Sustainability ideals in business – from crushed to flourishing

By peter [dot] kjallkvist [at] ehl [dot] lu [dot] se (Peter Kjällkvist) - published 25 February 2025

Sustainability managers often see their work as a calling, even if they work in they work in a corporate setting. But their high aspirations often clash with the realities of business.

In her article, Sanne Frandsen, Associate professor in organisational studies at LUSEM, and her co-authors dive into the works and perceptions of 57 sustainability managers in international companies. The researchers describe the challenges in maintaining high ambitions and motivation when the sustainability managers face when their visions are reduced to watered down versions of the original idea.

They also found that as the managers gain in seniority at the company, their socio-environmental goals move from the subject itself and become more aligned with profit-driven aspects of sustainability.

Sustainability ideals are often crushed by corporate demands. Here’s how businesses can let them flourish – theconversation.com