Barriers to institutional social sustainability

Social sustainability is a work field characterised by an emphasis on social aspects, e.g. equity, ethics, health, gender balance, or empowerment, within a broader sustainability context. Although the concept seems to be reasonably well established and deemed worthy of pursuing, some obstacles prevent its wide dissemination. Through a bibliometric analysis focusing on the literature on social sustainability at institutions, with a focus on companies, this paper aims to investigate and describe some of the barriers associated with social sustainability implementation. Apart from identifying that sustainability reporting, environmental disclosure and financial performance play a central role in successfully achieving social sustainability, in the context of which gender-related issues seem more tangential, the results indicated some solutions commonly reported for overcoming barriers and obstacles to a company's social sustainability implementation within different sectors. These solutions have to do, among many other factors addressed in this study, with strengthening communication transparency and trust, contributing to awareness, using technology to document and promote social sustainability. Thus, empowering organizations and citizens, recognized as essential factors to social development, and addressing the challenges in a multi-dimensional way.

Automated summary

Social sustainability is a field that focuses on social aspects such as equity, ethics, health, gender balance, and empowerment within the broader context of sustainability. While the concept is well-established and considered worth pursuing, there are barriers that hinder its wide dissemination. This study investigates and describes barriers associated with social sustainability implementation through a bibliometric analysis of literature on social sustainability in institutions, particularly with a focus on companies. The results highlight the importance of sustainability reporting, environmental disclosure, and financial performance in achieving social sustainability, while also indicating solutions for overcoming barriers, such as strengthening communication transparency and trust, promoting awareness, and utilizing technology to document and promote social sustainability.