcella De Martino, 2021. "Value Creation for Sustainability in Port: Perspectives of Analysis and Future Research Directions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-17, November.
    25. Froese, Jens & Jahn, Malte & Wedemeier, Jan & Wuczkowski, Matthäus, 2019. "Action plan: Low carbon regional ports," HWWI Policy Papers 119, Hamburg Institute of International Economics (HWWI).
    26. Olli-Pekka Brunila & Vappu Kunnaala-Hyrkki & Tommi Inkinen, 2023. "Sustainable small ports: performance assessment tool for management, responsibility, impact, and self-monitoring," Journal of Shipping and Trade, Springer, vol. 8(1), pages 1-24, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Mari-Liis Tombak & Deniece Melissa Aiken & Eliise Toomeoja & Ulla Pirita Tapaninen, 2025. "Advancing Port Sustainability in the Baltic Sea Region: A Comparative Analysis Using the SMCC Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-24, July.

    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. Manpreet Rajpal & Bindu Singh, 2024. "How to drive sustainable entrepreneurial intentions: Unraveling the nexus of entrepreneurship education ecosystem, attitude and orientation," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(3), pages 1705-1721, May.
    2. Usman Khizar, Hafiz Muhammad & Iqbal, Muhammad Jawad & Khalid, Junaid & Adomako, Samuel, 2022. "Addressing the conceptualization and measurement challenges of sustainability orientation: A systematic review and research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 718-743.
    3. Hafiz Muhammad Usman Khizar & Muhammad Jawad Iqbal & Muhammad Imran Rasheed, 2021. "Business orientation and sustainable development: A systematic review of sustainability orientation literature and future research avenues," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(5), pages 1001-1017, September.
    4. Taha Talip Türkistanlı & Nergis Özispa & Gökçe Tuğdemir Kök & Ünal Özdemir & Davut Pehlivan, 2025. "Exploring Research Trends on Climate Change: Insights into Port Resilience and Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-20, April.
    5. Gloria Parra‐Requena & Pedro M. García‐Villaverde & María José Ruiz‐Ortega & Mateo M. Córcoles‐Muñoz, 2024. "Strategic resilience nexus: Connecting pioneering and sustainability orientations," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(8), pages 8784-8797, December.
    6. Olufemi, O. Omotilewa & Osifalujo, B. Bunmi and Ogunwede & J. Kayode, 2023. "Stakeholders Conflicting Interest and Approach for Harmonization for Business Sustainability: Evidence from Limited Liability Companies in Nigeria," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(9), pages 21-33, September.
    7. Nadia Preghenella & Cinzia Battistella, 2021. "Exploring business models for sustainability: A bibliographic investigation of the literature and future research directions," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(5), pages 2505-2522, July.
    8. Anna M. Hansson & Eja Pedersen & Niklas P. E. Karlsson & Stefan E. B. Weisner, 2023. "Barriers and drivers for sustainable business model innovation based on a radical farmland change scenario," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(8), pages 8083-8106, August.
    9. Tran Thi Nguyet Minh & Hanh-Thi Hong Hoang & Hyung Sik Nam & Anas S. Alamoush & Phan Anh Duong, 2025. "Revisiting Port Decarbonization for Advancing a Sustainable Maritime Industry: Insights from Bibliometric Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-36, May.
    10. Joohye Hwang & Xun Sun & Li Zhao & Song-yi Youn, 2024. "Sustainable Fashion in New Era: Exploring Consumer Resilience and Goals in the Post-Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-18, April.
    11. Cecilia Ficco & Paola Bersía & Cecilia Bressan & Edila Eudemia Herrera-Rodríguez, 2023. "Contribution of Argentinian B Corporations to Sustainable Development Goals: Empirical Analysis Based on Their Practices and Solutions to Socioenvironmental Problems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-19, December.
    12. Winston Jerónimo Silvestre & Ana Fonseca & Sandra Naomi Morioka, 2022. "Strategic sustainability integration: Merging management tools to support business model decisions," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 2052-2067, July.
    13. Mohammed Nawaf Jallad & Georgiana Karadas, 2024. "Entrepreneurial Orientation and Performance Outcomes in Palestinian SMEs: The Role of Absorptive Capacity and Industry Type," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-22, December.
    14. Abi Saad, Elie & Agogué, Marine, 2024. "Living Labs in science-industry collaborations: Roles, design, and application patterns," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    15. Maria Aluchna & Maria Roszkowska‐Menkes & Sana Khan, 2024. "Corporate governance perspective on environmental reporting: Literature review and future research agenda," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(3), pages 1550-1577, May.
    16. Samuel Adomako & Joseph Amankwah‐Amoah & Albert Danso & Renata Konadu & Samuel Owusu‐Agyei, 2019. "Environmental sustainability orientation and performance of family and nonfamily firms," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(6), pages 1250-1259, September.
    17. Patrick Elf & Amy Isham & Birgitta Gatersleben, 2021. "Above and beyond? How businesses can drive sustainable development by promoting lasting pro‐environmental behaviour change: An examination of the IKEA Live Lagom project," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 1037-1050, February.
    18. Katharina Greve & Riccardo De Vita & Seppo Leminen & Mika Westerlund, 2021. "Living Labs: From Niche to Mainstream Innovation Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-25, January.
    19. Cameron, Lewis & Winskel, Mark & Bolton, Ronan, 2025. "Explaining the emergence and absence of Seasonal Thermal Energy Storage in the UK: Evidence from local case studies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 377(PB).
    20. Ramazan Ozkan Yildiz & Elif Koc & Oguzhan Der & Murat Aymelek, 2024. "Unveiling the Contemporary Research Direction and Current Business Management Strategies for Port Decarbonization Through a Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-38, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    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:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:11:p:4667-:d:1405692. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.