Sustainable Business through Green Entrepreneurship in Nepal
Maharjan, Saroj (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025060520905
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025060520905
Tiivistelmä
Green entrepreneurship is at a crucial point for change towards a green economy. Through connecting profitability and ecological responsibility, green business is a converging engine of long-term sustainable economic success and environmental preservation, and hence essential to worldwide sustainable development programs. With more environmental issues in Nepal, like deforestation, climate risks, and pollution, based on which, a qualitative study was conducted to evaluate how green businesses are operating in Nepal's unique socioeconomic context. The goal was to study the drivers, practices, challenges, and opportunities for green entrepreneurs and analyze the broader contributions of green firms towards sustainable development goals.
The study was carried out using a qualitative, thematic analysis approach. Data was collected via semi-structured interviews among a sample of ten green entrepreneurs from organic agriculture, renewable energy, sustainable transport, and ecotourism sectors. The participants were selected from different geographical areas to reflect context. Secondary data sources were also used to cross-check the emerging themes and validate interview findings. Findings indicated that Nepalese green entrepreneurship is highly motivated by first-hand experience of environmental degradation and a strong ethical orientation towards sustainability. There was a finding that entrepreneurs were experimenting with the application of traditional knowledge and local resources in entrepreneurial ideas. Despite the presence of such innovative practices, certain structural and institutional issues were found to affect green entrepreneurship in Nepal, such as restricted access to green finance, policy inconsistency, and poor infrastructure. Nevertheless, entrepreneurs had played a major role in environmental conservation, the generation of employment opportunities, and education for the locals.
Green entrepreneurship has been proven to be a feasible and effective tool for ensuring economic resilience and environmental balance in Nepal. However, its maximum potential can be attained with supportive policy, capacity development programs, and increased funding opportunities. The research offers realistic lessons to policymakers, development agencies, and prospective researchers wishing to improve sustainable business systems in similar emerging environments.
The study was carried out using a qualitative, thematic analysis approach. Data was collected via semi-structured interviews among a sample of ten green entrepreneurs from organic agriculture, renewable energy, sustainable transport, and ecotourism sectors. The participants were selected from different geographical areas to reflect context. Secondary data sources were also used to cross-check the emerging themes and validate interview findings. Findings indicated that Nepalese green entrepreneurship is highly motivated by first-hand experience of environmental degradation and a strong ethical orientation towards sustainability. There was a finding that entrepreneurs were experimenting with the application of traditional knowledge and local resources in entrepreneurial ideas. Despite the presence of such innovative practices, certain structural and institutional issues were found to affect green entrepreneurship in Nepal, such as restricted access to green finance, policy inconsistency, and poor infrastructure. Nevertheless, entrepreneurs had played a major role in environmental conservation, the generation of employment opportunities, and education for the locals.
Green entrepreneurship has been proven to be a feasible and effective tool for ensuring economic resilience and environmental balance in Nepal. However, its maximum potential can be attained with supportive policy, capacity development programs, and increased funding opportunities. The research offers realistic lessons to policymakers, development agencies, and prospective researchers wishing to improve sustainable business systems in similar emerging environments.