Sustainability leaders and followers: a taxonomy of global clusters in sustainability transitions

Fiorenza Belussi, Elisa Sabbadin and Silvia Rita Sedita

Chapter 9 in Handbook of Grand Challenges in Global Production and Innovation Networks, 2025, pp 169-190 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Abstract: This chapter explores how clusters adapt to the complex interplay of internationalization, digital technologies, and sustainability, which increasingly reshape global production systems. Drawing from the literature on global production networks (GPNs) and sustainability transitions, the chapter analyzes case studies to propose a new taxonomy of clusters based on their engagement with environmental technologies and social practices. Two distinct cluster profiles emerge: sustainability leaders, which generate technologies and practices for internal development, and sustainability followers, which rely on external sources for such advancements. Additionally, the analysis highlights how clusters’ positions within global supply chains influence their capacity to implement sustainable practices. By examining these dynamics, the chapter contributes to understanding how clusters navigate the challenges of environmental and social sustainability.

Keywords: Sustainable clusters; Sustainability followers; Sustainability leaders; Global production networks; Social sustainability; Global clusters (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035346509
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