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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 12851

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Tomas Kačerauskas

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Guest Editor

Department of Philosophy and Cultural Studies, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, LT-01132 Vilnius, Lithuania
Interests: creativity studies; management of creativity; philosophy of communication; creative city

Prof. Dr. Vytis Valatka

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Guest Editor

Department of Philosophy and Cultural Studies, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, LT-01132 Vilnius, Lithuania
Interests: modern logic; philosophy of communication; creativity; ecological design

Dr. Kristina Kovaitė

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Guest Editor

Department of Entertainment Industries, Faculty of Creative Industries, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH), Traku 1, LT-01132 Vilnius, Lithuania
Interests: sustainable development in industries; digital economy; Industry 4.0; communication; psychological and social aspects in technology acceptance
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue focuses on the impact of creativity and innovation on the sustainable development of the economy. It includes novel research on the aspects of the creative economy and creative communication having in mind sustainable development. This Special Issue deals with economical aspects in communication, cultural studies, and the arts. This Special Issue welcomes papers addressing the issues of sustainability of mass culture and mass communication. An example could be the European Capital of Culture which creates an opportunity for a city to generate considerable cultural, social, and economic benefits. Another example could be the sustainable aspects of creative communication that serve the beneficial economic environment. Enormous cultural events have a significant influence on the sustainable development of local communities. Though cultural events have a positive impact on the local economy; however, their raise important environmental concerns. Besides this, the SI analyses the creative environment in the context of goals of sustainable development to integrate this environment with the best practice of Green Deal applications as well as green sustainable production. This production of sustainable materials will be investigated according to the principal requirements of reusing, recycling, renovating, remanufacturing, reproducing, rethinking, and redesigning. Moreover, the rules of ecological design could be interpreted from the perspective of creative thinking as well as from the perspective of a creative environment relevant to sustainable development. Last but not least, the SI deals with the issues of metacommunication from the point of view of ethics and ecology.

The focus is on creativity and communication in the economy regarding sustainable development. The scope is creativity and innovations in a sustainable environment. The purpose is to develop the issues of creative economy and communication having in mind the sustainable aspects.

The SI will supplement the existing literature on sustainability with the issues of creativity.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Tomas Kačerauskas
Prof. Dr. Vytis Valatka
Dr. Kristina Kovaitė
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

creativity
innovation
communication
sustainability
environment
economy

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 684 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Creative and Happy Individuals Concerned about Climate Change: Evidence Based on the 10th Round of the European Social Survey in 22 Countries

by Aiste Dirzyte and Vytis Valatka

Sustainability 2023, 15(22), 15790; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152215790 - 09 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1164

Abstract

Previous studies, to some extent, link creativity, well-being, and environmental concerns. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the associations between self-reported creativity, psychological well-being, and climate change concerns. This study was based on data derived from the European Social Survey’s 10th round and applied several items from sections H, B, and C. The findings revealed that creativity was positively linked to climate change concerns and psychological well-being, while psychological well-being was, to some extent, negatively related to climate change concerns. The SEM model demonstrated an acceptable fit, χ² = 1627.862; Df = 7; CFI = 0.959; TLI = 0.876; NFI = 0.958; RMSEA = 0.078 [0.075–0.082]. Additionally, the findings indicated that more creative and happy individuals were also more concerned about climate change; they were more prone to believe that climate change is caused by human activity, they felt a higher personal responsibility to reduce climate change, and they were significantly more worried about climate change. This implies that as creative and happy individuals have a heightened sense of responsibility for climate change, these individuals may indeed play a key role in promoting climate change awareness and actions, including communication on sustainability, sustainability-related projects, and other activities; thus, tailored campaigns could be developed within the frames of citizen science. The findings also suggest implications for policy development: policymakers could consider the perspectives of creative and happy individuals when crafting climate policies, potentially leading to more effective and widely accepted solutions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Creativity and Innovation on Sustainable Development)

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21 pages, 1094 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Nexus between Conspiracy Beliefs and Creativity, Attitudes toward People, and Psychological Wellbeing: Insights from the 10th European Social Survey

by Aiste Dirzyte

Sustainability 2023, 15(22), 15722; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152215722 - 08 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1703

