Social Sustainability: Exploring the Role of Social Enterprises

Abstract

The degradation of the ecological and social systems has largely resulted from 
human activities that deplete natural resources and undermine human needs in 
society. Traditional business culture, driven mainly by profit maximization, is 
a factor that has worsened this sustainability challenge. Social enterprises 
(SEs) are a form of business that hold the potential to help make the 
transition towards a sustainable society. The purpose of this study is 
two-fold. First, it explores SE contributions to creating a sustainable social 
system. Second, it examines how SEs exhibit the dimensions of trustworthiness, 
leading to trusting relationships in society. Social sustainability principles 
(SSPs) define social sustainability and are drawn from the Framework for 
Strategic Sustainable Development. They are used as a foundation for 
identifying SE contributions. The researchers draw on experiences from social 
entrepreneurs and experts in the field of social entrepreneurship. SEs 
contribute at two levels: the individual level and the societal level. They 
break down barriers to the SSPs and provide opportunities to individuals with 
respect to the five principles. SEs operate based on a culture of impartiality 
and create opportunities for meaning for individuals in their target groups. 
They consistently take leaps of faith, believing in the trustworthiness of 
those who are otherwise deemed untrustworthy.