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

Solvej Lorenzen, Maike Gerken, Holger Steinmetz, Joern Block, Marcel Hülsbeck, Friederike Sophie Lux

Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice · 2024 · Volume 48 · Issue 5

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.

Keywords

family firms, environmental footprint, environmental handprint, environmental sustainability, family firm heterogeneity, meta-analysis

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