IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i17p9083-d624105.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How Do Proactive Environmental Strategies Affect Green Innovation? The Moderating Role of Environmental Regulations and Firm Performance

Author

Listed:
  • Naveedullah Mulaessa

    (College of Finance, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China)

  • Lefen Lin

    (College of Finance, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China)

Abstract

Global warming has gained the attention of researchers and authorities to work on the environmental glitches. Prior researchers highlighted that the industrial sector is more responsible for these environmental glitches. The industrial sector is highly participated for climate change problems. In the light of firm’s sustainable development goals, this study focuses on the proactive environmental strategies for green innovation. Furthermore, this study considers the link amid environmental regulations and green innovation, firm performance, and green innovation. Most importantly, this study applies the moderating role of environmental regulations and firm performance on the link amid proactive environmental strategies and green innovation. The outcomes with ordinary least square, fixed effect, generalized method of moments, and feasible generalized least square presents unique conclusions. This study concluded that firms with proactive environmental strategies are more valuable for green innovation practices. The environmental regulations promote green innovative practices. Similarly, firm performance also encourages the firm for green innovative practices. Importantly, these outcomes suggest that environmental regulations positively moderate the link amid proactive environmental strategies and green innovation. In addition, firm performance also plays positive role for positivity amid proactive environmental strategies and green innovation. These findings are imperative addition into the narrow literature of environmental practices at firm level in Pakistan. Moreover, this study suggests various guidelines and directions for policy makers, owners, governments, and stakeholders as promoting the environmental practices for higher profitability as well as minimizing industrial negative effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Naveedullah Mulaessa & Lefen Lin, 2021. "How Do Proactive Environmental Strategies Affect Green Innovation? The Moderating Role of Environmental Regulations and Firm Performance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-19, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:17:p:9083-:d:624105
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/17/9083/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/17/9083/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Menguc, Bulent & Ozanne, Lucie K., 2005. "Challenges of the "green imperative": a natural resource-based approach to the environmental orientation-business performance relationship," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 58(4), pages 430-438, April.
    2. Markus Milne & Rob Gray, 2013. "W(h)ither Ecology? The Triple Bottom Line, the Global Reporting Initiative, and Corporate Sustainability Reporting," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 118(1), pages 13-29, November.
    3. Yunmi Kim & Chang‐Jin Kim, 2011. "Dealing with endogeneity in a time‐varying parameter model: joint estimation and two‐step estimation procedures," Econometrics Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 14(3), pages 487-497, October.
    4. Rehman, Shafique Ur & Kraus, Sascha & Shah, Syed Asim & Khanin, Dmitry & Mahto, Raj V., 2021. "Analyzing the relationship between green innovation and environmental performance in large manufacturing firms," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    5. Haniffa, R.M. & Cooke, T.E., 2005. "The impact of culture and governance on corporate social reporting," Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 24(5), pages 391-430.
    6. Philip R. Walsh & Rachel Dodds, 2017. "Measuring the Choice of Environmental Sustainability Strategies in Creating a Competitive Advantage," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(5), pages 672-687, July.
    7. Attiya Y. Javid & Robina Iqbal, 2008. "Ownership Concentration, Corporate Governance and Firm Performance: Evidence from Pakistan," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 47(4), pages 643-659.
    8. Dang, Chongyu & (Frank) Li, Zhichuan & Yang, Chen, 2018. "Measuring firm size in empirical corporate finance," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 159-176.
    9. Singh, Sanjay Kumar & Giudice, Manlio Del & Chierici, Roberto & Graziano, Domenico, 2020. "Green innovation and environmental performance: The role of green transformational leadership and green human resource management," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    10. Rennings, Klaus, 2000. "Redefining innovation -- eco-innovation research and the contribution from ecological economics," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 319-332, February.
