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Perspectives, Opportunities and Tensions in Ethical and Sustainable Luxury: Introduction to the Thematic Symposium

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Abstract

Scholars agree that the environmental and societal impacts of consumption require greater attention, and need examining in more diverse market contexts. This editorial essay focuses on the nascent area of ethical/sustainable luxury, and critically considers how the scope of ethical/sustainable consumption can be broadened in the luxury sector. We address the compatibility of ethicality/sustainability and luxury by examining a range of opportunities (e.g., durability, rarity, quality, local embedment) and inherent tensions (e.g., excess, prestige, self-gratification, uniqueness) in relation to improving the ethical/sustainable consumption practices within the luxury sector. We also introduce several original articles published as part of this Thematic Symposium, whose arguments underscore both the merits, and flaws, of ethical/sustainable luxury. On the basis of this and prior research, we present a balanced perspective by identifying various factors that facilitate or inhibit the acceptance and furtherance of ethicality/sustainability within sector. Thus, this essay serves as a springboard for further research and development in ethical/sustainable luxury whilst simultaneously highlighting the importance of the topic in general.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express our gratitude to Dr Arno Kourula, Special Section Editor of the Journal of Business Ethics, for his guidance throughout the process of this Thematic Symposium. Additionally, we would like to thank all authors, who have submitted their research to our Thematic Symposium, and who documented great interest in, and relevance of, the research area of ethical/sustainable luxury. We also thank the authors, whose work is published as part of this Thematic Symposium, for their patience and thorough work throughout multiple rounds of revisions. Finally, we are grateful to all reviewers without whom this Thematic Symposium would not have been possible.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sheffield University Management School, University of Sheffield, Conduit Rd, Sheffield, S10 1FL, UK

    Victoria-Sophie Osburg & Fraser McLeay

  2. School of Management, University of Bath, Combe Down, Claverton Down Rd, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK

    Iain Davies

  3. School of Management, University of Bradford, Bright Building, Bradford, BD7 1SR, UK

    Vignesh Yoganathan

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  1. Victoria-Sophie Osburg
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  2. Iain Davies
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Correspondence to Victoria-Sophie Osburg.

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Osburg, VS., Davies, I., Yoganathan, V. et al. Perspectives, Opportunities and Tensions in Ethical and Sustainable Luxury: Introduction to the Thematic Symposium. J Bus Ethics 169, 201–210 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-020-04487-4

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