Abstract

Conspiracy beliefs can have a significant destructive impact on sustainable development. When individuals embrace conspiracy theories, it can result in social mistrust, polarization, and even harmful behaviors. Previous studies linked creativity to intelligence and fairly evidenced links between conspiracy beliefs and paranoid thinking and diminished psychological wellbeing. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the associations between conspiracy beliefs and creativity, negative attitudes toward people, and psychological wellbeing. Based on the data derived from the ESS10, several relationships using mediation and SEM analyses were disclosed. The study confirmed that positive attitudes toward people significantly negatively predict conspiracy beliefs and significantly positively predict psychological wellbeing and self-reported creativity, while psychological wellbeing significantly negatively predicts conspiracy beliefs and is a mediator in the links between attitudes toward people and conspiracy beliefs. The SEM model demonstrated an acceptable fit, χ² = 987.210; Df = 16; CFI = 0.989; TLI = 0.975; NFI = 0.989; RMSEA = 0.040 [0.038–0.042], SRMR = 0.039. The study supported the insights of A. Hon that “conspiracy theories thrive in the absence of trust”. However, there are several avenues for future research to address potential limitations, including using more comprehensive scales, employing diverse research methods, controlling for confounding variables, or exploring potential moderating variables, such as personality traits or cultural factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Creativity and Innovation on Sustainable Development)

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13 pages, 267 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Skills of Critical Thinking, Creativity, and Communication as Tools for Overcoming Social Simulation in the Context of Sustainability: A Case Study of Students’ Self-Assessment of the Affective Domain of Learning

by Jovilė Barevičiūtė, Stanislav Dadelo and Vaida Asakavičiūtė

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 10935; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151410935 - 12 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2005

Abstract

In the context of sustainability, this paper analyses the phenomenon of social simulation in the case of the affective domain of learning. Social simulation is defined in a variety of ways in dictionaries and handbooks published by universities. Still, for the purposes of this article, we will use the definitions of social simulation that are appropriate to the context of the study, and that are associated with fake or misleading actions. They are seen in the article as inherent in social manipulation, which comes in various forms, such as propaganda or fake news spread in the media, and hence disinformation. Social simulation is contrasted with sustainability, not only as an environmental but also as a socio-economic phenomenon, embedded in three types of skills: critical thinking, creativity and communication. The authors of the paper take the position that these three types of capabilities can ensure sustainability by overcoming social simulation. This paper develops a study aimed at assessing the three types of skills mentioned above by students of the Faculty of Creative Industries of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (Lithuania) to avoid the threats posed by social simulation. In the course of the research, data on the communicative, creative and critical-thinking abilities of first-year students were obtained. Based on these data, objective evaluation scales were created. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Creativity and Innovation on Sustainable Development)

18 pages, 712 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Creative Industries as Part of a Sustainable Urban Development Strategy: Vilnius City Case

by Jūratė Černevičiūtė and Rolandas Strazdas

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 10778; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151410778 - 10 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1310

Abstract

The concept of a creative city is a post-industrial development strategy focused on urban economies. Based on this concept, many cities declared the importance of CI development as a sustainable urban development strategy. The long-term impact of CI development on the urban economy was not extensively studied. This study aims to explore the following research question: What are the critical factors that stimulate sustainable urban development through the development of creative industries (CI)? To answer this question, the case of the city of Vilnius was analyzed. Quantitative and qualitative research methods were used. For the quantitative analysis data, statistical data for the period 2009–2019 were analyzed. To gain a deeper understanding of the development factors of Vilnius’s CI, document analysis and interviews with Vilnius’s CI experts were conducted. Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (FsQCA) was used to analyze the impact of factors on Vilnius’ CI growth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Creativity and Innovation on Sustainable Development)

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12 pages, 261 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Disinterestedness in the Creative Economy: The Case of the MO Museum in Vilnius

by Tomas Kačerauskas

Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 10115; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310115 - 26 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 947

