Corporate Sustainability: Theoretical and Integrated Strategic Imperative and Pragmatic Approach

Abstract

Corporate sustainability has become an economic and strategic imperative with the potential to create opportunities and risks for businesses. The tension and possible link between economic sustainability performance (ESP) and nonfinancial environmental, social, and governance (ESG) sustainability performance have been extensively yet inconclusively debated in business literature. This paper attempts to fill this void by proposing a framework consisting of four integrated strategies of the sustainability theory integration, sustainable shared value creation, continuous performance improvements, and sustainability performance reporting and assurance. Propositions are advanced for each of these four strategies in promoting future sustainability research.