TY - JOUR

T1 - The Link Between 'Green' and Economic Success

T2 - Environmental Management as the Crucial Trigger Between Environmental and Economic Performance

AU - Schaltegger, Stefan

AU - Synnestvedt, Terje

N1 - Literaturverz. S. 346

PY - 2002/8/1

Y1 - 2002/8/1

N2 - The link between environmental and economic performance has been widely debated in the literature for the last ten to fifteen years. One view is that improved environmental performance mainly causes extra costs for the firm and thus reduces profitability. However, also the opposite has been argued for: improved environmental performance would induce cost savings and increase sales and thus improve economic performance. Theoretical and empirical research have provided arguments for both positions and have not been conclusive so far. This article discusses reasons for the different views and the differences in empirical research and presents a theoretical framework to explain the coexistence of the conflicting views. It is argued that not merely the level of environmental performance, but mainly the kind of environmental management with which a certain level is achieved, influences the economic outcome. The model presented provides implications for both empirical research and company management in practice. Research and business practice should focus less on general correlations and more on causal relationships of eco-efficiency, i.e. the effect of different environmental management approaches on economic performance.

AB - The link between environmental and economic performance has been widely debated in the literature for the last ten to fifteen years. One view is that improved environmental performance mainly causes extra costs for the firm and thus reduces profitability. However, also the opposite has been argued for: improved environmental performance would induce cost savings and increase sales and thus improve economic performance. Theoretical and empirical research have provided arguments for both positions and have not been conclusive so far. This article discusses reasons for the different views and the differences in empirical research and presents a theoretical framework to explain the coexistence of the conflicting views. It is argued that not merely the level of environmental performance, but mainly the kind of environmental management with which a certain level is achieved, influences the economic outcome. The model presented provides implications for both empirical research and company management in practice. Research and business practice should focus less on general correlations and more on causal relationships of eco-efficiency, i.e. the effect of different environmental management approaches on economic performance.

KW - Sustainability sciences, Management & Economics

KW - Umweltbezogenes Management

KW - Umweltbilanz

KW - Unternehmenserfolg

KW - Corporate environmental performance

KW - economic performance

KW - Eco-efficiency

KW - Corporate environmental management

KW - Eco-efficiency

KW - Economic performance

KW - Environmental performance

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036689401&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/a16acfa4-d088-369a-99f1-b32647da5f04/

U2 - 10.1006/jema.2002.0555

DO - 10.1006/jema.2002.0555

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 65

SP - 339

EP - 346

JO - Journal of Environmental Management

JF - Journal of Environmental Management

SN - 0301-4797

IS - 4

ER -