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The impact of operational characteristics on firms' EMS decisions: strategic adoption of ISO 14001 certifications

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  • Takuya Takahashi
  • Masao Nakamura

Abstract

Firms choose to seek environmental management system (EMS) certifications such as ISO 14001 for a variety of reasons. In this paper we put forward a hypothesis that firms seek ISO 14001 certifications for their establishments when their operations involve low degrees of complexity. Another hypothesis we consider is that firms facing more uncertainty in their operations (and hence more risk) seek ISO 14001 certifications. These hypotheses have not been yet addressed in the literature and are of particular interest to business managers and policymakers. We empirically test these hypotheses using probit and duration models using matched establishment–firm–industry data for large Japanese manufacturers. Our findings support the first as well as the second hypotheses. This suggests that firms tend to certify more routine and less complex operations first, and that firms use ISO 14001 certifications as an insurance scheme. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Takuya Takahashi & Masao Nakamura, 2010. "The impact of operational characteristics on firms' EMS decisions: strategic adoption of ISO 14001 certifications," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(4), pages 215-229, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:corsem:v:17:y:2010:i:4:p:215-229
    DOI: 10.1002/csr.199
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    7. Jacob Hörisch & Matthew P. Johnson & Stefan Schaltegger, 2015. "Implementation of Sustainability Management and Company Size: A Knowledge‐Based View," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(8), pages 765-779, December.
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    9. Peter Oberhofer & Elmar Fürst, 2013. "Sustainable Development in the Transport Sector: Influencing Environmental Behaviour and Performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(6), pages 374-389, September.
    10. Guoyou Qi & Saixing Zeng & Xiaodong Li & Chiming Tam, 2012. "Role of Internalization Process in Defining the Relationship between ISO 14001 Certification and Corporate Environmental Performance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(3), pages 129-140, May.
    11. Lei Wang & Heikki Juslin, 2011. "The effects of value on the perception of corporate social responsibility implementation: A study of Chinese youth," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(4), pages 246-262, July.
    12. Grazia Dicuonzo & Francesca Donofrio & Antonia Patrizia Iannuzzi & Vittorio Dell’Atti, 2022. "The integration of sustainability in corporate governance systems: an innovative framework applied to the European systematically important banks," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 19(3), pages 249-263, September.
    13. Ozusaglam, Serdal & Kesidou, Effie & Wong, Chee Yew, 2018. "Performance effects of complementarity between environmental management systems and environmental technologies," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 112-122.
    14. Barbara Fura & Qingfang Wang, 2017. "The level of socioeconomic development of EU countries and the state of ISO 14001 certification," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 51(1), pages 103-119, January.
    15. Vera Ferrón Vílchez & Nicole Darnall, 2016. "Two are Better Than One: The Link Between Management Systems and Business Performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(4), pages 221-240, May.
    16. Orzes, Guido & Moretto, Antonella Maria & Moro, Mattia & Rossi, Matteo & Sartor, Marco & Caniato, Federico & Nassimbeni, Guido, 2020. "The impact of the United Nations global compact on firm performance: A longitudinal analysis," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    17. Christian Valery Tayo Tene & Olivier Boiral & Iñaki Heras‐Saizarbitoria, 2021. "Does quality management improve the internalization of environmental practices? An empirical study in Africa," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(7), pages 3053-3064, November.

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