Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice 2024

Environmental Sustainability of Family Firms: A Meta-Analysis of Handprint and Footprint

Solvej Lorenzen¹; Maike Gerken¹; Holger Steinmetz²; Joern Block^1,2,3; Marcel Hülsbeck⁴; Friederike Sophie Lux¹

¹ Witten/Herdecke University · ² Universität Trier · ³ Jönköping University · ⁴ Munich University of Applied Sciences

Abstract

Our meta-analysis investigates the environmental sustainability performance of family firms (FFs) distinguishing between environmental hand- and footprint and accounting for FF heterogeneity. Based on a sample of 87 primary studies comprising 118,538 firms, we find no significant difference between FFs and non-FFs regarding their overall environmental sustainability performance. Yet, distinguishing between environmental hand- and footprint, we show that FFs have a lower footprint than non-FFs but do not differ regarding their handprint. Firm size, being a public firm, and type of family involvement moderate the effects of FF status on environmental sustainability performance. Our research note extends prior meta-analytical evidence and contributes to a more fine-grained and nuanced understanding of the environmental sustainability performance of FFs. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.

DOI

10.1177/10422587231221799

Sources

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APA 7 MLA 9 Chicago (author–date) Harvard Elsevier Harvard (JFE, JBF…) The Accounting Review Academy of Management American Marketing Association INFORMS (Management Science) Copy citation Copied ✓