6533b824fe1ef96bd12815a2

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Sustainable Development Goals in Strategy and Practice: Businesses in Colombia and Egypt

Thomas SchøttMahsa SamsamiYe LiuFernando Neves PereiraHakim Meshreki

subject

EntrepreneurshipGeography Planning and DevelopmentStrategyTJ807-830Sustainable development goalsManagement Monitoring Policy and LawColombiaTD194-195Renewable energy sourcesVDP::Samfunnsvitenskap: 200::Økonomi: 210GE1-350BusinessMarketingbusinessSustainable developmentPracticeEnvironmental effects of industries and plantsRenewable Energy Sustainability and the Environmentbusiness.industrySocial benefitsLimitingBusiness operationssustainable development goalspracticeEnvironmental sciencesHarmEgyptBusinessstrategy

description

Businesses may adopt strategies and practices that support sustainable development goals. Such strategies include considering social and environmental impacts as well as prioritizing socio-environmental benefits at a higher level than profits. Supportive practices comprise enhancing social benefits and limiting environmental harm. What SDG-related strategies and practices are businesses pursuing? Are businesses implementing practices and strategies? Do the practices and strategies differ across societies? A survey of representative samples of 399 businesses in Colombia and 413 businesses in Egypt was conducted in 2021, by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor. The owner-managers reported that they frequently had strategies that considered social and environmental impacts of business operations, and they prioritized socio-environmental considerations over financial goals. In Columbia, there were more frequent practices that enhanced social benefits and limited environmental harm than in Egypt. In addition, strategies were implemented in practices supporting the SDGs more in Colombia than in Egypt. Our findings contribute to understanding business strategies that consider SDGs and their implementation in practices that are embedded in society.

10.3390/su132212453http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su132212453