IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/endesu/v25y2023i8d10.1007_s10668-022-02385-5.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

From green to gold? A test of the innovation incentive and performance improvement effect of enterprise voluntary environmental management

Author

Listed:
  • Xin Chen

    (Shandong University)

  • Na Wang

    (Shandong Academy of Social Sciences)

Abstract

Environmental management certification is a common means for companies to conduct environmental management activities. By constructing a comprehensive certification-innovation-performance research framework, this paper analyzes whether environmental management certification can generate innovation incentives and then promote the improvement of corporate economic performance and social responsibility performance. Taking seven-year panel data of companies listed on GEM as a sample, a dynamic effect test including lag periods is carried out. The results show that voluntary environmental management helps to improve economic performance and social responsibility performance, but the influence paths are different. Voluntary environmental management affects economic performance through the mediator variable of green innovation and has a more obvious impact on long-term performance. However, for the performance of social responsibility, the direct effect of voluntary environmental management is significant, and green innovation does not play a mediating role. Regarding voluntary policy, this paper provides new support for the applicability of the Porter hypothesis. The conclusion of this paper has some implications for understanding the impact of voluntary environmental management on enterprise performance and can provide some theoretical support for promoting voluntary environmental management.

Suggested Citation

  • Xin Chen & Na Wang, 2023. "From green to gold? A test of the innovation incentive and performance improvement effect of enterprise voluntary environmental management," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(8), pages 8005-8029, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:25:y:2023:i:8:d:10.1007_s10668-022-02385-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-022-02385-5
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10668-022-02385-5
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10668-022-02385-5?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ivan Montiel & Bryan W. Husted & Petra Christmann, 2012. "Using private management standard certification to reduce information asymmetries in corrupt environments," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(9), pages 1103-1113, September.
    2. Francesco Perrini & Angeloantonio Russo & Antonio Tencati & Clodia Vurro, 2011. "Deconstructing the Relationship Between Corporate Social and Financial Performance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 102(1), pages 59-76, March.
    3. Yu-Shan Chen, 2008. "The Driver of Green Innovation and Green Image – Green Core Competence," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 81(3), pages 531-543, September.
    4. Rosa Dangelico & Devashish Pujari, 2010. "Mainstreaming Green Product Innovation: Why and How Companies Integrate Environmental Sustainability," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 95(3), pages 471-486, September.
    5. Gustavo Lannelongue & Oscar Gonzalez-Benito & Javier Gonzalez-Benito, 2014. "Environmental Motivations: The Pathway to Complete Environmental Management," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 124(1), pages 135-147, September.
    6. Demirel, Pelin & Kesidou, Effie, 2011. "Stimulating different types of eco-innovation in the UK: Government policies and firm motivations," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(8), pages 1546-1557, June.
    7. H. K. Chan & T.-Y. Chiou & F. Lettice, 2012. "Research Framework for Analyzing the Relationship Between Greening of Suppliers and Green Innovation on Firms’ Performance," International Journal of Applied Logistics (IJAL), IGI Global, vol. 3(3), pages 22-36, July.
    8. Hojnik, Jana & Ruzzier, Mitja, 2017. "Does it pay to be eco? The mediating role of competitive benefits and the effect of ISO14001," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 581-594.
    9. Wenlong He & Rui Shen, 2019. "ISO 14001 Certification and Corporate Technological Innovation: Evidence from Chinese Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 158(1), pages 97-117, August.
    10. Marcus Wagner & Patrick Llerena, 2011. "Eco-Innovation Through Integration, Regulation and Cooperation: Comparative Insights from Case Studies in Three Manufacturing Sectors," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(8), pages 747-764, November.
    11. Petra Christmann & Glen Taylor, 2006. "Firm self-regulation through international certifiable standards: determinants of symbolic versus substantive implementation," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 37(6), pages 863-878, November.
    12. Hernandez-Vivanco, Alfonso & Domingues, Pedro & Sampaio, Paulo & Bernardo, Merce & Cruz-Cázares, Claudio, 2019. "Do multiple certifications leverage firm performance? A dynamic approach," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 218(C), pages 386-399.
    13. Stephen Brammer & Chris Brooks & Stephen Pavelin, 2006. "Corporate Social Performance and Stock Returns: UK Evidence from Disaggregate Measures," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 35(3), pages 97-116, September.
    14. Nishitani, Kimitaka, 2010. "Demand for ISO 14001 adoption in the global supply chain: An empirical analysis focusing on environmentally conscious markets," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 395-407, August.
    15. Daniel C. Esty & Michael E. Porter, 1998. "Industrial Ecology and Competitiveness: Strategic Implications for the Firm," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 2(1), pages 35-43, January.
    16. Olivier Boiral & Yves Gendron, 2011. "Sustainable Development and Certification Practices: Lessons Learned and Prospects," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 20(5), pages 331-347, July.
    17. Haitao Yin & Peter J. Schmeidler, 2009. "Why do standardized ISO 14001 environmental management systems lead to heterogeneous environmental outcomes?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(7), pages 469-486, November.
    18. Hamamoto, Mitsutsugu, 2006. "Environmental regulation and the productivity of Japanese manufacturing industries," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(4), pages 299-312, November.
    19. Brouhle, Keith & Graham, Brad & Harrington, Donna Ramirez, 2013. "Innovation under the Climate Wise program," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 91-112.
    20. Inoue, Emiko & Arimura, Toshi H. & Nakano, Makiko, 2013. "A new insight into environmental innovation: Does the maturity of environmental management systems matter?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 156-163.
    21. Al-Tuwaijri, Sulaiman A. & Christensen, Theodore E. & Hughes, K. II, 2004. "The relations among environmental disclosure, environmental performance, and economic performance: a simultaneous equations approach," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 29(5-6), pages 447-471.
    22. Treacy, Raymond & Humphreys, Paul & McIvor, Ronan & Lo, Chris, 2019. "ISO14001 certification and operating performance: A practice-based view," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 319-328.
    23. 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)

