Environmental collaboration, responsible innovation, and firm performance: The moderating role of stakeholder pressure

Abstract Despite the burgeoning literature on environmental strategy, research is scarce on how environmental collaboration influences responsible innovation. Our study closes this gap by investigating the impact of environmental collaboration on firm performance through the mediating mechanism of responsible innovation. Using data collected from 225 firms, the results show that a firm's level of environmental collaboration influences responsible innovation. The findings also reveal that the impact of environmental collaboration on responsible innovation is greater when stakeholder pressure is higher than when it is low. Finally, we find that the relationship between environmental collaboration on firm performance is mediated by responsible innovation. These findings extend the environmental strategy and responsible innovation research and practice.