Ecopreneurship Developments and Their Impact on Export Performance: A Systematic Review of Manufacturing SMEs

Abstract

The findings of this paper are based on a PRISMA- guided systematic review of the literature on ecopreneurship and export performance in manufacturing SMEs. Analyzing the accumulated research under the CREATE program published from 2020 to 2023, this review extract’s themes that suggest how sustainable business practices enhance exports and competitive- ness. The initial documentation search yielded 1,150 articles and 45 articles for inclusion in the qualitative synthesis according to the PRISMA selection criteria. The findings also indicate that ecopreneurship assists SMEs in gaining international markets, supporting them in meeting high standards of legal require- ments on environmental standards, differentiating their products, and increasing return on revenue. Moreover, solutions devised as part of innovation that embeds sustainability are another consideration that supports the creation of new market spaces. Nevertheless, there were some evident limitations reported by the interviewees as influencing the UK ecopreneurial activities; they include financial constraints and inadequate technical know-how. This review therefore calls for more research on how ecopreneur- ship influences the world’s competitiveness and manufacturers’ sustainability in the long run.