A Phenomenological Study of Corporate Environmental Sustainability of Large Manufacturing Firms: A Developing Economy Perspective

Existing environmental sustainability frameworks and standards take precedent in addressing environmental challenges. These have predominantly focused on firms in developed economies with a specific turnover, overlooking firms in developing economies with a very low turnover. In that case, Sustainable Development Goal 13 is hard to achieve in developing economies. This study uses inductive and qualitative approaches grounded in phenomenology. Semi-structured interviews with environmental managers yielded contextual insights that were analysed thematically to uncover emerging themes and patterns. Six major themes explaining corporate environmental sustainability in developing economies were identified: (1) Environmental Awareness; (2) Environmental Responsibility, (3) Environmental Ideation, (4) Environmental Initiatives, (5) Environmental Management Systems, and (6) Environmental Performance. Results build upon stakeholder theory and stewardship theory by introducing new perspectives on stakeholder awareness, idea seeking, environmental reporting, collaboration, and collective environmental responsibility. A comprehensive context-specific application reinforces environmental awareness, responsibility, ideation, initiatives like tree planting, waste segregation, water conservation, management systems, and performance can contribute to sustainability in manufacturing in a developing economy. The insights of this study not only enrich theory but also provide actionable guidance for policymakers and manufacturing leaders in developing economies seeking to balance environmental sustainability with limited resources