Green Entrepreneurship in SMEs: A Combined Bibliometric Analysis and Systematic Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24256/kharaj.v8i4.12966Keywords:
Green Entrepreneurship, Bibliometric Analysis, SMEs, Systematic Literature ReviewAbstract
Green entrepreneurship has emerged as a crucial strategic paradigm for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) responding to accelerating ecological crises, climate regulations, and shifting consumer expectations. Despite a growing body of research, a comprehensive synthesis combining intellectual mapping with thematic exploration of green SME transitions remains limited. To address this gap, this study employs a dual-approach framework integrating Bibliometric Analysis of Scopus-indexed publications (2020–2025) using VOSviewer with a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) of selected high-relevance articles from the dataset. The bibliometric findings from the refined dataset (n = 63) reveal a dynamic and fluctuating publication trajectory that initially peaked in 2022 with 17 documents and accelerated again in 2025 with 16 documents, alongside key geographical contributors led by India, China, and Italy. Central thematic clusters focus on sustainable entrepreneurship, circular economy, and green innovation, with "sustainability" and "small and medium-sized enterprise" serving as the most central focal nodes based on total link strength. The SLR synthesis further identifies the primary internal and external drivers of green adoption (such as adaptive entrepreneurial leadership and green structural capital), structural and cultural barriers (including technical knowledge gaps and high initial financial costs), and essential eco-innovation models (such as digital transformation and sustainable waste management). Finally, this study outlines crucial theoretical implications and proposes future research agendas, including longitudinal tracking and cross-sectoral analysis, to advance the global ecosystem of sustainable entrepreneurship in SMEs.
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