Trade Unions and Sustainability: An Integrative Review

Abstract

ABSTRACT Despite the growing presence of trade unions (TUs) in sustainability discussions, academic research on their role is still scattered. This article presents an integrative review of 110 peer‐reviewed English‐language academic articles on this topic, indexed in Scopus and Web of Science and published between 1997 and early 2025. Through an iterative coding process, we identified five meta‐theoretical perspectives: socio‐technical transitions (MLP); imperial mode of living/treadmill of production (IML‐ToP); industrial relations (IR); Marxist/critical political economy; and degrowth/ecological political economy. We then used these perspectives to map the conceptual architecture of the field. Theoretical orientation significantly influences the interpretation of TU strategies, ranging from obstructive and reformist to transformative. Existing tensions between labour's material dependence on unsustainable systems and its potential as an ecological agent of change are variously theorised, yet rarely resolved. By highlighting the associations between conceptual frameworks and evaluative conclusions, we provide a lens through which to reflectively assess this emerging field and outline avenues for more pluralistic and theoretically grounded research into labour‐environment relations.

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