Pro-active behaviour induction by integration of sustainability in business strategic management: INOVE project case study

INOVE was a regional partnership project and had two main goals: finding and helping to implement solutions for real business problems, in order to increase their competitiveness according to sustainable development; and dissemination of new concepts, methodologies and tools of sustainability. Members of the partnership were: INETI, CEISET, eight companies, a polytechnic institute and a university. Knowledge transfer was implemented during 15 workshops and simultaneously was put in practice on companies' sites by mixed teams. Economic indicators were definitely positive; environmental indicators such as materials, water and energy consumption, waste generation and liquid and gaseous emissions were improved and social issues such as stakeholders' information and involvement were introduced into the business strategy of the companies. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.