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Exploring Barriers to Environmental Sustainability for SMEs in the South African Wine Industry

Lombard, Adriaan LU and van den Berg, Ruben LU (2023) ENTN19 20231
Department of Business Administration
Abstract
Purpose: Environmental sustainability in the wine industry has become increasingly important.
Most countries have implemented programs to ensure sustainability. In South Africa, the majority
of wine farms belong to the sustainability scheme. However, small and medium wine farms face
challenges in adopting sustainability practices. Therefore, this research investigates the barriers
faced by SME wine farms in South Africa in adopting sustainability practices. These barriers can
be related to various stakeholders. In addition to identifying the barriers, this research explores
the relationship between stakeholders and the barriers to environmental sustainability in the
South African wine industry.
Design/Methodology/Approach: This... (More)
Purpose: Environmental sustainability in the wine industry has become increasingly important.
Most countries have implemented programs to ensure sustainability. In South Africa, the majority
of wine farms belong to the sustainability scheme. However, small and medium wine farms face
challenges in adopting sustainability practices. Therefore, this research investigates the barriers
faced by SME wine farms in South Africa in adopting sustainability practices. These barriers can
be related to various stakeholders. In addition to identifying the barriers, this research explores
the relationship between stakeholders and the barriers to environmental sustainability in the
South African wine industry.
Design/Methodology/Approach: This research consists of six in-depth case studies of SME
wine farms in the Stellenbosch and Paarl region of the Western Cape in South Africa. We
conducted three in-person and three online semi-structured interviews with wine farm owners
and winemakers. A thematic analysis was used to analyze the data gathered.
Findings: Our findings showed that SMEs in the South African wine industry face four main
barriers in adopting environmentally sustainable practices: costs, evaluation criteria set out by the
IPW, lack of government support, and the lack of local market benefits. No stakeholders on the
organizational level of the stakeholder theory relate to any barriers identified. However, on the
economic and social/political level, the consumers, the government, and the IPW relate to the
barriers identified.
Research limitations: Small sample size, country-specific, and area context
Value: Our study aims to contribute to the understanding of barriers faced by SMEs in the wine
industry when adopting sustainable practices. Furthermore, our study allows for a better
understanding of the role stakeholders have on the barriers to the adoption of sustainability
practices. Our research can assist policymakers and the government in developing frameworks that ensure all organizations can adopt sustainability practices. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Lombard, Adriaan LU and van den Berg, Ruben LU
supervisor
organization
course
ENTN19 20231
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
Barriers, SMEs, Sustainability, IPW, South Africa, Wine industry, stakeholders, environmental sustainability
language
English
id
9126361
date added to LUP
2023-06-19 10:33:24
date last changed
2023-06-19 10:33:24
@misc{9126361,
  abstract     = {{Purpose: Environmental sustainability in the wine industry has become increasingly important.
Most countries have implemented programs to ensure sustainability. In South Africa, the majority
of wine farms belong to the sustainability scheme. However, small and medium wine farms face
challenges in adopting sustainability practices. Therefore, this research investigates the barriers
faced by SME wine farms in South Africa in adopting sustainability practices. These barriers can
be related to various stakeholders. In addition to identifying the barriers, this research explores
the relationship between stakeholders and the barriers to environmental sustainability in the
South African wine industry.
Design/Methodology/Approach: This research consists of six in-depth case studies of SME
wine farms in the Stellenbosch and Paarl region of the Western Cape in South Africa. We
conducted three in-person and three online semi-structured interviews with wine farm owners
and winemakers. A thematic analysis was used to analyze the data gathered.
Findings: Our findings showed that SMEs in the South African wine industry face four main
barriers in adopting environmentally sustainable practices: costs, evaluation criteria set out by the
IPW, lack of government support, and the lack of local market benefits. No stakeholders on the
organizational level of the stakeholder theory relate to any barriers identified. However, on the
economic and social/political level, the consumers, the government, and the IPW relate to the
barriers identified.
Research limitations: Small sample size, country-specific, and area context
Value: Our study aims to contribute to the understanding of barriers faced by SMEs in the wine
industry when adopting sustainable practices. Furthermore, our study allows for a better
understanding of the role stakeholders have on the barriers to the adoption of sustainability
practices. Our research can assist policymakers and the government in developing frameworks that ensure all organizations can adopt sustainability practices.}},
  author       = {{Lombard, Adriaan and van den Berg, Ruben}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Exploring Barriers to Environmental Sustainability for SMEs in the South African Wine Industry}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}