The impact of corporate environmental management practices on environmental performance.

Hassan, Omaima A.G.; Romilly, Peter; Khadaroo, Iqbal

Abstract

This study draws on neo-institutional theory to examine how and why corporate environmental management practices might affect environmental performance. It contributes to the literature by using a large, global dataset to investigate the impact of ten corporate environmental management practices on greenhouse gas emissions or emissions intensity. It focuses on greenhouse gas emissions which pose an existential threat to the people and planet, and the environmental management practices of corporations whose effectiveness has provoked cynicism and claims of "greenwash". Our results are based on a dynamic, robust, and large-scale econometric analysis, which includes tests of association and Granger-causation in comparison to earlier research. A key finding, which is of interest not only to the academic literature but also to policy makers and managers, is that environmental performance impacts environmental management practices but not vice versa, supporting the hypothesis that corporations adopt these practices as a symbolic legitimising device rather than a genuine attempt derived from moral obligation to reduce their greenhouse gases or carbon intensity.

Citation

HASSAN, O.A.G., ROMILLY, P. and KHADAROO, I. 2023. The impact of corporate environmental management practices on environmental performance. Business eithics, the environment and responsibility [online], Early View. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/beer.12618

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 25, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Oct 6, 2023
• Deposit Date: Sep 28, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 9, 2023
• Journal: Business ethics, the environment and responsibility
• Electronic ISSN: 2694-6424
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/beer.12618
• Keywords: Environmental management practices; Environmental performance; Greenwash; Climate change; Greenhouse gases; Policy effectiveness
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2092881