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Co-operating for Change: Roles, Potentials, and Challenges of Cooperatives in the Decade Leading up to the Sustainable Development Goals

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Social Ecology and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 32895

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Inmaculada Buendía Martínez

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Guest Editor

1. Faculty of Social Sciences of Cuenca, University of Castilla - La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain
2. Alphonse and Dorimène Desjardins International Institute for Cooperatives, HEC Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
Interests: cooperative management; cooperative public policies; financial exclusion; sustainable development goals; corporate social responsibility; cooperative entrepreneurship

Dr. Thuy Seran

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Guest Editor

MRM-MBS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
Interests: cooperative management; cooperative bank; hybrid organization; cooperative organization; meta-organization

Dr. Rafael Ziegler

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Guest Editor

Alphonse and Dorimène Desjardins International Institute for Cooperatives, HEC Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
Interests: sustainability science; social innovation; environmental philosophy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cooperatives are unique organisations and have their own approach to collaboration in the economy. The economic theories of cooperatives creation present them as groups of people who want to both resist and adapt to the transformations of their own production or consumption activities by creating collective enterprises whose development they direct according to their own interests. Members of cooperatives are both owners and users of the organizations they create and which they govern. This logic of action is a fundamental characteristic of cooperative organizations with an important potential for the economy and society more generally.

Despite their qualitative and quantitative importance, the business literature pays comparatively little attention to cooperatives. Reasons might be both empirical and conceptual: the relative lack of data at the international level, and the impact of neoclassical theorizing about firms and markets along with still prevailing expectations of shareholder capitalism focused primarily on the owner–enterprise relation. Cooperatives are part of the social economy, which is based on specific statutes (mutual societies, associations, cooperatives and foundations). They appear as an alternative to capitalist societies because of their hybridity combining social and economic goals and processes.

From a global perspective, the combination of a distinct, alternative form and an internal diversity makes the cooperative movement highly interesting for the transformation towards more sustainable economy, demanded at the global, national and regional levels via international conventions, national policies and regional strategies. What is the role of cooperatives for circular economy strategies and action plans? What is the role of cooperatives in sustainability transition, notably towards economies powered by renewable energies? What is the role of cooperatives for innovation systems that are both technical and social? And in light of all these questions, what is the implication for teaching and research in educational institutions?

The role that cooperatives are called to play in this transformative challenge is defined by the way in which they engage with members, stakeholders, and communities. This role in society has important implications in management practices and governance models. This last aspect has a great relevance since the combination of ownership and control and decision rights needs an active engagement from cooperative members´ in decision-making and control process and it requires continuous innovations that affect the entire organization.

This Special Issue wants to expand the knowledge on key topics for cooperatives and research on them in the coming years: governance, innovation management, corporate social responsibility, and their contribution to systemic change and a transformation in direction of sustainability. Although we invite contributions on these topics, the Special Issue is open to further themes or approaches.

Dr. Inmaculada Buendía Martínez
Dr. Thuy Seran
Dr. Rafael Ziegler
Guest Editors

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Keywords

cooperatives
governance
corporate social responsibility
innovation
sustainable development goals

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

27 pages, 7191 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Bibliometric Analysis on Cooperatives in Circular Economy and Eco-Innovation Studies

by Asia Guerreschi and Fernando J. Díaz López

Sustainability 2023, 15(21), 15595; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152115595 - 3 Nov 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2166

