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Sustainable Business Practices in the United States: A Survey on Implementation

Author

Listed:
  • Otto H. Chang
  • Michael D. Slaubaugh

Abstract

A survey was designed and administered to 172 business professionals in the United States in 2015 to obtain their assessments of both the current status and future development of sustainable business practices at their companies. Despite the recent attention given to corporate social responsibility, we find that only 34 percent of respondents have a comprehensive sustainable management plan currently in place. However, the survey indicates that by 2021 that percentage is expected to increase to 54 percent. We also find that the six most popular sustainable business practices are recycling material, reducing waste, using less paper, employing energy-efficient technologies, conserving water, and adopting energy-efficient building designs. Respondents indicate their firms are likely to increase expenditures or investment in these same six sustainable practices from 2016-2021. This suggests these particular practices are viewed as being more feasible and beneficial to implement. Among the background variables investigated, we find that affiliation with an organization promoting sustainability is the most prominent; respondents affiliated with sustainability organizations are more likely to engage in sustainable business practices. Another significant background variable is firm size; large firms are more likely to be engaged in sustainable practices than smaller firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Otto H. Chang & Michael D. Slaubaugh, 2017. "Sustainable Business Practices in the United States: A Survey on Implementation," Journal of Management and Sustainability, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 7(3), pages 1-11, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:ibn:jmsjnl:v:7:y:2017:i:3:p:1-11
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Candy Poon & Gilbert Silvius, 2020. "Factors That Stimulate Project Managers to Consider Sustainability; Exploring the Stimulus Patterns of Canadian Project Managers," Journal of Management and Sustainability, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 9(2), pages 1-90, March.
    2. Mehfooz Ullah & Muhammad Waris Ali Khan & Lee Chia Kuang & Ammar Hussain & Faisal Rana & Asadullah Khan & Mirza Rizwan Sajid, 2020. "A Structural Model for the Antecedents of Sustainable Project Management in Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-19, September.
    3. RPIR Prasanna & JMHM Upulwehera & BDTN Senarath & GAKNJ Abeyrathne & PSK Rajapakshe & JMSB Jayasundara & EMS Ekanayake & Sisira Kumara Naradda Gamage, 2021. "Factors Determining the Competitive Strategic Positions of the SMEs in Asian Developing Nations: Case Study of SMEs in the Agricultural Sector in Sri Lanka," Economies, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-24, December.
    4. Dan Wang & Ruishi Si & Shah Fahad, 2023. "Evaluating the small and medium sized enterprises motivating factors and influencing barriers about adoption of green practices," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(4), pages 3029-3041, April.
    5. Junia A. Purwandani & Gilbert Michaud, 2021. "What are the drivers and barriers for green business practice adoption for SMEs?," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 41(4), pages 577-593, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    sustainability; business practices; implementation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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