Global Country Classification of Sustainable Startups Levels
Barbara Bradač Hojnik
barbara.bradac@um.siUniversity of Maribor, Faculty of Economics and Business, Maribor (Slovenia)
Abstract
In today's world, the pursuit of sustainable development has become a global priority. However, the integration of sustainability practices in entrepreneurial ventures, particularly in new startups, lags behind. This article aims to bridge the gap between sustainable development and entrepreneurship by examining the role of sustainability in the formation of sustainable startups. Through the use of cluster analysis, this study classifies countries based on their environmental and social objectives in the context of sustainable startups. The analysis reveals distinct clusters of countries with varying degrees of emphasis on environmental and social considerations. The results of the analysis provide valuable insights into the distribution of countries across different clusters, delineating the sustainable goals of startups in those countries. These findings align with existing research on sustainable entrepreneurship and contribute to the broader discourse in the field. The implications of these findings are significant for promoting sustainable entrepreneurship. While the study acknowledges several limitations, future research can expand upon these findings to develop a more comprehensive understanding of sustainable entrepreneurship on a global scale.
Keywords:
sustainability, sustainable development, entrepreneurship, sustainable startups, cluster analysisReferences
BOSMA N. et al. 2016, Global entrepreneurship monitor 2015 to 2016: special topic report on social entrepreneurship. Available https://www.gemconsortium.org/report/gem-2015-report-on-social-entrepreneurship.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2786949
Google Scholar
CAMILLERI M.A., 2022, Strategic attributions of corporate social responsibility and environmental management: The business case for doing well by doing good!, Sustainable Development, 30(3): 409-422.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.2256
Google Scholar
CHIEN F. et al., 2021, The role of information and communication technology in encountering environmental degradation: proposing an SDG framework for the BRICS countries, Technology in Society, 65: 101587.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101587
Google Scholar
COHEN B., WINN M.I., 2007, Market imperfections, opportunity and sustainable entrepreneurship, Journal of business venturing, 22(1): 29-49.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2004.12.001
Google Scholar
DEAN T.J.; MCMULLEN J.S.. 2007, Toward a theory of sustainable entrepreneurship: Reducing environmental degrada-tion through entrepreneurial action, Journal of business venturing, 22(1): 50-76.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2005.09.003
Google Scholar
DESING H. et al., 2020, A circular economy within the planetary boundaries: Towards a resource-based, systemic ap-proach, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 155: 104673.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.104673
Google Scholar
DOMAŃSKA A., ŻUKOWSKA B., ZAJKOWSKI R., 2018,. Green entrepreneurship as a connector among social, envi-ronmental and economic pillars of sustainable development. Why some countries are more agile?, Problemy Ekorozwoju/ Problems of Sustainable Development, 13(2): 67-76.
Google Scholar
ELKINGTON J., 1998, Accounting for the triple bottom line, Measuring business excellence, 2(3): 18-22.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/eb025539
Google Scholar
FENG Y. et al., 2022, The impact of corporate social responsibility on the sustainable financial performance of Italian firms: Mediating role of firm reputation, Economic research-Ekonomska istraživanja, 35(1): 4740-4758.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2021.2017318
Google Scholar
HAJIAN M., KASHANI S.J.,2021, Evolution of the concept of sustainability. From Brundtland Report to sustainable development goals. In Sustainable Resource Management; Elsevier: Amsterdam, The Netherlands, p. 1-24.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-824342-8.00018-3
Google Scholar
LAHTI T., WINCENT J., PARIDA V., 2018, A definition and theoretical review of the circular economy, value creation, and sustainable business models: where are we now and where should research move in the future? Sustainability, 10(8): 2799.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su10082799
Google Scholar
LÜDEKE‐FREUND F., 2020, Sustainable entrepreneurship, innovation, and business models: Integrative framework and propositions for future research, Business Strategy and the Environment, 29(2): 665-681.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2396
Google Scholar
OLTEANU Y., FICHTER K., 2022, Startups as sustainability transformers: A new empirically derived taxonomy and its policy implications, Business Strategy and the Environment, 31(7): 3083-3099.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3065
Google Scholar
PATZELT H., SHEPHERD D.A., 2011, Recognizing opportunities for sustainable development, Entrepreneurship Theo-ry and Practice, 35(4): 631-652.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6520.2010.00386.x
Google Scholar
PRATONO A.H. et al., 2019, Achieving sustainable competitive advantage through green entrepreneurial orientation and market orientation: The role of inter-organizational learning, The Bottom Line, 32(1): 2-15.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/BL-10-2018-0045
Google Scholar
PURVIS B., MAO, Y., ROBINSON D.,2019, Three pillars of sustainability: in search of conceptual origins, Sustainabil-ity science, 14: 681-695.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-018-0627-5
Google Scholar
RAHDARI A., SEPASI S., MORADI M., 2016, Achieving sustainability through Schumpeterian social entrepreneur-ship: The role of social enterprises, Journal of Cleaner Production, 137: 347-360.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.06.159
Google Scholar
TERÁN-YÉPEZ E. et al., Sustainable entrepreneurship: Review of its evolution and new trends, Journal of Cleaner Pro-duction, 252: 119742.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119742
Google Scholar
UNITED NATIONS, 2015, Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Division for Sus-tainable Development Goals, New York NY, USA.
Google Scholar
VEGTER D., VAN HILLEGERSBERG J., OLTHAAR M., 2020, Supply chains in circular business models: processes and performance objectives. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 162: 105046.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.105046
Google Scholar
YANG C., MASRON T.A., 2022, Impact of digital finance on energy efficiency in the context of green sustainable devel-opment, Sustainability, 14(18): 11250.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su141811250
Google Scholar
YOUSSEF A.B., BOUBAKER S., OMRI A., 2018, Entrepreneurship and sustainability: The need for innovative and institutional solutions, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 129: 232-241.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2017.11.003
Google Scholar
ZOLDY M. et al., 2022, Cognitive sustainability, Cognitive Sustainability, 1(1): 3-9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55343/cogsust.7
Google Scholar
Authors
Barbara Bradač Hojnikbarbara.bradac@um.si
University of Maribor, Faculty of Economics and Business, Maribor Slovenia
Statistics
Abstract views: 153PDF downloads: 348