Stakeholder Pressure and Green Innovation: A Meta-Analytic Exploration of Industry and Regional Variations

Purpose

Stakeholder pressure is widely recognized as a key driver of green innovation. However, existing research often overlooks how this relationship may differ across various industry settings and national contexts. Understanding these contextual differences is essential for businesses aiming to implement effective and responsive environmental strategies.

Methods:

This study synthesizes findings from 23 independent investigations conducted across multiple industries and countries. The analysis aims to uncover patterns in how stakeholder pressure influences green innovation, with a particular focus on variations between sectors and regional settings.

Findings

The influence of stakeholder pressure on green innovation is generally positive but varies significantly by context. In manufacturing industries, the relationship is weaker, likely due to technical, operational, or financial constraints that hinder firms from fully meeting stakeholder expectations. The effect is also less pronounced in China, potentially due to country-specific stakeholder norms, regulatory frameworks, or socio-economic factors that shape corporate environmental responses.

Conclusions

Both industry characteristics and national contexts significantly shape the effectiveness of stakeholder-driven green innovation. Firms need to consider these contextual nuances when developing environmental strategies. Tailoring approaches to fit specific industrial and regional conditions can improve alignment with stakeholder expectations and enhance the success of green initiatives.