Title: Exploring the evolvement of environmental management accounting practices for achieving SMEs' sustainability in an emerging economy

Authors: Padmi Nagirikandalage; Kaouther Kooli; Arnaz Binsardi

Addresses: Accounting and Finance Department, Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University, 50 Shakespeare Street, Nottingham, NG1 4FQ, UK ' Bournemouth University Business School, Bournemouth University, Executive Business Centre 401, 89 Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth, BH8 8EB, UK ' North Wales Business School, Glyndwr University, Mold Road, Wrexham, LL11 2AW, UK

Abstract: It has been recognised that the information derived from management accounting practices (MAPs) is invaluable for the strategic decision-making processes of businesses and thereby enables better environmental performance. Businesses have recognised MAPs as a viable approach to drive their businesses towards sustainability. Hence, this study was carried out in an emerging economy i.e., Sri Lanka where the aim of this research is to explore the application of MAPs within small-medium enterprises (SMEs) for managing ecological issues. Two qualitative studies, netnography followed by semi structured interviews, were implemented to obtain an in-depth perspective of the application of MAPs and their impact of managing ecological issues of SMEs. The findings imply that although MAPs assist SMEs for their internal control in terms of ecological costing, there remain some challenges for SMEs especially regarding waste management owing to other barriers.

Keywords: EMAPs; environmental management accounting practices; SME; small-medium enterprise; sustainability; emerging economy; netnography.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2023.132404

International Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Performance Evaluation, 2023 Vol.19 No.2, pp.203 - 219

Received: 03 Sep 2021
Received in revised form: 05 Mar 2022
Accepted: 29 May 2022
Published online: 19 Jul 2023 *

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