This research attempts to examine how multinational enterprises (MNEs) from regulated and non‐regulated industries shape their environmental strategies with regard to environmental disclosure and performance. Results reveal that regulated (non‐regulated) MNEs display worse (better) environmental performance levels and disclose less (more) environmental information than MNEs operating in non‐regulated (regulated) environments. We argue that this strategy is set as an answer to cope with legitimacy problems faced by MNEs as well as to respond to increased demands from stakeholder groups. We contend that our findings may contribute to existing literature and be of relevance for practitioners. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment