Corporate Sustainability Performance Over the Firm Life Cycle

Corporate Sustainability Performance Over the Firm Life Cycle
Author: Jan Diebecker
Publisher:
Total Pages: 51
Release: 2017
Genre:
ISBN:

In this paper, we empirically investigate the levels and the determinants of corporate sustainability performance (CSP) in different stages of the firm life cycle, as well as the impact of CSP on accounting-based corporate financial performance (CFP). Based on an international sample of 26,902 firm-year observations for the period 2002 to 2014, we use Dickinson's (2011) firm life cycle measure based on cash flow patterns, Thomson Reuters ESG Research Data (formerly known as ASSET4) as CSP proxy, and return on assets to proxy accounting performance. Drawing on stakeholder theory and the resource based view, we hypothesize and find that CSP differs significantly across the life cycle stages and is lower before and after the mature stage. Free funds available increase CSP during the growth, mature and the shake-out stages. This finding can be attributed to strategic differentiation efforts and also hints towards opportunistic management behavior, i.e., managers might pursue sustainability measures as discretionary investments to keep resources within their spheres of influence. Shareholder concentration reduces CSP in the introduction, growth, mature and shake-out stages. Combined with the results regarding free funds, this finding could be attributed to the limitation of discretionary spending. We find a significantly positive effect of CSP on CFP in the growth, mature and shake-out stages, giving impetus to the CSP business case.

Life Cycle Management

Life Cycle Management
Author: Guido Sonnemann
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 352
Release: 2015-07-16
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9401772215

This book provides insight into the Life Cycle Management (LCM) concept and the progress in its implementation. LCM is a management concept applied in industrial and service sectors to improve products and services, while enhancing the overall sustainability performance of business and its value chains. In this regard, LCM is an opportunity to differentiate through sustainability performance on the market place, working with all departments of a company such as research and development, procurement and marketing, and to enhance the collaboration with stakeholders along a company’s value chain. LCM is used beyond short-term business success and aims at long-term achievements by minimizing environmental and socio-economic burden, while maximizing economic and social value.

Making Sustainability Work

Making Sustainability Work
Author: Marc J. Epstein
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 337
Release: 2018-05-08
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1351280104

The best practices in corporate sustainability performance are no longer the exclusive domain of companies like Ben & Jerry's or The Body Shop, as they were a decade ago; now, large, multinational companies like G.E. and Wal-Mart are leading the way with significant financial and organizational commitments to social and environmental issues. However, good intentions aren't enough. Whether motivated by concern for society and the environment, government regulation, stakeholder pressures, or economic profit, managers and strategists need to continue making significant changes to more effectively manage their social, economic, and environmental impacts – and to remain competitive. The guidance they need to do that is in this book. Marc Epstein has produced the ultimate "how-to-do-it" guide for corporate leaders, strategists, academics, sustainability consultants, and anyone else with an interest in actually making sustainability work for organizations. With a growing number of corporate leaders asking for urgent help in "getting this done," the timing of the book could not be better.

Sustainability and company performance

Sustainability and company performance
Author: Lujie Chen
Publisher: Linköping University Electronic Press
Total Pages: 67
Release: 2015-09-03
Genre:
ISBN: 9176859673

