Exploring the antecedents and consequences of environmental performance in micro-enterprises: The case of the Italian craft beer industry

This research aims at investigating the antecedents and consequences of environmental performance in the craft beer industry. Precisely, we assessed how some factors, i.e. the external pressures, internal drivers, environmental awareness, as well as the adoption of proactive environmental strategies, influences the environmental performance; we also assessed to what extent the latter leads to better cost and differentiation advantages and operating performance. Our exploratory research relies upon original data acquired surveying 203 firms operating in the Italian craft beer industry, a new and fast-growing sector. We test our hypotheses using structural equation modelling. Results highlight the importance of carefully considering the proactive environmental strategy and environmental awareness in order to increase the environmental performance that, in turn, has a significant impact on the operating performance through cost advantages. •We explore antecedents and consequences of environmental performance in the craft beer industry.•There is a strong influence of the environmental awareness on the environmental proactive strategy.•External pressures have a significant impact on the environmental strategy.•There is a significant relationship between environmental performances and the cost advantages.•Cost advantages influence the operating performance.