xvi, 298 p. : col. map. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / Cities in the United States are increasingly challenged with sharpening inequalities, social exclusion and the effects of a swelling environmental footprint. In response, city officials, political interest groups and residents have seized the framework of urban sustainability to address these mounting social and environmental problems. However, the push for environmental and social sustainability often directly contradicts the push by influential urban business coalitions for cities to be more economically competitive with other locales. I explore the compatibility of urban sustainability and economic development through a case study of Eugene, Oregon's Sustainable Business Initiative, led by Mayor Kitty Piercy. In this Initiative, the interaction between the urban sustainability and economic development discourses calls into question current entrepreneurial strategies and opens the door to exploring the implications of integrating sustainability and social justice concepts with urban economic development policy. Labor-community-environmental coalitions, with a broad vision for sustainability and regional equity, present an alternative to traditional business coalitions' influence on economic development policy and provide a strategy for economic development based in wealth redistribution and environmental health. / Committee in charge: Gregory McLauchlan, Chairperson, Sociology; Yvonne Braun, Member, Sociology; Linda Fuller, Member, Womens and Gender Studies; Michael Bussel, Outside Member, History

Hållbart företagande handlar idag om att använda resurserna på ett smartare sätt och genom det uppnå ekonomiska fördelar, resurserna i detta fallet är miljö- och socialansvar. Företag kan idag välja att frivilligt anta hållbarhetsfrågan men som många forskare visat genom undersökningar att företag med ett aktiv hållbarhetsarbete är mer ekonomiskt lönsamma än de som inte satsar. Men hur kan då tjänsteproducerande företag som inte har möjlighet att bidra genom produkteffektivisering eller liknande som produktproducerade företag kan? Vårt syfte med denna studie är att undersöka hur den valda organisationen skapar ekonomiska fördelar genom att ta ett miljö och socialansvar. Från ett externt perspektiv på samhällsnivå till ett internt perspektiv på organisations- och individnivå har vi strävat efter att identifiera hur besluten tas i praktiken inom en affärsverksamhet. Vi har gjort en kvalitativ fallstudie och samlat in empiri från semistrukturerade intervjuer och företagsdokument. Från empirin har vi analyserat organisationens hållbarhetsarbete i form av lönsamhetsaspekter. Vårt resultat visade att hållbarhet och lönsamhet hänger närmare ihop än vad vi tidigare trodde om tjänsteproducerande företag. Vidare visade resultatet att organisationen i vår studie lyckats väl med att implementera hållbarhetstänket på alla nivåer samt att förena hållbarheten med praktiken. Dock återstår problematiken att ingen redovisning görs av den icke-finansiella informationen vilket kan bidra till att trovärdigheten förminskas. / Sustainable business is today about using the company's resources in a smarter way and through it achieve economic benefits, the resources in this case is the environmental and social response. Companies can choose to voluntarily adopt the sustainability issue, but many researchers have shown through studies that companies that work active with sustainability is more economical profitable than those that not invest in this subject. But how can the service companies, that can´t streamlining product or similar, contribute as the product companies? Our purpose with this study is to examine how the selected organization creates economic benefits by taking environmental and social responsibility. From an external perspective on the societal level to an internal perspective on the organizational and individual level. We have made a qualitative case study and collected empirical data from semi-structured interviews and business documents. We have analysed the organization's sustainability performance that have been collected from the empirical data in terms of profitability aspects. Our results showed that sustainability and profitability are closer connected than we previously thought about the service companies. The results also showed that the organization in our study succeeded in implement sustainability thinking in all levels and to combine sustainability with practice. The problem that no accounting is made on the non-financial information is still remaining. This information can contribute to a diminished credibility.

