Executive Summary

Recent research in sustainable and green management practices has expanded across various sectors, focusing on the environmental impact and resource efficiency. Foundational studies have emphasized the importance of sustainable development in ecological and industrial systems, which laid the groundwork for integrating sustainability into business models and operations. Recent advancements have explored innovative methodologies and technologies, such as the application of causal machine learning in agriculture and refined energy management systems in manufacturing, contributing to more sustainable practices. However, challenges persist, particularly in implementing these practices across diverse organizational structures and geographical areas, not to mention the high initial costs and technological barriers. Papers addressing these challenges suggest solutions like personalized sustainable agriculture and green information systems.

Research History

In the field of sustainable management, several foundational papers have emerged:

• The Natural Step Framework: A Guide to Deep Change by Robert, K-H (2002), which emphasizes a systematic approach to sustainability, laying a framework adopted in various industries. It has been cited extensively, forming a cornerstone for subsequent sustainability research.
• Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things by McDonough and Braungart (2003), received heavy citations for guiding sustainable production and consumption models, influencing numerous environmental policies and practices worldwide.

Recent Advancements

Recent research has provided novel insights into sustainable practices:

• Personalizing Sustainable Agriculture with Causal Machine Learning (Giannarakis et al., 2022) explores the use of causal machine learning to improve sustainable agriculture. Though new with no citations yet, it introduces localization of sustainable farming practices, providing tailored solutions to different agricultural environments.
• Energy Management System for Biological 3D Printing (Wang, 2023) innovates in managing energy consumption in 3D printing through manifold model morphing, showing its relevance by increasing efficiency in resource use, essential for sustainable manufacturing.

Current Challenges

Significant challenges in sustainable practices include:

• Leveraging Sustainable Systematic Literature Reviews (dos Santos et al., 2025), which identifies sustainability threats in conducting systematic reviews and proposes indicators and leverage points. Despite its lack of citations, it meaningfully contributes to making research methodologies themselves more sustainable.
• Green Information Technology as Administrative Innovation (Zaman & Sedera, 2016) discusses the low employee adoption rates of Green IT and suggests organizational innovations to overcome such barriers. It offers insights into improving sustainability at the administrative level, which has wider implications for business ethics and sustainability.

Conclusions

Sustainable and green management practices are critical for mitigating environmental impacts and ensuring long-term resource availability. While foundational frameworks have set a strong base for current research, recent advancements highlight innovative technological applications and tailored solutions for sustainability challenges. Despite the progress, several obstacles remain, especially concerning implementation across varied environments and gaining stakeholder adoption. Addressing these challenges will require continuous interdisciplinary research and collaboration, aiming for scalable and practical solutions that balance economic viability with ecological integrity. Sustainable development continues to advance as a dynamic field, demanding adaptability and continued innovation.