Abstract

Cooperatives address societal challenges embracing values beyond mere profit-oriented production. Considering the ongoing shift to achieve efficient use of resources and increased circularity, cooperatives should be better equipped to incorporate circular economy (CE) and eco-innovation (EI) into their strategies (compared to regular enterprises). This paper reviews the scholarly literature focusing on the application of CE and EI within cooperative studies with the aim to understand the relationships between these topics, identify the existing scholarly communities, and to observe salient research themes. This study refined the method of van den Hoven and Rubalcaba (2016) to conduct a two-step bibliographic review of documents: a thematic analysis of citation data from Scopus (including a manual review of 16 papers) was followed by a bibliometric analysis of 101 documents from Web of Science (using R-Studio’s Biblioshiny). Our results identified three intellectual clusters of cooperative studies focusing on the downstream of CE: (1) industrial ecology; (2) recycling; and (3) waste management. Our study also revealed an emerging scholarly field focused on cooperatives and CE, and with little attention to EI. These findings aim at catalyzing the integration of cooperatives more effectively into scholarly discussions, suggesting that environmental sustainability should be recognized as an additional principle of the cooperative identity—providing a wider perspective that enhances interest in the research of these topics and their interconnections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Co-operating for Change: Roles, Potentials, and Challenges of Cooperatives in the Decade Leading up to the Sustainable Development Goals)

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14 pages, 2043 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cooperative Lifecycle Framing—Reinvention or Regeneration and Does It Matter?

by Noreen Byrne

Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 6181; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15076181 - 4 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1755

Abstract

The co-operative lifecycle framework has been a very useful concept in depicting the historical lifecycle of co-operatives. It is also particularly helpful in identifying and communicating if a co-operative is on a degenerative trajectory and points to the possibility of choice and re-invention. This paper focuses on this re-invention phase of the lifecycle framework and questions if re-invention is the best concept to use either in theory or practice. The paper explores whether regeneration may be a more promising concept, drawing on regenerative development and relationality literature. This paper concludes with an adaptation of Cook’s co-operative lifecycle framework by incorporating a regenerative enabling capability as a metric for success. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Co-operating for Change: Roles, Potentials, and Challenges of Cooperatives in the Decade Leading up to the Sustainable Development Goals)

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17 pages, 455 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Building a Better World: The Contribution of Cooperatives and SSE Organizations to Decent Work and Sustainable Development

by Maryline Filippi, Eric Bidet and Nadine Richez-Battesti

Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 5490; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065490 - 21 Mar 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5434

Abstract

The ILO’s recognition of the social and solidarity economy (SSE), with an internationally accepted definition, pointed out its important role in achieving sustainable development goals, which aim at fostering inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all, and reducing inequalities. This article stresses the essential role of cooperatives in achieving the objectives of sustainable development and decent work. It clarifies the relationships among the social and solidarity economy, corporate social responsibility, and responsible business conduct. It shows why the SSE, which consists of value- and principle-driven/based units, is particularly relevant to improving accountability in business and society. This article especially focuses on the contribution of SSE businesses to decent work using examples from different ILO reports in a qualitative and thematic approach. It proposes some critical thoughts on the cooperative model and recommendations for reinforcing commitments to the achievement of sustainable development goals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Co-operating for Change: Roles, Potentials, and Challenges of Cooperatives in the Decade Leading up to the Sustainable Development Goals)

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22 pages, 1534 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Family Farming Cooperatives and Associations and the Institutional Market Created by the National School Feeding Program (PNAE) in Minas Gerais, Brazil

by Isabela Renó Jorge Moreira, Alair Ferreira de Freitas, Almiro Alves Júnior, Alan Ferreira de Freitas, Joyce Santana Bernardo and Suany Machado da Silva

Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 5202; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065202 - 15 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1928

