Environmental sustainability and their factors in SMEs: A multiple case study of Spain and Chile

[EN] Environmental Sustainability (ES) is a growing concern for society’s development while identifying companies’ need to define sustainability-based strategies. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have an essential role; generating more than 60% of employment in Europe and Latin America. Num...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Villegas Pinuer, Francisco, Valenzuela Fernández, Leslier, Llonch Andreu, Joan, López Belbeze, Pilar
Formato: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2022
País:España
Recursos:Universidad del País Vasco
Repositorio:Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación
OAI Identifier:oai:addi.ehu.eus:10810/55437
Acesso em linha:http://hdl.handle.net/10810/55437
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:environmental sustainability
customer orientation
corporate social responsibility
entrepreneurial orientation
SMEs
sostenibilidad medioambiental
orientación al cliente
responsabilidad social corporativa
orientación emprendedora
PYMES
Q01
L26
Descrição
Resumo:[EN] Environmental Sustainability (ES) is a growing concern for society’s development while identifying companies’ need to define sustainability-based strategies. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have an essential role; generating more than 60% of employment in Europe and Latin America. Numerous research exists regarding large companies’ situation on environmental topics, yet little exists on SMEs at the practical and theoretical levels. Thus, determining the variables that affect the application of ES is very relevant. This study analyzes in-depth ES factors and drivers from the SMEs’ perspective, exploring the variables influencing their implementation in these companies. The methodology employed is in-depth interviews, applied to a sample of 17 SMEs in Spain and 25 SMEs in Chile. The main findings suggest that Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO), Customer Orientation (CO), and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) influence ES adoption in both countries, showing similarities in the driving reasons behind them, but with certain differences in their implementation (affected by institutional context influences). Furthermore, the level of knowledge affects decision-making related to the development of high-level environmental practices.