6533b7d2fe1ef96bd125e994

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Do board characteristics affect environmental performance? A study of EU firms

Begoña HerreroC. José García Martín

subject

Sustainable developmentGender diversitybusiness.industryStrategy and Management05 social sciencesAccountingSample (statistics)06 humanities and the artsManagement Monitoring Policy and LawDevelopment0603 philosophy ethics and religionAffect (psychology)0502 economics and businessCorporate social responsibilitymedia_common.cataloged_instance060301 applied ethicsEuropean unionResource consumptionbusiness050203 business & managementmedia_common

description

This paper explores the relationship between board characteristics and environmental performance. We adopt a triple perspective of environmental performance, focussing on emissions (waste and CO2), resource consumption (water and energy), and the implementation of environmental initiatives. The sample comprises 644 nonfinancial European Union–based companies. The data cover the period 2002 to 2017. The results confirm that gender diversity and the existence of a corporate social responsibility committee are positively associated with the firms' environmental performance. This finding is consistent with the view that the educational background, talent, and experience of women help promote sustainable environmental initiatives. The existence of a corporate social responsibility committee reflects a company's commitment to sustainable development.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2019-06-14Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management
https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.1775