An Analysis of Eco-Innovation Capabilities among Small and Medium Enterprises in Malaysia

Najahul Kamilah Aminy Sukri, Siti Nur ‘Atikah Zulkiffli (), Nik Hazimah Nik Mat, Khatijah Omar, Mukhammad Kholid Mawardi and Nur Farah Zafira Zaidi
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Najahul Kamilah Aminy Sukri: Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus 21030, Malaysia
Siti Nur ‘Atikah Zulkiffli: Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus 21030, Malaysia
Nik Hazimah Nik Mat: Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus 21030, Malaysia
Khatijah Omar: Institute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus 21030, Malaysia
Mukhammad Kholid Mawardi: Faculty of Administrative Sciences, Brawijaya University, Kota Malang 65145, Indonesia
Nur Farah Zafira Zaidi: Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus 21030, Malaysia

Administrative Sciences, 2023, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-24

Abstract: The objective of this study is to look at how Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are applying eco-innovation capabilities in order to sustain their business performance. Eco-innovation capabilities are represented in this study by five different types of practices, with the indication of unexpected circumstances: eco-product innovation, eco-process innovation, eco-organisational innovation, eco-marketing innovation, and eco-technology innovation. The qualitative research approach was used in the study, and the content analysis was based on in-depth interviews with six top-level managers/owners of Malaysian manufacturing SMEs. According to the data, more than half of SMEs acquired eco-innovation capabilities in order to continue their business performance and thrive in the business sector, while having to confront certain hurdles due to unforeseen situations. According to the findings, eco-innovation capabilities encourage SMEs to engage in waste management, recycling or reusing resources, research and development, sustainable goods that utilize customer requests, and the use of environment management machines. Thus, the findings of this study may aid the efforts of government agencies, policymakers, and top-tier manufacturing SMEs in building an exceptional innovation platform on which SMEs may rely for assistance and support in preserving their business performance in the future and beyond.

Keywords: eco-innovation capabilities; sustainability; small and medium-sized enterprise; business performance; Malaysia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L M M0 M1 M10 M11 M12 M14 M15 M16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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