Electronic waste management and sustainable development goals: Is there a business case for linking the two?

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is, first, to understand if the firms are displaying integrated approach toward electronic waste management and sustainability and, second, is there a business case for linking e-waste management with sustainable development goals (SDGs) pronounced by the United Nations.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducts an extensive literature review to gather perspective from multiple disciplines and also carries out content analysis of annual reports/sustainability reports of the firms.

Findings

Bulk consumers have sustainability policies and/or strategies but many of these firms have not linked their e-waste management with their sustainability strategies practices. Also, based on the elaboration of different perspectives, this study provides an integrative framework that suggests focus of a particular perspective on a given SDG and commensurate business approach by the firms to find a synergy between the two.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides a wider perspective on the subject of electronic waste management and its linkage with SDGs to create business case, thus opening up many theoretical avenues.

Practical implications

The policy like extended producers’ responsibility has a clear practical implication in terms of creating reputational capital for the firms by linking electronic waste management and SDGs.

Social implications

The SDG, detailing clean water and sanitation by asking firms not to pollute water bodies by dumping the waste, has clear social implications.

Originality/value

This study is first of its kind to explore the linkage between electronic waste and SDGs to understand the business case. It also throws good insights on whether the firms use integrated approach toward electronic waste management and sustainability.

Citation

Bhaskar, K. and Kumar, B. (2019), "Electronic waste management and sustainable development goals: Is there a business case for linking the two?", Journal of Indian Business Research, Vol. 11 No. 2, pp. 120-137. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIBR-01-2018-0051