Relationship between Awareness and Implementation of Environmental Management Accounting–Evidence from Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Thailand

Abstract

In this study the relationship between awareness and implementation of Environmental Management Accounting within small and medium-sized enterprises listed in Market for Alternative Investment in Thailand was explored. A descriptive and correlational study design was adopted, and questionnaires were used to collect data from 57 small- and medium-sized Thai enterprises. The results provided empirical evidence that these firms had a moderate to high level of awareness of some aspects of environmental management accounting, and were practicing it to a certain extent. Furthermore, a positive correlation (.500, p < .01) between environmental accounting awareness and accounting practice was found. Hence, this implied that when firms were aware of the impact of environmental disclosures on their operations and had access to environmental management accounting knowledge, they were more likely to adopt appropriate accounting practices. The implementation of environmental accounting among small to medium enterprises in Thailand is still in the early stages. Further support and development are required to foster implementation. Further studies are encouraged–both qualitative studies to gain deeper insights into challenges of implementing environmental management accounting, and quantitative studies about factors that would better enable its practice.