    11. Clarkson, Peter M. & Li, Yue & Richardson, Gordon D. & Vasvari, Florin P., 2011. "Does it really pay to be green? Determinants and consequences of proactive environmental strategies," Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 30(2), pages 122-144, March.
    12. Dongmin Kong & Xiandong Yang & Chen Liu & Wei Yang, 2020. "Business strategy and firm efforts on environmental protection: Evidence from China," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 445-464, February.
    13. Semykina, Anastasia & Wooldridge, Jeffrey M., 2010. "Estimating panel data models in the presence of endogeneity and selection," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 157(2), pages 375-380, August.
    14. Huang, Yiping & Ji, Yang, 2017. "How will financial liberalization change the Chinese economy? Lessons from middle-income countries," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 27-45.
    15. Yu-Shan Chen, 2008. "The Positive Effect of Green Intellectual Capital on Competitive Advantages of Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 77(3), pages 271-286, February.
    16. Yu-Shan Chen & Tai-Wei Chang & Chun-Yu Lin & Pi-Yu Lai & Kuan-Hung Wang, 2016. "The Influence of Proactive Green Innovation and Reactive Green Innovation on Green Product Development Performance: The Mediation Role of Green Creativity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-12, September.
    17. Yuan Ma & Guisheng Hou & Baogui Xin, 2017. "Green Process Innovation and Innovation Benefit: The Mediating Effect of Firm Image," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-15, September.
    18. Defeng Yang & Wei Jiang & Weihong Zhao, 2019. "Proactive environmental strategy, innovation capability, and stakeholder integration capability: A mediation analysis," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(8), pages 1534-1547, December.
    19. Ambec, Stefan & Barla, Philippe, 2002. "A theoretical foundation of the Porter hypothesis," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 75(3), pages 355-360, May.
    20. Sohail Ahmad Javeed & Lin Lefen, 2019. "An Analysis of Corporate Social Responsibility and Firm Performance with Moderating Effects of CEO Power and Ownership Structure: A Case Study of the Manufacturing Sector of Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-25, January.
    21. Mahto, Raj V. & Belousova, Olga & Ahluwalia, Saurabh, 2020. "Abundance – A new window on how disruptive innovation occurs," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    22. Merriam Haffar & Cory Searcy, 2018. "Target‐setting for ecological resilience: Are companies setting environmental sustainability targets in line with planetary thresholds?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(7), pages 1079-1092, November.
    23. Aragon-Correa, Juan Alberto & Matias-Reche, Fernando & Senise-Barrio, Maria Eugenia, 2004. "Managerial discretion and corporate commitment to the natural environment," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 57(9), pages 964-975, September.
    24. repec:reg:rpubli:98 is not listed on IDEAS
    25. Bu, Maoliang & Qiao, Zhenzi & Liu, Beibei, 2020. "Voluntary environmental regulation and firm innovation in China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 10-18.
    26. Sadaf Ehsan & Mian Sajid Nazir & Mohammad Nurunnabi & Qasim Raza Khan & Samya Tahir & Ishfaq Ahmed, 2018. "A Multimethod Approach to Assess and Measure Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure and Practices in a Developing Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-18, August.
    27. Shenggang Ren & Yue Wang & Yucai Hu & Ji Yan, 2021. "CEO hometown identity and firm green innovation," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 756-774, February.
    28. Xue Yang & Yuandi Wang & Die Hu & Yongqiang Gao, 2018. "How industry peers improve your sustainable development? The role of listed firms in environmental strategies," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(8), pages 1313-1333, December.
    29. Stucki, Tobias & Woerter, Martin & Arvanitis, Spyros & Peneder, Michael & Rammer, Christian, 2018. "How different policy instruments affect green product innovation: A differentiated perspective," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 245-261.
    30. Yunyue Zhou & Chengli Shu & Wei Jiang & Shanxing Gao, 2019. "Green management, firm innovations, and environmental turbulence," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(4), pages 567-581, May.
    31. Emma L. Schultz & David T. Tan & Kathleen D. Walsh, 2010. "Endogeneity and the corporate governance - performance relation," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 35(2), pages 145-163, August.
    32. Marcus Wagner, 2005. "How to reconcile environmental and economic performance to improve corporate sustainability: corporate environmental strategies in the European paper industry," Post-Print hal-00279158, HAL.
    33. David Hirshleifer & Angie Low & Siew Hong Teoh, 2012. "Are Overconfident CEOs Better Innovators?," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 67(4), pages 1457-1498, August.
    34. Belal, Ataur Rahman & Cooper, Stuart, 2011. "The absence of corporate social responsibility reporting in Bangladesh," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 22(7), pages 654-667.
