The Influence of Economic and Environmental Factors on the Adoption of Responsible Production Standards

Abstract

In the context of global sustainability challenges, understanding the determinants of environmental management standard adoption has become increasingly relevant. This study aims to investigate the impact of economic and ecological factors on the adoption of ISO 14001 certifications in five selected countries: China, Germany, Japan, Sweden, and the United States. Utilizing a fixed-effects panel regression model, the research analyzes longitudinal data from five countries over the period 2012–2022. Data were sourced from the World Bank, International Energy Agency, Global Carbon Atlas, and ISO survey reports. The results indicate that GDP per capita positively impacts the number of certifications (p < 0.01), suggesting that higher economic resources are associated with an increase in the adoption of environmental standards. Additionally, CO2 emissions show a strong positive correlation (p < 0.01), indicating that more significant environmental pressure encourages the adoption of certification. The proportion of renewable energy demonstrates a conditionally significant effect (p < 0.05), highlighting the need for further research. These findings confirm that environmental concerns and economic capacity contribute to adopting sustainable production practices. The study emphasizes the crucial role of economic affluence and environmental priorities in promoting responsible production standards. Future research should extend the analysis by incorporating institutional variables, policy incentives, and sector-specific dynamics to deepen understanding of ISO 14001 diffusion in heterogeneous economic environments.