David Hitchens, Professor of Applied Economics, Queen’s University, Belfast, Esmond Birnie, Ulster University, the late William Thompson, formerly Queen’s University, Belfast, UK, Ursula Triebswetter, Department of Labor and Economics, State Capital Munich, Germany, Paolo Bertossi, Senior Research Officer, Eco and Eco, Bologna, Italy and Luciano Messori, Department of Management,Università di Bologna, Italy

• Contents: 1. Introduction 2. The Relationship Between Environmental Performance and Company Competitiveness 3. Environmental Regulations Relevant to the Sample Sectors 4. The Supply Chain 5. Hypotheses, Research Method, Measurement of Variables and Sample Selection 6. Solid and Liquid Waste and Other Environmental Initiatives Undertaken by Sample Firms 7. Number of Initiatives, Firm and Plant Characteristics 8. Environmental Initiatives, their Drivers and Firm Performance 9. The Resource and Performance Effects of Regulation and External Pressures on Solid Waste Initiatives 10. Waste Costs 11. Waste Costs, Initiatives and Firm and Plant Performance 12. Environmental Regulation, Costs and Company Competitiveness 13. Conclusions Appendices A. Environmental Regulations in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Germany and Italy B. Description of Environmental Initiatives C. Description and Examples of Effects References Index

David Hitchens, Professor of Applied Economics, Queen’s University, Belfast, Esmond Birnie, Ulster University, the late William Thompson, formerly Queen’s University, Belfast, UK, Ursula Triebswetter, Department of Labor and Economics, State Capital Munich, Germany, Paolo Bertossi, Senior Research Officer, Eco and Eco, Bologna, Italy and Luciano Messori, Department of Management,Università di Bologna, Italy

• Contents: 1. Introduction 2. The Relationship Between Environmental Performance and Company Competitiveness 3. Environmental Regulations Relevant to the Sample Sectors 4. The Supply Chain 5. Hypotheses, Research Method, Measurement of Variables and Sample Selection 6. Solid and Liquid Waste and Other Environmental Initiatives Undertaken by Sample Firms 7. Number of Initiatives, Firm and Plant Characteristics 8. Environmental Initiatives, their Drivers and Firm Performance 9. The Resource and Performance Effects of Regulation and External Pressures on Solid Waste Initiatives 10. Waste Costs 11. Waste Costs, Initiatives and Firm and Plant Performance 12. Environmental Regulation, Costs and Company Competitiveness 13. Conclusions Appendices A. Environmental Regulations in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Germany and Italy B. Description of Environmental Initiatives C. Description and Examples of Effects References Index

David Hitchens, Professor of Applied Economics, Queen’s University, Belfast, Esmond Birnie, Ulster University, the late William Thompson, formerly Queen’s University, Belfast, UK, Ursula Triebswetter, Department of Labor and Economics, State Capital Munich, Germany, Paolo Bertossi, Senior Research Officer, Eco and Eco, Bologna, Italy and Luciano Messori, Department of Management,Università di Bologna, Italy

• Contents: 1. Introduction 2. The Relationship Between Environmental Performance and Company Competitiveness 3. Environmental Regulations Relevant to the Sample Sectors 4. The Supply Chain 5. Hypotheses, Research Method, Measurement of Variables and Sample Selection 6. Solid and Liquid Waste and Other Environmental Initiatives Undertaken by Sample Firms 7. Number of Initiatives, Firm and Plant Characteristics 8. Environmental Initiatives, their Drivers and Firm Performance 9. The Resource and Performance Effects of Regulation and External Pressures on Solid Waste Initiatives 10. Waste Costs 11. Waste Costs, Initiatives and Firm and Plant Performance 12. Environmental Regulation, Costs and Company Competitiveness 13. Conclusions Appendices A. Environmental Regulations in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Germany and Italy B. Description of Environmental Initiatives C. Description and Examples of Effects References Index