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Article
Publication date: 1 March 1995

Haw‐Jan Wu and Steven C. Dunn

Logistics can be an indispensable part of integrated environmentalmanagement programmes because of its cross‐functional nature. Providesan overview of environmentally responsible…

26338

Abstract

Logistics can be an indispensable part of integrated environmental management programmes because of its cross‐functional nature. Provides an overview of environmentally responsible logistics activities and their implications for corporate management. Also examines logistics functions in the context of the corporate value chain and identifies various environmental decision points. With environmental impact considered, many traditional trade‐off decisions need to be re‐evaluated. Provides examples in which innovative and environmentally‐friendly logistics ideas are used. Also discusses two system‐wide logistics elements, transportation and reverse logistics, that can have a profound impact on a firm′s environmental protection programme. Concludes that logistics managers can make environmentally responsible decisions that are coherent with corporate goals and objectives.

Details

International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, vol. 25 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0960-0035

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 August 2010

Nina Evans and Janet Sawyer

This paper aims to report on the key CSR strategies, activities and attitudes of small business owners in a South Australian regional area with regard to the key stakeholders…

3313

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to report on the key CSR strategies, activities and attitudes of small business owners in a South Australian regional area with regard to the key stakeholders, towards developing socially and environmentally responsible small businesses.

Design/methodology/approach

The investigation was conducted collaboratively between the University of South Australia's Centre for Regional Engagement (CRE) and the Whyalla Economic Development Board (WEDB), using an interview‐driven, qualitative design.

Findings

It was found that the small business owners in Whyalla were supportive of their stakeholders, especially the local community, because it was the right thing to do and was generally beneficial to their business.

Research limitations/implications

It is acknowledged that this type of research design limits the degree to which the results can be generalised, as the sample was limited and questions on environmental issues can be misunderstood and misinterpreted.

Practical implications

The results enable the University to assist the University and the WEDB to play an active role in developing the social and environmental awareness of businesses towards sustainable, socially and environmentally responsible regional small businesses.

Social implications

CSR is viewed through the lens of stakeholder theory, where stakeholders are all the people and entities that contribute to the businesses’ wealth‐creating activities.

Originality/value

The paper is based on an original study within small firms and their social and environmental responsibility relating to their stakeholders. Previous research on the CSR activities of small businesses within regional or rural environments is limited, especially in regional areas of a developed economy.

Details

Social Responsibility Journal, vol. 6 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1747-1117

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 October 2017

Aqueel Imtiaz Wahga, Richard Blundel and Anja Schaefer

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the drivers of sustainable entrepreneurial practices in SMEs operating in a developing economy. The secondary objectives are to explore the…

1461

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the drivers of sustainable entrepreneurial practices in SMEs operating in a developing economy. The secondary objectives are to explore the relationship between these drivers and to draw out the implications for policy and practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is informed by the literature on sustainable entrepreneurship, and on the drivers of pro-environmental practices in SMEs. It reports on the results of an intensive multi-level empirical study, which investigates the environmental practices of SMEs in Pakistan’s leatherworking industry using a multiple case study design and grounded analysis, which draws on relevant institutional theory.

Findings

The study identifies that coercive, normative and mimetic isomorphic pressures simultaneously drive sustainable entrepreneurial activity in the majority of sample SMEs. These pressures are exerted by specific micro-, meso- and macro-level factors, ranging from international customers’ requirements to individual-level values of owners and managers. It also reveals the catalytic effect of the educational and awareness-raising activities of intermediary organisations, in tandem with the attraction of competitiveness gains, (international) environmental regulations, industrial dynamism and reputational factors.

Practical implications

The evidence suggests that, in countries where formal institutional mechanisms have less of an impact, intermediary organisations can perform a proto-institutional role that helps to overcome pre-existing barriers to environmental improvement by sparking sustainable entrepreneurial activity in SME populations.

Originality/value

The findings imply that the drivers of sustainable entrepreneurial activity do not operate in a “piecemeal” fashion, but that particular factors mediate the emergence and development of other sustainability drivers. This paper provides new insights into sustainable entrepreneurship and motivations for environmental practices in an under-researched developing economy context.

Details

International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, vol. 24 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2554

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 February 2019

Merve Kılıç and Cemil Kuzey

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent of voluntary climate change disclosures in the Turkish banking industry and explore the factors explaining the extent of…

1775

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent of voluntary climate change disclosures in the Turkish banking industry and explore the factors explaining the extent of such disclosures.

Design/methodology/approach

The research sample is based upon 24 banks that had been continuously operating in Turkey over the seven-year period from 2010 to 2016. The study uses a disclosure index to investigate the extent of voluntary climate change-related disclosures made in their annual and sustainability reports by banks. The study also investigates factors impacting the extent of disclosures by using multiple regression and fractional regression analysis.

