Factors influencing SMEs' sustainable development goals
Economic, environmental, and social impacts
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14267/VEZTUD.2025.05.02Keywords:
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), sustainability, small and medium enterprises, three-pillar model, sustainability managementAbstract
Within the framework of the European Union’s commitment to sustainable development, this research examines the current sustainability attitudes of Hungarian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). During the research, 808 Hungarian SMEs participated in a questionnaire-based study, which analysed the differences between sustainability insights and aspirations along the dimensions of the three-pillar model and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The results showed that SMEs’ interpretations of sustainability are not uniform, and this definition significantly affects the organizational relevance of the SDGs and the related efforts. As a result, two presence-relevance maps were prepared, supporting the coordination of the sustainable development goals with the three sustainability pillars and organizing Hungarian SMEs into clusters. The results provide a strategic basis for targeted measures to support sustainability efforts. This research lays the foundation for targeted interventions and national-level policies that effectively help Hungarian SMEs fulfil their sustainability commitments.
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