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In this paper, complementary perspectives from innovation management capabilities (IMC), the natural resource‐based view (NRBV) and the social resource‐based view (SRBV) are revisited in order to lay the theoretical foundation for developing evaluation framework for sustainability‐oriented innovation (SOI). Six dimensions of SOI are identified, as innovation focus, sustainability focus, integration intra‐organisation, integration inter‐organisation, ambidexterity, and emphasis on physical life cycle — which then lead to developing the key parameters for the evaluation framework. The proposed framework is validated through analysis of 25 cases from the manufacturing sector in Indonesia. Data were primarily collected through semi‐structured interviews and analysed using a polar diagram. This approach offered a comprehensive understanding of the qualitative data by assessing all six SOI dimensions simultaneously, presenting an effective visualisation of the firms' approach to SOI. The findings suggest that the majority of firms tend to adopt an operational optimisation approach when developing their SOI, while only a few opt for organisational transformational, and none choose the system building approach. This research paper makes a significant contribution to literature by introducing transition phases among SOI approaches, which were previously not explored in literature. The framework developed in this study would provide valuable support to practitioners in implementation and enhancement of their SOI practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates whether and to what extent circular economy performance affects the financial performance of a global sample of listed agri‐food firms. Furthermore, the potential moderating role of stakeholder engagement in empowering this relationship has been tested. A circular economy performance index has been developed based on Environmental Social and Governance scores reclassified in the light of the reuse, reduce, recovery and recycling (4R) paradigm. Then, a multivariate regression model from 2015 to 2022 has been carried out. A broader theoretical framework has been adopted, combining the natural resource‐based view and stakeholder theory. The results show a positive relationship between the circular economy performance, the financial performance and the boosting function played by stakeholder engagement. The study findings provide stimuli for academics and managers to reflect on the profitability of the circular economy and the pivotal role of stakeholder engagement in giving a significant impulse to the circular transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eco‐innovation capability's enhancement of the operational competitiveness of Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) remains under explored in emerging markets. Furthermore, limited evidence exists on the influence of ownership structure on eco‐innovation capability and operational performance. This study therefore examines the relationship between eco‐innovation capability, ownership structure and operational performance of ESCOs. Questionnaires are electronically distributed to Operations Managers of 287 ESCOs registered by the Energy Commission in Malaysia. To test the direct and moderating effects, Partial Least Square‐Structural Equation Modeling (PLS‐SEM) is applied on 136 valid responses. Results suggest Eco‐innovation Capability significantly enhances ESCOs operational performance, with the model explaining 66% (R2 = 0.656) of the variance. Furthermore, a concentrated ownership structure resulted in higher eco‐innovation capability and operational performance. These results provide pathways for industry practitioners to improve sustainable development contributions and operational performance whilst providing policymakers with a benchmark towards evaluating the effectiveness of the National Energy Policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resource orchestration (RO) is a strategic management framework that details various processes by which how firms structure, bundle, and leverage resources. This study reviews how RO has been considered in environmental management research. The review highlights some limitations on how RO has been used in studies on environmental management, and it also illustrates a lack of knowledge accumulation in the field. To realize the full potential of RO, the concept of green RO is developed. Green RO (GRO) is defined as a firm's capability to coordinate and manage the structuring of resources and the bundling and leveraging of capabilities to create economic value for the company while simultaneously creating environmental benefits. Three main research areas for GRO are described: GRO as an organizational or managerial meta‐capability, management of specific GRO processes, and the synchronization of several GRO processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasingly, companies are embracing the green‐lean‐six sigma (GLSS) approach to managing their environmental impacts. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of studies that examined the underlying motivations behind GLSS deployment in manufacturing organizations. Accordingly, this study investigates the GLSS motivators in a developed and developing economy context through multiple case studies in which semi‐structured interviews are conducted with senior corporate managers in the flexible packaging manufacturing industry. Drawing on the natural resource‐based view (NRBV) and institutional theory‐based view (ITBV), our analysis revealed various operational, organizational, and environmental factors as internal motivators and factors related to the state, society, and market as external motivators. To the best of our knowledge, it is one of the early comparative studies investigating the GLSS motivators in both developed and developing economies, which can guide future researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in understanding the salient factors influencing the GLSS adoption for environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to increasing concerns and pressure from stakeholders, firms are eager to initiate green initiatives to produce ecofriendly products and services, which are less harmful for the environment. Consumers are willing to pay high prices for ecofriendly products and services. Thus, firms need a motivated workforce to achieve their green objectives. This is only possible if firms adopt their green policies in their green shared vision and start socially responsible activities to gain society's and stakeholders' attention, which is possible if firms start CSR activities at regular intervals. The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating role of "Green Human Resource Management" (GHRM) on the relation between corporate social responsibility (CSR), green shared vision (GSV), and voluntary green work behavior (VGWB). Employees of manufacturing companies were the participants of the present study and a non-probability convenience sampling technique was employed to determine the sample size. Data were gathered from manufacturing companies using a cross-sectional survey method. The total number of firms included was 100, and information on the firms included in the study included cement (10), sugar (26), leather (22), steel (8), food (21), beverages (2), furniture (3), construction (2), pharmaceutical (2), plastic (2), and dairy (2). The total number of questionnaires distributed among employees of the above-mentioned manufacturing firms was 700, and 500 completed questionnaires were used in the analysis, thus yielding a response rate of 71.42%. Using the smart PLS partial least square software (Version 4), the structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique was applied for the statistical analysis. It was evident from the results that the measurement model had established convergent and discriminant validities. A structural model for testing hypotheses was established in the second step. Findings of the study revealed that CSR, GSV, and GHRM practices and VGWB were significantly related with each other. CSR, GSV, and GHRM have significant effects on VGWB. Additionally, it can be inferred from the results that GHRM significantly mediated the relationship between corporate social responsibility and green shared vision and VGWB. From Pakistan's perspective, the research study has applied and validated the natural resource-based view (NRBV) theory, and practitioners and researchers may benefit from its findings. This study has opened doors and paved a path for future studies to use this model and come up with interesting findings by adding more mediating variables. For any organization, it is imperative to have a motivated team which is capable enough to help firms to achieve their green targets. Hiring talented and hardworking employees and initiating socially responsible activities help firms to obtain a competitive advantage and enhance the VGWB of their employees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to present the main arguments around the concept of sustainable development as a business perspective and the influence that this concept has brought to firms and their operations. It explains relevant literature on sustainable development describing its foundations, their current challenges and some of the future directions along which the concept can achieve its intended purpose. The arguments suggest that before calling for a massive green campaign in business, there are unresolved issues around the concept of sustainable development, there is a particular need to understand the real motivation of firms for sustainable. For example, at the industry level, a firm’s behavior is a complex issue to control – either through pre-established legal parameters or through a voluntary approach. The interest in sustainable practices has created important implications for managers in almost every industry looking to better understand the arguments around the concept of sustainable development and the commitment that firms should make to address these environmental challenges. Research centered only on economic benefits or only on environmental issues can lead to an incomplete vision of the opportunities for firms that both approaches can generate if they are correctly combined.

This study builds on the natural resource‐based view to propose a mediation moderation framework by exploring the influence of green intellectual capital (GIC) on green business strategy through the mediating and moderating impact of green absorptive capacity (GAC) and corporate environmental ethics (CEE), respectively. The data were collected from 268 participants from large manufacturing industries in Pakistan to test the suggested model and analyzed using structural equation modeling (variance‐based). The findings show that GIC positively influences GAC and green business strategy in organizations. The results further indicate that the relationship between GIC and green business strategy is mediated and moderated by GAC and CEE. Moreover, a multi‐group analysis (MGA) shows no statistically significant differences across the industry groups. These results reveal the theoretical underpinning for environmental business strategy and provide a deep understanding of knowledge‐based resources and environmental regulations as important antecedents of green business strategy in manufacturing firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All over the world, countries are facing severe climate change and environmental degradation. Green banking has been developed and adopted as a banking ideology to reduce the adverse environmental impact of various polluting industries. The purpose of this study is to develop a multidimensional framework for green banking adoption which is in line with the United Nations-Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs) 2030. Green banking can play an important part in the attainment of the UN-SDGs 2030. This study demonstrates the dimensions of green banking adoption that can be adopted by banks in order to facilitate the environmental sustainability of the country. The study proposes the