This dissertation approaches the question of sustainability and its influence on company performance, with special focus on the manufacturing industry. In the contemporary production environment, manufacturing operations must take into account not only profit, but also environmental and social performance, in order to ensure the long-term development of the company. Companies have to decide whether they should allocate resources to environmental and social practices in order to improve their competitive advantage. Consequently, in decision-making processes concerning operations, it is important for companies to understand how to coordinate profit, people, and planet. The objective of this dissertation was to investigate the current situation regarding manufacturers’ sustainable initiatives, and to explore the relationship between these sustainable practices and companies’ performance, including financial performance, operational performance, innovation performance, environmental performance, and social performance. First of all, a structured literature review was conducted to identify sustainable factors considered to be important in the decision making of manufacturing operations. The findings were synthesized into a conceptual model, which was then adopted as the basis for designing the survey instrument used in this dissertation. Drawing on Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) reports, empirical research was performed to explore the relationship between environmental management practices and company performance. Interestingly, the findings showed that many environmental management practices had a strong positive impact on innovation performance. Sustainability disclosures and financial performance were further analyzed using extended data from the GRI reports. The results also showed that several sustainability performance indicators, such as product responsibility, human rights, and society, displayed a significant and positive correlation with return on equity in the sample companies. In order to further explore the research area and to verify these findings, a triangulation approach was adopted and new data were collected via a survey conducted among middle and large sample companies in the Swedish manufacturing industry. The results indicated that the sustainable improvement practices had a positive impact on company performance. Some environmental and social improvement practices had a direct and positive correlation with product and process innovation. Furthermore, findings suggested that better cooperation with suppliers on environmental work could help to strengthen the organizational green capabilities of the focal companies. When considering the company’s general approach to implementing sustainable practices, some interesting findings emerged. There were limited significant differences in sustainable practices when comparing different manufacturing sectors, and different countries and regions. However, the results showed that Swedish manufacturing companies often place higher priority on implementing economic and environmental sustainability practices than on social ones. This dissertation contributes to the literature on manufacturing sustainability. The study expands the understanding of how environmental, social, or economic perspectives as a triple bottom line can influence company performance and to a certain extent the supply chain. Identifying and understanding such relationships gives companies the opportunity to integrate sustainability into their manufacturing operations strategy in order to sustain their manufacturing operations over the long term.

Corporate Sustainability

Corporate Sustainability
Author: Ann Brockett
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 336
Release: 2012-11-06
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1118122364

Invaluable guidance for complete integration of sustainability into reporting and performance management systems Global businesses are under close scrutiny from lawmakers, regulators, and their diverse stakeholders to focus on sustainability and accept responsibility for their multiple bottom line performance. Business Sustainability and Accountability examines business sustainability and accountability reporting and their integration into strategy, governance, risk assessment, performance management and the reporting process. This book also highlights how people, business and resources collaborate in a business sustainability and accountability model. Looks at business sustainability and accountability reporting and assurance and their incorporation into the reporting process Focuses on how the business sustainability and accountability model are impacted by the collaboration of people, business, and resources Presents laws, rules, regulations, standards and best practices relevant to business sustainability performance, reporting and assurance Organizations worldwide recognize the importance of all five EGSEE dimensions of sustainability performance and accountability reporting. However, how to actually assess sustainability risk, implement sustainability reporting, and obtain sustainability assurance remain a major challenge and best practices are evolving. Straightforward and comprehensive Business Sustainability and Accountability hits on all of the hottest topics around sustainability including multiple bottom line (EGSEE) performance and reporting, related financial and non-financial key performance indicators (KPIs), business social responsibility and environmental reporting.

Towards Life Cycle Sustainability Management

Towards Life Cycle Sustainability Management
Author: Matthias Finkbeiner
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 618
Release: 2011-07-23
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9400718993

This book is a selection of the most relevant contributions to the LCM 2011 conference in Berlin. The material explores scientific and practical solutions to incorporating life cycle approaches into strategic and operational decision making. There are several sections addressing methodological topics such as LCSM approaches, methods and tools, while more application-oriented sections deal with the implementation of these approaches in relevant industrial sectors including agriculture and food, packaging, energy, electronics and ICT, and mobility.

Making Sustainability Work

Making Sustainability Work
Author: Marc J. Epstein
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 346
Release: 2017-09-08
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1351276425

The ultimate "how-to-do-it" guide for corporate leaders, strategists, academics, sustainability consultants, and anyone else with an interest in actually making sustainability work for organizations. An updated edition of a landmark book at a time when a growing number of corporate leaders are asking for urgent help in "getting this done".

