The systemic dynamics of the internalization of sustainability: a case study on a sugar mill

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the process of internalization of environmental sustainability awareness within a sugarcane ethanol plant. To this end, we used the theoretical perspective of Niklas Luhmann and his theory of self-referential systems, specifically, his conceptualization of organizational systems. The following research procedures were used: documental analysis and semi-structured interviews with managers. Findings show that, by means of “irritations” originating from other systems, specifically market (economy) and law, the studied organization ended up internalizing environmental sustainability, translating this theme into the economic language of profit and law. The organization’s response, in general, was to differentiate itself internally, with the creation of an organizational subsystem for the environmental management of the organization, which began to pressure other organizational subsystems to internalize this theme – purchasing, people management, production –, generalizing the theme of environmental sustainability.