Asian Journal of Research in Social Sciences and Humanities

Sustainability in business involves making economic gains without compromising on the impact of that gain on the environment as well as the society the business thrives in. The growing concern about sustainability has created an urgent need for businesses to change their ways and means of operating their business. Small and medium enterprises are the backbone of the economy of any country and therefore need to be involved seriously in the movement of sustainability. For that it is essential to understand what drives sustainability in small and medium enterprises. This study aims to fulfill that need. The findings of this study shows that small and medium enterprises are driven by external factors like suppliers, regulations, associations and networks and by internal factors like values and top management commitment. The findings of this study would help policy makers and associations to frame appropriate strategies, policies and procedures which would encourage more sustainability initiatives among small and medium enterprises.