The relationship between entrepreneurial energy efficiency orientation and carbon footprint reduction: The mediating role of green networking and identification of barriers to green practices

Adu, Douglas A.; Chen, Xihui Haviour; Hasan, Mudassar; Zhu, Xiaoxian; Jellason, Nugun

Abstract

Motivated by the growing attention to climate change and the crucial role businesses could play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, this study investigates entrepreneurial energy efficiency orientation in the context of carbon footprint reduction initiatives of small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We enhance understanding of the climate change action of SMEs by taking into account the mediating mechanisms (i.e., identification of green barriers and green networking) through which firm entrepreneurial energy efficiency orientation leads to superior carbon footprint reduction initiatives by overcoming barriers to green practices. A survey of 252 SME owners and top managers in the Tees Valley region, Northeast England, supported the direct impact of entrepreneurial energy efficiency orientation on overcoming barriers to green practices and the mediating role of identification of green barriers and green networking in this focal relationship. These findings reveal the importance of entrepreneurial energy efficiency orientation, identification of green barriers and green networking in helping SMEs overcome barriers to green practices and improving carbon footprint reduction initiatives.

Citation

Adu, D. A., Chen, X. H., Hasan, M., Zhu, X., & Jellason, N. (2023). The relationship between entrepreneurial energy efficiency orientation and carbon footprint reduction: The mediating role of green networking and identification of barriers to green practices. Journal of Environmental Management, 347, Article 119256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119256

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 2, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Oct 10, 2023
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2023
• Deposit Date: Mar 4, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 5, 2024
• Journal: Journal of Environmental Management
• Print ISSN: 0301-4797
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 347
• Article Number: 119256
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119256
• Keywords: Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law; Waste Management and Disposal; General Medicine; Environmental Engineering
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: The relationship between entrepreneurial energy efficiency orientation and carbon footprint reduction: The mediating role of green networking and identification of barriers to green practices; Journal Title: Journal of Environmental Management; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119256; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.