Digitalization is key for an organization to achieve sustainability leadership, to be able to conform with sustainability objectives, support claims, and inform consumers and consecutive stakeholders. However, there is no impartial, credible, and universal market platform where market competition favors data exchange and traceability of products and materials. This paper addresses the question of how to utilize digital tools to meet the challenges at the interface between the producer and the consumer. The methodology of the study is action research, which includes various qualitative and quantitative research methods. The research results in the creation of an information system platform, which shows how to merge digital information with a product to provide credibility to consumers and support their purchasing decision based on the claimed lifetime of the product, the sustainability requirements met, how the consumer will find service and spare parts, as well as the design of a universal digital twin. This research contributes to the transparency and traceability aspects by showing how organizations can work and cooperate to create verifiable information and establish claims that support resource efficiency decisions, as well as demonstrating how a traceability system can facilitate the efficient use of materials and energy resources.

Small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) represent a significant number of industries in need of moving towards more sustainable development. A sustainability perspective on business activities is today crucial for SMEs to achieve a new level of competitiveness. Identifying which is a suitable set of sustainability indicators for an individual SME is a big challenge. The availability of so many methods and systems can leave SMEs reluctant to implement them in their small business. Therefore, this research aims to create a sustainability maturity model for SMEs to visualize goals and assess progress on their transformation journey. Progress is assessed by indicators, exemplified by indicators of the Global Reporting Initiative and the maturity is verified as stepwise growth along international management system standards. Using the developed model, it is possible to determine the SMEs' sustainability performance. The research has resulted in a stepwise classification of the organization's maturity is compiled into training and auditing material in different regions and sectors.

Russia has signed the Paris Agreement and recently approved its ratification. However, the Russian Government does not consider abandoning the production and use of hydrocarbons to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To meet the goals of the Agreement, Russia must find new innovative solutions. This study demonstrates that biogas is one of the most necessary renewable sources in Russia. Despite this, the deployment of biogas technologies is currently extremely slow. In this regard, to assess their subsequent impact on the Russian energy sector as a whole, it is important to identify the factors that hinder the wider implementation of biogas technologies. Based on the findings, the most critical barriers were identified and discussed in detail. In the light of the results, some policy-related recommendations are also proposed.

Many hydrocarbon-rich countries have recognized the global shift towards renewable energy sources, and Russia is not an exception. Drawing on two strands of literature—technological innovation systems and the advocacy coalition framework—we investigate the roles of actors and coalitions in shaping the Russian renewable energy policy and explore why particular renewable energy sources have progressed more than others, and what the main reasons are for their sudden development. The results show that the more successful renewable energy industries are those that were promoted by influential actors from traditional energy industries. Moreover, these actors also promoted the specific design of support schemes for renewable energy policy in Russia. We discuss the importance of policy process theories for understanding energy transition studies and provide specific policy recommendations for policy creation in the renewables industry.