The influence of national culture on business organizations' commitment to environment sustainability in the European Union

Alexandra Cotae and Laura Bacali
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Alexandra Cotae: Management and Economic Engineering Department, Faculty of Machine Building, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Center for Innovation and Organizational Sustainability, Romania , Multicultural Business Institute, Romania
Laura Bacali: Management and Economic Engineering Department, Faculty of Machine Building, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Review of Applied Socio-Economic Research, 2017, vol. 14, issue 2, 19-29

Abstract: The current paper provides information on the way national culture with its specific characteristics influences business organizations across the European Union countries in their decisions to implement Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices, environmental sustainability initiatives and their eco-innovation performance. We reviewed an array of economy literature approaching the concepts of sustainable development, CSR, environmental performance, eco-innovation in relation to Geert Hofstede’s theory on culture and the six cultural dimensions. The paper offers an overview of the CSR practices and preferences around the world, with a focus on Corporate Environmental Responsibility, followed by a presentation of decision models of European SMEs in adopting circular economy practices correlated with the eco-innovation performance of the EU countries. While there is a certain link between the environmental performance of firms and the cultural background and economic development of their host country, we must address the specific social, political, economic, historic context of the country society in order to find the personalized solutions for the improvement of circular economy practices among its organizations.

Keywords: sustainable development; circular economy; multiculturalism; environmental performance; Corporate Social Responsibility; enterprises. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: M14 Q01 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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