Impact of ISO 14 001, ISO 9 001 and ISO 45 001 on economic performance and competitive potential of European companies

In this paper, we investigate the impact of voluntary standards and approaches in environmental management (ISO 14 000 or EMS), quality management (ISO 9000) and occupational health and safety management (OHSAS 45001) on economic performance of European companies. From the perspective of business practices, implementation of these standards is currently considered as one of the basic tools for building competitive potential of companies. We used a sample of 442 European listed companies for the period 2017-2021. The key analytical tools utilized to identify and model the relationships between management system certifications and economic variables were multivariate regression analysis and logistic regression. The study has found no significant direct impact of ISO certifications on economic performance. The expected benefits of these certifications are context-dependent and are influenced by existing regulatory frameworks and market maturity. The study suggests insignificant effects of these certifications in mature, highly regulated markets. Another finding is that firms with lower economic performance are more likely to adopt management system certifications, supporting the hypothesis that firms with lower productivity seek certification to achieve efficiency gains and build basic competitive advantages. The findings are set in the context of a strict regulatory environment in Europe, where existing regulation may mitigate other benefits of certifications. The study also considers the potential saturation of certifications in developed economies, which could reduce their competitive advantage. The analysis includes a time series covering the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods and finds no significant benefits of these certifications for economic resilience during COVID-19.