Recent decades have witnessed an unprecedented demand for corporate sustainability. Driven by a desire to remain competitive amidst economic turmoil and climate change, organisations are embedding sustainable measures into their long-term goals and strategies. Despite such progress, corporate sustainability is taking longer than anticipated, and to understand the reasons behind the delay, this research employs a systematic literature review to identify and categorise the key barriers to the adoption of corporate sustainability. A collection of barriers from 56 articles is established, totalling 90 unique barriers grouped into six main categories. The findings reveal that corporate sustainability is highly complex, emphasising the need for a transdisciplinary approach that incorporates various theoretical frameworks. The findings will be a general guide for any organisation to prepare itself for tackling sustainability barriers while equipping policymakers in developing policies aimed at reducing their magnitude. Equally, it will provide insights to institutions of higher learning on the significance of cross-industry cooperation to ensure skill gaps are addressed at earlier stages and aligned with organisational needs.

The growth of the generation of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE), and the use of hazardous substances in the production of these items, has required legislation to minimise the harm to the environment that their existing use, ultimate disposal and continued growth of the sector may pose. The European Union (EU) started to tackle this problem with the passing of two Directives in 2002, which focused on restricting the use of hazardous substances (RoHS - 2002/95/EC) and organising the recycling or disposal of discarded electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE - 2002/96/EC). These Directives have been recently recast and their scope widened; however, one exception to them remains items specifically designed for defence and military purposes. This paper looks at how and why these European Directives were passed, the impact they have had on defence in the United Kingdom (UK) up to the present moment, what impact the further extension of those directives might have on UK defence policy and how the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) has begun to prepare for any extension, including the use of alternative products from the commercial market, and substituting less harmful materials. The paper reviews the information available to carry out future decision making and what level of decision making it can support. Where the data is insufficient, it makes recommendations on actions to take for improvement

The energy sector holds critical importance for South Africa, particularly as a developing country grappling with persistent economic challenges and energy insecurity. These pressures have stimulated growing scientific and policy interest in renewable energy as a pathway to sustainable development. This study examines public perceptions and awareness of renewable energy technologies and estimates willingness to pay (WTP) for their increased integration into South Africa’s energy mix. By linking these objectives, the study provides insights into the social and economic factors that shape a just energy transition and informs targeted policies, investments, and engagement strategies to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy. A descriptive research design was employed, incorporating a systematic random sampling approach to ensure reliability and representativeness. Data were collected through structured questionnaire surveys conducted in both urban and rural households across Limpopo Province, South Africa. Findings reveal a generally positive public attitude toward the expansion of renewable energy, although knowledge levels remain moderate and are most pronounced with respect to solar energy systems. The mean household WTP for increased renewable energy penetration was estimated at ZAR 163.4 per annum. Binary logistic regression analysis identified eight statistically significant predictors of WTP: Education, Occupation, Income, Recognised Advantages (A1), Financial Incentive Schemes for RES (A3), Expansion Strategies for Renewable Energy (A4), Price Parity with Fossil Fuels (A7), and Interest-Free Financing Options (A8). These results highlight the importance of affordability, policy support, and tangible benefits in driving public acceptance. Overall, the findings highlight the potential for targeted policy and educational interventions to foster household participation and advance South Africa’s just energy transition.