Sustainability as Practice: Reflections on the Creation of an Institutional Logic

Minelle E. Silva and Marina D. Figueiredo
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Minelle E. Silva: University of Fortaleza, Av. Washigton Soares, 1321, Bloco E, Sala 13, Edson Queiroz, Fortaleza, Ceará 60811-905, Brazil
Marina D. Figueiredo: University of Fortaleza, Av. Washigton Soares, 1321, Bloco E, Sala 13, Edson Queiroz, Fortaleza, Ceará 60811-905, Brazil

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 10, 1-13

Abstract: Debates over social and organisational sustainability are constant because sustainability must stem from beliefs and goals that social and economic actors share. However, there is still a gap in the knowledge about how sustainability is practiced. In this theoretical paper, we use institutional logic (IL) to assume that the logic of sustainability can contribute to sustainability studies by explaining how practices are socially constructed and shared among actors. We consider sustainability as a practice by articulating IL through an understanding of practice-based studies (PBS). Sustainability as a practice facilitates the emergence of new organisational values and contributes to changes that support a new institutional logic. Hence, we define the institutional logic of sustainability (ILS) as a theoretical approach enabling comprehension of how sustainability can be observed and practiced through socially constructed actions and intentions. We highlight its relevance to deep sustainability studies and argue that by using different roles and meanings surrounding its performance, sustainability as a practice can facilitate studies about organisations.

Keywords: institutional logic; sustainability; practice-based studies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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