Abstract

This article examines the idea of disinterestedness using the case of a private MO museum. The philosophical idea of disinterestedness and its reflections in the creative economy are presented. The idea of disinterestedness is explored as a factor of sustainability in economics. The paradoxes as follows related to disinterestedness in general and to the analyzed case in particular are examined. Although disinterestedness covers detachment from any theoretical concepts, it is also an aesthetic concept. Although this is a futile activity from an economic point of view, disinterestedness helps to remain independent from economic fluctuations. Although the founders of the MO Museum do not expect financial benefits, they are characterized by economic thinking in order to balance the museum’s finances. Disinterestedness, although detached from any interests, includes social responsibility for the state of the art, the desire to enrich and educate society, the development of social connections and personal relationships, and the need for interesting activities. Business management requires a broader intention, but art also requires flexible management. This study is important because of the interdisciplinary approach and the aspects of social responsibility and sustainability in business. In addition, this research opens up a new perspective in connecting the idea of disinterestedness not only with the patronage of art but also with the needs of the business itself. The methods used in this article are as follows: analysis of philosophical literature on the topic of disinterestedness and aspects of disinterestedness in the creative economy, a case study that includes interviews with experts (museum founders and director), and their analysis and summarization. The main finding is as follows: disinterestedness in art management and the creative economy is an aspect of economic sustainability that allows both to expand the economic approach and to show its limits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Creativity and Innovation on Sustainable Development)

21 pages, 325 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Between Fast and Sustainable Fashion: The Attitude of Young Lithuanian Designers to the Circular Economy

by Rasa Bartkutė, Dalia Streimikiene and Tomas Kačerauskas

Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 9986; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15139986 - 23 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3035

Abstract

The textile and fashion industry is the second industry (after aviation) that pollutes the planet the most, and it uses natural and human resources excessively and irresponsibly. Fast fashion harms the environment. Fast fashion stands for low quality, low prices, constantly updated supplies, and high consumption of natural resources and chemicals. Nowadays, however, the evolution in the fashion industry from fast and unsustainable models to sustainability and a circular economy is firmly established. Fashion industry representatives are paying more and more attention to corporate social responsibility, business ethics, the implementation of circular economy principles, and the technological transition from linear production to a circular economy. The aim of this article is to evaluate the attitude of young Lithuanian designers towards the implementation of circular economy principles in the fashion industry. A problematic question is raised: how do young Lithuanian designers perceive sustainable fashion in the context of a circular economy? A qualitative semi-structured interview was used to collect data for the empirical study. The analysis has shown that the transition of the textile and fashion industry to a circular economy is a rather complex process that requires knowledge, significant financial investment in technological change, and greater consumer purchasing power in the production of products based on a circular economy. Moreover, new brands in the fashion industry do not always have enough information to start a business in the fashion industry based on a circular economy. A qualitative study conducted in Lithuania using the interview method showed that young Lithuanian fashion designers are very positive about sustainability solutions in the fashion industry and try to link their developing fashion brand with sustainability, but this is done fragmentarily rather than consistently. Young fashion designers state that they lack the in-depth knowledge and money to develop a brand in a circular economy. In conclusion, young Lithuanian fashion designers strive to create a sustainable fashion brand and link their development activities to a circular economy in a fragmentary way. Even after the research has been conducted, the question of how to get fast fashion manufacturers to produce sustainable fashion in Lithuania remains open. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Creativity and Innovation on Sustainable Development)

33 pages, 2660 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Integrated Approach to Evaluating Eco-Innovation Strategies from the Perspective of Strategic Green Transformation: A Case of the Lithuanian Furniture Industry

by Paulius Šūmakaris, Kristina Kovaitė and Renata Korsakienė

Sustainability 2023, 15(11), 8971; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118971 - 01 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1421

Abstract

Evaluation and selection of eco-innovation strategies is a significant and complex strategic decision, and despite the relevance and interest in the field of eco-innovation, the area of eco-innovation strategies has not been explored in depth in the scientific literature. Therefore, in this study, we propose an integrated approach to evaluating eco-innovation strategies from the perspective of strategic green transformation that helps decision-makers evaluate and select eco-innovation strategy aiming to achieve a competitive advantage. For this study, we adopted a validated multi-criteria decision-making methodology (MCDM) by combining Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). The reliability of the proposed framework was tested and applied in the context of the Lithuanian furniture industry. This study offers three contributions and provides a comprehensive and profound insights into eco-innovation strategies. First, this study conceptualizes eco-innovation strategy from the perspective of strategic green transformation and proposed a novel definition and classification of eco-innovation strategies leading to competitive advantage. Second, this study proposes a novel approach to the evaluation of eco-innovation strategies taking into account micro-, meso-, and macro-level environmental factors. Third, the findings of this study provide implications for scholars and decision-makers in the field of eco-innovation strategy and set an agenda for future research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Creativity and Innovation on Sustainable Development)

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