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Sustainability has become key for many industries, including the energy sector, which often has negative environmental impacts and overall low sustainability levels. Literature exploring environmental, social and governance (ESG) scores in the energy sector is limited, despite the critical effect of the energy production on sustainability. In light of institutional theory, we select four factors (i.e., energy source used by a firm, firm position in the supply chain (SC), firm geographic location, and firm size) that may influence the strategies and operations of firms in electric power SCs impacting their ESG scores. Five hypotheses on the influence of the four factors on firms' ESG scores are developed and tested by means of multiple linear regressions on secondary data from the Refinitiv Eikon database. The Nomenclature of Economic Activities classification was applied to determine 416 relevant firms along electric power SCs (i.e., from mining to electricity transmission and distribution firms, with electricity production firms as focal firms) for which data was extracted for the fiscal years 2020 and 2021. Our findings reveal that geographic location and firm size significantly influence ESG scores, while the mix of energy sources influences the environmental performance only and the influence of firm position in the SC remains insignificant. These results are explained within institutional theory perspective. This paper contributes to the literature by highlighting variables that may correlate with the sustainability scores of firms along electric power SCs. Moreover, it assists managers and policymakers in identifying, understanding, and influencing sustainability differences in these SCs. • The first holistic study on ESG scores determinants in the electric power SC. • Specifying a set of correlations between the determinants and ESG scores. • Analyzing ESG scores of 416 energy firms using multiple linear regression. • Determining the highest impacts on ESG scores: geographic location and size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing awareness of sustainability issues in industrialized countries has resulted in an unprecedented rise in the number of environmental innovations produced worldwide. However, while this is a general tendency, the amount and importance of environmental innovations is far from consistent across industrialized countries. The influence of countries' policy network styles – referring to which and how interest groups participate in making public policy choices is a dimension that has been subject to growing interest and controversy. We propose that companies from pluralistic countries will generate more environmental innovations, but the importance of environmental innovations will be higher in neo-corporatist countries. Our analysis, based on a longitudinal analysis of 84,274 environmental patents from the United States, Japan, Germany, and the UK during the period 1976–2003, indicates support for our prediction that neo-corporatist countries tend to generate more important environmental innovations than pluralistic countries. Yet, our findings do not support our hypothesis suggesting that pluralistic countries are more likely to generate a higher number of environmental innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides additional insight into the paradox of embedded agency through an examination of investors' interests in sustainable business. According to the paradox, although actors are embedded in institutional fields, they may become agents of change. This research adds to existing literature by examining how varying degrees of embeddedness may affect change behaviors. In addition, this research considers the latter in a new venture investment context that: 1) distinguishes between individual, organizational, and hybrid organizational investor types, 2) perceives investors in a mature field crossing over to engage in or "boundary bridging" to emerging fields related to new industries and other mature fields, and 3) conceptualizes a change agent role as a mixed coalition of leaders and supporters rather than a single autonomous actor. By examining investors' various roles in sustainable entrepreneurship, contributions are also made to the literature on sustainable entrepreneurship. Empirical tests of hypotheses use negative binomial regression analyses on a sample of 186 Crunchbase listed firms. Results find that the lead investors who choose sustainable start-ups over information technology start-ups are change agents, sometimes in syndicate coalitions that include other supportive embedded investors having differing motivations. • This study examines investors as change agents supporting sustainable new ventures. • Varying degrees of embeddedness of investor types affect change behaviors. • Individual, organizational and hybrid organizational investor types are considered. • The change agent role is a mixed coalition - a syndicate – not a single actor. • Regression analyses using 186 Crunchbase firms support the theory developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract 'Sustainable business practice' is an aspiration for an increasing proportion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) around the world, promising profitability, resilience and positive social and environmental impacts. 