IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/ers/journl/vxxivy2021i4-part1p57-74.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Pro-Ecological Initiatives and Profitability of Manufacturing Enterprises

Author

Listed:
  • Jacek Wysocki
  • Pawel Dec

Abstract

Purpose: The principal aim of the research was to present and evaluate the approach of manufacturing enterprises to various types of pro-ecological initiatives and to identify their impact on corporate financial performance (revenue, profit). Design/Methodology/Approach: The article discusses the issue of integrating environmental initiatives into economic activities of manufacturing enterprises in Poland and tries to answer whether managers of these enterprises make environmental decisions and what impact these decisions may have on the operation of the entities they manage. Quantitative studies were carried out on a sample of 385 manufacturing enterprises pursuing a variety of economic activities in Poland (50% were small, 39% medium-sized and 11% large companies). Findings: The hypothesis of the research was partially positively verified and it does not exhaust the research gap in the area. The key results from the studies indicated active (35%) and neutral (62%) attitudes of the companies surveyed to environmental issues as well as the pursuit of environmental initiatives by 77% of large, 82% medium-sized and only 39% of small enterprises. It shows that the future development of today’s enterprises can be achieved in many ways, but pro-ecological initiatives should not be ignored in this process. Practical Implications: On the basis of the results obtained it was found, that in most companies pro-ecological initiatives undertaken did not contribute to a net profit growth (in about 50-60% of the entities surveyed depending on the group), however, one third of the entities recorded a profit growth. At the same time, a prevailing, relatively low revenue growth (0 to 5%) due to the environmental initiatives implemented pointed to the existence of an ecological revenue gap that can be exploited by manufacturing enterprises. Originality/value: The originality and value of the study are given by the fact, that it identifies specific types of pro-ecological initiatives implemented in the surveyed companies, which can serve as models to follow for other entities.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacek Wysocki & Pawel Dec, 2021. "Pro-Ecological Initiatives and Profitability of Manufacturing Enterprises," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4 - Part ), pages 57-74.
    • Handle: RePEc:ers:journl:v:xxiv:y:2021:i:4-part1:p:57-74
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ersj.eu/journal/2562/download
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bogdan Wierzbiński & Tomasz Surmacz & Wiesława Kuźniar & Lucyna Witek, 2021. "The Role of the Ecological Awareness and the Influence on Food Preferences in Shaping Pro-Ecological Behavior of Young Consumers," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-14, April.
    2. Weng Marc Lim & Ding Hooi Ting, 2011. "Green marketing: issues, developments and avenues for future research," International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 11(2), pages 139-156.
    3. Nohora Mercado-Caruso & Marival Segarra-Oña & David Ovallos-Gazabon & Angel Peiró-Signes, 2020. "Identifying Endogenous and Exogenous Indicators to Measure Eco-Innovation within Clusters," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-20, July.
    4. Pawel Dec & Piotr Masiukiewicz, 2021. "Survival of Enterprises versus Sustainable Development," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(1), pages 763-775.
    5. Mohd Alsaleh & Azeem Oluwaseyi Zubair & Abdul Samad Abdul‐Rahim, 2020. "The impact of global competitiveness on the growth of bioenergy industry in EU‐28 region," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(5), pages 1304-1316, September.
    6. Paweł Dec & Piotr Masiukiewicz, 2021. "Socially Responsible Financial Products as a Contribution of Financial Institutions to Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-10, March.
    7. César Tapia-Fonllem & Victor Corral-Verdugo & Blanca Fraijo-Sing & Maria Fernanda Durón-Ramos, 2013. "Assessing Sustainable Behavior and its Correlates: A Measure of Pro-Ecological, Frugal, Altruistic and Equitable Actions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-13, February.
    8. Akbulut, Bengi & Adaman, Fikret, 2020. "The Ecological Economics of Economic Democracy," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    9. Patricia van Loon & Luk N. Van Wassenhove, 2020. "Transition to the circular economy: the story of four case companies," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 58(11), pages 3415-3422, June.
    10. Melek Yurdakul & Halim Kazan, 2020. "Effects of Eco-Innovation on Economic and Environmental Performance: Evidence from Turkey’s Manufacturing Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-22, April.
    11. Usama Awan & Marlen Gabriele Arnold & Ismail Gölgeci, 2021. "Enhancing green product and process innovation: Towards an integrative framework of knowledge acquisition and environmental investment," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 1283-1295, February.
    12. 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.
    13. Destek, Mehmet Akif & Ulucak, Recep & Dogan, Eyüp, 2018. "Analyzing the Environmental Kuznets Curve for the EU countries: The role of ecological footprint," MPRA Paper 106882, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Jacek Wysocki, 2021. "Innovative Green Initiatives in the Manufacturing SME Sector in Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-19, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. repec:ers:journl:v:xxiv:y:2021:i:4:p:57-74 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Jacek Wysocki, 2021. "Innovative Green Initiatives in the Manufacturing SME Sector in Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-19, February.
