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Environmental Performance, Competitiveness And Management Of Small Businesses In Europe

Author

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  • DAVID HITCHENS
  • SAMARTHIA THANKAPPAN
  • MARY TRAINOR
  • JENS CLAUSEN
  • BRUNA DE MARCHI

Abstract

Is it the case that more competitive SMEs have greater capacity to adopt environmental initiatives? The answer is no, according to this study which tried to link small firm environmental performance to factors such as profitability, growth, skills and research and development. This study focuses on three interrelated propositions that are concerned with the impact of environmental initiatives on firm competitiveness; the relevance of management's awareness to environment: the availability of external information and expertise to aid management, and the competitiveness of the firm. The firm's competitive strengths measured variously as above average profitability, firm growth and R&D, skills and modernity of plant and equipment, there was only scattered evidence to suggest any of these was importantly associated with the firm's environmental performance. The study showed that firms with an average economic performance were just as likely to adopt environmental initiatives as their high‐performing competitors. Moreover, regardless of managers voicing personal concerns about the environment, most small firms do relatively little about the environment in practice and are reluctant to seek advice about it.

Suggested Citation

  • David Hitchens & Samarthia Thankappan & Mary Trainor & Jens Clausen & Bruna De Marchi, 2005. "Environmental Performance, Competitiveness And Management Of Small Businesses In Europe," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 96(5), pages 541-557, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:tvecsg:v:96:y:2005:i:5:p:541-557
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9663.2005.00485.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Magadán-Díaz, Marta & Sotiriadis, Marios & Rivas-García, Jesús, 2019. "Drivers of eco-innovation in the Spanish hospitality industry," MPRA Paper 94090, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Kinga Nagyné Pércsi & Zsolt Fülöp, 2024. "Relationships between Sustainable Operations and the Resilience of SMEs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-18, January.
    3. Ryszard Borowiecki & Barbara Siuta-Tokarska & Mateusz Janas & Sylwia Kruk & Paweł Krzemiński & Agnieszka Thier & Katarzyna Żmija, 2022. "The Competitive Position of Small Business Furniture Industry Enterprises in Poland in the Context of Sustainable Management: Relationships, Interdependencies, and Effects of Activities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-26, July.
    4. Jan Lepoutre & Aimé Heene, 2006. "Investigating the Impact of Firm Size on Small Business Social Responsibility: A Critical Review," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 67(3), pages 257-273, September.
    5. Alexander Bergmann & Peter Posch, 2018. "Mandatory Sustainability Reporting in Germany: Does Size Matter?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-20, October.
    6. Agnès Paradas & Christophe Revelli & Caroline Debray & Jean-Marie Courrent & Martine Spence, 2017. "Pratiques responsables des dirigeants de PME : influence du profil du dirigeant," Post-Print hal-02425528, HAL.
    7. Martin-Tapia, Inmaculada & Aragon-Correa, Juan Alberto & Senise-Barrio, Maria Eugenia, 2008. "Being green and export intensity of SMEs: The moderating influence of perceived uncertainty," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(1-2), pages 56-67, December.
    8. Christian Dienes, 2015. "Energy and Material Efficiency Improvements, Compliance Strategies, and Investments in Resource Efficiency: A Cross-Country Study," Schumpeter Discussion Papers SDP15004, Universitätsbibliothek Wuppertal, University Library.
    9. Sarah Williams & Anja Schaefer, 2013. "Small and Medium‐Sized Enterprises and Sustainability: Managers' Values and Engagement with Environmental and Climate Change Issues," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(3), pages 173-186, March.
    10. Sue Cassells & Kate Lewis, 2011. "SMEs and environmental responsibility: do actions reflect attitudes?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(3), pages 186-199, May.
    11. Andrea Revell & David Stokes & Hsin Chen, 2010. "Small businesses and the environment: turning over a new leaf?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 19(5), pages 273-288, July.
    12. Adriana Burlea-Schiopoiu & Laurentiu Stelian Mihai, 2019. "An Integrated Framework on the Sustainability of SMEs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-22, October.
    13. Laura Broccardo & Elisa Truant & Lèo‐Paul Dana, 2023. "The sustainability orientation in the wine industry: An analysis based on age as a driver," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(3), pages 1300-1313, May.
    14. Ramanathan, Ramakrishnan & Ramanathan, Usha & Zhang, Yubo, 2016. "Linking operations, marketing and environmental capabilities and diversification to hotel performance: A data envelopment analysis approach," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 111-122.
    15. Suman Sen & James Cowley, 2013. "The Relevance of Stakeholder Theory and Social Capital Theory in the Context of CSR in SMEs: An Australian Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 118(2), pages 413-427, December.

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