As atividades econômicas e industriais têm crescido de forma significativa, o que por sua vez, traz consequências ao meio ambiente, como a emissão de gases do efeito estufa que agravam o aquecimento global e a utilização desenfreada dos recursos naturais. Nesse cenário, o debate sobre o desenvolvimento sustentável tornou-se parte do cotidiano das organizações governamentais, públicas e privadas. Consequentemente, frente medidas paliativas e insuficientes por parte das organizações, surge a necessidade de implementação de modelos de negócios sustentáveis, que possibilitariam mudanças necessárias para alcance do desenvolvimento sustentável. Tendo isso em vista, o objetivo do presente estudo consistiu em identificar quais os fatores que interferem no processo de implementação de um modelo de negócio sustentável, perpassando pelas dificuldades, mecanismos de sucesso e impactos para a competitividade. Para tal, foi realizada uma pesquisa qualitativa exploratória por meio de um levantamento de dados, sendo utilizado neste caso a estratégia survey, com questionário auto administrado. Os resultados foram divididos entre as barreiras aos modelos de negócios, os mecanismos de sucesso e os impactos do modelo de negócio sustentável para a competitividade. No seu primeiro aspecto, as conclusões trazem resultados relacionados a falta de conhecimento dos profissionais de gestão, assim como a falta de comprometimento da alta gestão, falta de infraestrutura, altos custos de implementação entre outros. No segundo aspecto apresentou resultados correlatos com as características essenciais dos líderes para a implementação de modelo de negócio sustentável, mudança da cultura organizacional por meio da institucionalização da sustentabilidade, estabelecimento de compliance, iniciativa da liderança da organização entre outras. Por fim, os impactos estão vinculados com a melhoria da imagem da organização, assim como valorização das ações no mercado de capitais e aumento da avaliação de rating. Há também impactos na estrutura de custos e fontes de receita da companhia, já que processos mais limpos implicam em custo de investimento mais alto. Tais resultados foram contrapostos com a literatura encontrada para a estruturação do presente trabalho, propondo também novos estudos futuros. / The economic and industrial activities have grown significantly, which has consequences for the environment, such as the emission of greenhouse gases that exacerbate global warming and rampant use of natural resources. In this scenario, the debate on sustainable development has become part of the everyday life in public and private governmental organizations. Consequently, facing palliative measures and insufficient by organizations, the need to implement sustainable business models rises, models that make possible critical changes to achieve sustainable development. With this in view, the aim of this study was to identify the factors that interfere in the implementation of a sustainable business model process, studying the difficulties, successful mechanisms and impacts on competitiveness. To this end, an exploratory qualitative research through a data survey was performed, being used in this case the survey strategy, with a self-administered questionnaire. The results were divided among the barriers to business models, successful mechanisms and impacts of sustainable business model for competitiveness. In its first aspect, the findings results are related to the lack of knowledge of management professionals, as well as a lack of senior management commitment, lack of infrastructure, high implementation costs, among others. In the second aspect presented, the results are related to the essential characteristics of leaders to implement sustainable business model, organizational culture change through the institutionalization of sustainability, compliance of establishment, organization\'s leadership initiative among others. Finally, the impacts are linked to improving the organization\'s image as well as appreciation of the shares in the capital and increased the rating assessment market. There are also impacts on the cost structure and sources of the company\'s revenue, since cleaner processes imply in higher cost of investment. These results were contrasted with the literature found for the structuring of this work, proposing also new future studies.

Recognizing the responsibility businesses has in sustainable development, a rising number of entrepreneurs are attempting to innovate business models together with digital technology to address environmental and societal needs. Circular business models is an example of how businesses can become more sustainable. However, there is a growing phenomenon of entrepreneurs suggesting digital platforms as a supportive element in an enterprise to enable circular features. This research aims to investigate the role of a single entrepreneur as a transition intermediary to sustainable development by using digital platforms. Additionally, this research aims to explore the success factors and challenges this entrepreneur can uncover. Contrary to most studies, this thesis adopts the entrepreneur's perspective as being a key actor in sustainable development but also as an innovative force in a socio-technical system. A case study was conducted on the Swedish online secondhand store Sellpy. The qualitative data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Given the thesis' exploratory research design, the finding can be used in further research as artifacts for more conclusive and generalizing research. The entrepreneur, as a transition intermediary, can establish valuable partnerships and networks to accelerate circulation and sustainability awareness. Additionally, the entrepreneur can influence others by spreading knowledge to engage other entrepreneurs to innovate businesses towards sustainability. The main success factors found in this case study is the approach to develop with the user community, digital ownership, skilled and diverse workforce, and partnerships with similar businesses. The challenges discovered was to maintain and find new users to enter the circular system and the external skepticism towards sustainability-oriented businesses.

