The transition toward a digital and sustainable economy necessitates that organizations align innovation, governance, and societal value creation. This seminar explores two complementary dimensions of sustainability research and practice.

First, we examine Fonseca et al. (2021), “B Corp versus ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 Certifications” — a comparative study of private-sector sustainability frameworks. This research not only highlights how B Corp certification and ISO management standards promote Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) but also provides practical insights into their different logics: stakeholder-driven versus process-driven accountability. Both approaches contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals, yet differ in scope, governance mechanisms, and stakeholder engagement models.

Second, we discuss insights from Fonseca et al. (2025), “Digital Futures, Sustainable Outcomes” — an empirical analysis of how digital transformation influences Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) progress across European Union countries. Using the Global Digitalisation Index and SDG performance data, the study reveals that digitalization enhances outcomes in health, innovation, and strong institutions, but may also generate environmental trade-offs. Governance quality and national culture are shown to moderate these relationships, emphasizing that technology-driven sustainability depends on institutional and contextual conditions.

Together, these works offer a multidimensional understanding of how digital transformation and certification systems interact with sustainable development imperatives. The seminar will engage participants in a critical discussion on:

· The submission process for these articles.

· How digitalization reshapes governance and sustainability performance across contexts.

· The Evolving Role of Voluntary Certifications in Legitimizing Responsible Business Conduct.

· Future research avenues linking Industry 5.0, CSR, and SDG implementation.

The session will conclude with reflections on methodological integration — combining quantitative sustainability metrics, institutional analysis, and business model innovation — to guide PhD research in sustainability, digital strategy, and responsible management.