Abstract

The objective of this work is to analyze the trajectory and role assumed by the collective organizations of family agriculture, Cooperatives and Associations, in the construction and supply of food for the institutional market built from the National School Feeding Program (PNAE) in the five most important municipalities in the state of Minas Gerais/Brazil. This approach is justified by the need to remedy theoretical gaps in the insertion of cooperatives, which serve as instruments to guarantee food and nutrition security and also as a crucial actor in the construction of food markets. For this, it is necessary to investigate how these organizations were constituted, how they are organized, which actors are involved, and what their role is in the implementation of the public food purchase policy. Methodologically, it is a multiple case study, with a qualitative approach and descriptive character. For data collection, semi-structured interviews were applied in the five most populous municipalities in Minas Gerais, based on two scripts aimed at representatives of family farming organizations and members of the Public Administration who work directly with the management of the PNAE. The research results corroborate the recommendation that the Brazilian State should support the collective organization of farmers and strengthen the promotion of associativism and cooperativism in family farming, providing instruments for the development of social and economic organizations as well as expanding and strengthening government food purchase programs, since they help boost social capital in the countryside and generate income for family farmers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Co-operating for Change: Roles, Potentials, and Challenges of Cooperatives in the Decade Leading up to the Sustainable Development Goals)

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27 pages, 2038 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Corporate Social Responsibility of Financial Cooperatives: A Multi-Level Analysis

by Marie Allen, Sophie Tessier and Claude Laurin

Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 4739; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15064739 - 7 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3145

Abstract

Cooperatives, which have a dual mission that includes both business and social goals, are of particular interest for the study of corporate social responsibility (CSR). The aim of this study was to examine how cooperative directors influence the CSR strategies of their organization. We used a multi-level conceptual framework, consisting of micro, meso, and macro levels, to analyze qualitative data (20 interviews, observation of two board meetings and analysis of over 25 public documents) collected through a case study design that focused on the directors of three financial cooperatives operating under a large group of Canadian financial service cooperatives. Our study contributes first by building on prior studies that link CSR goals to the cooperatives’ dual mission and commitment to improving their community. We enrich prior findings by showing how directors play a crucial role in the enactment of the social dimension of CSR, but that conversely, cooperatives are vehicles for directors who want to contribute to the improvement of their community, thus creating a virtuous circle. Secondly, comparing bureaus operating in urban and rural areas allows us to show how the specificities of the community in which a cooperative evolves influence the approach of the directors towards the environmental dimension of CSR. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Co-operating for Change: Roles, Potentials, and Challenges of Cooperatives in the Decade Leading up to the Sustainable Development Goals)

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14 pages, 797 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Agricultural Cooperatives’ Sustainability and the Relevance of Start-Up Support Programs: Evidence from Cooperatives’ Level in Morocco

by Aomar Ibourk and Karim El Aynaoui

Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3460; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043460 - 14 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4264

Abstract

The Moroccan agricultural cooperative sector is a key player in self-employment and income generation through territorial anchoring. The government’s “MOURAFAKA” program offers support for newly created cooperatives, including strategic diagnosis and training. This paper analyzes the impact of the MOURAFAKA program on the sustainability of agricultural cooperatives in Morocco. Using original data from a survey of 232 cooperatives and a second database of 1131 cooperatives, the study employs a methodology based on survival function analysis and Cox regression. The results show that the MOURAFAKA program improves the sustainability of agricultural cooperatives by strengthening their management, governance, and market access capabilities. The study also highlights the importance of internal factors such as management skills, leadership style, and cooperative size, as well as external factors such as strategic adaptability, in determining the sustainability of agricultural cooperatives. The policy implications of these findings suggest that upstream literacy programs and capacity-building initiatives for cooperative leaders, as well as downstream access to financing, marketing, and practical training, are crucial for ensuring the sustainability of cooperatives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Co-operating for Change: Roles, Potentials, and Challenges of Cooperatives in the Decade Leading up to the Sustainable Development Goals)

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17 pages, 1905 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Circular Economy and Cooperatives—An Exploratory Survey

by Rafael Ziegler, Cynthia Poirier, Marie Lacasse and Evan Murray

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2530; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032530 - 31 Jan 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5687