framework for green banking adoption based on the natural resource-based view (NRBV) of the firm. The first-order constructs in the framework have been derived from the green capabilities proposed in NRBV of the firm. These reflective constructs lead towards the second-order construct of green banking adoption. The proposed framework is developed and justified on a theoretical basis and through secondary data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transforming toward a circular economy (CE) is a viable strategy for achieving sustainable logistics systems. However, it is still unclear how this transformation should be approached because there is limited knowledge in this context. This study aims to explore how the logistics sector incorporates sustainability practices toward CE. To achieve this aim, we addressed the research questions of (RQ1) what sustainability practices are used by the logistics sector and (RQ2) how these practices contribute to transforming the logistics sector into CE. We used a qualitative approach to address these questions by interviewing 14 logistics service providers. Interview transcripts were analyzed by using coding, categorizing, and finding relationships among the concepts identified from the literature following the Gioia method. We identified 47 sustainable logistics practices under nine categories from three key themes: environmental preservation, firm's dynamic capabilities, and social well‐being. We used the natural resource‐based view, dynamic capabilities, and social well‐being theories to identify the key themes. These theories contributed to the existing knowledge on CE strategies from the aspects of environmental, economic, and social value in transforming the logistics sector into CE. We built three propositions based on the findings and the propositions highlight that economic value creation is the core benefit followed by environmental and social value creation in the CE transformation. The identified three themes will provide a holistic approach for implementing CE within the logistics sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building on theories of Corporate Sustainability, Triple Bottom Line, and Natural Resource-Based View, this study aims to predict the positive relationship between green transformational leadership, green human resource management practices, and employees' green behavior. It applies a quantitative approach to analyze 252 data collected from the customers who are prospective employees of small and medium enterprises in Budapest. An online questionnaire was sent to 252 samples with the Snowball sampling method for about a month in Hungary. Based on a structural equation modeling analysis, green transformational leadership and green human resource management practices positively influence employees' green behavior. Green human resource management practices mediate the relationship between green transformational leadership and employees' green behavior. Small and medium enterprises should consider solving the green behavioral problems of their employees by promoting the green concept in leadership and human resource management practices. Such initiatives contribute to sustainability in small and medium enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like many different and relevant sectors, the leather industry is currently facing a major environmental issue that may affect the competitiveness of all the stakeholders across the value chain. Drawing the conceptual model on the natural resource-based view (NRBV), this study seeks to examine the mediating role of individual green values (IGV) between green transformational leadership (GFTL) and environmental performance (EP). Furthermore, government regulations are used as a moderator concerning the relationship between GTFL and EP. An online survey was randomly distributed to Pakistan's leather industry employees to test the hypothesis by collecting data from 205 respondents. Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) has been used to analyze data. The results demonstrate that green transformational leadership (GTFL) positively affects EP. Moreover, this study also reveals that GTFL significantly contributes to developing the IGV that consequently affects EP. Thus, the current study provides a significant sequential GTFL, IGV and EP path. However, surprisingly, the results show that government regulations do not moderate the relationship between GTFL and IGV. This study significantly contributes to the theory and stakeholders and leaders in a vast variety of manufacturing industries. It suggests that all organizations should adopt GTFL principles that encourage employees to engage in environmentally friendly activities by developing green values at the individual level to enhance EP. With this regard, GTLF, IGV, and government regulations may thus play a vital role for organizations and industry for better EP and competitiveness.

Despite the increasing research to determine the influence of environmental sustainability orientation (ESO) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) on environmental performance, our understanding is to see the mediating effect of green capability between ESO, CSR, and environmental performance is lacking. Data were collected by using survey questionnaires from top management of the construction and manufacturing industry in Malaysia. A total of 377 questionnaires become part of the final analysis. The researchers used SmartPLS 3.2.8 and SPSS 25.0 for analysis. The structural equation modeling (SEM) was followed to determine the variables validity and path relationships. The findings elucidate that ESO and green capability are significantly associated with environmental performance. In contrast, CSR has no direct influence on environmental performance. Moreover, ESO and CSR significantly influence green capability. Green capability mediates between ESO, CSR, and environmental performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work adopts sustainable entrepreneurship as its scope of analysis, focusing on sustainable success through startups with operational excellence, technological innovation (TI) and whose business model aligns with the assumptions of circular economy (CE). By applying certain characteristics of the natural resource-based view (NRBV) in the context of foodtech startups, this study assesses both TIs and CE assumptions adopted by Brazilian foodtech startups. We interviewed managers and owners of foodtech companies operating in the Brazilian economy. Thus, this study relates to CE business models, how well companies manage natural resources, and the influence of TI in promoting CE. After conducting an exploratory case study in Brazil with 15 startups, in addition to exploring the adequacy of four future research proposals, this article suggests that: (a) among the foodtech startups studied, the companies that are most disruptive and innovative also demonstrate a more efficient and optimized management of natural resources; (b) based on these units of analysis, a less proactive CE tends to compete with companies in the traditional segment of operation, not differing in terms of products and services offered to society, thus generating only a small contribution to sustainable development; (c) while our study shows that NRBV illustrates a relevant theoretical framework to confirm the progress of the CE supported by TI, the integration of these theoretical constructs in a startup proves to be original and unprecedented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is still little theoretically driven research and empirical evidence on how firms develop and adjust their existing resource capabilities to create environmental values that enable sustainability and competitiveness. This paper aims to establish a framework of environmental capability that predicts antecedents to and impacts on sustainable performance and competitiveness. The data contained in the review are analyzed based on articles from the perspectives of logistics service providers (LSPs) concerning sustainable and green practices. The results show that green resource-based logistics capabilities anticipate environmental capabilities, impacting sustainable performance and competitiveness. This inductive reasoning makes use of a number of theories and empirical studies that generalize the framework of environmental capabilities and hence contribute to the absence of theoretically driven research and empirical evidence. The study contributes to five types of emergent green resource-based logistics: physical, technological, knowledge-based, relational, and organizational, which must be aligned and developed to create a unique and durable framework of environmental capability for sustained environmental and competitive progress. The findings provide constructs and measurements for green resource-based logistics capabilities, sustainability, and competitiveness. This paper suggests that LSPs can reach superb performance outcomes through investing in green resource-based logistics to achieve a more positive impact in terms of environmental capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study develops and tests a novel product quality framework for food supply chains (FSCs) that addresses sustainability. Issues including climate change, population growth, and the resources required by industrialized agriculture, as well as changing consumer preferences contribute to concerns about the social, ecological, and economic sustainability of FSCs. FSCs, therefore, need to be adapted to address changing supply and demand characteristics. We integrate the natural resource-based view (NRBV) with convention theory (CT) to develop a new set of quality dimensions. Placing social and ecological considerations within the domain of quality management advances theory in two ways. First, while social and ecological considerations are typically peripheral to business models, this framework allows social responsibility and the natural environment to occupy a central place within FSC operations. Second, the framework reflects the fundamentally socially embedded nature of FSCs, including the geographic, historical, and cultural associations of food quality. We then construct a typology of quality conventions and FSCs. We empirically test the typology using a case study methodology with cases from the United States of America (USA). The analysis explores how firms bundle quality conventions across FSCs for competitive advantage. We also find a set of paths through which FSCs transition via exploitation, exploration and organizational ambidexterity to generate competitive advantage, highlighting tradeoffs that may arise as FSCs evolve. These tradeoffs, which relate to maintaining or adapting quality conventions, are practically important because, if not managed appropriately, may result in lower performance and less sustainable FSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study simultaneously investigates the effect 'greening' has on supply chains and the effect injecting automation has upon these green supply chains. This article adapts the natural resource-based view of the firm, a theoretical perspective prevalent in management literature, to develop a conceptual framework. This study surveys 292 firms from multiple countries to test both relationships. Literature has laid the initial groundwork for multinational manufacturing efficiency studies that we build and expand upon. Multiple techniques were used to mitigate common method bias, including multiple survey responses per firm sampled, confirmatory factor analysis with Chi- square and Harman's test of common method bias. We find automation generally lends itself to improving aspects of green supply chains regardless of global location of firms. With increasing automation levels, supply chain efficiency improves, thereby improving economic performance. Once automation is employed, there's a positive effect that cascades through the entire supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study values resource responsibility in production and logistics management. • Resource responsibility promotes financial performance based on the NRBV. • Digital transformation enables resource responsibility for performance. • Politically connected firms benefit from resource-responsible actions. • A PSM-DID analysis is conducted based on panel datasets in developing markets. Resource responsibility is crucial not only in production operations but also in supply chain management. Nevertheless, limited academic research has delved into the significance of resource responsibility in production and logistics management for performance improvement. Drawing from the natural resource-based view (NRBV), this study examines the impact of resource responsibility and its interplay with digital transformation and political connections on financial performance. We find a positive association between resource responsibility and financial performance using propensity score matching and difference-in-differences analysis on 3,022 firm-year observations. Notably, our findings also reveal that digital transformation and political connections strengthen the positive influence of resource responsibility on financial performance. This study extends the NRBV literature by underscoring the role of digital transformation and political connections in enhancing the organization-resource relationship for economic returns. These insights offer valuable suggestions for managers to embrace resource responsibility in both production and logistics management and for policymakers to achieve sustainability goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the moderating role of "organizational citizenship behavior toward the environment" (OCBE) on the relation between "green supply chain management" (GSCM) practices and sustainable performance. The participants of the current study were manufacturing firms, and non-probability convenience sampling technique was used for selecting the sample size. The survey method used while data were collected from manufacturing firms was cross-sectional; a total of 151 responses were received and used in the analysis. For statistical analysis, "SmartPLS partial least square, structural equation modeling" PLS-SEM was used. From the findings, it was evident that in the measurement model, convergent and discriminant validities were established. In the second stage, a structural model was developed for hypotheses testing. It was found that sustainable performance was associated with proposed GSCM practices, excluding environmental management. OCBE being a moderator has significant impacts concerning GSCM operations and sustainability functions of firms. However, OCBE did not play the role of moderator between internal environmental management and EE and sustainable performance. The present study is significant for managers and policymakers for the attainment of competitive advantage, enhancement of OCBE, and sustainable performance. Furthermore, this research study is the first empirical study that has used OCBE as a moderator through the lens of NRBV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like many different and relevant sectors, the leather industry is currently facing a major environmental issue that may affect the competitiveness of all the stakeholders across the value chain. Drawing the conceptual model on the natural resource-based view (NRBV), this study seeks to examine the mediating role of individual green values (IGV) between green transformational leadership (GFTL) and environmental performance (EP). Furthermore, government regulations are used as a moderator concerning the relationship between GTFL and EP. An online survey was randomly distributed to Pakistan's leather industry employees to test the hypothesis by collecting data from 205 respondents. Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) has been used to analyze data. The results demonstrate that green transformational leadership (GTFL) positively affects EP. Moreover, this study also reveals that GTFL significantly contributes to developing the IGV that consequently affects EP. Thus, the current study provides a significant sequential GTFL, IGV and EP path. However, surprisingly, the results show that government regulations do not moderate the relationship between GTFL and IGV. This study significantly contributes to the theory and stakeholders and leaders in a vast variety of manufacturing industries. It suggests that all organizations should adopt GTFL principles that encourage employees to engage in environmentally friendly activities by developing green values at the individual level to enhance EP. With this regard, GTLF, IGV, and government regulations may thus play a vital role for organizations and industry for better EP and competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the moderating role of “organizational citizenship behavior toward the environment” (OCBE) on the relation between “green supply chain management” (GSCM) practices and sustainable performance. The participants of the current study were manufacturing firms, and non-probability convenience sampling technique was used for selecting the sample size. The survey method used while data were collected from manufacturing firms was cross-sectional; a total of 151 responses were received and used in the analysis. For statistical analysis, “SmartPLS partial least square, structural equation modeling” PLS-SEM was used. From the findings, it was evident that in the measurement model, convergent and discriminant validities were established. In the second stage, a structural model was developed for hypotheses testing. It was found that sustainable performance was associated with proposed GSCM practices, excluding environmental management. OCBE being a moderator has significant impacts concerning GSCM operations and sustainability functions of firms. However, OCBE did not play the role of moderator between internal environmental management and EE and sustainable performance. The present study is significant for managers and policymakers for the attainment of competitive advantage, enhancement of OCBE, and sustainable performance. Furthermore, this research study is the first empirical study that has used OCBE as a moderator through the lens of NRBV.

The role that the resources and capabilities of agricultural entrepreneurs play on both environmental performance (EP) and financial performance (FP) is still unclear. This study analyzes how small farms enhance EP and FP in an inland Portuguese region through the relationship between dynamic capabilities (DCs), entrepreneurial orientation (EO), and environmental sustainability commitment (ESC). Based on a sample of 160 fresh fruit farms and applying a partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS‐SEM), our study concludes that EO and ESC influence EP and FP positively. Hence, farms can achieve competitive advantage through mitigating their profound impacts on the environment as proposed by the natural resource‐based view (NRBV). Farms are also improving DCs, but farmers respond to the higher environmental requirements of agricultural markets primarily through research and development (R&D) capabilities and not through marketing capabilities. Having as theoretical supports the NRBV and the DCs, our study contributes to a better understanding of the mechanisms through which entrepreneurs enhance EP and FP in sectors with high environmental impacts such as agriculture. The findings suggest that entrepreneurship training projects may enable farmers to approach food security as a market opportunity and not only as rules they must follow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development has emerged as a field of applied research across multi‐discipline. Sustainable leadership is a new domain of effective leadership, which has been established recently to cope with issues related to sustainable development. On the subject of natural resource‐based view (NRBV) and dynamic capability theory, this study examined methods of embedding sustainable leadership into sustainable performance and investigated the mediating effect of organizational learning to sustainable leadership and sustainable performance. The data in this study were collected from a total of 369 small and medium‐sized enterprises in Pakistan using a purposive sampling technique. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. The results revealed (a) a significant positive effect of sustainable leadership on organizational learning; (b) organizational learning significantly influences sustainable performance; (c) organizational learning partially mediates the relationship between sustainable leadership and sustainable performance. The present study offered an in‐depth theory of NRBV, dynamic capability, and sustainable development. Effective management advices are proposed for organizations encountering sustainable development challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The core question addressed in the natural resource‐based view (NRBV) of the firm is how to develop and exploit resources beneficial for both the natural environment and firm performance. Due to the resource constraints and increased competition facing small manufacturing firms, achieving this is a challenge for such companies. Building on the NRBV and resource orchestration literatures, we examine the relationship between green purchasing capabilities (GPCs), CEO's environmental orientation (EO), and firm growth. Results from 304 Swedish small manufacturing firms indicate a significant relationship between GPC and growth, and this relationship is positively moderated by the EO of the CEO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study builds on knowledge capability research and the natural resource-based view of the firm (NRBV) to examine the effect of absorptive capacity on green innovation adoption. It also investigates the mediating role of three sustainable capabilities, namely, sustainable orientation, sustainable human capital and sustainable collaboration. By means of partial least squares-based structural equation modelling method, the study validated and analysed the responses of 193 owners and managers of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in an emerging economy context. Data analysis has revealed that absorptive capacity is a strong predictor of sustainable capabilities and green innovation adoption. Moreover, sustainable orientation and collaboration capabilities have emerged as powerful determinants of green innovation adoption and mediators of the effect of absorptive capacity on green innovation adoption. Surprisingly, sustainable human capital shows no significant impact on green innovation adoption. This study offers a key departure from past studies through linking absorptive capacity to sustainable capabilities and green innovation adoption in the SMEs context. It also extends our knowledge concerning the role of NRBV and relational theory in green innovation adaption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What are the key resources that farmers use to improve the impact of their operations on water resources? In what combinations are these resources applied to farms? This research adopted the natural resource-based view to interview nationally awarded New Zealand livestock farmers, and observe the operations on their farms, with the aim of finding out which key resources they use to achieve their sustainable water management objectives. While the extant literature suggests that human resources are key, our findings reveal that the farmers in this study do not apply human resources in isolation: they operationalise these resources in combination with other resources. Financial and intellectual resources seem to enhance the effectiveness of on-farm human and physical resources. We infer that the best description of these resource interactions is as a ‘synergy’ of resources, rather than simply a ‘combination’ or ‘bundle’. This is because the combined effect of these synergies on the farmers’ understanding and development of natural resource management capabilities (specifically, networking, consensus building and technology capabilities) appears to be greater than if applied on their own or in smaller combinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the economic and environmental dimensions of the triple bottom line (TBL) have been covered extensively by management theory and practice, the social dimension remains largely underrepresented. The resource-based view (RBV) of the firm and the natural resource-based view (NRBV) of the firm are revisited to lay the theoretical foundation for exploring how the social dimension might be addressed. Social capabilities are then explored by looking at the social entrepreneurship literature and illustrative cases with the purpose of elaborating RBV toward a social resource-based view (SRBV) of the firm. Three illustrative cases, which represent social businesses located in catastrophe-ridden Haiti, show how capabilities are used to overcome challenging constraints. The goal for the social entrepreneur is to employ the appropriate capabilities to ensure economic success, a positive environmental impact, and social benefits that leave the local community in a better position than without the business. Just as NRBV is a previous elaboration of RBV, so can SRBV be an elaborated theoretical foundation for future research. The components of a theory are systematically addressed by extending the range of variables (adding social capabilities), extending the domain (including stakeholders with economic, environmental, and/or social stakes), and offering propositions on variable relationships and outcome predictions (linking social capabilities and shared TBL value creation). By highlighting the social capabilities of social entrepreneurs, this research illuminates the micro-foundations of corporate social responsibility, emphasizing the value of individual level analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates how a competitive environment can motivate firms to adopt a green market orientation, and how that orientation can result in firms' superior performance (environmental and financial) through both internal green practice and green supply chain management. A theoretical model is tested using 429 samples from a survey of manufacturers done by the Global Manufacturing Research Group (GMRG). The results indicate that a competitive environment triggers the adoption of a green market orientation, which in turn encourages internal green practice and supplier management. Specifically, a green market orientation impacts supplier green monitoring indirectly, via the mediating role of internal green practice. Both internal green practice and supplier green monitoring are conducive to superior environmental performance, but the improvement in environmental performance fails to translate into increased financial returns in the short term. The findings suggest whether and how firms might adopt a green market orientation and how that orientation can improve firms' performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We hypothesized that dedication to environmental legitimacy is a driver for university-wide innovativeness and reputation. Using a sample of 161 colleges listed in the US News & World Report best university rankings list of 2015, we observed the impact of HEI dedication to environmental legitimacy on innovativeness and applications for admission from 2008 to 2011. We found that a higher education institution (HEI)’s dedication to environmental legitimacy increased its innovativeness. To test the dedication-application relationship, we divided our entire sample into three groups in terms of ranking and found that the positive impact of the dedication on applications was significant for the group having low-ranked HEIs. Our empirical findings suggest that dedication to environmental legitimacy such as green building initiatives serves as the foundation for the outcomes of stakeholder integration including innovativeness and reputation going beyond cost savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though management scholars have offered several views on the process of corporate sustainability, these efforts have focused mainly on the technical aspects of sustainability while omitting the fundamental role played by individual moral competences. Therefore, previous work offers an incomplete and somewhat reductionist view of corporate sustainability. In this article, we develop a holistic framework of corporate sustainability in which both the moral and technical aspects of sustainability are considered. We do so by integrating the ethical, normative perspective of the Catholic social teaching (CST) with the competitive view of the natural resource-based view. This framework highlights the importance of CST principles and ideas in developing executive moral competences such as moral sensitivity and awareness, and moral cognition and motivation. Moral competences, in turn, influence the organizational selection of environmental strategies, giving leaders the intrinsic motivation to promote both a longer-term stance on corporate sustainability efforts and a relentless search for greener business models. Such strategies move the firm closer towards achieving environmental sustainability. Hence, by bridging the individual, normative-ethical with the organizational, implementational levels of corporate sustainability, our framework provides a more realistic, coherent, and complete perspective on the complex process of achieving corporate sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study, drawing on natural resource-based view, identifies drivers, barriers and the potential benefits of returnable transport packaging (RTP) - that is, the repeated use of packaging items - and conceptualises RTP as a technology and resource that supports organisational competitiveness. Specifically, it investigates the impact of RTP adoption on business performance, the effects of drivers, barriers and size of organisations. The data collection took place in Nigeria and South Africa. The findings suggest that RTP has a significant positive impact on business performance. Whilst prior studies seem to suggest that shrinkage and attrition are the major problems identified with the usage of RTP, our findings indicate that there are several other barriers affecting RTP adoption and the resultant performance advantage. The results also show that there is an increasing move towards adoption of RTP but some organisations are faced with financial constraints, especially the small and medium size enterprises. In addition, the results show that RTP is largely a 'sustainability facing' initiative with adopters motivated primarily by potential environmental, economic, social and operational benefits of adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a natural resource-based view and technology-organization-environment framework as the theoretical focus, this paper develops and tests a research model in which sustainable operations practices mediate the impact of industry 4.0 technologies on sustainable performance. The model also tests sustainable operations practices as a moderator of the effect of industry 4.0 technologies on sustainable performance. Data obtained from 302 participants in Turkey's technology development regions were utilized to gauge the aforesaid linkages via partial least squares structural equation modeling. As predicted, sustainable operations practices mediate the influence of industry 4.0 technologies on sustainable performance. Contrary to the study prediction, sustainable operations practices do not significantly moderate the impact of industry 4.0 technologies on sustainable performance. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed and future research directions are offered. [Display omitted] • Industry 4.0 technologies (I4Ts) increased sustainable performance (SP). • Sustainable operations practices (SOPs) mediated the effects of I4Ts on SP. • SOPs did not significantly moderate the effects of I4Ts on SP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]