Social and Environmental Commitment Across the Early and Established Stages of Entrepreneurial Activity

This study aims to explore the sustainable development awareness, priority, and commitment of adults engaged in early and established entrepreneurial activity. The study is based on the GEM dataset collected during 2023 through an adult population survey on a representative sample in Croatia. The results of the study indicate that the role of social and environmental commitments varies across different motivational orientations of entrepreneurially active adults. It confirms the evolution of motivational orientations and sustainability commitment along the different stages of entrepreneurial activity. Among established businesses whose motivation is either to make a difference in the word or to build great wealth there are more of those who always consider social implications while regarding steps toward the minimisation of environmental impact or the maximisation of social impact there are no differences. Also, more established businesses have taken actions towards SDGs. When we compare factors that influence the motivation to make a difference in the word, in early-stage businesses, important factors are the easiness and proactivity to start a business, the importance of high level of status of entrepreneurs and the steps to maximise the social impact of the business while in established businesses considering social implications and awareness of SDGs are the most important factors. This study contributes to a better understanding of the differences between new or established entrepreneurial activity and their commitment to sustainability which may be essential to the more successful promotion, adoption, or consolidation of sustainable entrepreneurship.