Understanding and implementing environmental management in small entrepreneurial ventures: supply chain management, production and design

Abstract

PurposeThis work aims to propose guidelines for small industrial businesses to take their first steps toward implementing systems, programs and tools (SPTs) for environmental management in a structured way.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted case studies in large companies certificated ISO 14001. They ran tests for construct validity, external validity and reliability. Cross-analysis of the information collected led to identifying patterns and strategies adopted by these companies to implement environmental management. Based on the literature on environmental management in small businesses and the author's experience, the practices learned from large companies were adapted to the reality of small ones, thus resulting in the proposed guidelines.FindingsThese guidelines enable small companies to develop their environmental management following the logical evolution of SPTs: ISO 14001, green supply chain management (GSCM), cleaner production (CP) and green design (GD). The implementation should happen gradually, through the PDCA cycle, according to three specific levels of environmental evolution.Research limitations/implicationsSince the guidelines focused on small industrial companies, future studies should consider other sectors, such as services, to benefit from the solutions presented. As for the implications, besides improving the small company's performance and enhancing its image, implementing the guidelines creates a green synergy along the supply chain, thus benefiting society beyond the company's borders.Originality/valueThe main theoretical-scientific contribution of this work is to deepen a block of knowledge that articulates environmental management and small businesses, creating a basis for further research and a reference for analyzing and discussing empirical studies in small companies. As an applied-management contribution, the guidelines allow small companies to effectively develop SPTs to move toward environmental sustainability.

Identification of Sustainable Practices in Brazilian Companies: A Case Study in the Food Sector

“…As for the use of certifications, the Beta company, besides following the criteria imposed by the legislation, also has the ISO 14001 certification, bringing benefits that are also present in the literature, such as the reduction of resource consumption and waste management (Bansal & Bogner, 2002;Riaz et al, 2022), improved reputation and relationship (Amorim et al, 2023;Potoski & Prakash, 2005), reduces environmental impacts (Jeong & Lee, 2022;Wiengarten et al, 2013). The number of certifications is increasing, but still low in developing countries, although Brazil, mainly companies and industries of the southeast region, is among one of the countries in the Americas that had one of the highest number of certifications in 2014 (Hikichi et al, 2017).…”