Sustainability impact assessment of start-ups – Key insights on relevant assessment challenges and approaches based on an inclusive, systematic literature review. (25th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Trautwein, Constanze
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 281(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-01-25
• Subjects: Sustainable entrepreneurship -- Sustainable development -- Sustainability impact assessment -- Start-up -- Early-stage investment -- Systematic literature review; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125330
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: It is widely accepted in research and practice that sustainable entrepreneurship and start-ups play a key role in accelerating the transformation of society and business towards a sustainable development. Nevertheless, decision makers in politics, society and business will not advocate sustainability as an essential part of entrepreneurial actions if proof of a tangible contribution in the form of an assessable sustainability impact is missing. So far, no overview of assessment approaches that would allow for assessing the sustainability impact of start-ups exists. Neither is there common understanding in research of start-up specific assessment challenges. This study applies sustainability impact assessment to the characteristics of start-ups and identifies relevant assessment approaches through an inclusive, systematic literature review. The study contributes to the research domains of sustainable entrepreneurship as well as sustainability accounting and assessment by elaborating assessment challenges specific to start-ups and presenting solutions for dealing with such challenges. Furthermore, future research initiatives in the area of assessing the sustainability impact of start-ups are supported through the identification of research gaps and future research opportunities. Linked to this, practitioners will benefit from the resulting overview of 23 interesting assessment approaches and the detailed presentation of managerial conclusions regarding the sustainability impact assessment of start-ups. Highlights: Conceptual study of sustainability impact assessment for the case of start-ups. Study of start-up specific characteristics and related assessment challenges. Structured overview of start-up specific assessment approaches based on an inclusive systematic literature review.