What drives successful implementation of pollution prevention and cleaner technology strategy? The role of innovative capability

• Attributes of innovative capability are linked to environmental strategies.
• An empirical study of Indian firms was conducted.
• Behavioral and process innovativeness are linked to pollution prevention strategy.
• All attributes of innovative capability are linked to cleaner technology strategy.
• Firm's vision and risk-taking ability is required for cleaner technology solutions.

Firms that are dynamic and prepared to implement environmental strategies have a potential competitive advantage over their industry counterparts. Therefore, it is important to understand, what capabilities are required to implement proactive environmental strategies. The paper discusses the attributes of innovative capability required by firms in order to adopt pollution prevention and cleaner technology strategies. Empirical results show that process and behavioral innovativeness are required by firms to implement a pollution prevention strategy. In addition to process and behavioral innovativeness, firms need a top management with high risk-taking ability as well as market, product, and strategic innovativeness to implement a cleaner technology strategy. The paper proposes some important managerial implications on the basis of the above research findings.