This paper examines the evolution of institutional responses to corporate environmentalism in the US chemical industry from 1960 to 1993. The study identifies four distinct stages in this evolution, each marked by changes in the organizational field, the institutions adopted by the industry, and disruptive events. The first stage (1962-1970) saw the emergence of environmental concerns, particularly through the publication of Rachel Carson's *Silent Spring*. The second stage (1971-1982) was characterized by increased regulatory attention, with the creation of the EPA and a shift towards compliance with government standards. The third stage (1983-1988) saw a reconfiguration of the organizational field, with increased legal activity from NGOs and a focus on cooperative relationships with the EPA. The fourth stage (1989-1993) introduced new players and interaction patterns, including lawsuits between insurance companies and industry, and industry-wide disputes over waste site cleanup. The paper argues that these changes reflect the complex dynamics of institutional evolution, where fields form around central issues rather than technologies or markets, and where competing institutions coexist within individual populations. The study also highlights the role of disruptive events in driving institutional change and the importance of understanding the cultural and institutional origins of organizational impacts on the natural environment.This paper examines the evolution of institutional responses to corporate environmentalism in the US chemical industry from 1960 to 1993. The study identifies four distinct stages in this evolution, each marked by changes in the organizational field, the institutions adopted by the industry, and disruptive events. The first stage (1962-1970) saw the emergence of environmental concerns, particularly through the publication of Rachel Carson's *Silent Spring*. The second stage (1971-1982) was characterized by increased regulatory attention, with the creation of the EPA and a shift towards compliance with government standards. The third stage (1983-1988) saw a reconfiguration of the organizational field, with increased legal activity from NGOs and a focus on cooperative relationships with the EPA. The fourth stage (1989-1993) introduced new players and interaction patterns, including lawsuits between insurance companies and industry, and industry-wide disputes over waste site cleanup. The paper argues that these changes reflect the complex dynamics of institutional evolution, where fields form around central issues rather than technologies or markets, and where competing institutions coexist within individual populations. The study also highlights the role of disruptive events in driving institutional change and the importance of understanding the cultural and institutional origins of organizational impacts on the natural environment.