IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i4p2386-d504214.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Innovative Green Initiatives in the Manufacturing SME Sector in Poland

Author

Listed:
  • Jacek Wysocki

    (Innovation Management Unit, Institute of Enterprise, Collegium of Business Administration, Warsaw School of Economics, 02–513 Warsaw, Poland)

Abstract

Operating a business in the context of current environmental challenges requires managers to shift away from the management model focused solely on the achievement of economic goals. In this situation, pro-ecological (green) initiatives, in particular those that are innovative, are gaining significance. These measures allow for the mitigation and/or elimination of the environmental pollution while generating at the same time certain benefits for the companies implementing them, which is reflected in the improved financial performance. Ecological innovation (eco-innovation) is an ideal solution that allows business entities to achieve both environmental and economic goals. Nevertheless, other green initiatives may also contribute to the accomplishment of such objectives. This article aims to indicate innovative green initiatives undertaken in the SME sector, while identifying at the same time their impact on the operation of entities in this sector. It was accomplished on the basis of empirical research conducted on a sample of 342 manufacturing enterprises operating in Poland. The obtained results gave rise to the conclusion that the undertaken innovative green initiatives do not only combine environmental objectives with economic objectives, but also bring measurable benefits to the implementers (e.g., revenue growth), which occurs in parallel to environmental safety maintenance.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacek Wysocki, 2021. "Innovative Green Initiatives in the Manufacturing SME Sector in Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-19, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:2386-:d:504214
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/4/2386/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/4/2386/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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.
    2. Iztok Palčič & Jasna Prester, 2020. "Impact of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies on Green Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-14, April.
    3. Sebastian Ion Ceptureanu & Eduard Gabriel Ceptureanu & Doina Popescu & Olguta Anca Orzan, 2020. "Eco-innovation Capability and Sustainability Driven Innovation Practices in Romanian SMEs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-18, August.
    4. Giuseppe Ioppolo & Stefano Cucurachi & Roberta Salomone & Giuseppe Saija & Luigi Ciraolo, 2014. "Industrial Ecology and Environmental Lean Management: Lights and Shadows," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(9), pages 1-15, September.
    5. Rennings, Klaus, 2000. "Redefining innovation -- eco-innovation research and the contribution from ecological economics," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 319-332, February.
    6. Paul CALANTER & Monica Patricia ARDELEANU, 2011. "Implementing Environmental Policies in EU - Action Plans and Programs," Journal of Knowledge Management, Economics and Information Technology, ScientificPapers.org, vol. 1(5), pages 1-8, August.
    7. Alberto Simboli & Andrea Raggi & Pietro Rosica, 2015. "Life Cycle Assessment of Process Eco-Innovations in an SME Automotive Supply Network," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(10), pages 1-16, October.
    8. Klaus Rennings & Thomas Zwick, 2002. "Employment Impact Of Cleaner Production On The Firm Level: Empirical Evidence From A Survey In Five European Countries," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 6(03), pages 319-342.
    9. 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.
    10. Paul Ekins, 2010. "Eco-innovation for environmental sustainability: concepts, progress and policies," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 7(2), pages 267-290, August.
    11. Luigi Galletto & Luigino Barisan, 2019. "Carbon Footprint as a Lever for Sustained Competitive Strategy in Developing a Smart Oenology: Evidence from an Exploratory Study in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-20, March.
    12. 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.
    13. Blandine Laperche & Dimitri Uzunidis, 2012. "Eco-Innovation, Knowledge Capital and the Evolution of the Firm," The IUP Journal of Knowledge Management, IUP Publications, vol. 0(3), pages 14-34, July.
    14. 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.
    15. Chris Freeman & Luc Soete, 1997. "The Economics of Industrial Innovation, 3rd Edition," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 3, volume 1, number 0262061953, December.
    16. David Doloreux & Luisa Kraft, 2019. "A Taxonomy of Eco-Innovation Types in SMEs: Exploring Different Firm Profiles in the Canadian Wine Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-14, October.
    17. Kesidou, Effie & Demirel, Pelin, 2012. "On the drivers of eco-innovations: Empirical evidence from the UK," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(5), pages 862-870.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ralph Sonntag & Gerard J. Lewis & Andrzej Raszkowski, 2022. "The Importance of Implementing SDGs by Small and Medium Size Enterprises: Evidence from Germany and Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Xueyan Wang & Hong Wu & Lu Lu, 2021. "A Novel Service Provision Mode for Sustainable Development of the Telecom Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-15, May.
    3. Alicia Llorca-Ponce & Gregorio Rius-Sorolla & Francisco J. Ferreiro-Seoane, 2021. "Is Innovation a Driver of Sustainability? An Analysis from a Spanish Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-30, August.
    4. S. M. Shafiul Alam & K. M. Zahidul Islam, 2021. "Examining the role of environmental corporate social responsibility in building green corporate image and green competitive advantage," International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 6(1), pages 1-16, December.
    5. 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.
    6. Retno Purwani Setyaningrum & Muamar Nur Kholid & Priyo Susilo, 2023. "Sustainable SMEs Performance and Green Competitive Advantage: The Role of Green Creativity, Business Independence and Green IT Empowerment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-14, August.
    7. Marek Ondov & Andrea Rosova & Marian Sofranko & Jan Feher & Jozef Cambal & Erika Feckova Skrabulakova, 2022. "Redesigning the Production Process Using Simulation for Sustainable Development of the Enterprise," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-21, January.
    8. repec:ers:journl:v:xxiv:y:2021:i:4:p:57-74 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Monika Klemke-Pitek & Magdalena Majchrzak, 2022. "Pro-Ecological Activities and Shaping the Competitive Advantage of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in the Aspect of Sustainable Energy Management," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-23, March.
    10. 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.
    11. Duan, Ditao & Liu, Kai, 2023. "Do financial inclusion, natural resources and green innovation affect the Sustainable Environment in Resource Rich Economies," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(PA).
    12. 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.