Findings

The findings of the research reveal that while the number of banks providing voluntary information on their climate change-related practices substantially increased from 2010 to 2016, there remains a significant number of banks that have not incorporated climate change-related issues into their lending policies or corporate strategies. Further, with regard to the regression analysis, the study documents the significant and positive impacts of bank size, profitability, bank age and listing status upon the extent of the climate change disclosures, in line with political cost and legitimacy theory.

Practical implications

The banking sector crucially impacts climate change indirectly, since banks provide financial backing to companies operating in environmentally sensitive industries. This paper presents empirical evidence of the factors impacting the extent of climate change disclosures by these banks, which might then be referred to by regulatory bodies when developing policies to promote environmentally responsible business practices within the banking industry.

Social implications

Several parties, which include governments, companies, financial institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) must work together to fight climate change. In this sense, the NGOs and green activists have a crucial role in raising public awareness about climate change, which might then inspire financial institutions to incorporate climate change-related issues into their policies, operations and strategies.

Originality/value

The study extends the prior literature in two ways. This study has concentrated on environmental reporting practices in the banking sector which have been investigated in very few prior studies. Since prior research has focused on developed countries, this paper adds to the current literature by examining the environmental disclosure practices of commercial banks operating in Turkey, which is a rapidly developing country.

Details

International Journal of Bank Marketing, vol. 37 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0265-2323

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 April 2014

Jiyul Choi and Byung Il Park

The aim of this paper is to empirically analyze the extent of the impact stakeholders' pressure has as a determinant of multinational enterprises' MNEs' local environmentally…

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to empirically analyze the extent of the impact stakeholders' pressure has as a determinant of multinational enterprises' MNEs' local environmentally responsible management (ERM), aiming to contribute to the interlocution with stakeholders and ERM strategy establishment of MNE subsidiaries.

Design/methodology/approach

To identify key stakeholders, ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis was used. The data were collected from 300 foreign subsidiaries established by Korean MNEs from August to December 2012.

Findings

The results show the parent company (as a major internal stakeholder) and government, NGOs and media (as external stakeholders) are major factors that promote ERM by subsidiaries. Stakeholder theory provides a comprehensive understanding about stakeholders' pressure as a force to engage overseas subsidiaries with environmental responsibility.

Originality/value

The research contributes to environmental and international business literature by investigating antecedents of ERM of overseas subsidiaries. A stakeholder perspective is used as an overarching theory in order to develop an ERM framework.

Details

Multinational Business Review, vol. 22 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1525-383X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 May 2012

Bin Shen, Yulan Wang, Chris K.Y. Lo and Momoko Shum

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between ethical fashion and consumer purchase behavior (their willingness to pay a premium for ethical fashion), with the…

47624

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between ethical fashion and consumer purchase behavior (their willingness to pay a premium for ethical fashion), with the focus on consumers’ concerns and beliefs about, and knowledge of, ethical fashion.

Design/methodology/approach

A self‐completion questionnaire was administered to 109 respondents. Factor analysis and other statistical analyses were applied to test hypotheses.

Findings

The findings suggest that consumer beliefs about ethical fashion, which are based on their perceptions of a company in terms of its reputation in the fashion industry, influence their support for what they perceive as socially and environmentally responsible businesses.

Research limitations/implications

The sample size, which is relatively small, is a limitation for this research. The data were collected in Hong Kong, limiting findings to that geographic region.

Practical implications

An important implication is that consumer education is essential to mitigate the prevailing throwaway culture and raise consumer awareness of ethical issues facing the fashion industry. Thus, retailers should take initiatives to educate consumers so as to ensure the success of their newly‐launched ethical fashion products.

Originality/value

The paper proposes an approach to clearly understand the impacts of ethical fashion on consumer purchase behavior.

Details

Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management: An International Journal, vol. 16 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1361-2026

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 October 2000

Sime Curkovic and Robert Landeros

This study develops an integrated theory about how Total Quality Management (TQM) based capabilities can be leveraged for Environmentally Responsible Manufacturing (ERM). It…

174

Abstract

This study develops an integrated theory about how Total Quality Management (TQM) based capabilities can be leveraged for Environmentally Responsible Manufacturing (ERM). It suggests that efforts should be coordinated to take advantage of the potential synergies between TQM and ERM. The means for capturing these synergies might be accomplished by using the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) framework. The MBNQA framework was adapted to address environmental issues and it was shown that the framework can be used as a basis for an integrative definition of ERM. This adaptation of the MBNQA framework suggests that there is an environmental version of the MBNQA framework and that quality principles can be seamlessly integrated into the practice of managing environmental issues. However, an empirical examination of the linkage between TQM and ERM remains untested. The findings of this study provide an important foundation for accomplishing this goal.

