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Does waste management affect firm performance? International evidence

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  • Gull, Ammar Ali
  • Atif, Muhammad
  • Ahsan, Tanveer
  • Derouiche, Imen

Abstract

This study examines an important yet underexplored aspect of firms’ sustainability practices, i.e., waste management, in order to analyze its impact on financial performance. Although the extant literature has focused on various aspects of sustainability, the impact of waste management, which has disastrous consequences for the climate and firm performance, remains largely unexplored. Thus, using the 2002–2019 data of listed firms from 41 countries, we found a significantly negative (positive) relationship between waste generation (recycling) and financial performance. Our findings are robust to alternative variables, sub-sample analysis, and identification strategies. Moreover, a channel analysis showed that this relationship is influenced by operating costs, ESG performance-based compensation, industry nature, the Paris agreement on climate change, and the global financial crisis. Overall, the findings suggest that environmental initiatives are beneficial for firms and present important policy implications for regulators and firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Gull, Ammar Ali & Atif, Muhammad & Ahsan, Tanveer & Derouiche, Imen, 2022. "Does waste management affect firm performance? International evidence," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:114:y:2022:i:c:s026499932200178x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econmod.2022.105932
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    6. Du, Qianqian & Su, Wanxuan & Liang, Dawei & Wang, Luying, 2023. "How does green preference impact sustainability-based investment strategy? Evidence from the Chinese stock market," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Waste management; Waste generation; Waste recycling; Firm performance; Environmental protection;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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