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This research explores the social and environmental impacts of fast fashion in Durban-based SMME, focusing on sustainability opportunities and challenges in the local clothing industry. Adopting a qualitative research design, using content analysis and snowball sampling, the study investigates the practices of apparel enterprises, the role of consumer behaviour, and the adoption of green business models and circular economy principles. Key findings indicate that there is greater awareness and implementation of sustainable practices in large businesses, including the use of renewable energy and fair labour practices. But there is insignificant implementation by small businesses owing to financial constraints and resource limitations. The study finds gaps in consumer education about the negative impacts of fast fashion and calls for specific education and policy intervention. The research uses dynamic capabilities theory to justify how companies reshape resources in reaction to pressures for sustainability and defines community involvement as a new aspect of sustainable action. Its recommendations involve investment in sustainable design, education for consumers, and collaboration among multiple stakeholders. The research adds to sustainability discourse and calls for localized, adaptive strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of fast fashion in emerging markets.

The hospitality business faces the complex task of environmental sustainability due to its significant carbon footprint.  This field of research remains inadequately examined, particularly in Africa.  The research intends to investigate green human resource management and its impact on sustainable performance in a specific hotel in Lagos State, Nigeria.  The primary research questions and objectives were addressed through an interpretative paradigm utilising a qualitative case study methodology, employing purposive sampling from a sample size of 10 participants via semi-structured interviews, with the data subjected to thematic analysis.  The resource-based view theory served as a framework for the investigation.   Furthermore, two primary topics emerged from the study's findings: the existing green human resource management techniques and the impact of green human resource management on employees.  Ultimately, the study determined that green human resource management is essential for the sustainability of hotel operations and advocated for the standardisation of green human resource management practices within the selected hotel, while concurrently endorsing ongoing training programs to enhance a workforce dedicated to sustainability.  This study significantly contributes to both theory and practice for hotel management leaders and provides practical insights for the hotel industry to enhance environmental management.

The motivation behind this study is rising concern about climate change and its impact on future generations. Mining companies in Zimbabwe are significant contributors to environmental degradation. The study tested the relationship between climate action and green human capital management and its sub-variables of green recruitment and selection, green training and development, green reward management, and green performance management. The quantitative survey utilized a sample size of 383 employees across the Zimbabwean mining sector. The study found that green human capital, green training and development, and climate action are being implemented in the Zimbabwean mining sector. However, the study found that mining enterprises need to implement green recruitment and selection, green reward management, and green performance management, which is a cause for concern. The study accepts all hypotheses as multiple linear regression, which showed a significant positive relationship between climate action and green human capital and its sub-variables. The study recommends that organizations utilize green human capital management practices in the fight against climate change and its consequences. The study adds to the body of knowledge on green human resources by providing valuable insights into green human capital activities that generate maximum climate action.

The purpose of the study is to ascertain the influence of ecolabels in the consumption of certified green products. It explores ecolabels in Durban, hoping to gain valuable insights into ecolabels’ role in influencing the consumption of certified green products. The study employed a quantitative and a non-probability sampling method to understand the influence of ecolabels among green consumers in Durban. To ensure that the data represents the diversity of Durban consumers, a random sampling method was adopted. The data was collected using questionnaires and analysed using the IBM SPSS Version 25. The study employed a sample of 384 customers from retail malls within selected Durban suburbs. The findings revealed that consumers generally have a positive perception of ecolabels and are likely to recommend certified green products. However, the data also revealed that there is scepticism around certified green products as they are considered expensive and can perhaps be attributed to the high cost of certification, credibility issues and the cost associated with the ecolabelling. There is a potential trend towards wider acceptance, with more respondents trusting the authenticity of ecolabels than not. The study also found that older respondents and those with higher income tend to have a more positive perception of ecolabels, potentially due to higher disposable income and greater familiarity with the concept. This suggests that addressing concerns about cost and credibility could further increase positive consumer perception of ecolabels. Businesses can use these findings to develop strategies to address consumer concerns about the cost and credibility of certified green products. They can also target marketing efforts towards older demographics and higher-income consumers who are more receptive to ecolabels. Policymakers can use the findings to evaluate the effectiveness of existing ecolabeling programs and also develop strategies to increase consumer awareness and trust in ecolabels, especially younger audiences.

The objective of this study was to investigate the challenges encountered by organisations when integrating sustainable marketing into their strategic strategies. The research adopted a qualitative research design. Participants were selected from a representative sample of Zimbabwean organisations from various industries that have incorporated sustainable practices into their marketing strategy. Purposive sampling was used to select businesses encompassing various industries, sizes, and degrees of sustainability integration. This study, grounded in stakeholder theory, unveils challenges in implementing sustainable marketing strategies, including consumer awareness, resource constraints, hesitancy from stakeholders, competition from alternatives, regulatory complexities and measurement difficulties, underscoring the critical role of stakeholder engagement in navigating these challenges. Organisations must strategically incorporate sustainable practices by optimising resources, reducing inefficiencies, and aligning with sustainability goals, promoting the connection between resource optimization and environmental preservation. Further, they have leverage partnerships with sustainable suppliers, NGOs, and stakeholders to enhance sustainability initiatives by pooling resources, sharing costs, and overcoming budget constraints. Further study could investigate effective strategies for overcoming stakeholder hesitancy and fostering greater stakeholder engagement in sustainability initiatives.

Green marketing has evolved, although the market share of green products remains considerably low. Green products are part of comprehensive green marketing, and this sort of marketing has progressed to the point that practically every consumer is aware of it. The study focuses on the factors that influence the adoption and consumption patterns of green goods in the greater Durban area. The study used a quantitative, non-probability, and random sampling strategy to discover consumers' sentiments toward the purchase of green products. The data was collected through the use of questionnaires and analyzed using the SPSS.  The sample size was 384 customers from retail malls in selected Durban suburbs, representing a wide demographic and cultural background. The study's findings revealed that customers in the greater Durban area are aware of green products. Green products, on the other hand, are regarded as affluent due to their high pricing. This means that companies developing green products will have to look for ways to cut their pricing. The survey also reveals that when customers must pick between green and non-green items, pricing is a crucial factor. The study's findings are limited to the confines of the wider Durban area and cannot be extrapolated.