Sustainability

Sustainability refers to the pursuit of economic, social and environmental well-being without compromising future generations’ needs. In economic sociology, sustainability underscores the interplay between market forces, social institutions and ecological constraints, revealing how economic actions are embedded within broader societal contexts. Beyond a technological challenge, sustainability involves cultural values, moral considerations and collective agency. Recent research integrates insights from commons governance, embeddedness and the triple bottom line—emphasising economic prosperity, social equity and environmental stewardship—while critically examining greenwashing and structural inequalities. Achieving sustainability requires institutional reforms and grassroots innovations that align economic practices with ecological and social imperatives.