Abstract

Global sustainability assessments call for a rethinking of prevailing systems of production and consumption. We focus on the circular economy as an alternative system, and the role of cooperatives as transformative actors for sustainability. While cooperatives have been studied in relation to specific circularity strategies, notably recycling, we present the first study on cooperatives in relation to all circularity strategies. We ask how circular economy strategies and business models resonate with cooperatives. The research is based on an exploratory database and survey of 165 cooperatives in the Canadian province of Québec. Our research shows circularity to be anchored in the mutualisation at the heart of the cooperative model, which emphasizes a shared taking of responsibility in response to needs. The survey shows that cooperatives contribute comprehensively to the circular economy, not just to downstream categories of recycling and revalorization but also to upstream categories of rethinking production and consumption, sharing, and durable use. They can contribute to an embedding of circular economy in regional economies and circular societies. To advance this potential, further integration and improvement of circularity strategies and associated socio-technical questions, support with business model development and finance, as well as education and peer exchange are needed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Co-operating for Change: Roles, Potentials, and Challenges of Cooperatives in the Decade Leading up to the Sustainable Development Goals)

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17 pages, 1278 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cooperatives and the Use of Artificial Intelligence: A Critical View

by Maria Elisabete Ramos, Ana Azevedo, Deolinda Meira and Mariana Curado Malta

Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 329; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010329 - 25 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4376

Abstract

Digital Transformation (DT) has become an important issue for organisations. It is proven that DT fuels Digital Innovation in organisations. It is well-known that technologies and practices such as distributed ledger technologies, open source, analytics, big data, and artificial intelligence (AI) enhance DT. Among those technologies, AI provides tools to support decision-making and automatically decide. Cooperatives are organisations with a mutualistic scope and are characterised by having participatory cooperative governance due to the principle of democratic control by the members. In a context where DT is here to stay, where the dematerialisation of processes can bring significant advantages to any organisation, this article presents a critical reflection on the dangers of using AI technologies in cooperatives. We base this reflection on the Portuguese cooperative code. We emphasise that this code is not very different from the ones of other countries worldwide as they are all based on the Statement of Cooperative Identity defined by the International Cooperative Alliance. We understand that we cannot stop the entry of AI technologies into the cooperatives. Therefore, we present a framework for using AI technologies in cooperatives to avoid damaging the principles and values of this type of organisations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Co-operating for Change: Roles, Potentials, and Challenges of Cooperatives in the Decade Leading up to the Sustainable Development Goals)

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34 pages, 1840 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Methodology to Improve the Acceptance and Adoption of Circular and Social Economy: A Longitudinal Case Study of a Biodiesel Cooperative

by Odette Lobato-Calleros, Karla Fabila-Rodríguez and Brian Roberts

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12394; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912394 - 29 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1553

Abstract

Purpose: The aim was this study was to test the effectiveness of the Mexican User Satisfaction Index of Circular and Social Economy (MUSI-CSE) methodology to improve user acceptance and the adoption of biodiesel from the Cowichan Bio-Diesel Co-op (CB-DC), a social enterprise that upcycles cooking oil waste. Approach: The external strategy is to study factors of user experience with products and/or services and internal processes. This type of economy tends to build its value chain independently to avoid barriers in the economic structure. Methodology/Techniques: MUSI-CSE presents a model of satisfaction (present acceptance) and loyalty (future acceptance) factors and a measurement system comprising the same factors. It also identifies and monitors interventions in key factors and evaluates their effectiveness. Here, MUSI-CSE has been tested through a longitudinal and prospective study. In-depth interviews, surveys, SEM, and PLS were used. Findings/originality/applicability: User acceptance and adoption are based on self-benefits and the achievement of specific sustainable local development goals. Satisfaction did not change. Loyalty did experience a statistically significant increase at a 95% confidence level, and sales increased by 26%. It can be concluded that MUSI-CSE innovation contributed to improving users’ future acceptance and adoption. In the future, MUSI-CSE will be adjusted based on other case studies and will support the co-creation of an international methodology and index of circular and social economy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Co-operating for Change: Roles, Potentials, and Challenges of Cooperatives in the Decade Leading up to the Sustainable Development Goals)

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