    35. Baumol,William J. & Oates,Wallace E., 1988. "The Theory of Environmental Policy," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521322249.
    36. Lea Stadtler & Haiying Lin, 2017. "Moving to the Next Strategy Stage: Examining Firms' Awareness, Motivation and Capability Drivers in Environmental Alliances," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(6), pages 709-730, September.
    37. Hayam Wahba, 2008. "Does the market value corporate environmental responsibility? An empirical examination," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 15(2), pages 89-99, March.
    38. Wintoki, M. Babajide & Linck, James S. & Netter, Jeffry M., 2012. "Endogeneity and the dynamics of internal corporate governance," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 105(3), pages 581-606.
    39. Zhongju Liao, 2020. "Is environmental innovation conducive to corporate financing? The moderating role of advertising expenditures," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(3), pages 954-961, March.
    40. Ye Feng & Hsing Hung Chen & Jian Tang, 2018. "The Impacts of Social Responsibility and Ownership Structure on Sustainable Financial Development of China’s Energy Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-15, January.
    41. Bhagat, Sanjai & Bolton, Brian, 2019. "Corporate governance and firm performance: The sequel," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 142-168.
    42. Reid Lifset & Atalay Atasu & Naoko Tojo, 2013. "Extended Producer Responsibility," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 17(2), pages 162-166, April.
    43. Liu, Yi & Guo, Jingzhou & Chi, Nan, 2015. "The Antecedents and Performance Consequences of Proactive Environmental Strategy: A Meta-analytic Review of National Contingency," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 11(3), pages 521-557, September.
    44. Li, Hai-ling & Zhu, Xue-hong & Chen, Jin-yu & Jiang, Fei-tao, 2019. "Environmental regulations, environmental governance efficiency and the green transformation of China's iron and steel enterprises," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 1-1.
    45. Horbach, Jens, 2008. "Determinants of environmental innovation--New evidence from German panel data sources," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 163-173, February.
    46. Taryn De Mendonca & Yan Zhou, 2020. "When companies improve the sustainability of the natural environment: A study of large U.S. companies," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(3), pages 801-811, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Haiyue Liu & Cangyu Wang & Qin Zhang & Changyi Zhao & Jie Jiang, 2023. "The greening effects of regional innovation symbiosis – Evidence from Chinese listed firms," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(1), pages 141-160, March.
    2. Zhaoxian Su & Yang Yang & Yun Wang & Pan Zhang & Xin Luo, 2023. "Study on Spatiotemporal Evolution Features and Affecting Factors of Collaborative Governance of Pollution Reduction and Carbon Abatement in Urban Agglomerations of the Yellow River Basin," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-20, February.
    3. Ling Hu & Tai-Wei Chang & Yue-Shi Lee & Show-Jane Yen & Chih-Wen Ting, 2023. "How Does Sustainable Leadership Affect Environmental Innovation Strategy Adoption? The Mediating Role of Environmental Identity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-12, January.
    4. Ahmed Hassan Abdou & Thowayeb H. Hassan & Amany E. Salem, 2023. "Promoting Sustainable Food Practices in Food Service Industry: An Empirical Investigation on Saudi Arabian Restaurants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-22, August.
    5. Hui Fang & Qixin Huo & Kaouakib Hatim, 2023. "Can Digital Services Trade Liberalization Improve the Quality of Green Innovation of Enterprises? Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-22, April.
    6. Sohail Ahmad Javeed & Boon Heng Teh & Tze San Ong & Lee Lee Chong & Mohd Fairuz Bin Abd Rahim & Rashid Latief, 2022. "How Does Green Innovation Strategy Influence Corporate Financing? Corporate Social Responsibility and Gender Diversity Play a Moderating Role," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-22, July.
    7. Wanli Zhang & Bin Zhu & Yongling Li & Dan Yan, 2024. "Revisiting the Porter hypothesis: a multi-country meta-analysis of the relationship between environmental regulation and green innovation," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-15, December.
    8. Yi-Hui Ho & Cheng-Kun Wang & Chieh-Yu Lin, 2022. "Antecedents and Consequences of Green Mindfulness: A Conceptual Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-19, May.
    9. Mei Feng & Chu Chen & Jia Liu & Wei Jia, 2022. "Does Central Environmental Protection Inspector Improve Corporate Social Responsibility? Evidence from Chinese Listed Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-22, November.
    10. Qiwen Dai & Huihua Huang & Xiaoqi Zhang & Yumin Su & Cheyuan Liu & Qiangyi Li, 2022. "Mediation Effect of Corporate Tax Burden and the Relationship between Environmental Regulation and Firm Performance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-23, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sohail Ahmad Javeed & Boon Heng Teh & Tze San Ong & Lee Lee Chong & Mohd Fairuz Bin Abd Rahim & Rashid Latief, 2022. "How Does Green Innovation Strategy Influence Corporate Financing? Corporate Social Responsibility and Gender Diversity Play a Moderating Role," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-22, July.
