Resumo

Artisanal cachaça constitutes a cornerstone of Brazil's cultural identity and a significant economic asset. Its artisanal sector, comprising thousands of family-based micro-distilleries, forms the fundamental economic matrix in several of the country's micro-regions (IPEA, 2017). However, beyond its romantic facade, a series of pressing socio-environmental challenges manifest, notably the management of large volumes of vinasse—an effluent with high polluting potential—and the improper handling of sugarcane bagasse (Pessoa et al., 2015). Although the technical literature presents a consolidated

This article aims to theorize the process of sustainability appropriation in artisanal cachaça distilleries. Despite the cultural and economic importance of this sector and its significant socio-environmental challenges (notably the management of vinasse and bagasse), the literature lacks a theoretical understanding of the organizational dynamics that govern the transition to more sustainable practices. The research answers the following question: How do artisanal cachaça distilleries appropriate sustainability, considering the complex interplay between their motivations, the practices they ad

To understand the phenomenon, this study conceptualizes appropriation from a processual perspective, understood as the dynamic way an organization internalizes and translates sustainability principles into its routines and strategies (Bansal & Roth, 2000). Recent literature emphasizes that this journey is marked by tensions and paradoxes, such as the conflict between short-term economic results and long-term socio-environmental responsibility (Hahn et al., 2015; Smith & Lewis, 2011). The analytical lens rests on three interconnected pillars: motivations, practices, and institutional inertia.

A qualitative meta-synthesis method was adopted, following the guidelines of Noblit & Hare (1988) and Room (2002), to re-analyze and synthesize the findings of primary case studies. A systematic search was conducted in the SciELO, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (BDTD), resulting in a final sample of 14 case studies that met rigorous inclusion criteria. Data were extracted and coded using a robust analytical matrix derived from a theoretical framework that articulates appropriation, paradox, and institutional theories.

The cross-case analysis revealed the existence of four ideal types (archetypes) that characterize the different trajectories of sustainability appropriation in the sector: (1) the Reactive Traditionalist, marked by inertia and minimal compliance; (2) the Instrumental Optimizer, the dominant type, focused on eco-efficiency and short-term gains; (3) the Sustainable Niche Entrepreneur, who uses sustainability as a differentiation strategy; and (4) the Regenerative Visionary, an aspirational archetype focused on creating positive ecosystemic value.

The appropriation of sustainability in artisanal distilleries is a non-linear, contingent, and paradox-laden process. The study proposes a mid-range theoretical model that explains the transition between archetypes, highlighting the catalytic role of the confluence of ethical leadership motivations and relational market pressures. It is concluded that overcoming inertia and transcending the instrumental "eco-efficiency plateau" requires more than a positive business case; it demands cognitive and governance reconfiguration. Implications for public policy and managerial practices are discussed,

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