At The Sustainable Now Initiative, we use dialogue and interdisciplinary research to ask deeper questions about the future of sustainable business. Below are several proposed research directions that we are currently exploring, and hope to pursue further through collaboration, our digital platform, and research.

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AI for Sustainability: Systems Thinking for Energy-Efficient Innovation
How can businesses effectively leverage artificial intelligence to support sustainability outcomes, while mitigating the unintended consequences of energy-intensive models? This research explores AI through a systems thinking lens, mapping both benefits and trade-offs to build smarter, low-impact solutions.

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Redefining Corporate Accountability in a Multi-Stakeholder World
What would it look like for corporations to be held accountable not only to shareholders, but to all stakeholders, including Indigenous communities, future generations, and ecosystems? This research asks how stakeholder governance can be embedded into core risk assessment and corporate performance metrics.

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New Metrics for Sustainable Value Creation
How can we move beyond traditional ESG frameworks and develop new tools to quantify and measure a company’s true sustainability impact, one that reflects circularity, justice, and long-term resilience?

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Integrating Indigenous Worldviews into Business Education and Decision-Making
Building on current co-authored research, this topic explores how Indigenous knowledge systems, particularly land-based ethics and relational governance, can inform new models of sustainable management and redefine leadership in business education.

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The Role of Narrative in Transforming Business Norms

How do language, framing, and worldview shape what businesses see as “ethical” or “strategic”? This research area investigates how dominant narratives in business (e.g., efficiency, growth, disruption) can be reframed to prioritize regeneration, equity, and responsibility.

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Circular Economy Implementation in Local Enterprises
Inspired by independent case research, this topic examines how small and medium-sized Canadian businesses integrate circular strategies into daily operations, and what policy or business model innovations could support wider adoption.

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Bridging the Gap Between Research and Action Through Knowledge Translation

How can academic sustainability research be more effectively shared, understood, and implemented by students, entrepreneurs, and policymakers? This topic focuses on using AI, media, and public-facing communication tools to translate complex research into usable insights.