Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for Startups: A Project-Based Approach Towards Sustainability

In an increasingly sustainable business environment, start-ups go through the complex process of adopting sustainable practices while maintaining their lightness and capacity for innovation. In an attempt, specific projects can provide a more accurate method of assessing the extent to which these start-ups are helping to address their social and environmental issues. The need for such an approach becomes even more relevant in a context in which the focus on sustainability is constantly growing and in which start-ups struggle to find effective ways of assessing and communicating the specific impact of projects in the absence of appropriate tools. For these reasons, the main objective of the research was to develop and draw on an in-depth methodological examination that can support project-based social and environmental impact assessments that foster informed choices and sustainable continuous learning processes for companies. The investigation made use of a mixed approach, comprising first a comparative analysis of assessment tools and then an experimental phase in which personal baseline indices were developed through the Merits case study, with the intention of filling current gaps in the tools and generating practical solutions. The results of the work show that a focus on specific projects fosters a deeper and more measurable understanding of social and environmental impact. The generation of customised baseline indices could offer more practical and detailed assessments that go beyond the current limitations of tools. The work moves forward in examining project analysis as a useful approach for start-ups to assess and improve their sustainability. The design perspective not only allows for more accurate assessments, but also encourages critical reflection on sustainability processes. Furthermore, these findings lay the foundations for future research and entrepreneurial activities, suggesting that an increased focus on design could benefit start-ups in their efforts to manage and communicate their sustainability. The implications of this study are relevant for policy makers, investors and entrepreneurs, highlighting the importance of supporting initiatives that foster more accurate and contextualised impact assessments.