Environmental Commitment Research Articles

FinTech Adoption and Corporate Greenwashing: A Technology Affordance Perspective

AbstractAffordance theory suggests that technology offers certain opportunities or ‘affordances’ that can be exploited by users. In this context, we are exploring how FinTech adoption provides opportunities to address corporate greenwashing. Drawing on an affordance perspective, we assert that FinTech adoption effectively inhibits corporate greenwashing behaviour, primarily through facilitating green innovation and improving managerial efficiency. We also contend that the impact of FinTech adoption on reducing greenwashing behaviour is not uniform across all industries. It is more pronounced in heavy‐polluting industries, indicating that FinTech has a greater effect in encouraging accurate disclosure of environmental information in environmentally sensitive sectors. Conversely, its impact is weaker in high‐tech industries, which might already have strong environmental commitments. The findings contribute to the literature on sustainability, FinTech and governance.

Navigating pro-environmental behavior among tourists: The role of value-belief-norm theory, personality traits, and commitment

Utilizing the Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) theory and Environmental Commitment Theory (ECT) as foundational frameworks, the research introduces and tests the Personality-VBN-Commitment (PVC) model. Results indicate that individuals with a robust personal norm for sustainability are more inclined to engage in pro-environmental behaviors while traveling. Additionally, the study underscores the role of personality traits, including extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness, in influencing pro-environmental travel choices and recognizing personal advantages from such behaviors. This research enriches the understanding of drivers behind tourists' pro-environmental behavior and offers insights for advancing sustainable tourism. Finally, the theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.

The Effect of Green Leadership Perception on Environmental Commitment, Awareness, and Employees’ Green Behavior in Hotel Businesses: Research from a Generation Cohort Theory Perspective

This study was carried out to determine the relationships between green leadership perceived by hotel employees and environmental commitment, environmental awareness, and employees’ green behavior. In contrast to previous research in the literature, this study also examines the moderating role of generation in these relationships. The study was carried with employees of five-star hotel in Turkey. The data were analyzed with IBM SPSS AMOS 22 programs and significant effects between certain variables were detected. In addition, the research results indicate that generation has a moderating role in the relationships between green leadership, environmental awareness, and environmental commitment. As a result of the evaluation, a number of theoretical and practical contributions are presented for academicians working in the literature, sector representatives, and hotel business managers.

The (in)congruence effects of organizational green compensation and employee green conscientiousness on pro-environmental behavior: evidence from China.

In past decades, the Chinese government has enacted a series of ecological policies to encourage organizations, the pivotal institutional agents implementing national policies, and employees, the crucial micro-actors engaging in ecological construction, to bring about employee pro-environmental behavior (EPEB) which is the foundation to realize nation's ecological strategies. Yet, the effectiveness of a widely adopted organizational-level green management practice "organizational green compensation" (OGC) and a typical individual-level green personality trait "employee green conscientiousness" (EGC) have been explored alone, ignoring the prevalence of various OGC-EGC combinations and failing to clarify the potential influences of OGC-EGC (in)congruence on EPEB. Our research endeavors to address this limitation by resolving the following two problems: What are the (in)congruence effects of OGC and EGC on EPEB in the Chinese context? And what is the underlying mechanism? Study 1 surveyed EGC, OGC, and EPEB among 778 subordinate-supervisor dyads and sought to test two single effects and three sets of comparisons between and within the congruence and incongruence effects using the methodology of polynomial regression and response surface analysis. Study 2 measured EGC, OGC, employee environmental commitment (EEC), and EPEB among 713 subordinate-supervisor dyads and attempted to verify the mediating role of EEC employing the block variable approach. Study 1 found that OGC and EGC independently, positively promote EPEB (ß = 0.39, p < 0.001; ß = 0.24, p < 0.001), the OGC-EGC congruence relates to higher EPEB compared to the OGC-EGC incongruence (p11 = 3.77, 95% CI = [0.71, 23.04]; p10 = - 0.65, 95% CI = [- 25.80, 0.42]; [α3 -α4 +α5] = - 0.24, 95% CI = [- 0.41, - 0.07]), the EPEB level is higher when the OGC-EGC congruence is at a high rather than low level ([α1 +α2] = 0.51, 95% CI = [0.39, 0.62]), and the EPEB level under the high-low combination is lower than that under the low-high combination ([α1-α2] = - 0.20, 95% CI = [- 0.38, - 0.02]). Study 2 further confirmed that EEC plays a mediating role during the OGC-EGC-EPEB relationships (the indirect effect = 0.14, 95% CI = [0.08, 0.20]). This research substantiates the value of OGC-EGC (in)congruence to fully understand EPEB variations such that, EPEB will be boosted (hampered) when OGC is (in)congruent with EGC; a higher congruence between OGC and EGC leads to higher EPEB, the high-low combination of OGC and EGC results in lower EPEB compared to the low-high combination, and EEC plays a mediating role in the above relationships, offering the Chinese evidence and providing theoretical and practical implications for the optimization of the OGC-EGC combinations to strengthen EPEB.

