Title: Intertwining ecologic, social and economic efforts and achievements of business sustainability in business networks

Authors: Carmen Padin; Göran Svensson

Addresses: Department of Applied Economics, Vigo University, Spain ' Oslo School of Management, Norway

Abstract: The objective is to describe the need and reasons for intertwining ecologic, social and economic efforts and achievements of business sustainability in the business network. A conceptual discussion is provided to describe deficiencies or flaws in the description and application of the triple bottom line approach. The inclusion of vertical and horizontal efficiencies' logic into corporate efforts and achievements provides a different perspective to the ongoing discourse and research in the field of business sustainability in business networks. The interactive and relational effects between ecologic, social and economic efforts and achievements provide multiple opportunities for further research. Corporate efforts and achievements of sustainable business practices need to address actors, resources and activities beyond judicial corporate boundaries emphasising the whole business network. They also need to address the interactive and relational effects between ecologic, social and economic efforts and achievements of business sustainability in terms of the triple bottom line approach. The coin of three efficiency concepts would be used to stress the interactive and relational effects between ecologic, social and economic efforts and achievements of business sustainability in the marketplace and society.

Keywords: triple bottom line; business sustainability; business networks; ecological aspects; social aspects; economic aspects; sustainable business practices.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLEG.2015.073890

International Journal of Logistics Economics and Globalisation, 2015 Vol.6 No.3, pp.195 - 204

Published online: 29 Dec 2015 *

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