<p>I denna studie undersöker jag på vilket sätt ett lokalt bankkontor arbetar för en hållbar utveckling. Jag har genomfört en förstudie för att öka min förståelse om regionen och det lokala näringslivet som bankkontoret verkar i. Jag genomförde en semi-strukturerad intervju med kontorschefen och företagsrådgivaren på deras kontor. Efter den intervjun skickade jag ut enkäter till små företag i det lokala näringslivet för att ta reda på om bankkontoret och företagarna kommunicerade på ett liknande sätt med varandra. Jag gjorde en grundlig teori sökning och fann intressant forskning på området på KTH Centrum för bank och finans. När jag hade bestämt mig för vilken forskning och teori jag skulle använda mig av konstruerade jag en teorimodell där lokalkontorets hållbara utveckling var beroende av kontorets interna faktorer som jag identifierade till bankorganisation, kunskap och värderingsstyrning. De yttre faktorerna identifierade jag till reglerande organisationer, små företag, revisorn och kommunen. I min studie kom jag fram till att lokalkontoret arbetar idag på ett sätt som skapar hållbar utveckling på kort sikt och att de har goda möjligheter att även skapa det på lång sikt.</p> / <p>In this study I have investigated in what way a local bank office placed in Hofors has chosen to work for a sustainable business. I conducted a pre study to increase my knowledge of the region and the local business life. After that pre study I counducted an interview at the local bank office with the bank manager and the business advisor. In order to find out if the local bank office and the local business life has a good communication. I conducted a questionnaire that I sent out to the business men in Hofors to fill out. After a thorough theory search I created my own theory model. The model is based on internal and external factors that affect the banks sustainable business. The result of my study shows the local bank office is working for sustainable business.</p>

I denna studie undersöker jag på vilket sätt ett lokalt bankkontor arbetar för en hållbar utveckling. Jag har genomfört en förstudie för att öka min förståelse om regionen och det lokala näringslivet som bankkontoret verkar i. Jag genomförde en semi-strukturerad intervju med kontorschefen och företagsrådgivaren på deras kontor. Efter den intervjun skickade jag ut enkäter till små företag i det lokala näringslivet för att ta reda på om bankkontoret och företagarna kommunicerade på ett liknande sätt med varandra. Jag gjorde en grundlig teori sökning och fann intressant forskning på området på KTH Centrum för bank och finans. När jag hade bestämt mig för vilken forskning och teori jag skulle använda mig av konstruerade jag en teorimodell där lokalkontorets hållbara utveckling var beroende av kontorets interna faktorer som jag identifierade till bankorganisation, kunskap och värderingsstyrning. De yttre faktorerna identifierade jag till reglerande organisationer, små företag, revisorn och kommunen. I min studie kom jag fram till att lokalkontoret arbetar idag på ett sätt som skapar hållbar utveckling på kort sikt och att de har goda möjligheter att även skapa det på lång sikt. / In this study I have investigated in what way a local bank office placed in Hofors has chosen to work for a sustainable business. I conducted a pre study to increase my knowledge of the region and the local business life. After that pre study I counducted an interview at the local bank office with the bank manager and the business advisor. In order to find out if the local bank office and the local business life has a good communication. I conducted a questionnaire that I sent out to the business men in Hofors to fill out. After a thorough theory search I created my own theory model. The model is based on internal and external factors that affect the banks sustainable business. The result of my study shows the local bank office is working for sustainable business.

