Guide for Authors

Sustainable Business Research (SBR) is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal publishing high-quality research on sustainability issues in business, management, and economics. Authors are encouraged to read this guide carefully before submitting their manuscripts.

1. Scope and Aims of the Journal

SBR publishes original and innovative research that advances understanding of sustainability in business and economic systems. The journal welcomes theoretical, empirical, methodological, and policy-oriented contributions that address sustainability challenges from a business perspective.

Submissions should demonstrate:

  • Clear relevance to sustainable business practices or policies

  • Strong theoretical grounding and/or methodological rigour

  • Clear academic and practical contributions

Interdisciplinary research is particularly encouraged.

2. Types of Manuscripts Accepted

The journal accepts the following categories:

2.1 Original Research Articles

  • Empirical, theoretical, or methodological studies

  • Word limit: 6,000–10,000 words

2.2 Review Articles

  • Systematic, bibliometric, or conceptual reviews

  • Word limit: 7,000–9,000 words

2.3 Policy and Practice Papers

  • Research with clear implications for business practice or public policy

  • Word limit: 4,000–6,000 words

Word limits include references but exclude appendices.

3. Language and Style

  • Manuscripts must be written in British English.

  • Authors whose first language is not English are encouraged to seek professional language editing before submission.

  • Writing should be clear, concise, and scholarly, avoiding unnecessary jargon.

4. Manuscript Preparation and Formatting

4.1 File Format

  • Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) only

4.2 General Formatting

  • Font: Times New Roman

  • Font size: 12 pt

  • Line spacing: 1.5

  • Margins: 1 inch on all sides

  • Page numbers: Required

5. Structure of the Manuscript

5.1 Title Page (Submitted Separately)

The title page must include:

  • Full title of the manuscript

  • Full name(s) of author(s)

  • Institutional affiliation(s)

  • ORCID iD (recommended)

  • Email address of the corresponding author

5.2 Main Manuscript (Anonymous)

To ensure double-blind review, the main manuscript must not contain any identifying information.

Recommended structure:

  1. Title

  2. Abstract (150–250 words)

  3. Keywords (4–6)

  4. Introduction

  5. Literature Review and/or Theoretical Framework

  6. Methodology

  7. Results / Analysis

  8. Discussion

  9. Conclusion and Policy Implications

  10. References

6. Abstract and Keywords

The abstract should clearly state:

  • Research purpose

  • Methodology

  • Key findings

  • Main contributions

Avoid citations and abbreviations in the abstract.

7. Tables, Figures, and Appendices

  • Tables and figures must be numbered consecutively and referenced in the text.

  • Titles should appear above tables and below figures.

  • Use editable formats (not images) where possible.

  • Sources must be acknowledged if adapted.

  • Appendices should be placed after the references and used sparingly.

8. Referencing Style

Sustainable Business Research follows the APA (7th edition) referencing style.

Authors are responsible for:

  • Accuracy of references

  • Consistency with APA guidelines

  • Ensuring all cited works appear in the reference list and vice versa

9. Ethical Standards and Research Integrity

9.1 Originality and Plagiarism

Submitted manuscripts must be original and not under review elsewhere. All submissions may be screened for plagiarism.

9.2 Authorship

All listed authors must have made a significant contribution to the research. Ghost authorship and gift authorship are not permitted.

9.3 Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest.

9.4 Data Transparency

Where applicable, authors are encouraged to provide data availability statements and ensure transparency and reproducibility.

9.5 Use of AI Tools

Any use of artificial intelligence tools for writing, analysis, or data processing must be clearly disclosed in the manuscript.

10. Peer Review Process

All submissions undergo double-blind peer review by at least two independent reviewers.

Editorial decisions are based on:

  • Originality

  • Relevance to the journal’s scope

  • Methodological quality

  • Theoretical and practical contribution

The journal aims to provide:

  • Initial editorial decision within 4 weeks

  • Final decision within 8–12 weeks

11. Open Access Policy and Fees

Sustainable Business Research is a fully open-access journal.

  • No submission fees

  • No fees/APC will be charged for articles, and no surcharges will apply for the length of an article, for illustrations and figures (including color figures), and for supplementary data unless noted otherwise.  

All articles are freely accessible upon publication.

12. Copyright and Licensing

  • Authors retain copyright of their work.

  • Articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) Licence.

  • Proper attribution is required for any reuse.

13. Submission Process

  • Manuscripts must be submitted through the journal’s platform.

  • Submissions via email will not be considered.

  • Authors must ensure all metadata (author details, abstract, keywords) are correctly entered during submission.

14. Post-Acceptance

After acceptance:

  • Manuscripts undergo copyediting and formatting

  • Authors may be asked to approve final proofs

  • Each article will be assigned a DOI upon publication

15. Contact

For queries related to submissions or editorial policy, please contact:

Editor-in-Chief
Sustainable Business Research