Considering the growing of high alarm signals on environmental issues, the implementation of green, sustainable, responsible investments has become a priority for each organization, in addition to maximizing profits and harmonious development with the environment. The purpose of this study is to examine the importance of implementing green investments within organizations and to identify the drivers that influence decisions for the implementation of green investments. In order to achieve this, two types of analyses were used: bibliometric analysis and systematic analysis, researching the representative studies in the field. The search was carried out for the period 1990–2020, and the analyzed sample comprised 444 articles. Following the application of the two methods of analysis, the results show that in the last 6 years the interest of companies in green investments has increased significantly, organizations being concerned with the efficient use of resources and environmental issues. This research highlights the internal and external drivers over which companies have a higher or lower control, as the case may be, in order to involve in green investments. The article offers new pathways for future research on this matter. Therefore, future research may develop a detailed description of the identified drivers for green investment. In addition, further research can calculate the level of the drivers’ impact on green investment and can identify that certain drivers should be more attentively treated. Moreover, subsequent works in this field can continue to identify new drivers or new ways of promoting the already identified drivers in the present research. Consequently, green investment could produce positive effects related to the reduction of pollution and global warming.
To compensate for loss of business during the COVID-19 crisis, wineries in the tourism industry had to apply new strategies. In order to collect and compare these newly developed sustainable strategies, a cross-cultural study has been conducted in 2021. This study is based on a qualitative survey using purposeful sampling with key decision-makers of 70 wineries from the U.S., Australia, Germany, Hungary, and Romania covering wine growing countries both from the Old and New World. The aim was to identify new and sustainable initiatives and resilience strategies implemented to deal with the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, noting any cultural differences in each country’s response and to analyse the perspectives of wine tourism in the future. The findings highlight the wineries’ impressive focus on creativity and flexibility while also bringing attention to cultural differences. The insights form a preliminary suggestion for best practice strategies that businesses within wine tourism may consider helpful in their future business planning.
The paradigm of sustainable energy is gaining ground at the historical juncture of the present worldwide push for sustainable development. This is being driven by the latest technological advancements and by a maturing process of public policy evolution toward support for a sustainable energy transition. This paper analyzes, with the support of bibliometric analysis, the specialized literature in order to capture the main themes of interest, as well as their evolution, thus offering a panoramic view of research trends and the significance of implementing correct environmental measures and policies. Covering the period from 1991 to 2024, our exploration filters 2990 articles from the Web of Science database using a query that intersects “sustainable energy”, “renewable energy”, and “sustainable development”, with a nuanced consideration of the political landscape that shapes these domains. Using the advanced capabilities of the R program, the methodology employed facilitates a nuanced workflow of extraction and analysis, allowing for a detailed examination of the proliferation of research over the decades. This paper provides significant results, demonstrating the increasing impact of research through international collaborations, the importance of high-impact journals on sustainability policies, and the growing focus on “renewable energy” and “CO2 emissions”. The analysis of the relevance of term groups in environmental policy development and the correlation between economic growth and CO2 emissions confirms emerging trends. Furthermore, critical directions for future research and the necessity for formulating and implementing coherent sustainability policies are highlighted.
10 September 2024 in Technological and Economic Development of Economy
This study delves into the resilience and adaptability of employees within the volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) business environment, examining their readiness to manage effectively and the organizational agility in navigating change, alongside the impact of sustainable investment practices. Employing quantitative methods, a survey was conducted among employees at two pivotal moments: during and after the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Factorial analysis revealed a strong preference for participatory work styles and highlighted the critical need for employee involvement in significant decision-making processes. Although the value of sustainable investments was recognized, a noticeable gap was found in employees’ understanding and adaptability towards these investments. The use of the Wilcoxon test illuminated the significant impact of external disruptions, such as the pandemic, on organizational operations and preparedness. The findings underscore the imperative for organizations to champion continuous learning and training, enabling strategic and innovative responses to the challenges unique to the VUCA world. By aligning adaptive interventions with the demands of the VUCA environment, organizations can define a clear trajectory towards sustainable growth and enhance their proactive stance against sudden shifts in the business landscape.
The digital revolution, driven and accelerated by the current pandemic, involves changes to known business models. The innovative model of the sharing economy can be a real and sustainable solution for long-term green economic development. The aim of our research was to determine the common factors of the sharing economy and the green economy and the perceptions of Romanian users regarding them. Our research questionnaire was based on the elements we found in the academic literature. To evaluate the collected data, we used the factor analysis method with the support of the SPSS program. As our study reveals, digitalization as well as inclinations towards saving are factors impacting both the propensity towards sharing and support for the green economy. The demarcation line between the sharing and the green economies is rather fluid, the two realities being under a reciprocal influence. In our model, the green economy develops according to the principles of the sharing economy, going a step further in considering the relationship between society and environment, society and sustainable, eco-friendly behaviour. Although the sharing economy is not necessarily a prerequisite of the green economy, it is, nevertheless, easy for societies or groups that have internalized the lessons of the sharing economy to move forward towards the green economy. This study can be an important tool and a first step for businesses, and, more importantly, for the Romanian public institutions to accelerate the implementation of necessary measures, including legislative ones, in order to promote the further development of these economies.
As Generation Z increasingly dominates the consumer market, understanding their purchasing behaviour in online marketplaces has become crucial for businesses aiming to engage this digitally native and environmentally conscious demographic. The present study aims to explore Generation Z′s purchasing behaviour in e-commerce platforms through the lens of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), while incorporating additional factors such as sustainability and environmental awareness. A partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) analysis using WarpPLS 8.0 was conducted on a sample of 636 Generation Z respondents from Romania. The results suggest that online marketplaces can enhance consumer engagement by integrating eco-friendly practices and emphasizing sustainable product offerings. This research contributes to the e-commerce literature by extending the TAM framework and by providing valuable insights for businesses targeting environmentally conscious digital consumers.