    2. Sohail Ahmad Javeed & Tze San Ong & Rashid Latief & Haslinah Muhamad & Wei Ni Soh, 2021. "Conceptualizing the Moderating Role of CEO Power and Ownership Concentration in the Relationship between Audit Committee and Firm Performance: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-26, June.
    3. Sohail Ahmad Javeed & Lin Lefen, 2019. "An Analysis of Corporate Social Responsibility and Firm Performance with Moderating Effects of CEO Power and Ownership Structure: A Case Study of the Manufacturing Sector of Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-25, January.
    4. Rizwan Raheem Ahmed & Grigorios L. Kyriakopoulos & Dalia Streimikiene & Justas Streimikis, 2021. "Drivers of Proactive Environmental Strategies: Evidence from the Pharmaceutical Industry of Asian Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-28, August.
    5. Taryn De Mendonca & Yan Zhou, 2020. "When companies improve the sustainability of the natural environment: A study of large U.S. companies," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(3), pages 801-811, March.
    6. Jihai Lu & Sohail Ahmad Javeed & Rashid Latief & Tao Jiang & Tze San Ong, 2021. "The Moderating Role of Corporate Social Responsibility in the Association of Internal Corporate Governance and Profitability; Evidence from Pakistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-22, May.
    7. Adam Ryszko, 2016. "Proactive Environmental Strategy, Technological Eco-Innovation and Firm Performance—Case of Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-20, February.
    8. Kraus, Sascha & Rehman, Shafique Ur & García, F. Javier Sendra, 2020. "Corporate social responsibility and environmental performance: The mediating role of environmental strategy and green innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    9. Usman Sattar & Sohail Ahmad Javeed & Rashid Latief, 2020. "How Audit Quality Affects the Firm Performance with the Moderating Role of the Product Market Competition: Empirical Evidence from Pakistani Manufacturing Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-20, May.
    10. Nazim Hussain, 2015. "Impact of Sustainability Performance on Financial Performance: An Empirical Study of Global Fortune (N100) Firms," Working Papers 1, Department of Management, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia.
    11. Patricia Sánchez-Medina & René Díaz-Pichardo & Angélica Bautista-Cruz & Arcelia Toledo-López, 2015. "Environmental Compliance and Economic and Environmental Performance: Evidence from Handicrafts Small Businesses in Mexico," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 126(3), pages 381-393, February.
    12. Waseem Akhter & Arshad Hassan, 2024. "Does corporate social responsibility mediate the relationship between corporate governance and firm performance? Empirical evidence from BRICS countries," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(1), pages 566-578, January.
    13. Ayça Kubra Hizarci‐Payne & İlayda İpek & Gülüzar Kurt Gümüş, 2021. "How environmental innovation influences firm performance: A meta‐analytic review," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 1174-1190, February.
    14. Valero-Gil, Jesus & Surroca, Jordi A. & Tribo, Josep A. & Gutierrez, Leopoldo & Montiel, Ivan, 2023. "Innovation vs. standardization: The conjoint effects of eco-innovation and environmental management systems on environmental performance," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(4).
    15. Jing Lu & Kathleen Rodenburg & Lianne Foti & Ann Pegoraro, 2022. "Are firms with better sustainability performance more resilient during crises?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(7), pages 3354-3370, November.
    16. Yousaf, Umair Bin & Ullah, Irfan & Jiang, Junchen & Wang, Man, 2022. "The role of board capital in driving green innovation: Evidence from China," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 35(C).
    17. Ana Labella-Fernández & M. Mar Serrano-Arcos & Belén Payán-Sánchez, 2021. "Firm Growth as a Driver of Sustainable Product Innovation: Mediation and Moderation Analysis. Evidence from Manufacturing Firms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-22, March.
    18. Jae Yun Jeong & Inje Kang & Ki Seok Choi & Byeong-Hee Lee, 2018. "Network Analysis on Green Technology in National Research and Development Projects in Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-12, April.
    19. Helfaya, Akrum & Aboud, Ahmed & Amin, Essam, 2023. "An examination of corporate environmental goals disclosure, sustainability performance and firm value – An Egyptian evidence," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    20. Qian, Wei & Schaltegger, Stefan, 2017. "Revisiting carbon disclosure and performance: Legitimacy and management views," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(4), pages 365-379.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:17:p:9083-:d:624105. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.