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Inducing pollution prevention adoption: effectiveness of the 33/50 voluntary environmental program

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  • Xiang Bi
  • Madhu Khanna

Abstract

The Environmental Protection Agency has encouraged voluntary efforts at pollution prevention by facilities through participation in voluntary environmental programs (VEPs) such as the 33/50 program to reduce toxic releases. This paper examines the effectiveness of the 33/50 program in the adoption of pollution prevention practices and disentangles the effect of adoption from that of program participation on releases of 33/50 chemicals. Using facility-specific panel data and controlling for the endogeneity of program participation and pollution prevention adoption, we find that program participants were 38% more likely to adopt pollution prevention practices than non-participants. Program participants who adopted pollution prevention practices reduced their 33/50 releases by 52% compared to facilities that neither participated nor adopted pollution prevention. This indicates that VEPs that emphasize pollution prevention can play a complementary role in reducing toxic releases.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiang Bi & Madhu Khanna, 2017. "Inducing pollution prevention adoption: effectiveness of the 33/50 voluntary environmental program," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 60(12), pages 2234-2254, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jenpmg:v:60:y:2017:i:12:p:2234-2254
    DOI: 10.1080/09640568.2016.1273099
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    3. Abdoul G. Sam & Danbee Song, 2022. "Corporate environmentalism and international trade: Evidence from industry‐level data," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(5), pages 1440-1455, September.

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