Green Human Resource Management and Green Innovation

Abstract

There is a growing need for the application of Green human resource management (HRM) in the organisation. Green HRM is a new concept that draws the attention of corporates to sustainability with various reformed policies and practices. As a part of green social capital availability in an organisation, the adoption of environmental management practices can be fostered to attain resources. With the growing concern for environmental issues, organisations are obliged to adopt green practices, and they are aligning environmental management with human resource management, that is, Green HRM practices. Green HRM practices are powerful tools that provide industries and organisations with opportunities to embrace sustainability. There are two elements in Green HRM. First is HR practices, and the second is the preservation of knowledge capital. Green HR encompasses taking eco-friendly initiatives leading to reduced costs, better engagement of employees, greater efficiency, which in turn help the organisations to include innovative ways to reduce their carbon footprints. Green HRM policies focus on developing a green corporate culture by collaborating green behaviour of individuals and groups. Top management commitment and sustainability culture play a critical moderating role in enhancing environmental management practices and developing the resource (green human capital) pool in the firm. Given the conflicting arguments, this chapter will seek to determine the status of Green HRM practices to create a competitive advantage. This chapter uses desktop research to provide examples of green innovations from different organisations under the realm of the High Involvement Work System. Green HRM is increasingly being treated as an essential tool for implementing green strategies and environmental management practices. Hence, the chapter discusses examples of Green HRM practices such as eco-participation opportunities, creating green teams, transforming leaders, green jobs and attraction and selection, organisational culture management, organisational learning, environmental training, performance management, compensation that is implemented in these organisations to demonstrate green innovation.