Förutom ekonomiska aspekter är hänsyntagandet av miljömässiga och sociala aspekter står nu i fokus i många organisationers affärsverksamhet. Mer och mer företag inför strategier som använder olika metoder och verktyg för att åstadkomma hållbarhet. En serie av internationella miljöstandarder, den s.k. ISO 14000-familjen har utvecklats sedan 1996 för att stödja arbetet av komplexa miljöfrågor för olika typ och storlek av organisationer. Syftet med denna uppsats, under ramen av en fallstudie, är att beskriva och analysera hur aspekterna av miljömässigt hållbar utveckling är integrerade i Riksbyggens organisation samt hur de kan utvecklas med hjälp av miljöledningssystem-standarden ISO 14001. Litteraturgenomgång består av teori om kooperativa organisationer, strategi, hållbar affärsutveckling med fokus pp mijömässiga aspekter, och roll av standarder med fokus på miljöledningssystemstandarden ISO 14001. För att stödja analys om företaget utfördes två intervjuer på Riksbyggen; en med Miljö- och kvalitetchefen, samt en med en Specialist på Miljö och kvalitet med syfte på att ta fram kvalitativ data om företagets miljö- och hållbarhetsarbete, samt att utreda ledningssystemet. Sedan relevanta intärna företagsdokument analyserades med vägledning av Miljö- och kvalitetchef. Resultatet av studien visade att ISO 14001 ärett nyttigt ledningsverktyg för att kunna integrera hållbarhetsprinciper i organisationen, eftersom det hjälper till att harmonisera de olika dokumenten beträffande företagets miljöarbete med ledningssystemet. Genom att följa standardens struktur påpekades brist i Riksbyggens hållbarhetsarbete samt det visade tydligt vilka delar behövs kompletteras och utvecklas i framtiden. Dessutom belyste studien följande förbättringsområde inom själva Hållbathetsplanen: integrering avmiljöaspekter i Hållbarhetsplanen genom att koppla ihop dem med aktiviteterna; sätta upp en prioritering bland aktiviteterna med en tidsplan och nämna ut ansvarige. Dessutom föreslås införandet av mättal i Hållbarhetsplanen, eftersom det är ett nödvändigt element för uppföljningen. Däremot genomförandet av hållbarhetsaspekter i praktiken tillhör inte ISO 14001:s befattning. Därför skulle en analys av implementeringen av Riksbyggens hållbarhetsmål vara rekommendarad för framtiden för att se dess effektivitet och måluppfyllnad i verkligheten.

This bachelor thesis in business economics raises the topic about Corporate Responsibility (CR), this topic is currently being discussed in a variety of channels and today an increasing number of companies are involved in corporate responsibility. How do Skanska work with sustainability and why are they doing this? It is also important to see the results of the work with sustainability will lead to. We will go into more depth in one of Skanska's projects, project M25, to investigate the CR strategies they use and see how they actually work with sustainability. The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze how and why Skanska is working to implement CR policies in their operations and more specifically from the M25 project in order to achieve sustainable business development. Our main questions is; how and why does Skanska implement sustainability in their business and in the project M25 and what can the outcome of this sustainability lead to? The study is based on a qualitative method, we performed both an unstructured personal interview and a semi-structured interview. This is to get a deeper understanding of how and why the company Skanska is working on sustainability. We have done a literature study and we selected different theories and also used various documents from Skanska. Our conclusion is that Skanska uses several different strategies to achieve sustainable business development, for example, they have developed their own voluntary rules, follow different directives and standards and they have developed various techniques and tools. The conclusions we have drawn is that Skanska is working actively to identify its stakeholders and also takes account of stakeholders who do not have a direct link to the business. They work in a proactive manner through education, investigation and monitoring to achieve a sustainable business. Skanska has agreed that they are part of a larger context in which they affect individuals and agents. Skanska and the society will receive various benefits depending on which CR strategies Skanska uses.