    3. Paweł Dec & Jacek Wysocki, 2022. "In Search of Non-Obvious Relationships between Greenhouse Gas or Particulate Matter Emissions, Renewable Energy and Corruption," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-20, February.
    4. Anna Misztal & Magdalena Kowalska, 2024. "Factors of green entrepreneurship in selected emerging markets in the European Union," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(11), pages 28269-28292, November.
    5. Marcin Olkiewicz & Anna Olkiewicz & Radosław Wolniak & Adam Wyszomirski, 2021. "Effects of Pro-Ecological Investments on an Example of the Heating Industry—Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-24, September.
    6. Liu, Yaping & Sadiq, Farah & Ali, Wajahat & Kumail, Tafazal, 2022. "Does tourism development, energy consumption, trade openness and economic growth matters for ecological footprint: Testing the Environmental Kuznets Curve and pollution haven hypothesis for Pakistan," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    7. Jim Andersén, 2023. "Green resource orchestration: A critical appraisal of the use of resource orchestration in environmental management research, and a research agenda for future study," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(8), pages 5506-5520, December.
    8. Agyemang Rama & Shuangying Chen & Konan Martin, 2023. "Psychological Factors Influencing Entrepreneur’s Hometown Identity in Relation to Eco-Innovation," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 18(2), pages 1-87, June.
    9. Patricia van Loon & Luk N. Van Wassenhove & Ales Mihelic, 2022. "Designing a circular business strategy: 7 years of evolution at a large washing machine manufacturer," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3), pages 1030-1041, March.
    10. Degirmenci, Tunahan & Yavuz, Hakan, 2024. "Environmental taxes, R&D expenditures and renewable energy consumption in EU countries: Are fiscal instruments effective in the expansion of clean energy?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    11. Hussein Moghaddam & Robert M. Kunst, 2023. "The Role of Natural Gas in Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The Environmental Kuznets Curve Hypothesis for Major Gas-Producing Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-20, February.
    12. Özlem Karadağ Albayrak & Samet Topal & Serhat Çamkaya, 2022. "The Impact of Economic Growth, Renewable Energy, Non-renewable Energy and Trade Openness on the Ecological Footprint and Forecasting in Turkiye: an Case of the ARDL and NMGM Forecasting Model," Alphanumeric Journal, Bahadir Fatih Yildirim, vol. 10(2), pages 139-154, December.
    13. Róbert Csalódi & Tímea Czvetkó & Viktor Sebestyén & János Abonyi, 2022. "Sectoral Analysis of Energy Transition Paths and Greenhouse Gas Emissions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-26, October.
    14. Maciej Urbaniak & Piotr Rogala & Piotr Kafel, 2023. "Expectations of manufacturing companies regarding future priorities of improvement actions taken by their suppliers," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 296-310, March.
    15. Wunhong Su & Chun Guo & Xiaobao Song, 2022. "Media coverage, Environment Protection Law and environmental research and development: evidence from the Chinese-listed firms," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(5), pages 6953-6983, May.
    16. Ansari, Mohd Arshad, 2022. "Re-visiting the Environmental Kuznets curve for ASEAN: A comparison between ecological footprint and carbon dioxide emissions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    17. Bireswar Dutta & Hsin-Ginn Hwang, 2021. "Consumers Purchase Intentions of Green Electric Vehicles: The Influence of Consumers Technological and Environmental Considerations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-23, October.
    18. Tang, Linjia & Guo, Yingying & Zha, Jianfeng & Zheng, Weiwei, 2024. "Acquiescence or Redemption: CEO’s early-life experience of environmental pollution and corporate green innovation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    19. Dominika Mesinger & Aneta Ocieczek & Witold Kozirok & Tomasz Owczarek, 2023. "Attitudes of Young Tri-City Residents toward Game Meat in the Context of Food Neophobia and a Tendency to Look for Diversity in Food," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-22, February.
    20. Margarita Ignatyeva & Vera Yurak & Oksana Logvinenko, 2020. "A New Look at the Natural Capital Concept: Approaches, Structure, and Evaluation Procedure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-21, November.
    21. Germán Arana-Landín & Naiara Uriarte-Gallastegi & Beñat Landeta-Manzano & Iker Laskurain-Iturbe, 2023. "The Contribution of Lean Management—Industry 4.0 Technologies to Improving Energy Efficiency," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-19, February.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Pro-ecological initiatives; sustainable development (SD); profitability; manufacturing enterprises; business management.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M1 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration
    • Q01 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - Sustainable Development
    • P42 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - Productive Enterprises; Factor and Product Markets; Prices

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ers:journl:v:xxiv:y:2021:i:4-part1:p:57-74. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Marios Agiomavritis (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://ersj.eu/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.