Corporate sustainability approaches and practices in businesses: A Qualitative study on Manisa Organized IndustrialZzone companies

This study, aims to explore how the enterprises in Manisa Organized Industrial Zone (MOSB) approach corporate sustainability and the types of practices they implement across different sustainability dimensions. A qualitative research design was adopted with the intention of collecting data through interviews with approximately 30 enterprises in MOSB. However, only 2 businesses responded and participated in the interviews, despite being invited by the MOSB administration. As a result, the research objective was achieved by analyzing the sustainability reports of the businesses. The sustainability reports of 26 businesses, available on their websites, were examined using document analysis, and the data were analyzed using the MAXQDA 2024 qualitative software. The interview data from two businesses were analyzed through descriptive analysis and were presented alongside the findings from the software analysis. The study found that businesses primarily define sustainability as a sustainable future, value creation, and an innovative approach. The analyses indicate that sustainability should be approached with a balance of economic, environmental, and social practices. The study revealed that businesses predominantly focus on environmental sustainability, with the reduction of greenhouse gases and carbon emissions being the most frequently mentioned topics. In terms of social sustainability, the most commonly addressed practices were related to equality of opportunity and diversity. It was noted that sustainability practices in the economic and governance dimensions were mentioned less frequently in the reports, suggesting that businesses may be hesitant to publicly disclose information in these areas. The majority of businesses have set specific targets related to renewable energy, efficiency, and the reduction of carbon emissions, with a strong emphasis on environmental protection. In interviews with the two businesses, recommendations were made, highlighting the importance of government support, aligning efforts with European Union standards, and establishing sustainability departments in universities, all of which would accelerate the development of sustainability practices and enhance business performance.