Corporate Sustainability

Corporate Sustainability
Author: Paolo Tenuta
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 92
Release: 2022-09-26
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 3031114914

This book introduces readers to the main types of corporate sustainability practices. The first section examines both the ratings provided by international agencies and the various ESG (Environmental, Social and Government) indexes existing at 2021. In turn, the second part empirically investigates the relationship between the level of corporate sustainability and corporate financial performance among the large companies listed on the Milan Exchange FTSE-MIB 40 index for 2015-2019. The book offers a comprehensive overview of current sustainability concepts and practices and illustrates how various companies are seeking to integrate them in their competitive strategy. Further, it fills a gap in the extant literature by analysing the origins, historical evolution and structure of the main rating agencies and ESG indexes. In addition, the empirical analysis of corporate sustainability’s impact on companies’ financial performance reveals the importance of collegial leadership – a commonly found feature of Italian family businesses that has not been considered in previous studies – as a moderating factor for reconciling sustainability initiatives and performance at family-run firms.

Corporate Sustainability

Corporate Sustainability
Author: Paolo Taticchi
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 295
Release: 2013-06-13
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 3642370187

Sustainability is one of the key issues in today’s society, as confirmed by the increasing attention of governments, media, academia and the industry. In the context of sustainable development, businesses that are often referred to as part of the problem can become part of the solution. This book presents the state of the art of sustainability in corporations from a number of perspectives, which include: economy, finance, measurement and reporting, organizing for sustainability, green products, green buildings and IT. The individual chapters provide valuable insights for pursuing future research and define a proper research agenda for the years to come. Further, the relevance of the topics addressed makes the book essential reading for academics, practitioners, consultants and more generally, for all those interested in business evolution and sustainability. The book was written by prominent researchers from Italy, India, the USA and the UK.

Managing the Business Case for Sustainability

Managing the Business Case for Sustainability
Author: Stefan Schaltegger
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 626
Release: 2017-09-08
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1351280511

The difficulties in moving towards corporate sustainability raise the question of how environmental and social management can be integrated better with economic business goals. Over the last decade, the relationship between environmental and economic performance, and more recently the interaction between sustainability performance and business competitiveness, have received considerable attention in both theory and practice. However, to date, only partial aspects of the relationship between sustainability performance, competitiveness and economic performance have been studied from a theoretical as well as an empirical perspective. And, to date, no unique relationship has prevailed in empirical studies. A number of explanations have been put forward to explain this, including methodological reasons, such as the lack of statistical data, the low quality of that data, or the fact that such data is often available for short time periods only. Other theoretical explanations have been developed, such as the influence of different corporate strategies or the relatively small influence of environmental or sustainability issues as one factor among many on the economic or financial success of firms. So, how should the business case for sustainability be managed? This is the starting point for this book, which compiles insights on a large number of aspects of the link between sustainability performance, business competitiveness and economic success in an attempt to provide a comprehensive and structured view of this relationship. The book provides an unrivalled body of knowledge on the state of theory and practice in this field and identifies prospective future fields of work. The book includes: conceptual frameworks for the interaction of social, environmental and economic issues in business environments; case studies of companies that have successfully integrated social, environmental and economic issues; analyses of the causal and empirical relationship between environmental and/or social performance, business performance and firm-level competitiveness; concepts and tools useful for improving business value with proactive operational strategies; assessment of the factors influencing operational sustainability strategies and their economic impact; and comparisons of interactions between sustainability performance and firm competitiveness across industry sectors and countries. Managing the Business Case for Sustainability is the definitive work in its field: the most comprehensive book yet published on the theory and practice of managing sustainability performance, competitiveness, environmental, social and economic performance in an integrated way. It will be essential reading for managers, academics, consultants, fund managers, governments and government agencies, NGOs and international bodies who need a broad and comprehensive overview of the business case for sustainability.