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Factors influencing companies' response to environmental responsibility

Factors influencing companies' response to environmental responsibility
Factors influencing companies' response to environmental responsibility
The growth in the small firm sector over the last decade has created a situation where approximately 98% of all businesses are classed as small. The economic impact of the sector is obvious and is recognized and fostered by the UK Government; the environmental impact of these firms, however, has been overlooked. To date, empirical evidence has indicated that small firms have been reticent to take a more proactive role in improving environmental performance. It is argued here that there is a need to develop greater environmental awareness within the small firm sector. Empirical evidence is used to investigate the attitudes that exist within small firms towards the environment and the actions they are prepared to undertake. This is compared with similar evidence obtained on the attitudes and actions of large firms. Through the use of discriminant analysis, certain factors have been identified which explain the relatively low use of environmental audits in the small firm sector. Initiatives are proposed which seek to develop greater environmental commitment from businesses, especially those in the small firm sector.
0968-9427
41-46
Patton, D.
a848e8c1-0f1e-4c7d-bad0-97f2b7f13522
Baron, P.
30e40ebb-25e9-464b-b91a-6f97ce3ea0b8
Patton, D.
a848e8c1-0f1e-4c7d-bad0-97f2b7f13522
Baron, P.
30e40ebb-25e9-464b-b91a-6f97ce3ea0b8

Patton, D. and Baron, P. (1995) Factors influencing companies' response to environmental responsibility. Eco-Management and Auditing, 2 (1), 41-46. (doi:10.1002/ema.204).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The growth in the small firm sector over the last decade has created a situation where approximately 98% of all businesses are classed as small. The economic impact of the sector is obvious and is recognized and fostered by the UK Government; the environmental impact of these firms, however, has been overlooked. To date, empirical evidence has indicated that small firms have been reticent to take a more proactive role in improving environmental performance. It is argued here that there is a need to develop greater environmental awareness within the small firm sector. Empirical evidence is used to investigate the attitudes that exist within small firms towards the environment and the actions they are prepared to undertake. This is compared with similar evidence obtained on the attitudes and actions of large firms. Through the use of discriminant analysis, certain factors have been identified which explain the relatively low use of environmental audits in the small firm sector. Initiatives are proposed which seek to develop greater environmental commitment from businesses, especially those in the small firm sector.

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Published date: March 1995

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 37469
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/37469
ISSN: 0968-9427
PURE UUID: cf9e9641-5e67-45b6-83b0-9b946bd4e3f4

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Date deposited: 19 May 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 07:59

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Contributors

Author: D. Patton
Author: P. Baron

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