Transformational Environmental Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility as Triggers of Competitive Advantage and Sustainable Performance in Environmentally Certified Companies in Mexico

Dailin Alejandra Ramírez-Altamirano, Patricia S. Sánchez-Medina (), René Díaz-Pichardo and Manuel F. Suárez-Barraza
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Dailin Alejandra Ramírez-Altamirano: Natural Resource Management Department, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 07320, Mexico
Patricia S. Sánchez-Medina: Natural Resource Management Department, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 07320, Mexico
René Díaz-Pichardo: ICN Business School, CEREFIGE, Université de Lorraine, 54003 Nancy, France
Manuel F. Suárez-Barraza: International Business Department, School of Business and Economy, Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP), Puebla 72810, Mexico

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 20, 1-22

Abstract: This research proposes a model to assess the impacts of transformational environmental leadership and corporate social responsibility on sustainable performance with the mediating effect of competitive advantage in environmentally certified companies in Mexico. Based on a literature review, a measurement instrument was created to evaluate the variables in the model. The sample is composed of 150 certified companies from 29 states. We used factor analysis and path analysis for hypothesis testing. We observed that transformational environmental leadership facilitates the internal changes and decision-making necessary to implement corporate social responsibility practices, develop competitive advantages, and improve sustainable performance. We also observed a positive relationship between competitive advantage and sustainable performance. From a transformational environmental leadership perspective, this study is helpful for researchers, industry experts, policymakers, and managers interested in voluntary environmental certifications in emerging economies. The research model implies a way to strengthen companies’ competitive advantage and sustainable performance through transformational environmental leadership and corporate social responsibility.

Keywords: competitive advantage (CA); corporate social responsibility (CSR); sustainable performance (SP); dynamic capabilities theory (DCT); resource-based view (RBV); transformational environmental leadership (TEL) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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