'Lean thinking' has evolved as a popular business strategy for SMEs to achieve sustainable business practice, addressing the need for efficiency in production and waste reduction. In this study we explore the co-evolution of 'lean and green thinking' and the potential for lean and green practices to enable successful transitions to sustainable business practice. Focusing on investigations into manufacturing SMEs in Queensland, Australia, we first establish four key enablers and six key barriers to sustainable business practice, derived from a series of in-depth interviews with Chief Executive Officers and senior managers involved in sustainability and lean manufacturing. We offer an institutional theory perspective on these findings, concluding the potential for normative, coercive and mimetic drivers to influence SMEs to shape environmental, social and economic decision making and legitimize the transition to sustainable business practice. We then present a novel 'Model of strategic enablers of sustainable business practice' to guide SMEs to intentionally use their lean and green strategies to successfully adopt sustainable business outcomes. We propose that through adopting lean and green thinking to transition to sustainable business practice, SMEs can more rapidly contribute to the circular economy at the level of firm. Agencies and professional bodies can support SMEs in this transition through targeted interventions that address the enablers and barriers presented. Highlights • Engaging in lean and green thinking can drive sustainable business practice in SMEs. • We share insights on enablers and barriers to implementing lean and green thinking. • Institutional theory perspective is discussed regarding informed decision-making. • We present an enabling model of strategic enablers of sustainable business practice. • We conclude the importance of findings for circular economy at the level of firm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Corruption is one of the barriers to achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs), which is associated with the lack of integrity. The objective of the paper is to examine the extent of integrity framework information disclosure on Malaysian and Indonesian local authorities' websites using the coercive isomorphism tenet. The data collected in this study were based on a content analysis of inclusion or exclusion of integrity framework information disclosed on 51 Malaysian and 34 Indonesian local authorities' websites. This paper is significant for the following reasons. Based on the website disclosures, the 34 Indonesian local authorities or provinces outperformed Malaysia's 51 city and municipal councils' disclosures. The average website disclosure for Indonesia was 29 items out of 47 items under study as compared to just four items disclosed in Malaysia. Indonesian local authorities are more proactive in the integrity initiative implementation, which is translated into reporting as influenced by the external coercive forces: legitimacy, public visibility, public sector reform and institutional support structures. The findings would assist in helping regulatory authorities and policy makers to strengthen their mechanisms in upholding integrity. This paper considers the institutional theory of isomorphism mechanism, namely, coercive that enhances the understanding of integrity framework disclosure and adds to the pool of literature. Graphical abstract Image 10581 Highlights • The Indonesian local authorities disclose more online integrity framework info. • Coercive factors influence the disclosure by the Indonesian local authorities. • More enforcement is required to promote online integrity information in Malaysia. • Online integrity disclosure drives the attainment of sustainable development goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To encourage enterprises to take green innovation, the Chinese government has been promoting the development of green finance. However, it has brought about the risk of "greenwashing". This article analyzes "greenwashing" from the perspective of government intervention, focusing on the stakeholder theory and institutional theory that influence the decision-making of participants in green finance, constructing a three-party evolutionary game model for enterprises, green financial institutions, and local governments. By comparing the stable strategy changes before and after the introduction of blockchain technology, the mechanism of blockchain in addressing the "greenwashing" risk in green finance is discussed. The study shows that: first, government regulation plays a crucial role in stimulating enterprises to engage in green innovation and encouraging green financial institutions to provide financial services; Second, before the application of blockchain technology, low-intensity regulation cannot curb the "greenwashing" of enterprises and fails to stimulate them to engage in green innovation. However, after applying blockchain technology, even under low-intensity regulation, enterprises will actively engage in green innovation under the reputation mechanism constructed in the architecture of a consortium chain. This work provides a theoretical framework and guidance for subsequent scholars to conduct quantitative research on the resolution of "greenwashing" in green finance from a government perspective using blockchain. [Display omitted] • Blockchain's role in solving "greenwashing" via institutional and stakeholder theory. • Quantitative research on blockchain and green finance using evolutionary game theory. • Discussed government role in China's mandatory green finance policy context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the role of institutional pressures and supply chain integration in the adoption of Circular Economy practices. Using a Delphi-like approach and leveraging on a panel of 30 experts in the field of Circular Economy, this study aims to gain additional insights into how coercive, normative, and mimetic pressures can drive the implementation of circular supply chains. The findings reveal a hierarchy of institutional pressures, with coercive market and regulatory pressures having a greater impact compared to normative and mimetic pressures. Additionally, the study identifies various responses to these pressures, illustrating different trajectories towards the implementation of Circular Economy practices. Furthermore, the research investigates the role of supply chain integration. Generally, a higher level of supply chain integration can amplify the effect of institutional pressures, promoting the adoption of incremental Circular Economy practices. However, it is noteworthy to mention that supply chain integration may also hinder the adoption of more radical Circular Economy approaches, favouring the retention of linear supply chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing concern over the depletion of natural resources caused by rapid industrialization and its impact on the environment. As a response to these concerns, many companies are now focusing on implementing green supply chain management (GSCM) practices and green innovation (GI) as part of their environmental strategies to improve their economic performance (EP). Empirical evidence regarding the actual effects of these practices on the economic performance of Chinese chemical companies is still limited, warranting further investigation. To close the gap, this study utilizes the resource-based view and Institutional Theory to explore how three types of institutional pressures influence GSCM practices in Chinese chemical companies. Additionally, it examines the role of top management support (TMS) in shaping the relationship between GSCM practices and economic performance. The PLS-SEM approach was used to analyze the data gathered from 414 samples from listed Chinese chemical companies. The findings of the study revealed four key outcomes: First, institutional pressures have a positive influence on the adoption of GSCM practices by companies. Second, both GSCM practices and GI have a positive impact on economic performance, indicating that companies can enhance their economic performance by incorporating environmentally friendly practices. Third, GI acts as a mediator between GSCM practices and economic performance, indicating that the implementation of GI plays a crucial role in improving companies' economic outcomes through GSCM practices. Lastly, the relationship between GSCM practices and economic performance is strengthened when top management provides strong support for these initiatives. Overall, these findings not only have an academic impact on the supply chain domain but also provide effective environmental management practices to the top managers in Chinese chemical sector, allowing them to make decisions that benefit organizational efficiency, innovation, and performance. By identifying the factors that drive the adoption of GSCM practices and their influence on economic performance, the study offers valuable guidance for companies to integrate sustainable practices into their operations. • This study examined the influences of institutional pressures on GSCM practices. • The research model is drawing from RBV and Institutional Theory. • Data was collected from 414 listed chemical companies in China. • The mediating role of green innovation is established. • Economic performance was found to rely on top management supports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The objective of this study is to identify, through motivating, inhibiting and facilitating factors, responses to institutional pressures on the relationship between biodiesel plants and family farming cooperatives via the Social Fuel Seal (SFS) in the South region of Brazil. This region is characterized by well-endowed family farming cooperatives. This paper adopts as theoretical lens the institutional theory. It is based on case studies involving qualitative research drawing results from four biodiesel plants with SFS certification and eight family farming cooperatives. The results indicate that the institutional biodiesel framework influenced the SFS-based relationships. This coercion mechanism led the plants to comply with the promotion of family farming via cooperatives. The plants seek legal legitimacy and opt to accept institutional pressures, primarily due to the guaranteed sale of all biodiesel produced via government sponsored auctions. Cooperatives are attracted by the receipt of the social bonus, seen as a prime motivating factor, which can be interpreted as an informal coercive pressure. Considering the context in which the plants and cooperatives are inserted, the SFS promoted changes in the sale of raw materials. It was also found that cooperatives facilitating factors are inversely related with plants inhibiting factors. Highlights • The government acts as an inducer and regulator of the biodiesel supply chain. • SFS based institutional interventions curb market dynamics. • In environments controlled by coercive pressures, companies adapt through specific incentives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the influence of advanced and developing economies on the adoption of environmental practices and the influence of those environmental practices on environmental performance. Furthermore, production capability is investigated as a conditional effect on the relationship between environmental practices and environmental performance. Specifically, using a sample of approximately 450 globally located manufacturing plants, the Resource Based View (RBV), Practice Based View (PBV) and Institutional theory were utilized to develop and test a set of hypotheses surrounding how economy influences the neoteric engagement of environmental practices. Data envelopment analysis was utilized to assign production capability scores to these manufacturing plants and then conditional process modeling was used to assess the relationships among type of economy, level of production capability, adoption of environmental practices and environmental performance. The study finds that there is a stronger positive relationship between developing economies and the neoteric adoption of environmental practices as compared to advanced economies. Results also show higher degrees of production capability had a mixed effect on the relationship between environmental practices and environmental performance. The results draw attention to how PBV and RBV may work together to inform how practices affect performance and how production capability reacts uniquely with environmental practices with different strategic foci. This study is one of the first to address the interplay between type of economy and engagement in environmental practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a context of great social pressure, manufacturing plants are trying to improve their environmental performance. Although extant literature has stressed the key role played by companies’ cultural environments on the main drivers of their sustainability practices, it fails to provide significant empirical evidence. The aim of this research was to fill this gap by empirically analysing whether the cultural environment plays a moderator role in the drivers that encourage environmental practices