    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 & 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.
    3. Roberto Rivas Hermann & Karin Wigger, 2017. "Eco-Innovation Drivers in Value-Creating Networks: A Case Study of Ship Retrofitting Services," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-27, May.
    4. Vitaliy Roud & Thomas Wolfgang Thurner, 2018. "The Influence of State‐Ownership on Eco‐Innovations in Russian Manufacturing Firms," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 22(5), pages 1213-1227, October.
    5. Joana Costa, 2021. "Carrots or Sticks: Which Policies Matter the Most in Sustainable Resource Management?," Resources, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-21, February.
    6. Joaquin Sanchez-Planelles & Marival Segarra-Oña & Angel Peiro-Signes, 2020. "Building a Theoretical Framework for Corporate Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-21, December.
    7. Brian Chi-ang Lin & Siqi Zheng & Nicolò Barbieri & Claudia Ghisetti & Marianna Gilli & Giovanni Marin & Francesco Nicolli, 2016. "A Survey Of The Literature On Environmental Innovation Based On Main Path Analysis," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(3), pages 596-623, July.
    8. Costantini, Valeria & Crespi, Francesco & Palma, Alessandro, 2017. "Characterizing the policy mix and its impact on eco-innovation: A patent analysis of energy-efficient technologies," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(4), pages 799-819.
    9. Abdesselam, Rafik & Kedjar, Malia & Renou-Maissant, Patricia, 2024. "What are the drivers of eco-innovation? Empirical evidence from French start-ups," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    10. Costa-Campi, M.T. & García-Quevedo, J. & Martínez-Ros, E., 2017. "What are the determinants of investment in environmental R&D?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 455-465.
    11. 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.
    12. Xie, Ronghui & Teo, Thompson S.H., 2022. "Green technology innovation, environmental externality, and the cleaner upgrading of industrial structure in China — Considering the moderating effect of environmental regulation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    13. Melek Yurdakul & Halim Kazan, 2024. "A Study on Determining the Eco-Innovation Dynamics in Turkey’s Manufacturing Companies," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(1), pages 4912-4938, March.
    14. Pinget, Amandine, 2016. "Spécificités des déterminants des innovations environnementales : une approche appliquée aux PME [Specificities of determinants for environmental innovation : an approach applied to SMEs]," MPRA Paper 80108, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Maldonado-Guzmán, Gonzalo & Pinzón-Castro, Sandra Yesenia, 2022. "Financial resources, eco-innovation and sustainability performance in automotive industry," TEC Empresarial, School of Business, Costa Rica Institute of Technology (ITCR), vol. 16(2), pages 34-54.
    16. Rafik Abdesselam & Malia Kedjar & Patricia Renou-Maissant, 2024. "What are the drivers of eco-innovation? Empirical evidence from French start-ups," Post-Print hal-04304153, HAL.
    17. Ghisetti, Claudia & Pontoni, Federico, 2015. "Investigating policy and R&D effects on environmental innovation: A meta-analysis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 57-66.
    18. Durán-Romero, Gemma & López, Ana M. & Beliaeva, Tatiana & Ferasso, Marcos & Garonne, Christophe & Jones, Paul, 2020. "Bridging the gap between circular economy and climate change mitigation policies through eco-innovations and Quintuple Helix Model," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    19. Ren, Shenggang & Hu, Yucai & Zheng, Jingjing & Wang, Yangjie, 2020. "Emissions trading and firm innovation: Evidence from a natural experiment in China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    20. Krieger, Bastian & Zipperer, Vera, 2022. "Does green public procurement trigger environmental innovations?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(6).
    21. Antonioli, Davide & Mazzanti, Massimiliano, 2017. "Towards a green economy through innovations: The role of trade union involvement," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 286-299.

    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:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:2386-:d:504214. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.