    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. Pablo Arocena & Raquel Orcos & Fedaous Zouaghi, 2021. "The impact of ISO 14001 on firm environmental and economic performance: The moderating role of size and environmental awareness," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 955-967, February.
    2. Eduardo Duque‐Grisales & Javier Aguilera‐Caracuel & Jaime Guerrero‐Villegas & Encarnación García‐Sánchez, 2020. "Does green innovation affect the financial performance of Multilatinas? The moderating role of ISO 14001 and R&D investment," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 3286-3302, December.
    3. Jana Hojnik, 2017. "In Pursuit of Eco-innovation," UPP Monograph Series, University of Primorska Press, number 978-961-7023-53-4.
    4. Tariq, Adeel & Badir, Yuosre F. & Tariq, Waqas & Bhutta, Umair Saeed, 2017. "Drivers and consequences of green product and process innovation: A systematic review, conceptual framework, and future outlook," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 8-23.
    5. Konstantinos Iatridis & Effie Kesidou, 2018. "What Drives Substantive Versus Symbolic Implementation of ISO 14001 in a Time of Economic Crisis? Insights from Greek Manufacturing Companies," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(4), pages 859-877, April.
    6. Yogesh Bhatt & Karminder Ghuman, 2023. "Corporate environmental responsiveness: a bibliometric and content analysis," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 73(3), pages 1303-1350, September.
    7. Kawai, Norifumi & Strange, Roger & Zucchella, Antonella, 2018. "Stakeholder pressures, EMS implementation, and green innovation in MNC overseas subsidiaries," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(5), pages 933-946.
    8. Norifumi Kawai & Roger Strange & Antonella Zucchella, 2016. "Stakeholder Pressures, EMS Implementation, and Green Innovation in MNC Overseas Subsidiaries," DEM Working Papers Series 121, University of Pavia, Department of Economics and Management.
    9. Marilia Bossle & Marcia de Barcellos & Luciana Vieira, 2015. "Eco-innovative food in Brazil: perceptions from producers and consumers," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 3(1), pages 1-18, December.
    10. Patricia Laurens & Christian Le Bas & Stéphane Lhuillery & Antoine Schoen, 2017. "The determinants of cleaner energy innovations of the world’s largest firms: the impact of firm learning and knowledge capital," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(4), pages 311-333, May.
    11. Iñaki Heras‐Saizarbitoria & Olivier Boiral & Erlantz Allur & María García, 2020. "Communicating environmental management certification: Signaling without signals?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 422-431, February.
    12. Gotsch, Matthias & Kelnhofer, Anton & Jäger, Angela, 2019. "Environmental product innovations and the digital transformation of production: Analysing the influence that digitalising production has on generating environmental product innovations," Working Papers "Sustainability and Innovation" S07/2019, Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI).
    13. Dewick, Paul & Maytorena-Sanchez, Eunice & Winch, Graham, 2019. "Regulation and regenerative eco-innovation: the case of extracted materials in the UK," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 38-51.
    14. Qiong Yao & Suzhen Zeng & Shibin Sheng & Shiyuan Gong, 2021. "Green innovation and brand equity: moderating effects of industrial institutions," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 38(2), pages 573-602, June.
    15. 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.
    16. Muscio, Alessandro & Nardone, Gianluca & Stasi, Antonio, 2013. "Drivers of Eco-Innovation in the Italian Wine Industry," 2013 International European Forum, February 18-22, 2013, Innsbruck-Igls, Austria 164752, International European Forum on System Dynamics and Innovation in Food Networks.
    17. Artitzar Erauskin‐Tolosa & Eugenio Zubeltzu‐Jaka & Iñaki Heras‐Saizarbitoria & Olivier Boiral, 2020. "ISO 14001, EMAS and environmental performance: A meta‐analysis," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(3), pages 1145-1159, March.
    18. Pilar Portillo-Tarragona & Sabina Scarpellini & Jose M. Moneva & Jesus Valero-Gil & Alfonso Aranda-Usón, 2018. "Classification and Measurement of the Firms’ Resources and Capabilities Applied to Eco-Innovation Projects from a Resource-Based View Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-23, September.
    19. Meleddu, Marta & Vecco, Marilena & Mazzanti, Massimiliano, 2024. "The Role of Voluntary Environmental Policies Towards Achieving Circularity," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 219(C).
    20. Bu, Maoliang & Qiao, Zhenzi & Liu, Beibei, 2020. "Voluntary environmental regulation and firm innovation in China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 10-18.

    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:spr:endesu:v:25:y:2023:i:8:d:10.1007_s10668-022-02385-5. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.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.