Perceptions of Environmental Consciousness in U.S. Small Businesses: An Empirical Study

摘要

Concern for the protection and preservation of the natural environment is strong among a sizable segment of the U. S. population. "Green" initiatives exist in many walks of life, and business organizations are asked or expected to be more environmentally responsible than in the past. Indeed, a strong positive environmental stance may be viewed as a competitive strength as firms seek to position themselves vis-a-vis their competitors. According to the Internationa Standards Organization (ISO) and for the purposes of this paper, "environment" is defined as "surroundings in which an organization operates, including air, water, land, natural resources, flora, fauna, humans, and their interrelation. The environment in this context extends from within an organization to the global system". (Jackson, 1997, p. 128). Environmental concern is defined as the importance individuals place on environmental preservation and protection and their supporting actions.