Corporate sustainability management: A research study and a model proposal for firms operating in Eski̇sehi̇r

In recent years, increasing environmental and social concerns have led businesses towards sustainability. Many businesses have started to integrate corporate sustainability into their strategies by considering sustainability as a vital issue and going beyond legal requirements. Corporate sustainability integration requires not only awareness of sustainability practices but also embedding them into business processes and a strategic approach that implies a comprehensive change. However, studies on this subject are still insufficient. The aim of this study is to adopt corporate sustainability as a strategic management approach and to develop a model applicable to management functions. In the study, an exploratory sequential mixed method was used, and enterprises in the machinery-metal, food, plastics-chemistry, transport-logistics, building materials, and environmentrecycling sectors affiliated with the Eskişehir Chamber of Industry were analyzed. Firstly, qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with five enterprises, and descriptive and content analyses were conducted. Then, the questionnaire developed based on the findings was applied to 122 enterprises, and the data were analyzed with the SPSS package program. In the study, corporate sustainability awareness of enterprises, sustainability management processes, and the impact of awareness on these processes were analyzed. The results of the study showed that the increase in awareness over time has a positive effect on sustainability activities and management. In the study, the "corporate sustainability strategic management model" and "sustainability unit model" were developed to ensure that corporate sustainability can be managed within a strategic approach in enterprises. In this context, recommendations are presented to practitioners, researchers, and stakeholders.