While our understanding of the environmental impacts of corporate environmental culture and management
programs remains cloudy, organizational studies has provided a robust body of research on
the roots of variations in corporate environmental decision making and actions. Two major theories in
environmental sociology that are used to make sense of the capitalist system’s role in environmental
problems and solutions are treadmill of production (TOP; Schnaiberg, 1980) and ecological modernization
(Mol, 1997). TOP generally views capitalist organizations as following the logics set out by the
capitalist system in that they will act as economic rational actors, maximizing profit by pursing the
cheapest resource extraction and waste disposal methods that they can legally get away with (Schnaiberg
& Gould, 1994). Variations in this behavior are therefore due to variations in economic conditions
facing firms. Meanwhile, ecological modernization theory (EMT) suggests that further development
of capitalism and the state regulation and public pressure it brings will lead to capitalist organizations
adopting a broader more ecological and economic perspective on decision making. EMT sees the firm
and markets as more socially embedded, perceiving and responding to cultural and economic cues.