in manufacturing plants, as well as in the relationship between environmental practices and financial performance. The theoretical arguments of Institutional Theory, and Trade-Off and Eco-Efficient Theories, provided the framework in which the hypotheses were tested. The sample was composed of 230 manufacturing plants from ten countries, whose managers answered an environmental questionnaire developed as part of the High Performance Manufacturing Project. The Partial Least Squares (PLS) technique was used to carry out the research. Results revealed that the factors that most influenced environmental practices adoption in manufacturing plants differed in the considered cultural environments: rule-vs. relation-Based. Cost Savings were the main environmental practices driver in plants in the most advanced rule-based countries, while Top Management support was revealed to be the main motivation in plants in relation-based countries. In addition, it seemed that environmentally-friendly actions had no significant impact on perceived manufacturing company performance, regardless of the cultural environment considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development requires more investment in sustainable companies and less in unsustainable firms. However, the factors driving sustainable investing are not well understood. To address this gap, this paper uses institutional theory to examine three determinants of sustainable investing: (1) investor commitment to sustainable investing initiatives; (2) normative pressure; and (3) home-country influences. The findings indicate that sustainable investing initiatives do not guarantee more sustainable asset allocation among members. Normative pressure correlates with reduced investment in unsustainable companies. Investors from home-countries with legal systems prioritizing diverse stakeholders, and with governments committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), tend to invest less in unsustainable companies. Conversely, investors from countries with limited SDG progress show higher investment in unsustainable firms, while those from more developed nations invest more in sustainable companies. These results highlight the need for a critical examination of institutional efficacy in promoting sustainable investing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing literature agrees that companies' sustainability concerns are related to stakeholders' sustainability awareness. However, these studies disagree on how this relationship occurs. Some suggest that companies strategically decide to be more sustainable, expecting that stakeholders' recognition of their efforts will generate competitive advantage (inside-out perspective). However, others suggest that companies' sustainability awareness (and actions) increases only in response to stakeholder requests (outside-in perspective). Each perspective offers different views on how much stakeholders should trust the available information sources about companies' sustainability performance—what companies say (e.g., sustainability reports) and what ESG ratings companies present—because obtaining direct information about what companies do may be difficult for external stakeholders. In exploring how these theories support each other, we suggest strong structuration theory as a helpful tool for integrating inside-out and outside-in perspectives. We argue that these perspectives are complementaries instead of opposites, propose a framework to approach empirical settings, and apply the said framework to analyze the Cerrado Manifesto case, a zero-deforestation initiative led by private organizations, mainly European, on the Brazilian Cerrado biome. Using different information sources, we apply SmartPLS 4.0.9.2 to test the relationship between what companies say, do, and what ESG ratings say they do, additionally investigating the influence of social pressure, institutional environment, and controversies around companies. The results show no direct relationship between what ESG ratings say companies do and manifesto-signing (what companies do), but show an indirect effect through reporting (what companies say). A positive relationship was found between ESG rating and reporting, and between reporting and manifesto-signing. Significant relationships were found between the pressure received construct and both manifesto-signing and reporting. The proposed framework, integrating inside-out and outside-in perspectives, explains a company's manifesto-signing. [Display omitted] • We explored how ESG rating, what companies say, and what they do are connected. • We examined the role of social pressure to understand what companies do and say. • We studied company-level reporting and practice and its links to social pressure. • ESG controversy and headquarters country's SDG moderate social pressure and company practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study makes a contribution to the current literature by analysing how an internal strategic decision, process innovation, interacts with some features of the external environment to explain environmental sustainability engagement by companies. Drawing on economic and institutional rationales, three hypotheses are proposed to examine the relationship between process innovation and environmental sustainability engagement, considering the role played by the competitive and institutional context in which the firm operates. The hypotheses are tested using a sample of 239 companies in high-tech sectors operating in Spanish science and technology parks. Using a non-parametric test, the results show that companies that perform process innovation are more engaged in environmental sustainability. Based on hierarchical regression models, further results show that performing process innovation more than competitors is related to higher environmental sustainability engagement. However, when time is considered in the model as an explanatory factor, the effect exerted by the institutional environment fades away. Furthermore, the results show that as companies accumulate years operating in a science and technology park, the relationship between process innovation and environmental sustainability engagement even becomes