Publication
SDG-washing in the european aviation industry : a comparative analysis of five selected airlines
| datacite.subject.fos | Ciências Sociais::Economia e Gestão | |
| datacite.subject.sdg | 12:Produção e Consumo Sustentáveis | |
| datacite.subject.sdg | 13:Ação Climática | |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Cruz, Nuno Moreira da | |
| dc.contributor.author | Árkai, Laura Dóra | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-11-27T11:58:54Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-11-27T11:58:54Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-01-30 | |
| dc.date.submitted | 2025-01-01 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Since the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were introduced, companies have increasingly committed to and reported on them. Yet, this has given rise to a new phenomenon known as “SDG-washing”. This study focuses on the airline industry, which, due to its inherently polluting business model, has a complex relationship with sustainability. The primary objective of this thesis is to identify indicators of SDG-washing, evaluate whether airlines engage in such practices, and explore factors influencing their level of SDG engagement. Drawing on insights from the literature, five key indicators of SDG-washing are identified: superficial alignment, selective engagement, vague descriptions, lack of measurable impact, and limited integration. The sustainability reports of five European airlines –Lufthansa Group, Turkish Airlines, Norwegian, Wizz Air, and Ryanair – are analysed using these indicators. The results reveal significant variations in SDG commitment. Lufthansa Group and Turkish Airlines demonstrate genuine approaches, while Norwegian shows moderate engagement. Wizz Air and Ryanair demonstrate minimal commitment, raising concerns about SDG-washing. Findings from an expert interview further indicate a clear link between servisse type and SDG engagement, with full-service airlines demonstrating stronger and more genuine SDG commitment than low-cost carriers. For full-service airlines, SDG engagement positively correlates with revenue, whereas low-cost carriers show a negative correlation. This disparity is shaped by operational scale, geographical location, regulatory pressures, market focus, customer expectations, and national sustainability performance. Notably, ESG scores do not influence the level of SDG engagement. These findings partially align with the literature, underscoring the complexity of this issue. | eng |
| dc.description.abstract | Since the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were introduced, companies have increasingly committed to and reported on them. Yet, this has given rise to a new phenomenon known as “SDG-washing”. This study focuses on the airline industry, which, due to its inherently polluting business model, has a complex relationship with sustainability. The primary objective of this thesis is to identify indicators of SDG-washing, evaluate whether airlines engage in such practices, and explore factors influencing their level of SDG engagement. Drawing on insights from the literature, five key indicators of SDG-washing are identified: superficial alignment, selective engagement, vague descriptions, lack of measurable impact, and limited integration. The sustainability reports of five European airlines –Lufthansa Group, Turkish Airlines, Norwegian, Wizz Air, and Ryanair – are analysed using these indicators. The results reveal significant variations in SDG commitment. Lufthansa Group and Turkish Airlines demonstrate genuine approaches, while Norwegian shows moderate engagement. Wizz Air and Ryanair demonstrate minimal commitment, raising concerns about SDG-washing. Findings from an expert interview further indicate a clear link between servisse type and SDG engagement, with full-service airlines demonstrating stronger and more genuine SDG commitment than low-cost carriers. For full-service airlines, SDG engagement positively correlates with revenue, whereas low-cost carriers show a negative correlation. This disparity is shaped by operational scale, geographical location, regulatory pressures, market focus, customer expectations, and national sustainability performance. Notably, ESG scores do not influence the level of SDG engagement. These findings partially align with the literature, underscoring the complexity of this issue. | por |
| dc.identifier.tid | 203907671 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/55740 | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | |
| dc.rights.uri | N/A | |
| dc.subject | 2030 agenda | |
| dc.subject | Agenda 2030 | |
| dc.subject | Airline | |
| dc.subject | Aviação | |
| dc.subject | Aviation | |
| dc.subject | Companhias aéreas | |
| dc.subject | Greenwashing | |
| dc.subject | Nações unidas | |
| dc.subject | Objetivos de desenvolvimento sustentável | |
| dc.subject | ODS | |
| dc.subject | SDGs | |
| dc.subject | SDG-washing | |
| dc.subject | Sustainable development goals | |
| dc.subject | United nations | |
| dc.title | SDG-washing in the european aviation industry : a comparative analysis of five selected airlines | eng |
| dc.title.alternative | SDG-washing in the aviation industry : a comparative analysis of five selected airlines | por |
| dc.type | master thesis | |
| dspace.entity.type | Publication | |
| thesis.degree.name | Mestrado em Gestão e Administração de Empresas |
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