Preface
Sustainable development has become a matter of central concern to both public
institutions and enterprises. Indeed, for many companies, a due emphasis to environmental issues is not only positive from the point of view of environmental gains, but
also to the image of the business. Often, but not always, this is reflected in the preparation of formal strategies and programmes, which entail their institutional strategies
and visions.
The wide area of social responsibility, often known as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), entails elements of social equality and environmental accountability,
and eco-efficiency. Due to their complexity, the interrelations between social responsibility and sustainable development need to be better understood. There is also a
real need to showcase successful examples of how public institutions and companies
are handling their sustainability challenges.
It is against this background that this book has been produced. It is a truly interdisciplinary publication, useful to scholars, social movements, practitioners and
members of governmental agencies and private companies, undertaking research
and/or executing projects focusing on social responsibility and sustainability from
across the world.
This book is structured around four parts:
Part One—Institutional Organisation, Structures, and Corporate Policies
Part Two—Approaches Towards Resource Efficiency (e.g. Energy, Water, Wastes,
Materials)
Part Three—Community and Stakeholder Relations
Part Four—Information, Communication, Education and Training
We thank the authors and reviewers for their contribution. We hope that the
contributions on this volume will provide a timely support towards the implementation of sustainability initiatives and will foster the global efforts towards promoting
sustainable development practices across organisations.
Summer 2021
The Editors
v
Sustainable development has become a matter of central concern to both public
institutions and enterprises. Indeed, for many companies, a due emphasis to environmental issues is not only positive from the point of view of environmental gains, but
also to the image of the business. Often, but not always, this is reflected in the preparation of formal strategies and programmes, which entail their institutional strategies
and visions.
The wide area of social responsibility, often known as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), entails elements of social equality and environmental accountability,
and eco-efficiency. Due to their complexity, the interrelations between social responsibility and sustainable development need to be better understood. There is also a
real need to showcase successful examples of how public institutions and companies
are handling their sustainability challenges.
It is against this background that this book has been produced. It is a truly interdisciplinary publication, useful to scholars, social movements, practitioners and
members of governmental agencies and private companies, undertaking research
and/or executing projects focusing on social responsibility and sustainability from
across the world.
This book is structured around four parts:
Part One—Institutional Organisation, Structures, and Corporate Policies
Part Two—Approaches Towards Resource Efficiency (e.g. Energy, Water, Wastes,
Materials)
Part Three—Community and Stakeholder Relations
Part Four—Information, Communication, Education and Training
We thank the authors and reviewers for their contribution. We hope that the
contributions on this volume will provide a timely support towards the implementation of sustainability initiatives and will foster the global efforts towards promoting
sustainable development practices across organisations.
Summer 2021
The Editors
v