negative. These findings suggest that there is a strong link between process innovation and sustainability engagement. Companies tend to satisfy both economic restrictions posed by their competitive environment and institutional pressures exerted by their stakeholders, albeit in a manner that is not evenly distributed over time. Similarly, firms devote more attention to institutional pressures at the beginning and to economic requirements in later stages of their evolution within science and technology parks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on the concept of decoupling, from institutional theory in organizational studies, this paper explains how organizations mitigate demands for circularity. Seven Swedish apparel companies that have started collecting used clothes as a form of engagement with circular business models serve as case studies. The paper shows how outsourcing and internal separation allow these companies to buffer their business model and core way of creating value from emerging demands. It also shows how companies pro-actively work at influencing institutional demands for circularity by making these demands compatible with their own interests. The concept of decoupling thereby provides key insights into the development and implementation, or absence thereof, of circular business models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research is to concurrently address two identified gaps. Firstly, integrated management systems (IMS) are managed yet not measured and, secondly, corporate sustainability (CS) is measured yet not managed. It is argued that CS and IMS share stakeholder orientation, innovativeness and complexity. In light of the commonalities and opposing deficiencies, potential synergies are investigated to the mutual benefit of management systems integration and corporate sustainability. On the one side, integrated management systems may provide the necessary holistic framework for the management of corporate sustainability. On the other side, triple bottom line sustainability accounting and reporting may offer the metrics for IMS effectiveness. This reciprocating approach may aid both academics and practitioners to enhance the IMS positive impact and improve management of corporate sustainability. To serve the research purpose, a content analysis is performed drawing on three managerial theories. Resource, stakeholder and institutional theories are used to delve into the IMS and CS concepts and their relationships. Certain research propositions are generated and a framework is composed. Three key constructs - IMS resources, IMS level and CS performance - are conceptualised. The proposed framework can be subject to empirical validation in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a conceptual model for corporate climate change strategy development. It reflects the dynamic influence of climate change risks and stakeholder pressures on carbon management practices adopted and the performance perception of managers. We draw our model on resource dependence theory to explain how managers apply carbon management practices to reduce ecological uncertainty caused by firms’ direct dependence on nature. Using institutional theory, we describe how stakeholders influence firm reactions to climate change. We test a structural equation model and run a cluster analysis of 105 Brazilian energy firms. The results show that companies undertake one of four different strategies ranging from a minimalist approach to the regulation shaper, pressure manager or greenhouse gas emission avoiders. The proposed model contributes to an understanding of the importance of embedding climate change in a business model in emerging markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of their corporate social responsibility strategies, large retailers have recently been offering an increasing number of local products. However, the impact of such actions is not obvious, since large retail stores are expected to offer industrial products in large quantities at low prices, yet local products are manufactured in small quantities with high quality at a higher cost. Drawing on institutional theory, this research therefore investigates the impact of these actions on the perceived legitimacy of a retailer. To test the hypotheses, two scenario-based experiments were conducted. Study 1 (n = 125) indicates that the perceived legitimacy of the retail store mediates the effect of support for local producers on patronage intentions. This mediating effect of legitimacy is moderated by locavorism and thus occurs only when consumers prefer local products. Study 2 (n = 171) replicates the results of Study 1 and shows that stores communicating that their support came 'without earning a cent' have a greater impact on patronage intentions than those that communicated local support but 'with a classic margin'. This study thus contributes to the literature that investigates the role of retailers in promoting sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emphasis on the role of stakeholder dialogue in managerial systems has recently increased in the extant literature, but empirical evidence on the determinants of stakeholder dialogue initiatives is still fragmented. This paper applies institutional theory to analyze the stakeholder dialogue practices realized by companies. It proposes a broader perspective on its pattern of development. The study is based on an analysis of 2797 SD initiatives realized by 418 companies listed in the FTSE4Good Global index on December 31st 2011 from 20 different countries (in Europe, North America, and Asia). The findings confirm the existence of distinctions among the stakeholder dialogue realized by companies in different national institutional contexts. Thus, it is suggested that SD should not be intended only as a voluntary, but firms should recognize it as a necessary managerial practice to build a broad information base useful to align sustainability performance and managerial systems to the institutional context where the company operates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Responding to calls for studies examining corporate sustainability (CS) in a seaport setting, this study analyzes the