The Sustainability Research Group (SRG), established in November 2024, is a diverse research group within the Hertfordshire Business School and is home to over 50 researchers.  The SRG’s vision is to advance interdisciplinary sustainability research by integrating diverse perspectives and promoting ethical and shared prosperity. We aim to drive impactful change for people, planet, and profit at regional, national, and international levels by equipping businesses, organisations, and policymakers with innovative insights and strategies.

Research Areas

Research undertaken by the group members focuses on distinct areas of sustainability research including but not limited to he following themes.

Social and Ecological Impact: Our members possess experience of working on both social and ecological sustainability pillars, and within different sectors and contexts, including sustainability in healthcare, operations management, the circular economy, energy efficiency, and digital transformation. Topics such as sustainable teams, sustainable marketing, low-carbon technologies, and the green transition in industries are also key areas of research undertaken by members of the group.

Systems Thinking and Complexity: Research within the group encompasses the theory and practice of systems thinking, complexity, and managing complex systems. This includes applying these concepts to find sustainable solutions, across fields such as healthcare, education management, operations research, and supply chain management to achieve socioeconomic and/or ecological sustainability.

Decision Making and Risk Management: The group emphasises research on decision-making, including decision-making under uncertainty, risk management, and maturity models, with applications across healthcare, project management, and operations management.

Innovation and Digital Transformation: A key theme of our group is the role of digital transformation, AI, and innovation in various sectors, including healthcare management, supply chain management, education, and human resources, with a particular focus on aligning these advancements with the pillars of sustainability.

Ethics and Social Resposibility: Ethics, social responsibility, and social impact are central themes within the group’s research. This includes addressing issues such as care ethics, emotional labour, community development, and social value, particularly in areas like healthcare management, marketing, and human resources.

Examples of research projects

Examining the mental health impact of groundwater flooding: This study originally funded by DEFRA, and supported by the Lincolnshire, Buckinghamshire, and Northumbria Councils will attempt to develop a quantitative Bayesian based model that can estimate the economic impact of flooding on the mental health of affected individuals and communities. The project is due to start in March 2025.

Innovation procurement to mitigate plastic pollution in the fresh produce sector in Sub-Saharan Africa: Funded by Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), supported by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and led by the University of Northampton, the project is its third phase, aiming to develop pilots of sustainability solutions and examine commercialisation pathways.

Traceable and circular leather production in Bangladesh: A study to help develop systems that can support leather tanneries and manufacturers in Bangladesh to evaluate their environment impact and be able to trace the leather across its value chain in the country. The outcome of the project is aimed to help the Bangladeshi leather sector to obtain necessary certifications to be able to play a more active role in the internal trade of leather and leather goods. The project is funded by FCDO, and is led by the University of Northampton.

For any other enquiries, please contact the Head of Sustainability Research Group, Professor Amin Hosseinian-Far, at [email protected].