Given that the role of suppliers is an essential, differentiating element in the environmental management practices and activities of firms (Meade & Sarkis, 2002), a first hypothesis was analyzed within this framework (relative to the relationship that is maintained with container suppliers) as to whether the characteristics of the relationships of the packaging and/or bottling companies with their suppliers are similar in Spain and Belgium. The variables which integrate this first hypothesis are shown in Table 1 and have been grouped with respect to the main functional area involved