Portuguese case since it is little known, despite some pioneering initiatives of Portuguese seaports as the development of the Logistic Single Window. Following a qualitative approach, information was collected through semi-structured interviews, publicly available news and videos, seaports' websites, and reports. Starting from Oliver's (1991) model, which combines institutional theory and resource dependence perspective, we extended the theory by adding the resource-based view to analyze the institutional factors that predict seaports' strategic responses to CS. Our findings suggest that, while CS interpretation by Portuguese seaports has an underlying acquiescence strategy, the way CS is put into practice reveals a compromise one. CS strategies are related to seaports' legitimacy and reveal great dependence on seaports from their external institutional context, resulting in a harmonious port-city relationship and promoting consistency between institutional pressures and organizational norms, voluntarily widespread in a context of great interconnectedness. • Corporate sustainability disclosures remain voluntary in most jurisdictions. • There is a traditional lack of legal state regulation in the seaport sector. • Seaports are exposed to many institutional pressures. • Seaports' communication activities emerge as a legitimacy tool. • Seaports' acquiescence strategy is a direct response to institutional pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores drivers of supply chain sustainability during COVID-19 in both the Australian and Saudi Arabian fashion industries. COVID-19 is the most recent global crisis to amplify sustainability issues in a very polluting sector. This qualitative, comparative study draws on 44 semi-structured interviews with fashion brands across the fashion spectrum, evenly distributed between Australia and Saudi Arabia. A grounded approach to analysis was applied. Findings indicate reactive and proactive approaches to dealing with COVID-19 and its impacts. A reactive approach, or dealing with a situation when faced with it, is guided by isomorphic pressures, which are classified as external forces that shape and influence how an organisation operates within society, but also can lead to changes in internal practices. A proactive approach implies foresight and acts upon a situation prior to being 'forced' to make changes and encourages social sustainability along the supply chain. To overcome challenges intensified by the pandemic, fashion organisations need to increase flexibility and collaborative approaches. This study makes a novel contribution to the literature through its cross-cultural comparison, exploring sustainability drivers with institutional theory. • Comparison (Australia, Saudi Arabia) exploring sustainability drivers during COVID-19. • Reactive and proactive approaches form baseline for dealing with COVID-19. • Isomorphic pressures (external driving forces) guide reactive approach. • Proactive approaches imply foresight and encourage social sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite increased awareness of environmental crisis and social inequity the world is becoming more, not less, unsustainable. Obviously there is great inertia, a disinclination to enact change, in for instance environmentally detrimental practices. While there is much in the literature to explain inertia at the individual, organizational and societal level, there is a gap concerning approaches that focus upon the industrial level. This paper addresses this gap by developing an analytical approach based upon institutional theory brought together with the ontological principles of strong sustainability. Two interrelated case studies, concerning greenhouse gas reduction in the Swedish agrifield, are used to develop the approach. The empirical results show that greenhouse gas reduction is used in support for convergent changes within the industry, for instance to motivate increased efficiency and yields. Hence, the paper contributes to the sustainable development-literature by providing an analytical approach that can be utilized to increase the understanding of change processes at the industrial level. This approach is then discussed and further developed to accommodate for the case results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International joint ventures facilitate foreign direct investment in emerging economy markets. Research on their performance has typically focused on return-on-investment and profitability but non-financial measures such as environmental performance have gained importance, given the increasing recognition of sustainable development principles in society. This study is based on a survey of international joint ventures operating in the oil, gas and chemical sectors of the small emerging economy of Trinidad and Tobago. Of particular interest is how pre-formation partner selection and post-formation internal organizational control influence the international joint venture's overall corporate environmental responsibility. Findings suggest that liability of foreignness, degree of equity control by partners and control over leadership appointments are all statistically significant influences on corporate environmental responsibility. This study shows that choice of business partner is important, but how control is shared between partners also influences decision-making processes that ultimately impact environmental performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contaminated land remediation has traditionally been viewed as sustainable practice because it reduces urban sprawl and mitigates risks to human being and the environment. However, in an emerging green and sustainable remediation (GSR) movement, remediation practitioners have increasingly recognized that remediation operations have their own environmental footprint. The GSR calls for sustainable behaviour in the remediation industry, for which a series of white papers and guidance documents have been published by various government agencies and professional organizations. However, the relationship between the adoption of such sustainable behaviour and its underlying driving forces has not been studied. This study aims to contribute