Marileena Mäkelä

I study sustainability transitions in business and explore how companies can contribute to solutions for the global grand challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and social inequality. I am particularly interested in sustainability change agency, i.e., examining how companies, managers, and employees can accelerate societal transition toward a more sustainable future.

My research focuses on sustainability change agency, sustainability communication and reporting, circular economy, biodiversity and business, future images, and sustainability transitions in the corporate sector. Specifically, I examine how organizations identify and manage sustainability-related risks and opportunities, how sustainability is communicated and reported, what kinds of emotions change agents experience in their work, and what kinds of futures companies create through their actions.

The aim of my research is to generate knowledge that supports businesses, policymakers, and other societal actors in advancing sustainable business practices and responding to the challenges of a rapidly changing operating environment.

Areas of expertise for media inquiries:

• Sustainability transitions in business
• Corporate sustainability in the forest industry
• Sustainability leadership
• Sustainability communication and reporting
• Biodiversity and business
• Circular economy
• Change agency
• The future of sustainable business

Research Projects:

• Optimizing Forest Industry Sustainability with Value Chain Data (OPTIMI 1) https://www.jyu.fi/fi/hankkeet/metsateollisuuden-vastuullisuuden-optimo…
• Biodiversity Respecting Leadership (BIODIFUL) https://biodiful.fi/