Sustainable and circular entrepreneurship for more economic resilience

Sustainable entrepreneurship aims at a high-quality relationship with all stakeholders of the company: employees, suppliers, customers, NGOs, local residents, etc. There is a constant search to do good for the planet and its inhabitants through business in the short and long term. The ultimate goal of this project is the development of a guidance trajectory for more sustainable resilience tailored to Flemish SMEs.

Onderzoeksthema: Ecologische en inclusieve transitie

Interessegebied: Business and Management

Looptijd: 1/09/2020 - 1/09/2022

Financing: PWO

What makes a sustainable SME resilient?

Based on a literature study and interviews with ambassador companies in the field of sustainability, the connection between sustainability and resilience is examined. What exactly makes sustainable companies more resilient?  

Toolbox for a sustainable SME

We collect the most relevant tools in a toolbox:

What tools are available today that can help SMEs to become sustainable?
Which scans, barometers, certificates, labels, management systems, guidelines, platforms, websites and other practices exist and are tailored to the SME?

Challenges of a sustainable SME

We investigate what the specific needs, opportunities, aspirations, challenges, obstacles and threats are for a Flemish SME in the field of sustainable resilience and link this to the content of our toolbox. What do they need to take steps towards greater sustainability and circularity?

Sustainable entrepreneurship guidance

With the insights gained and with the toolbox developed under the arm, a guidance path towards more sustainability and resilience is being developed.

This guidance trajectory is created together with stakeholders of the project. For this guidance process, we will rely on participatory methods that have already proven their worth such as appreciative inquiry and deep democracy. The developed trajectory will be tested in at least three companies from three different sectors.