This thesis is about the relationships between sustainable livelihoods, micro-enterprise and culture in Samoa. The 'sustainable livelihoods approach' provides a basis for analysis. The research focuses on one livelihood strategy, micro-enterprise, in order to illustrate and explain issues that are important in supporting sustainable livelihoods in Samoa. Micro-enterprise is regarded as a livelihood strategy that, if successful and sustainable, can support livelihood outcomes for rural Samoan people, and reduce poverty. The sustainable livelihoods approach is reviewed and the thesis argues that culture is integral to sustainable livelihoods, but existing theory and frameworks do not incorporate cultural aspects in a way that provides a sound theoretical basis for this research, or any sustainable livelihoods analysis. The thesis argues that culture is interwoven into each of the components of the sustainable livelihoods framework, and in fact culture is a context in which livelihoods exist. Each of the components provides an entry point for analysis of the relationships between culture and livelihoods. This concept was used as a basis for an analysis of rural livelihoods in Samoa, where fa'aSamoa was found to be interwoven with almost every aspect of rural livelihoods in a complex and influential way. A revised definition of a sustainable livelihood, and a revised framework were then developed which were more appropriate for this research. A strength of sustainable livelihoods theory, and the related frameworks, is that the theory embraces flexibility, and could thus be adapted to incorporate cultural aspects in this way. The thesis reviewed business enterprise in Samoa, and described the relationships between fa'aSamoa and business enterprise. The research revealed both harmonies and tensions between fa'aSamoa and business which influenced the success and sustainability of business enterprise. Two 'types' of small and micro-enterprise were identified in Samoa (with a continuum between): private sector enterprises and traditional 'sphere ' enterprises. 'Traditional sphere' enterprises, in order to be sustainable, normally operate within the cultural context of fa'aSamoa, ensuring that relationships, trust and harmony within the family and community are maintained and social and cultural assets, which provide a sense of identity and security, are sustained. The field research described in the thesis focused on two separate groups of micro-entrepreneurs in Samoa, fine mat weavers and village-based coconut oil producers. The case studies described the outcomes the micro-entrepreneurs aspire to, the risk, adversity, and challenges they face, and the work of the non-government organisations (NGOs) that support them. The case studies illustrated and further developed concepts developed in previous chapters, and also demonstrated just how the relationships between fa'aSamoa and sustainable livelihoods were expressed in practice. In the fine mat weaving case study there was considerable harmony between fa'aSamoa and the livelihood strategy. However, in the village-based coconut oil case study there were some tensions between fa'aSamoa and the venture that were causing vulnerability. The thesis concluded that understanding the relationships between culture, and sustainable livelihoods is critical for ensuring that good judgements are made about development intervention and policy. The revised sustainable livelihoods framework, and the concept of using the components of the frameworks as multiple entry points for analysis, provided an appropriate and useful theoretical framework for understanding the relationships between fa'aSamoa, sustainable livelihoods and micro-enterprise in Samoa.

