Towards a Circular Economy: Cleaner Production Technology Adoption Among Small and Medium Enterprises in an Emerging Economy

The integration of environmental considerations into business strategies is vital for organizational sustainability. The adoption of cleaner production technologies remains a complex issue in emerging economies. The majority of the literature still focuses on developed nations. This study aims to fill this gap by providing empirical insights into CPT adoption among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. Utilizing the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework and multiple regression analysis, data from 437 SME managers reveal that factors such as relative advantage, regulatory pressure, government support, customer pressure, environmental uncertainty, human resources, top management support, compatibility, and complexity significantly influence CPT adoption. Interestingly, perceived cost was not a significant predictor. Both research and managerial implications are discussed.