to sustainability science by rendering a better understanding of what drives organizational behaviour in adopting sustainable practices. Factor analysis (FA) and structural equation modelling (SEM) were used to investigate the relationship between sustainable practices and key factors driving these behaviour changes in the remediation field. A conceptual model on sustainability in the environmental remediation industry was developed on the basis of stakeholder and institutional theories. The FA classified sustainability considerations, institutional promoting and impeding forces, and stakeholder's influence. Subsequently the SEM showed that institutional promoting forces had significant positive effects on adopting sustainability measures, and institutional impeding forces had significant negative effects. Stakeholder influences were found to have only marginal direct effect on the adoption of sustainability; however, they exert significant influence on institutional promoting forces, thus rendering high total effect (i.e. direct effect plus indirect effect) on the adoption of sustainability. This study suggests that sustainable remediation represents an advanced sustainable practice, which may only be fully endorsed by both internal and external stakeholders after its regulatory, normative and cognitive components are institutionalized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the economic importance of the country, corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Russia has not been examined extensively yet. Knowledge on how Russian companies perceive and practice CSR is strongly limited. Thus, the objective of our study is to analyze to what degree the national political and socio-economic institutions determine CSR practice, and how it is influenced by international factors, such as CSR standards, frameworks, and foreign stakeholder expectations. Based on Whitley's national business systems approach, which we use as institutional theory framework, we examine the implementation of CSR in Russia's 50 largest companies. In specific, we investigate the areas of CSR in which Russian companies are active, what stakeholders they consider, the form and financial extent of their activities, the application of international standards, and how reporting is conducted. Our results show that awareness for CSR has been fostered by the influx of Western business concepts, but the understanding and practice of CSR is predominantly determined by the country's institutional environment. CSR mostly is an extension of traditional social roles that Russian business has assumed over decades, especially during communist times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Sustainable urban development is a wicked problem. On the basis of three case studies, we conclude that institutional entrepreneurs play an important role in sustainable urban development. The question we address is how institutional entrepreneurs do this. We theorize and find six tactics that entrepreneurs employ to influence both formal and informal institutions to create a favourable institutional context for sustainable development. We do so by combining insights from both institutional theory and institutional economics. Through framing and theorizing institutional entrepreneurs create new visions on sustainable urban developments, whereas collaboration and lobbying are important for the realization of the projects. The study adds new insights into how negotiation (private governance contracts, property rights) and standardization (certification, standards) form a key to altering incentive schemes and to create a competitive advantage. Through the joint changes in both informal institutions and the formal institutions the entrepreneurs are able to change the institutional context in which projects are embedded, thereby increasing the feasibility of their projects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: With respect to the philosophy of the preventive approach, the bottom line has often been illustrated with the saying: ‘…a gram of prevention is better than a kilogram of cure…’ But you cannot manage a problem that you do not know. In case of cleaner production, the approach is not to solve the problem but to prevent it. This is a deduction in two ways. Firstly, a new problem has to be present in order to be recognised, also for prevention. Secondly, the problem that has to be prevented is connected to the life-cycle of the capital and technology investments in production processes, products and services. A dilemma for new concepts in general is that pilot studies never meet the full conditions that are needed. When the obstacles of routines are overcome, often the momentum for fully conditioned approaches is passed and watered-down definitions and applications are introduced. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Industrial ecology is a label under which many linkages between production and consumption processes are grouped. This article is based on a social science approach, ranging from organisational learning to the analysis of industrial districts, in reflection to the techno-economic approach of the developments in the industrial ecology projects ‘INES 1994–1997 and INES Mainport 1999–2002’ in the Rotterdam harbour and industry complex. In relation to the growing attention for regional types of industrial ecology, the article aims to provide a useful social science analytical framework for investigating regional industrial ecology, and to develop a prescriptive approach that can stimulate such industrial ecology. Regional industrial ecological systems meet with static and dynamic issues as a result of specific system boundaries of their decision-making levels. The analytical framework provides insight into these issues through a focus on three phases of (regional) industrial ecology, the production of collective goods, and governance mechanisms. We find that the INES Mainport project is still in the first phase of industrial ecology. To go beyond this phase, the Rotterdam harbour and industry region faces the limits of system boundaries of the decision-making levels within the regional management. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]