De importância vital, os gases de efeito estufa (GEE), como o dióxido de carbono e metano, dentre outros, retêm o calor do sol na atmosfera. Esse fato evita a dissipação da radiação solar, sem que o Planeta fique suficientemente aquecido para manter em condições adequadas a existência de vida na Terra. Contudo, as atividades humanas estão aumentando a concentração desses gases gerando o efeito estufa intensificado. Este, por sua vez, tem o potencial de influenciar a temperatura e está diretamente relacionado ao aquecimento global que tem provocado mudanças climáticas significativas na Terra. Decorrente desses processos, diversas conseqüências adversas já atingem a humanidade. Assim, consciente e preocupada com os resultados das mudanças climáticas, a comunidade internacional, com o objetivo de reduzir os GEE, acordou, em 1997, o Protocolo de Quioto, que fixa metas para a diminuição da emissão desses gases e estimula investimentos em tecnologias ambientalmente mais sustentáveis, através dos Mecanismos de Desenvolvimento Limpo (MDL). Esse panorama climático traz, portanto, implicações não só ambientais, mas também socioeconômicas. Se antes, a questão era discutida por cientistas e ambientalistas, hoje estudos econômicos, como o Relatório de Stern, quantificam os enormes prejuízos advindos das mudanças climáticas. Nesse aspecto, acionistas buscam identificar como as empresas estão lidando com os riscos e oportunidades referentes às questões do clima. Considerando essa realidade, esta dissertação teve por objetivo estudar se as mudanças climáticas estão produzindo interferência no programa de investimento das empresas. Através de um estudo de caso em uma empresa do ramo petroquímico, avaliou-se, através de informações de relatórios divulgados, a gestão de emissões atmosféricas adotadas pela mesma em sua estrutura de governança climática. Paralelamente, foram adotados os resultados de outros estudos referentes às questões climáticas, dentre os quais se destaca o Carbon Disclosure Project, o inventário de emissões de GEE brasileiro e os investimentos em MDL. Os resultados demonstraram que na empresa em estudo, a variável climática já está inserida em sua estrutura de governança corporativa e conclui que as mudanças climáticas têm interferido no direcionamento de investimentos, estando prevista no planejamento estratégico da própria companhia. Sendo assim, este trabalho remete à amplitude da questão abordando que a resolução do problema exige esforço de todos, sociedade, políticos, empresário etc, não bastando atribuir ao setor industrial toda a responsabilidade pela mitigação dos GEE, pois apenas isso não será suficiente. Por fim, o compromisso de reduzir a emissão de GEE é, antes de tudo, uma obrigação moral. Decorre da necessidade de se alcançar um valor justificável em si mesmo, que nos permita preservarmos, em condições adequadas, o clima do Planeta para que vivamos com qualidade; deixando este privilégio de herança às futuras gerações. / With vital significance, the greenhouse effect gases (GEG), as carbon dioxide and methane, among others, retain sun heat in the atmosphere. This fact avoids sun radiation from dissipating, without letting the Planet being warm enough to keep right conditions for live existence of Earth. However, mankind activities are increasing concentration of these gases creating intensified greenhouse effect. This, in it turns, has the potential of affect over temperature and is directly related to global warming, which has incurred into significant climatic changes on Earth. Resulting from these processes, plenty of adverse consequences already have effects over humanity. Therefor, consciousness and worried with the results of climate changes, international community, with goal of reducing GEG, agreed, in 1997, the Kyoto Protocol, that stablishes goals for diminish these gases emission and stimulates investing into environmently more sustainable technologies, using the so called Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM). This climatic picture brings, for so, implications not only in the environment, but also socioeconomic. If before, the issue was discussed by scientists and environmentalists, today socioeconomic papers, as Sterns Report, quantify the huge lost resulting from climatic changes. In this aspect, investors search how identify the companies which deal best the risks and opportunities due to the clime. Considering that reality, this essay had as purpose show if the climatic changes are producing interference in companies investing programs. Thru a case study of a petrochemical branch company, was measured the atmospheric emission management adopted in its climatic governability structure. Besides, ware adopted results from other researches of climatic issues, in which stands out the Carbon Disclosure Project, the Brazilian GEG emission inventory and the investments in CDM. The results shown that in the company in study, the climatic variable is already inside its corporative governability structure and concludes that the climatic changes have interfered in directing its investments, been foreseen in its strategic planning. For so, this essay refer to magnitude of the matter boarding that the answer to problem demands efforts of all: society, politicians, businessmen, and so forth; not sufficing attribute to industrial sector all responsibility of mitigating the GEG, because it will not be enough. At last, the commitment of GEG reducing is, above all, a moral obligation. Stemming from the need of achieving a justifiable value in itself, that allow us preserve, in right conditions, the Planet clime to mankind live with quality; assuring this privilege as inheritance to future generations.