Optimizing Sustainable Resource Efficiency: A Fuzzy‐Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Sustainable Practices in SMEs

This study examines the influence of sustainability practices on resource efficiency in Ghana's small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs), utilizing a comprehensive framework that integrates environmental and social dimensions, enabling conditions, innovative practices, and technological advancements. Through a survey of 462 manufacturing SMEs, the research uncovers the complex interrelationships between sustainability practices and their impact on resource efficiency. The findings reveal four distinct sustainability pathways: the first underscores the critical importance of environmental dimensions and enabling conditions without robust social dimensions and innovative practices. The second highlights the significance of environmental and enabling conditions, even when technological innovativeness is limited. The third and fourth pathways emphasize the pivotal role of social dimensions and technological innovation, with innovative practices as supportive elements. Additionally, two typologies emerge, illustrating the integration of environmental and social dimensions with enabling conditions and the synergy between technological innovation, social dimensions, and innovative practices. This research advances the discourse on sustainability within SMEs, emphasizing the necessity for reduced resource consumption, conservation, efficient production, circular economy principles, and waste minimization. The findings suggest that achieving SDG 8.4 by 2030, which targets global resource efficiency, hinges on adopting these sustainable pathways with emphasis on Ghanaian SMEs. This study provides a deeper understanding of sustainability practices among developing economy SMEs, shedding light on the intricate dynamics that enhance resource management. It offers critical insights for policymakers and practitioners seeking to promote sustainability in local SMEs, particularly in Ghana, advocating for a holistic approach that considers the multifaceted nature of sustainability.