The impacts of Environmental Supply Chain Management (ESCM) on the environmental activities of Small and Medium - sized Enterprises (SMEs): empirical study of the Korean electronics industry

Small and medium sized enterprises' (SMEs) environmental performance and action have been often of great concern toward sustainability although they are playing a
critically important role in economic and industrial development. Among lots of initiatives to engage SMEs into sustainability framework, environmental supply chain
management (ESCM) of large companies has a great potential to persuade SMEs to undertake environmentally improved activities. ESCM approaches have been increasingly popular in today's large companies' businesses for their competitiveness, compliance with regulation and social responsibility. SMEs may be confronted with these environmental pressures as suppliers to large companies in the market.

This research investigated the relations and dynamics between the ESCM approaches of large companies and the environmental activities of SMEs in the Korean electronics
industry. A methodological triangulation approach adopting postal questionnaire survey and interview was used to describe these phenomena and to explore to the reasons,
obstacles to implement ESCM approaches, and identify key critical factors in ESCM approaches and SMEs beyond ESCM pressures.

This study found that ESCM approaches of large companies have positive impacts on SMEs' environmental activity, and the collaborative approach was more effective than
the arm's-length approach. Furthermore, when ESCM approaches fitted the internal conditions of an SME, the conduct of its environmental activities improved.
Appropriate compensations and the environmental awareness of a CEO could make the SMEs undertake environmental activities by going beyond the criteria suggested by
customers.