The Collaborative Economy CE5P (Planet, People, Partnership, Prosperity, Peace) represents a compilation of insightful research studies that analyze the crucial aspects of sustainability, collaboration, and economic development in accordance with the initial objectives of the Research Topic. It explores responses to multiple contemporary crises and provides academic solutions in the economic, social, environmental, informational, and technological domains. The article entitled The impact of the Belt and Road Initiative on green innovation and innovation modes: Empirical Evidence from Chinese Listed Enterprises (Li et al.) addresses the impact of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on green innovation among enterprises. The study reveals that the BRI significantly boosts green innovations, primarily through collaborative modes. The findings underscore the role of the BIS in aligning development strategies with environmental objectives and provide valuable information for policymakers navigating the delicate balance between economic growth and sustainability. A significant number of previous studies have examined the economic and environmental impact of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) at both the national and industry levels. At the national level, the BRI can promote trade and investment cooperation between China and the countries along the Belt and Road, generating positive effects on economic growth (Chen et al., 2019). As most of these countries are rich in natural resources, there is a tendency to develop resource-based industries, leading to increasing environmental issues stemming from the massive consumption of fossil fuels (Tian et al., 2019). The BRI’s eco-friendly initiatives contribute to promoting ecological and sustainable economic growth in participating countries by encouraging energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. This facilitates the transition of BRI countries from a high-energy and high-emission development model to a green growth model (Jiang et al., 2021). All these bibliographic sources support the scientific arguments of the authors and directly contribute to enhancing the scientific knowledge base, as well as guiding societies in the current direction of development and societal balance.

The article entitled Does the electric vehicle industry help achieve sustainable development goals? —evidence from China (Lu et al.) examines the environmental impact of China’s electric vehicle (EV) industry and contributes to the sustainable transportation discourse. The research highlights the complex effects of electric vehicle adoption on energy consumption, carbon emissions, and air quality, highlighting the need for integrated policies to maximize the benefits of decarbonization. It is noteworthy that the rapid global development and urbanization, particularly evident in China, have positioned the country as the world’s largest automobile market. The authors present data indicating an average annual growth rate of 17.5% since 2000. However, the environmental impact is significant, and regulatory tools can respond to limit the environmental impact of air pollutants emitted by automobiles (Lu et al.). The authors discuss the methodologies employed for analyzing air pollutant emissions from vehicles, which serve as a reference in the published study. The research findings of the authors can provide valuable insights for industry strategies aiming to align the growth of electric vehicles (EVs) with climate goals.

Moreover, related to the impact of regulations on the environment, the article entitled The crowding-out effect of the environmental regulation on corporate sustainability (Yuan and Wu), analyses the exclusionary effect of the Environmental Protection Tax Law (EPT) in China and offers valuable insights into the complex relationship between environmental regulations and corporate sustainability. The findings reveal the positive impact of the EFA Act on overall environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance and the trade-offs between environmental and social responsibility. The authors emphasize the impact of environmental policies on ESG performance (Lu and Cheng, 2023; Zhang et al., 2023). The study results indicate that certain regulations exert pressure on companies through normative and coercive forces, compelling them to improve their environmental performance (Hou and Wei, 2023). Therefore, the authors highlight the varying degrees of compliance among different types of companies, a particularly crucial aspect, especially in the practical application context of the research findings.

The article entitled Acceptance of pay-as-you-throw solid waste charging methods among urban residents in China (Yao and Zhou) has been accepted for publication for its relevant approaches on pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) waste charging methods, and it addresses the critical issue of waste reduction in urban areas. The study explores urban residents’ willingness to accept PAYT and identifies behavioral attitudes, social norms, and perceived control as key factors influencing acceptance. The research provides practical recommendations for promoting waste reduction through targeted education and awareness programs. However, according to the fixed-rate taxation method, issues such as the inefficiency of waste management and the heavy burden on the government have become increasingly significant (Zhang et al., 2022). For this reason, the Chinese government is attempting to promote the transformation of the waste taxation model from the traditional fixed-rate model to the PAYT model (Yao and Zhou). Additionally, in their concluding remarks, the authors put forth explicit recommendations to improve the residents’ approval of the PAYT taxation model and the corresponding waste fee they are willing to contribute. It is evident that even within this work, the waste management issue is addressed with a focus on a clean planet.

The accepted article entitled Evaluation of Ecosystem Services in the Vjosa Valley of Albania (Kokthi et al.) provides an assessment of ecosystem services in the Vjosa Valley of Albania and represents a pioneering effort in assigning economic value to a rare ecosystem. The study’s use of WTP and WTA measures, despite being conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, contributes to the emerging field of ecosystem service valuation. Additionally, the authors highlight the transformation of ecosystems, noting that due to climate changes, the viability of ecosystems will deteriorate (Pruckner et al., 2022).

In conclusion, the Collaborative Economy CE5P (Planet, People, Partnership, Prosperity, Peace) Research Topic presents a diverse range of research that collectively contributes to the academic understanding of sustainability and collaboration. While not all entries made it to the final selection, each piece adds a unique perspective to the overall goal of promoting a collaborative economy that prioritizes planet, people, partnership, prosperity, and peace.