ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the development and potential convergence between two distinct yet intertwined and, thus, sometimes difficult to distinguish phenomena: social enterprises and sustainable entrepreneurship. While the former was born out of the desire to pursue both a profitable business and fulfill a social purpose, the latter strives to be profitable while credibly committing to a sustainable economy. By identifying the key lines of development of both phenomena, the chapter discusses their conceptual roots, differences, and commonalities. On the one hand, social enterprises necessarily strive to fulfill a dual purpose; on the other hand, the sustainability concerns of other enterprises have long been driven by the growing legal requirements of corporate social responsibility (CSR). More recently, however, there has been a shift toward giving sustainable enterprises a purpose that goes beyond the mere pursuit of profit, aligning them with social enterprises. This raises the question of what, if any, legal differences remain between the two. In academia, there is currently a considerable need for differentiation. However, this question is also of significant practical relevance, notably in Switzerland, where there is a stream of parliamentary initiatives aimed at implementing both social entrepreneurship and sustainable entrepreneurship. The aim of this chapter is, therefore, to shed some light on this intricate question.
