Abstract
Environmental awareness is a key aspect considered in companies corporate social responsibility. Companies
try always to comply with current environmental legislation. Does it make sense for them to go beyond
legislation? This works aim is to answer this question and to study how companies can generate value through
environmental proactivity. This study is focused on the Spanish tile industry sector. This researchs objective is
to describe which aspects form companies environmental strategy; barriers and facilitators that make possible
proactive environmental orientation; benefits companies can obtain from it and obstacles companies face when
trying to be environmentally proactive, through a case study as qualitative methodology. The major benefit
observed is to prevent sanctions, followed by improvement of corporate image, long-term cost savings and new
business opportunities obtaining. Main obstacles companies face are lack of institutional and financial support.
Evidence is found that environmental proactivity is considered in companies strategic planning.