The financial sector plays an important yet ambivalent role in society's sustainability transition. Credit decisions have a substantialimpact as they determine the allocation of large amounts of financial resources. This study applies the Frameworkfor Strategic Sustainable Development as a lens to review literature and investigate practices in Nordic banks on sustainabilityconsiderations in corporate credit risk assessment. Three gaps and recommendations are presented: (i) banks should apply asystems perspective that goes beyond a narrow focus on climate change to avoid sub-optimisation;(ii) strategies like inclusionand exclusion should be informed by backcasting from basic sustainability principles to foresee the long-termdirection of changeand to assess whether solutions are scalable towards sustainability; and (iii) instead of asking whether it ‘pays to be sustainable’,research and practice should focus on ‘how’ companies can work strategically with sustainability, finding the optimal timingbetween being too passive and too proactive.

This chapter addresses the importance of designing sustainable and circular solutions that can also foster changes in user behaviour. A transition towards sustainability partly depends on consumers changing their behaviours and, in some instances, consuming less. It also requires different types of products that form part of more circular production and consumption systems, or work in emerging “bottom-of-the-pyramid” market contexts, so that human needs can be met with a much lighter ecological footprint. Sustainable product development means that social and ecological sustainability considerations are integrated throughout the design process. By applying strategic thinking, step-wise solutions can be identified that contribute to sustainable development in ways that benefit the own organization, thereby creating positive change and momentum for further action. This holistic approach involves anticipating sustainability-related consequences early in the innovation process, which is critical for minimizing socio-ecological impacts. By focusing on a product’s full life cycle rather than traditional performance metrics, companies can align their development practices with environmental and social responsibilities and cease opportunities on increasingly sustainability-driven markets. For those working in marketing and product development, training to think and act strategically in relation to sustainability is essential to prevent humanity from being overwhelmed by its own consumption.

A roadmap for advancing sustainable and circular designs within the automotive industry is proposed. The emphasis is on the critical role of collaborative ecosystems following the increased transparency and traceability underway in regulations. Emerging Digital Product Passports are central means in Europe’s Green Deal and expects to drive transformation of practices in the automotive ecosystem. The study, conducted by researchers in collaboration with a global truck manufacturer, identifies key areas for action, including data quality, stakeholder value, and communication strategies, to facilitate the circular and sustainable transformation. The vision and actions proposed were refined in workshops with automotive suppliers and service providers. By addressing these challenges, the automotive industry can leverage from data accessibility and accelerate its shift towards sustainability.