Adoption of green innovations by SMEs: an investigation about the influence of stakeholders

Purpose Pursuing sustainable development has become a necessity for all types of businesses, owing to the increasing sensitivity stakeholders towards pollution and environmental degradation related economic activities. To sustain this approach, investments supporting green innovations (GIs) are required. The paper investigates how affect choices companies pursue objectives through use GIs. Design/methodology/approach A sample 222 innovative Italian SMEs was collected analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling technique importance performance map analysis. Findings authors found that with not-contractual ties Among only workforce represents strong stimulus eco-innovate. Anyway, contrary expectations, public administrations exert negative influence; is, they appear hinder approach Practical implications This contributes filling knowledge gaps about factors stimulating SMEs' in Specifically, by analysing stakeholders' influences, many policy indications emerge, such as extending facilities regulations, encouraging partnerships networking attracting private institutional investors. Originality/value Until now, prominent interest researchers policymakers been focused almost exclusively on large manufacturing corporations because their higher ecological footprints belief supposed be mainly followers rather than first adopters innovations. But international areas, role is widely predominant, these chiefly operate service sectors.