Details

American Journal of Business, vol. 15 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1935-5181

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 August 2019

Ahmed H. Ahmed, Yasser Eliwa and David M. Power

There has been an ongoing call from various groups of stakeholders for social and environmental practices to be integrated into companies’ operations. A number of companies have…

1623

Abstract

Purpose

There has been an ongoing call from various groups of stakeholders for social and environmental practices to be integrated into companies’ operations. A number of companies have responded by engaging in socially and environmentally responsible activities, while others choose not to participate in these activities, which incur additional costs. The absence of consensus regarding the economic implications of social and environmental practices provides the impetus for this paper. This study aims to examine the association between corporate social and environmental practices (CSEP) and the cost of equity capital measured by four ex ante measures using a sample of UK listed companies.

Design/methodology/approach

First, we undertake a review of the extant literature on CSEP. Second, using a sample of 236 companies surveyed in “Britain’s most admired companies” in terms of “community and environmental responsibility” during the period 2010-2014, we estimate four implied a cost of equity capital proxies. The relationship between a companies’ cost of equity capital and its CSEP is then calculated.

Findings

The authors find evidence that companies with higher levels of CSEP have a lower cost of equity capital. This finding determines the significant role played by CSEP in helping users to make useful decisions. Also, it supports arguments that firms with socially responsible practices have lower risk and higher valuation.

Practical implications

The finding encourages companies to be more socially and environmentally responsible. Furthermore, it provides up-to-date evidence of the economic consequences of CSEP. The results should, therefore, be of interest to managers, regulators and standard-setters charged with developing regulations to control CSEP, as these practices are still undertaken on a voluntary basis by companies.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the association between CSEP of British companies and their cost of equity capital. The study complements Ghoul et al. (2011), who examine the relationship between CSR and the cost of equity capital of the US sample. The authors extend Ghoul et al. (2011) by using a sample of the UK market after applying International Financial Reporting Standards.

Details

International Journal of Accounting & Information Management, vol. 27 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1834-7649

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2004

Nadia Tzschentke, David Kirk and Paul A. Lynch

This paper reports on the preliminary findings of an exploratory study on environmental decision making in the context of largely small serviced accommodation establishments. It…

12042

Abstract

This paper reports on the preliminary findings of an exploratory study on environmental decision making in the context of largely small serviced accommodation establishments. It focuses on the motivations of owner‐managers for becoming environmentally involved and their reasons for joining an environmental accreditation scheme. The study was conducted in Scotland using face‐to‐face in‐depth interviews with members of the Green Tourism Business Scheme, an environmental accreditation scheme for tourism businesses. Initial analysis suggests that involvement in environmental activities may be driven by economic as well as ethical considerations. The results point to the role played by personal values and beliefs in small firms’ decision making and the need to gain a greater understanding of the complexity of motives that drive the small hospitality business owner.

Details

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, vol. 16 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-6119

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 February 2021

Shamaila Gull and Hassan Idrees

This paper aims to highlight the importance of implementing green training as a part of green management practices in organizational operations by building the arguments through…

1218

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to highlight the importance of implementing green training as a part of green management practices in organizational operations by building the arguments through the lens of Ability–Motivation–Opportunity (AMO) theory. In this regard, the mediating impact of green competencies on the association between green training and organizational efficiency is determined.

Design/methodology/approach

The research followed a quantitative and cross-sectional approach. The study involved ISO-14001 certified textile manufacturing organizations to better serve the research purpose. The responses were collected from 235 managerial-level employees through purposive sampling. The data analysis was performed by using structural equation modelling to examine the interrelated dependence of the variables.

Findings

The findings of the study reveal that green training is essential for environmentally responsible organizations to attain their goals of efficient resource consumption in addition to serving the greater cause of environmental protection. There is a dire need to impart environmental-friendly competencies to the employees who resultantly become able to adopt eco-efficient ways of doing business.

Research limitations/implications

This study also has limitations regarding the generalizability of its results. It is primarily because of the limited sample size and restricted geographical domain. Additionally, AMO theory has not been empirically tested in this study.

Practical implications

Progressive textile manufacturers need to incorporate a consistent policy for green management practices to meet the expectation of their international clients and to remain competitive in international markets. It is equally important for the governmental authorities to design such environmental policies which necessitate the need of incorporating pro-environment business practices and measuring their outcomes.

Originality/value

This study will contribute to enrich the literature by offering an empirical analysis of green training for achieving the organizational efficiency in textile manufacturing sector. It will be a novel context to contribute to the literature of green management practices and its related fields. Moreover, the study is one of its kind that uses the AMO theory to identify the mediating role of green competencies for understanding the association between green training and organizational efficiency.

Details

European Journal of Training and Development, vol. 46 no. 1/2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2046-9012

Keywords

1 – 10 of over 8000