Environmental aspect of sustainability in startups

Ecosystem degradation and environmental sustainability have become important business issues in recent years, and there has been increasing pressure on organizations to manage their operations responsibly and improve their environmental impact. However, previous research has focused primarily on large corporations, to a lesser extent on SMEs, and startups, which is a specific group among small businesses, have been omitted. This work aims to map the perception of the environmental aspect of sustainability among startups based in the Czech Republic. It also aims to explore how they reflect sustainability in their operations, what motivations they have and, last but not least, what barriers they notice when taking it into account. Thirteen startups operating in various sectors took part in the research. Based on the results of the work, it can be said that startups feel their responsibility to the environment and actively think about this issue. For some startups, sustainability is even the reason for starting a business. The role of the founder often influences the consideration of this issue within the organization. Startups are not motivated by legislation or external incentives and they often act proactively and out of their own convictions. Startups feel a weak awareness of this topic in the society, sometimes mentioning their possible lack of knowledge in this area and would appreciate if this topic was addressed more at different levels.