A bibliometric analysis of B Corps and sustainable business ecosystems

Abstract

AbstractComprehending the state of the art of certified B Corps and sustainable business ecosystems (SBE) is crucial to affirming the role of B Corps in SBE development. The aim of this paper is to systematise the scientific knowledge related to both concepts and explore the role and contributions of these enterprises in the SBE. To date, no study has jointly carried out a bibliometric analysis and discussed the state of the art of B Corps and SBEs in management literature. A sample of 696 research documents from 2006 to 2024, extracted from the Web of Science and Scopus databases, has been analysed. The results show a strong relationship with the stakeholder and circular economy theories and a weaker relationship with the institutional theory, among others. The SBE literature is closely connected to sustainable and innovation business models, social entrepreneurship, and it is especially associated with social and environmental impact.