Enhancing green process innovation performance: The role of regenerative unlearning and knowledge base management

Abstract

Spanish manufacturing companies are urged to adopt greener practices to mitigate their environmental footprint. However, they often lack the knowledge to do so. Following a knowledge-based approach, this study analyzes the role of strategic knowledge management in enhancing organizational green performance. It introduces the concept of regenerative unlearning, defining it as the result of an organizational change that has consequences at the organizational level. Specifically, it tests the direct influence of regenerative unlearning on green process innovation performance and its indirect influence through knowledge breadth and depth. By analyzing 310 Spanish medium-sized manufacturing companies, results show that updating and managing the knowledge base positively impacts the company's green process innovation performance. This implies that leveraging regenerative unlearning as part of companies' knowledge management strategy is part of the solution to achieving ecological efficiency in the manufacturing industry. Finally, actionable recommendations for industry leaders to improve their green performance are provided.