Internationalization and environmentally-related organizational learning among Chinese manufacturers

Globalization has caused Chinese manufacturers to develop quickly while simultaneously meeting green barriers to export products. Whether internationalization has led to improved environmental management practices among Chinese manufacturers is also a related question. Using survey data collected from 377 Chinese manufacturers in four industrial sectors, we find that international institutional pressures positively relate to domestic environmentalism of Chinese manufacturers and their adoption of environmentally-related organizational learning practices. Environmental learning is a viable method for Chinese manufacturers to ease their environmental burdens by replicating environmental management practices of their foreign counterparts. On the policy side, the Chinese government should follow other developed countries efforts to deploy environmental regulations and policies, further motivating environmental awareness and responses in the manufacturing industry.

► We examine internationalization and environmentally-related organizational learning.
► We develop a concept model and do surveys in four Chinese industrial sectors.
► International pressures bring domestic environmentalism of Chinese manufacturers.
► Environmental learning helps Chinese manufacturers to ease the environmental burdens.
► The Chinese government can learn developed countries to deploy environmental policies.