The aim of this paper is to define the business case for the involvement of SMEs in CSR from the perspective of employees. The work answers the following questions: (1) What socially responsible activities do SMEs undertake? (2) To what extent are SME employees involved in activities in the area of CSR? (3) How is the business rationale of CSR activities perceived by employees? On the basis of the conducted research, the authors decided to find out what and how socially responsible activities impact business performance. For this purpose, a structural model was estimated, using the maximum likelihood method. As a result of the research, it was found that small- and medium-sized enterprises engage in CSR activities, but their involvement is limited and focused on environmental, health-related initiatives, and social campaigns. This suggests the choice of activities that are related to the formation of responsible attitudes, which are universal but not very engaging for employees. The results also show that employees are not passive observers but are responsible for the implementation of the CSR initiatives, which may have positive and negative impacts on business performance. In the opinion of employees, the most important benefits of involvement in CSR are building trust, building relationships with clients, and image improvement. Motivators such as increased profitability or (surprisingly) sustainable development played a much smaller role. From the theory point of view, the research results define the scope and scale of SMEs involvement in corporate social responsibility activities and indicate the main benefits that result from this involvement for SMEs. The results of research allow for a more effective selection of CSR activities and areas in which companies can use CSR to support the achievement of business goals.

The article focuses on the specificity of the behavior of modern prosumers in the market for organic products as a determinant of sustainable consumption. The strengthening of the pro-consumer relationship is made possible thanks to ongoing technological changes, especially the development of the Internet. It is thanks to our online activities and the opinions of other Internet users that pro-consumer decisions concerning online purchases are shaped. The article presents the results of empirical studies conducted in 2020 on a sample of 664 respondents using a questionnaire, while the survey results were developed using SPSS Statistics. Findings of research showed the willingness of consumers for prosumption and kind of behaviors that were most often among the research group. In the course of research proceedings, it was possible to define factors that dispose declarative prosumers for the purchase of organic products. Conducted analyses also allowed for building the model of the influence of individual characteristics of respondents on the index of prosumption.

Today’s company has to operate in a turbulent market environment, where the policy of sustainable development is still gaining importance. Therefore, it has been forced to look for a strategic orientation that would allow it to face the growing demands of the changing reality. Each organization must therefore adapt to the changes in the environment. These changes include the need to implement sustainable energy usage practices. This article presents determinants that build such an attitude in a company and thus contribute to the sustainable development of the organization. This article is based on the results of an empirical study conducted in December 2021 on a sample of 690 respondents (later, due to the purpose of the study, the sample was narrowed to 578 working people) using a survey questionnaire. A structural model was estimated using the maximum likelihood method. It allowed us to determine the variables that influence the degree to which companies use energy saving practices, as well as to illustrate the strength of influence between endogenous variables. Establishing these relationships will allow us to determine the factors that are determinants of the implementation of the idea of sustainable development in the company.

The aim of this study was to examine how the development of employee competencies affects the efficiency of green energy utilization in organizations and how these activities support the sustainable development of enterprises. This research focused on identifying the specific agile competencies that have the greatest impact on energy efficiency and on integrating these competencies with sustainable development goals. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted based on data collected through online surveys among employees of companies using green energy. The research results indicate a significant relationship between the level of agility in employee competencies and the energy efficiency in enterprises. Most companies achieve better results through the application of agile practices. This study’s findings confirm that investments in the development of agile employee competencies and the integration of renewable energy sources can significantly contribute to improving energy efficiency and increasing the competitiveness and innovation of organizations. Moreover, the need for further research on methods for assessing and implementing agile practices in various operational settings, with a focus on sustainability aspects, was emphasized.

In the face of global challenges related to sustainable development, this study explores the role of students’ expectations in sustainable education in higher education institutions. Aiming to understand how these expectations influence the effectiveness of education oriented toward sustainable development, a comprehensive survey was conducted among 529 students from diverse educational backgrounds. The research design included detailed analysis using statistical tools like Pearson correlation coefficients. Results reveal a strong student preference for greater emphasis on sustainable development in curricula, along with innovative and interactive teaching methods. Incorporating real environmental and social problems was also highlighted. These findings underscore the significant impact of students’ expectations on the quality and effectiveness of sustainable education. The conclusions stress the importance of aligning educational strategies with students’ expectations to enhance the quality and effectiveness of education in sustainable development. This study offers valuable insights for higher education institutions to refine teaching strategies in the spirit of sustainable development.

The aim of this article is to identify key factors shaping organizational agility as a determinant of the sustainable development of an organization in the conditions of Economy 5.0. The research used the survey method conducted in 2024 on a sample of 312 respondents. It analyzed the impact of decision-making processes, identification with the goals of the organization, tolerance of rapid changes, internal communication, internal motivation and implementation of the idea of work–life balance. Based on the results, an original mathematical model was constructed presenting the relationships between the analyzed variables. The research results confirmed a significant relationship between the level of organizational agility and the ability of the organization to implement the sustainable development strategy. It was identified that factors such as quick and accurate decision-making, strong identification of employees with the goals of the organization and efficient communication have the greatest impact on strengthening this ability. The limitation of the research was the homogeneity of the sample and the inability to fully take into account variables related to the industry and cultural context. The research highlights that enhancing organizational agility is crucial for achieving sustainable development and building lasting competitive advantage in the dynamic context of the Economy 5.0.