Impact of environmental regulations on eco-innovation: the moderating role of top managers’ environmental awareness and commitment

Traditional research has suggested that external environmental regulations and internal executive attitude are important factors. However, no in-depth study has yet to be conducted on the interaction between internal and external factors. This study constructs a model of the relationship between the different driving factors of eco-innovation from internal and external perspectives. By analyzing survey data covering 214 enterprises, this study explores the impact of environmental regulations on eco-innovation and further analyzes the moderating effect of the environmental awareness and commitment of top managers. Results show that, first, formal and informal environmental regulations and the environmental awareness and commitment of top managers have significant positive effects on eco-innovation. Second, the environmental awareness of top managers has no significant moderating effect on the relationship between environmental regulations and eco-innovation. Third, the environmental commitment of top managers has a significant positive moderating effect on the relationship between formal environmental regulations and eco-innovation. However, such environmental commitment has no significant moderating effect on the relationship between informal environmental regulations and eco-innovation. Finally, based on the empirical results, this study provides relevant managerial implications and policy suggestions.