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Environmental Innovation and Sustainability in Small Handicraft Businesses in Mexico

Author

Listed:
  • Patricia S. Sánchez-Medina

    (CIIDIR, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Calle Hornos No. 1003, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, Oaxaca 71230, México)

  • Jack Corbett

    (Portland State University, 1825 Southwest Broadway, Portland, OR 97201, USA)

  • Arcelia Toledo-López

    (CIIDIR, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Calle Hornos No. 1003, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, Oaxaca 71230, México)

Abstract

In this study, the relationship between environmental innovation and sustainability is analyzed in 168 handicraft businesses in the Mexican states of Oaxaca, Puebla, and Tlaxcala. The results show a direct, positive relationship between environmental innovation and sustainability in three dimensions: economic, social, and environmental. In terms of determination, the variables that best explain sustainability are: organization type, product innovation, and process innovation. The age of the handicraft businesses was not a significant factor in explaining sustainability. This study concludes that handicraft businesses make sustainable choices more as a result of a desire for profit maximization than as a result of environmental consciousness, as can be explained by neoclassical view of economics.

Suggested Citation

  • Patricia S. Sánchez-Medina & Jack Corbett & Arcelia Toledo-López, 2011. "Environmental Innovation and Sustainability in Small Handicraft Businesses in Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 3(7), pages 1-19, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:3:y:2011:i:7:p:984-1002:d:13165
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    5. Hai Nguyen Thanh & Duong Nguyen Thuy & Huy Dinh Tran Ngoc & Hien Dinh Thi, 2021. "Sustainable Business Solutions For Traditional Handicraft Product In The Northwestern Provinces Of Vietnam," Management, Sciendo, vol. 25(1), pages 209-233, January.
    6. Mohsin Shafi & Liu Junrong & Yongzhong Yang & Deng Jian & Imran UR Rahman & Mahdi Moudi, 2021. "Factors Influencing the Consumer Acceptance of Innovation in Handicraft Products," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(4), pages 21582440211, December.
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    12. Yongzhong Yang & Mohsin Shafi, 2020. "How does customer and supplier cooperation in micro-enterprises affect innovation? Evidence from Pakistani handicraft micro-enterprises," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 19(5), pages 530-559, November.
    13. Dong-Her Shih & Chia-Ming Lu & Chia-Hao Lee & Sin-Ye Cai & Kuo-Jui Wu & Ming-Lang Tseng, 2018. "Eco-Innovation in Circular Agri-Business," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-13, April.
    14. Rosalia Castellano & Gennaro Punzo & Giuseppe Scandurra & Antonio Thomas, 2022. "Exploring antecedents of innovations for small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises' environmental sustainability: An interpretative framework," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(4), pages 1730-1748, May.
    15. Alfonso Carfora & Giuseppe Scandurra & Antonio Thomas, 2021. "Determinants of environmental innovations supporting small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises sustainable development," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(5), pages 2621-2636, July.
    16. Ayça Kubra Hizarci‐Payne & İlayda İpek & Gülüzar Kurt Gümüş, 2021. "How environmental innovation influences firm performance: A meta‐analytic review," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 1174-1190, February.
    17. Yongzhong Yang & Mohsin Shafi, 0. "How does customer and supplier cooperation in micro-enterprises affect innovation? Evidence from Pakistani handicraft micro-enterprises," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 0, pages 1-30.
    18. Lingyan Meng & Md Qamruzzaman & Anass Hamad Elneel Adow, 2021. "Technological Adaption and Open Innovation in SMEs: An Strategic Assessment for Women-Owned SMEs Sustainability in Bangladesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-22, March.
    19. Patricia Sánchez-Medina & René Díaz-Pichardo & Angélica Bautista-Cruz & Arcelia Toledo-López, 2015. "Environmental Compliance and Economic and Environmental Performance: Evidence from Handicrafts Small Businesses in Mexico," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 126(3), pages 381-393, February.

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