Responsible business [Website contribution]

The article examines the evolving notion of responsible business within the broader context of global sustainability transitions. Drawing on the UNGC principles and the 3BL framework (people, planet, profit), it explores how organisations increasingly integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations into strategy and operations. While these developments reflect a shift towards more accountable and values-driven business models, they also expose persistent tensions between economic performance and sustainability commitments.

The discussion engages paradox theory to explain how organisations navigate these competing demands through dynamic balancing rather than simple trade-offs, emphasising iterative and context-dependent responses to sustainability challenges. It further highlights the growing influence of stakeholder expectations and consumer preferences in shaping corporate behaviour, particularly regarding transparency, ethical practices, and long-term value creation. However, despite increasing adoption of responsible business approaches, the absence of robust and widely accepted measurement frameworks continues to constrain the assessment of real-world impact.

The editorial concludes that advancing responsible business requires not only strategic integration of sustainability principles but also more credible mechanisms for evaluating and communicating impact.