Centre for Sustainable Business

Our research in this area aims to support businesses become more transparent and proactive in formally disclosing their non-financial environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices - activities which may impact people and the natural environment.

Unlike public reports on corporate financial performance, ESG disclosures have been traditionally considered a proactive transparency effort: however, they're rapidly becoming a legal requirement.

We conduct world-leading research on many aspects of NFR and corporate accountability, and the evidence is particularly relevant to business leaders and policy makers:

• Social value
• Modern slavery reporting
• Double materiality assessments
• Supply chain transparency
• Discovery and disclosure strategies
• Risk management
• Social risks and reputation
• Market reactions to incidents
• Financial constraints
• Corporate governance

Our research in this area addresses the challenges associated to the UN's Sustainable Development Goal number 12, responsible consumption, which focuses on ensuring sustainable production and consumption patterns that reduce waste and overuse of finite resources.

Over-consumption leads to resource scarcity, price volatility and supply crises, which creates pressing commercial demands on businesses. 

In contrast, circularity is a model of production and consumption that extends the product/service lifecycle by sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials for as long as possible.

Unlike the traditional ‘take, make, waste’ approach, which and assumes infinite supplies of raw materials, energy and labour, the circular economy shifts to renewable energy and materials to have a restorative net positive impact on social standards and the natural world.

Our research in this area covers:

• Developing circular supply chains
• Influencing consumption choices
• Income inequality and consumption patterns
• The sharing economy and poverty alleviation
• Food ecosystems

Our research in this area explores how new technologies can be implemented sustainably, by developing business models that are ecocentric and socially just.

Emerging technologies bring new opportunities for businesses, but as they change the way companies operate, systems can become disrupted, causing inequality and harm.

Disruptive technologies such as cyber-security systems, blockchain and cryptocurrencies, or AI, can facilitate the shaping of business ecosystems, but these require balance and diversity to thrive.

We are working on agenda-shaping research in several areas aimed at rethinking how ecosystems and technology can be used to generate net-positive outcomes:

• Disruptive technologies and inequality
• Power structures
• Drone technologies
• Food security
• Cyber-security
• Shaping futures and ecosystems
• Blockchain and cryptocurrencies
• Artificial Intelligence
• Scaling sustainability