TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1. ABSTRACT 4

2. INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY 5
2.1. Brief Overview: 5
2.2. Rationale: 5
2.3. Aim and Objectives: 6
2.4. Research Questions: 7
2.5. Structure of dissertation: 7

3. THE LITERATURE REVIEW: 9
3.1. Introduction: 9
3.2. The terms firm and sustainable development: 10
3.2.1. Definition of firm: 10
3.2.2. Definition of sustainabledevelopment: 12
3.3. Goals of sustainable development: 14
3.4. The link between sustainable development and firms: 16
3.5. A new concept for enterprises: 17
3.5.1. Sustainable development & Science 19
3.5.2. Sustainable development: an opportunity for some companies: 21
3.5.3. The Greenwashing 22

4. METHODOLOGY: 25
4.1. Reasons for choice and research design: 254.1.1. Primary research: 25
4.1.2. Secondary research: 27

5. Research Findings and Discussion: 33
5.1. Why implement a sustainable development strategy in a company? 33
5.1.1. Internal factors 33
5.1.2. External factors 37
5.2. How to implement a sustainable development strategy in a company? 38
5.2.1. Balancing profitability and objectives of sustainable development 385.2.2. The inclusion of sustainable development through standardization 41
5.2.3. How can technologies, sciences and innovation help in the task? 43
5.2.4. Marketing: effort made by the company towards sustainable development 50
5.2.5. Expansion on new market and new activities (bio products, green technologies…) 51
5.2.6. Employees behaviour 52
5.2.7. TheGreenwashing as a strategy 53
5.3. Why it is difficult to set it up? 54
5.3.1. Sustainable development: an obligation all the more present 54
5.3.2. Sustainable development: a cost that hinders competitiveness 55
5.3.3. Key to success 56
5.3.4. No real international rules implies no sustainable development 58
5.3.5. Reluctance of employees 59
5.3.6. Fluctuations in consumerpurchases (not always citizen) 59

6. Recommendations 60
6.1. Stakeholders 60
6.2. Measures 61
6.3. Consumers behaviour 62
6.4. Communications 63
6.4.1. Internal 63
6.4.2. External 64

7. Conclusion: 65

8. References 68

How have firms contributed to sustainable development?
ABSTRACT

Purpose: The article seeks to investigate the link between sustainabledevelopment and firms but also how these firms are contributing to it.
Design/Methodology/approach: The data was from interviews, reports, books, journals, and website. Organisations were chosen to include a variety of industrial sectors, sizes and locations.
Findings: Although the term sustainable development does not really correspond with firms’ goals. Both of these terms could find its benefitsin particular companies, which discover a new concept of business. Sustainable development is all the more present and companies are integrating it into their strategy. Nevertheless some barriers subsist.
Research limitations/implications: Research is based on French data and offers a “snapshot” of the situation. However lot of factors affect sustainable development and companies are one of thesolutions to this development.
Practical implications: The findings could be used by small business managers or firms’ strategic managers to assist them in understanding the key issue of sustainable development and how to contribute to it.
Originality/value: The paper makes associations between external and internal contexts within organisations’ operations and how successful the implementation ofsuch a strategy is.
Keywords: Sustainable development, Firms, Contribution, New concept
Paper type: Research paper

INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY

1 Brief Overview:

The raison d’être of this research exists because today the « world society » is without limits. Mankind is now looking to rebuild the big bang, mankind only thinks in terms of profit and loss, over consumes, and engages in…