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This study examines the relationship between one of the most important policies of social responsibility in manufacturing: the protection of the environment and cooperative business relations in small businesses (fewer than 50 employees). For this, we performed a literature review and an empirical study of 930 small manufacturing firms in Spain. Results indicate that small businesses that maintain and improve their cooperative relations through business networking with universities, competitors, suppliers and customers spend more on environmental protection than those which do not. The managerial, practical, research and policy implications of the obtained research findings are discussed.