A conceptual framework: Corporate environmental management activities and sustainable competitive advantage

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the possible effects of corporate environmental activities on sustainable competitive advantage through the mediation of leadership factors and effective implementation strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

The work is essentially non-empirical review of the literature with the development of a conceptual model which can be tested in a later study.

Findings

The study proposes that corporate environmental activities can give firms competitive advantage. The studies also propose that stakeholders can act as pressure thereby moderating the relationship between corporate environmental activities and sustainable competitive advantage. Leadership factors and effective implementation affect competitive advantage.

Research limitations/implications

This study has a few limitations that must be considered and could provide guidance for future study; as this study does not address customers point of view, future study could help in the investigation in order to get a holistic view. Moreover, the study is based on the literature, and the conceptual model has not been tested.

Practical implications

The study proposes that good leadership and effectiveness in strategy implementation can make corporate environmental activities lead to sustainable competitive advantage. The findings of the study provide managers of firms with a possible tool in creating sustainable competitive advantage.

Originality/value

Despite the rapid growth in research on environmental issues in corporate world, limited studies have been conducted on how leadership factors and effectiveness of strategy implementation can influence how corporate environmental activities affect competitiveness of firms. This study makes an original contribution by proposing strategies for sustainable competitive advantage through the instrumentality of corporate environmental decisions.

Citation

Amoako, G.K. (2020), "A conceptual framework: Corporate environmental management activities and sustainable competitive advantage", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 31 No. 2, pp. 331-347. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-09-2019-0187