In pursuit of profit maximization through practices that promote sustainable development, companies increasingly use environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria to guide investment. However, there are challenges in implementing these practices across diverse sectors, such as the construction industry, especially in emerging countries with limited related studies. This study validated the challenges of implementing ESG in the construction industry in an emerging country like Brazil, considering its relationship with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A literature review identified challenges associated with ESG implementation, followed by the development of a questionnaire based on these challenges. Subsequently, the questionnaire was administered to professionals in the construction industry and validated using the Lawshe method. Twenty-seven challenges were identified, of which twelve were validated, including the lack of standardized performance indicators, regulatory guidelines associated with ESG practices, organizational resistance, and insufficient transparency in non-financial indicators. This study provides guidance for overcoming challenges in the successful adoption of ESG in the construction industry. It also identifies the most-impacted SDGs and lays the foundation for future actions promoting sustainable development in the construction industry in emerging countries.

The main purpose of this article is to present an overview of the applications of sustainable practices in logistic operations performed by Brazilian companies. To reach this objective, the following steps were carried out: (1) a review of the literature on logistics systems and sustainability in logistics activities; (2) the collection of sustainability reports published by companies that perform logistics operations, which are recognized in Brazil; (3) a content analysis of the reports collected and (4) a discussion of the results, cross-checked with the literature and the extrapolation of conclusions. It was possible to identify 22 sustainable practices, and these practices were grouped into five macro areas. The authors of this paper believe that the findings presented here can be useful for professionals and researchers in the implementation of sustainability practices in logistics systems.

This research aimed to analyze the perceptions of professionals in the construction sector operating in Brazil regarding the development of sustainability practices in the sector and their contributions to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To this end, a literature review was developed, a survey was conducted among industry professionals, and the collected data were treated using Cronbach’s alpha, hierarchical cluster analysis, and the TOPSIS multicriteria method. As a result, considering the generated ranking, the practices determining the promotion of a more sustainable construction sector were the encouragement and promotion of sustainability-focused events, education on sustainability, water treatment, and community project development. From the perspective of contributions to achieving the UN SDGs, greater alignment of sustainable practices with the established goals was highlighted in SDG 1, which seeks to eradicate poverty; SDG 4, which promotes inclusive education; SDG 6, referring to the importance of water treatment and access for all; SDG 7, which aims to ensure access to clean and affordable energy; SDG 9, which proposes the development of resilient, inclusive, and sustainable infrastructure; SDG 11, which advocates for sustainable cities and communities; and SDG 12, which proposes the adoption of more sustainable production and consumption patterns. It is believed that this research represents the first exploratory study to consider sustainable practices in the civil construction sector, which are aligned with the sustainable development objectives proposed by the UN and consider the context of a country with an emerging economy from the perspective of professionals working in the sector.

Purpose: Confronting globalization, logistics systems need to achieve greater efficiency in processes to be competitive. Competitiveness is not related only to economic aspects; companies need to perform their activities aligned to the triple bottom line concept. In this context, the main objective of this research is to analyze how Brazilian professionals think about sustainable logistics through an exploratory study.Design/methodology/approach: A set of 33 indicators, compiled from a literature review, was used to develop a research instrument applied in a survey of 50 professionals working with logistics processes in Brazilian companies. First, the Cronbach's alpha was run to verify the questionnaire reliability. Respondents were grouped through cluster hierarchical analysis, and their answers were analyzed through TOPSIS technique.Findings: The results from the sample analysis showed that Brazilian professionals think in the three dimensions of TBL when considering sustainable logistics systems; however, social aspects are relegated to a second level of importance when compared with environmental and economic indicators. In addition, it is possible to highlight that most important environmental aspects are directly related to economic objectives.Originality/value: There are few studies examining sustainable logistics system in Brazilian companies that consider the purpose mentioned by evidencing originality in the same way as this current study. The results presented here can contribute to amplifying debates in the theme.

This paper aims to understand the main difficulties faced by women throughout their careers in Brazil and abroad. Based on the information gathered from these experiences, it seeks to advance the discussion on women's participation in STEM focusing on SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 8 (decent work). The main difficulties experienced by women in STEM as discussed in the academic literature were mapped. This provided input to develop a questionnaire containing qualitative and quantitative questions used to conduct interviews with women working in STEM. The sample consisted of highly qualified professionals working in high positions in the hierarchies of multinational companies in the STEM field with experience both in Brazil and abroad. The data collected was analyzed using a mixed-methods approach, including content analysis for qualitative questions and the Grey Relational Analysis for quantitative questions. The results revealed that the lack of flexible work systems, the scarcity of gender-sensitive organizational policies and labor policies, and the prevalence of traditional cultural models are some of the main difficulties faced both in Brazil and abroad by the women interviewed. The need to discuss issues of gender equality and decent work in the early stages of education is important for increasing women’s participation in STEM, which is a critical factor in the development of inclusive organizations and in fully achieving the sustainable development of society. This paper presents a unique perspective of the perceived difficulties faced by executive women who worked in Brazil and in different countries (i.e., Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Switzerland and the United States). Gender equality in organizations is highly context-dependent, and cross-cultural analysis generates relevant insights to face the challenges and advance the discussion on women’s participation in STEM.