Sustainable business practices and challenges in Asia: a systematic review

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to review and analyze sustainable business practices prevailing in different emerging countries in Asia. It also identifies the challenges faced by these countries in the implementation of sustainable practices. Design/methodology/approach To achieve the objectives of the study and answer the key research questions, systematic literature review method was chosen. A total of 75 papers were chosen and reviewed for this study. Findings Organizations in many emerging Asian countries are concerned about environmental aspects and have started investing in sustainable business practices. Yet they face many challenges during the implementation, which vary across countries. Research limitations/implications This study helps in understanding the sustainable practices that are currently being used in Asia and this understanding would help organizations and policy makers formulate new practices or improve upon existing ones for better outcomes. As the study was limited to a few representative countries in Asia, and a limited number of sectors, future research may build upon it by including more countries and sectors and perform empirical tests for comprehensive understanding of the topic under discussion. Practical implications With an idea of what works in various Asian countries, as garnered from this paper, organizations can adopt sustainable practices suited to them, while also training employees and all stakeholders on the implementation of these practices. Social implications A knowledge of the challenges in each country to sustainable practice implementation, identified from this paper, can help policymakers frame and implement policies that can overcome the shortcomings of the existing systems. Originality/value This paper is a pioneer in the area of sustainable business practices in Asia and is a one-stop source to understand current trends and challenges in the Asian context.