Perception of changes in the companies' environment and pro-environmental attitudes of managers in Polish enterprises in the context of implementation of sustainable development driven by the European Green Deal

Abstract

PURPOSE: Getting recognition whether activities of managers of medium and large enterprises operating in Poland are consistent with the concept of the European Green Deal.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: An empirical study conducted using CAPI (Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing) method with 100 enterprises from different industry sectors to understand the awareness and perception of changes occurring in their environment and their pro-environmental behaviour. Practical findings are contrasted with available literature on this subject.

FINDINGS: Companies do not systematically identify changes occurring in their macroenvironment and, thus, do not react agilely to opportunities arising from the EU Green Deal. Such a proactive attitude is, however, necessary to gain a competitive advantage linked to inevitable progress in implementing the sustainable development principles in industry activities.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Important contribution to future work on best-suited strategies supporting the enterprises in effective transition to a more sustainable, circular economy.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Analysing for the first time how companies operating in Poland react to changes in their environment requiring them to implement more sustainable solutions and whether they are prepared for the so-called "green" transformation.