Social sustainability
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Understanding Social Sustainability: Key Concepts and Applications
Introduction to Social Sustainability
Social sustainability is one of the three pillars of sustainability, alongside economic and environmental dimensions. It encompasses various aspects such as diversity, equity, quality of life, democracy, governance, and social cohesion. Despite its importance, the social dimension has often been neglected in sustainability discussions, which traditionally focused more on environmental and economic factors.
Conceptual Frameworks and Definitions
New Conceptual Framework
A comprehensive conceptual framework for social sustainability has been proposed, which includes four interrelated concepts: Equity, Safety, Eco-prosumption, and Urban Forms. Equity involves recognition, redistribution, and parity of participation, aiming to reduce alienation and enhance community attachment. Safety refers to the right to be safe and adopt measures to prevent harm. Eco-prosumption focuses on producing and gaining values in socially and environmentally responsible ways. Urban Forms represent the physical dimensions that promote community, safety, health, and place attachment.
Tripartite Schema
Another approach categorizes social sustainability into three types: development sustainability, bridge sustainability, and maintenance sustainability. Development sustainability addresses basic needs and social capital. Bridge sustainability involves behavioral changes to achieve environmental goals. Maintenance sustainability focuses on preserving socio-cultural characteristics amidst change.
Social Sustainability in Supply Chain Management
In the context of supply chain management, social sustainability has been examined through principles for managing social change, performance measures, and identifying drivers and barriers. However, there is a need for more research on social practices, especially at the micro-level and within small and medium-sized enterprises. Additionally, the suppliers' perspective is often less considered compared to the buyers' perspective.
Social Sustainability in the Workplace
Psychological Constructs
Social sustainability in the workplace is a relatively new concept, focusing on constructs such as sustainable job characteristics, pro-sustainable job attitudes, and organizational policies. These constructs are categorized into four levels: job/work, people, organization, and society. This framework helps in understanding how social sustainability can be integrated into workplace practices to promote health, wellbeing, gender equality, and decent work.
Organizational Impact
Social sustainability in organizations is crucial as it influences environmental and economic constructs. It is often seen as an antecedent to other sustainability dimensions, highlighting its core role in organizational life. Constructs related to social sustainability show moderate to strong positive effects on other organizational aspects, emphasizing the need for integrated approaches.
Challenges and Future Directions
Research Gaps
Despite its importance, social sustainability remains under-researched, particularly in business and supply chain management. There is a need for more explicit engagement with social systems-science ideas and a clearer definition of the concept. Research should focus on overcoming fragmented organizational structures and achieving true integration into existing processes.
Integrated Approaches
To address the inherent challenges of understanding social sustainability, it is essential to adopt interdisciplinary approaches that integrate social, economic, and environmental imperatives. This integrated perspective can help in using the concept of social sustainability in clear and powerful ways, avoiding its relegation to an afterthought.
Conclusion
Social sustainability is a critical yet often overlooked dimension of sustainable development. By understanding and integrating its various aspects—ranging from equity and safety to workplace practices and supply chain management—organizations and societies can work towards more holistic and sustainable futures. Future research and practical applications should aim to bridge existing gaps and promote a more comprehensive understanding of social sustainability.
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