From Good to Green: Entrepreneurial Pathways to Eco‐Innovation

ABSTRACT

The connection between personal well‐being and planetary health is often overlooked. This study is aimed at researching into the effects of entrepreneurs' well‐being on eco‐innovation. More specifically, and grounded on the entrepreneurship literature, we argue that entrepreneurial orientation, as an internal factor, and ecosystem exploitation, as an external factor, mediate the relationship between well‐being and eco‐innovation. Based on a sample of 401 entrepreneurs and using an SEM analysis, results suggest that entrepreneurial well‐being does not directly promote eco‐innovation. Thus, feeling well is not an enough precondition to promote improvements for the environment. Instead, working internally toward more entrepreneurial attitudes, as well as working externally by leveraging the available mechanisms in the ecosystem, may help entrepreneurs to engage in eco‐innovation. Our research supports a holistic view of entrepreneurship as a human and ecological endeavor, contributing not only to economic value but also to the resilience of individuals, organizations, and their ecosystems.