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Ecopreneurship and Ecopreneurs: Limits, Trends and Characteristics

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  • Cristina Santini

    (Department of Human Sciences and Quality of Life Promotion, Università San Raffaele, Via Val Cannuta 247, 00166 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

The research topic of Ecopreneurship is growing and new questions emerge, whilst others remain unanswered. This paper provides an extensive literature review and aims to highlight research outputs and trends in ecopreneurship. Besides a reflection on the main features, motivations and typologies of ecopreneurs, the paper provides a focus on the relationship between agribusiness and ecopreneurship in order to outline issues that hopefully will be further investigated and extended to other businesses. By following the main trends within the academic debate, the paper provides insights into the defining the distinguishing traits of ecopreneurship when compared to traditional entrepreneurship. The author provides an overview of research issues that could be explored in the future.

Suggested Citation

  • Cristina Santini, 2017. "Ecopreneurship and Ecopreneurs: Limits, Trends and Characteristics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-12, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:4:p:492-:d:94064
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Anthony M Levenda & Eliot Tretter, 2020. "The environmentalization of urban entrepreneurialism: From technopolis to start-up city," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 52(3), pages 490-509, May.
    2. Samaneh Bahrololoum & Mojtaba Mahmood Molaei Kermani & Farzaneh Koohzadi, 2022. "Ecopreneurs and agricultural waste management," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 12(1), pages 47-51, December.
    3. Muhammad Ussama Majeed & Sumaira Aslam & Shah Ali Murtaza & Szakács Attila & Edina Molnár, 2022. "Green Marketing Approaches and Their Impact on Green Purchase Intentions: Mediating Role of Green Brand Image and Consumer Beliefs towards the Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-18, September.
    4. Jay Sheppard & Maral Mahdad, 2021. "Unpacking Hybrid Organizing in a Born Green Entrepreneurial Company," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-30, October.
    5. Chen Rong & Juan Felipe Espinosa Cristia & Matac Liviu Marian & Abad Alzuman & Ubaldo Comite, 2025. "Does green entrepreneurial orientation impact entrepreneurial success through green innovation capability in the manufacturing and services sector of emerging economies?," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 1-25, December.
    6. María Rodríguez-García & María Guijarro-García & Agustín Carrilero-Castillo, 2019. "An Overview of Ecopreneurship, Eco-Innovation, and the Ecological Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-16, May.
    7. Renata Dana Nițu-Antonie & Emőke-Szidónia Feder & Valentin Partenie Munteanu, 2017. "Macroeconomic Effects of Entrepreneurship from an International Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-21, July.
    8. Deepa Guleria & Gurvinder Kaur, 2022. "Motivation for Ecopreneurial Behavior (MEB): Scale Development and Validation," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, May.
    9. Stefan Hossinger & Jörn Block & Xiangyu Chen & Arndt Werner, 2023. "Venture creation patterns in academic entrepreneurship: the role of founder motivations," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(1), pages 68-125, February.
    10. Maria Gabriela Podcameni & José Eduardo Cassiolato & Maria Cecília Lustosa & Israel Marcellino & Pedro Rocha, 2019. "Exploring the convergence between sustainability and local innovation systems from a southern perspective: What Brazilian empirical evidence has to offer," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 34(8), pages 825-837, December.
    11. Bijedić, Teita & Chlosta, Simone & Hossinger, Stefan & Kasdorf, Alina & Schneck, Stefan & Schröder, Christian & Werner, Arndt & Nielen, Sebastian & Oschmann, Sebastian, 2017. "Gründungserfolg von Wissenschaftlern an deutschen Hochschulen," IfM-Materialien 257, Institut für Mittelstandsforschung (IfM) Bonn.
    12. Joacim Rosenlund, 2021. "The Environmental Concerns of Food Ecopreneurs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-7, May.
    13. Anas A. Makki & Hisham Alidrisi & Asif Iqbal & Basil O. Al-Sasi, 2020. "Barriers to Green Entrepreneurship: An ISM-Based Investigation," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-17, October.
    14. Mubariz Mammadli, 2022. "Environmentally Responsible Business Approaches in Azerbaijan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-25, May.
    15. Iorgulescu Raluca & John M. Polimeni, 2018. "Surviving Socioeconomic Systems? Some Concepts Andan Example," Annals - Economy Series, Constantin Brancusi University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 0, pages 5-13, December.
    16. Abdul, Daud & Wenqi, Jiang & Sameeroddin, Mohd, 2023. "Prioritization of ecopreneurship barriers overcoming renewable energy technologies promotion: A comparative analysis of novel spherical fuzzy and Pythagorean fuzzy AHP approach," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 186(PA).
    17. Eijaz Ahmed Khan & Pradip Royhan & M. Ashiqur Rahman & Mohammed Mizanur Rahman & Ahmed Mostafa, 2019. "The Impact of Enviropreneurial Orientation on Small Firms’ Business Performance: The Mediation of Green Marketing Mix and Eco-Labeling Strategies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-17, December.
    18. Menuka Jayaratne & Gillian Sullivan Mort & Clare D’Souza, 2019. "Sustainability Entrepreneurship: From Consumer Concern Towards Entrepreneurial Commitment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-13, December.
    19. Carla Coppola & Agostino Vollero & Alfonso Siano, 2023. "Developing dynamic capabilities for the circular economy in the textile and clothing industry in Italy: A natural‐resource‐based view," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(7), pages 4798-4820, November.
    20. Tamara Galkina, 2021. "International ECOpreneurship: Environmental commitment and international partner selection of Finnish firms from the energy sector," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 300-320, June.
    21. Torbjörn Ljungkvist & Jim Andersén, 2021. "A taxonomy of ecopreneurship in small manufacturing firms: A multidimensional cluster analysis," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 1374-1388, February.
    22. Nurainun & Farah Akmar Anor Salim, 2025. "Unlocking Ecopreneurial Growth: The Power of Marketing Strategies and Key Determinants," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(5), pages 2672-2682, May.
    23. Seungyeon Moon & Heesang Lee, 2021. "Shaping a Circular Economy in the Digital TV Industry: Focusing on Ecopreneurship through the Lens of Dynamic Capability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-41, April.
    24. Cristian Negrutiu & Cristinel Vasiliu & Calcedonia Enache, 2020. "Sustainable Entrepreneurship in the Transport and Retail Supply Chain Sector," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-12, November.
    25. Marvin Henry & Thijs Hoogenstrijd & Julian Kirchherr, 2023. "Motivations and identities of “grassroots” circular entrepreneurs: An initial exploration," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(3), pages 1122-1141, March.

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