‘E’ of ESG and firm performance: Evidence from China

Following the ESG rating divergence reported in the previous research studies, we develop a novel firm-level Green Commitment (GC) index by incorporating new dimensions of environmental management and governance. We construct GC scores for all A-share listed companies in China from 2015 to 2021 and analyze whether firms with greater environmental commitment exhibit improvements in their future performance. Our results show that firms with high GC scores achieve higher stock returns without incurring extra risk. Additionally, a strong environmental commitment can enhance operating performance by mitigating financial constraints. The evidence supports the view that environmental investing contributes to the creation of positive shareholder value. Our GC index can be applied more widely to resolve the mixed evidence on the value implications of corporate environmental commitments.

From Carbon Capture to Cash

This research unravels the strategic confluence of environmental leadership and cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the realm of Carbon Capture technology, and their combined effect on the financial fortitude of U.S. firms. It posits that a firm's environmental vision, when led by transformative green leadership, significantly propels the effective adoption of Carbon Capture solutions. Drawing on data from 145 publicly traded U.S. entities from the years 2017 to 2019, provided by the Carbon Disclosure Project and Compustat, this study meticulously explores the interrelation between a firm's environmental initiatives - including managerial focus, shared vision, proactive green strategies, and innovation—and its performance outcomes. The findings illuminate that while environmental commitments like management focus and a unified vision greatly encourage the embracement of Carbon Capture, the financial implications of these adoptions present a complex picture.

Exploring Greenium and the Determinants of Green Bond Performance in Asia

This study examines the presence and determinants of the ‘greenium’ in Asian green bonds. The dataset includes green bonds issued by governments and corporations in Asian countries from 2016 to 2022. To analyse the determinants of the greenium, we applied a coarsened exact matching (CEM) model, an advanced form of the matching method. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression was employed to assess the factors influencing the greenium. Our findings indicate that a greenium exists in green bonds issued in Asia, with significant effects observed in China, Korea, and Japan. Key drivers of the greenium include coupon rates, issuer type, oil prices, and the federal funds rate. This study contributes practical insights by highlighting that a greenium can be achieved through strategic project selection, transparent communication, and strong environmental commitment. Additionally, investors should account for coupon rates, issuer sector, and macroeconomic factors such as oil prices and the federal funds rate when investing in green bonds.

Exploring the relationship between strategic attention breadth and performance: The role of corporate social responsibility

Abstract The attention-based view contends that executives possess limited attentional capabilities that must be carefully allocated across different strategic issues. Although many scholars contend that narrow strategic attention breadth leads to better performance, others argue that broad strategic attention breadth may be more beneficial due to better opportunity scanning. We posit that the relationship between strategic attention breadth and performance will be inverted U-shaped, where strategic attention breadth is positively related to firm performance up to an optimal point, after which firms will see declining benefits due to executive cognitive overload. Furthermore, we propose that executives’ assessment of strategic opportunities will be influenced by the firm’s corporate social responsibility perspective, as the firm’s environmental and ethical commitment may mitigate executive blind spots and enhance opportunity selection. We support our hypotheses with multiple measures of firm performance and a content analysis of annual reports corresponding to a 5-year longitudinal sample of 2,245 S&amp;P 500 firms.

Sustainable Supply Chain Management and Green Logistics Practice Analysis: Case Study of Wahaha and Patagonia

In globalization and digitization, supply chains have become key for companies to gain competitive advantages and achieve sustainable development. This study provides a detailed analysis of the sustainable supply chain management practices of China's leading food and beverage company, Wahaha, and the American outdoor brand, Patagonia. It explores their successes in green production, logistics, packaging, and environmental governance. The research finds that Wahaha has achieved efficient resource utilization and cost reduction through digital and intelligent transformation, enhanced recycling, and the use of clean energy. On the other hand, Patagonia maintains a strong environmental commitment by using organic cotton and recycled materials, supporting environmental projects, and promoting a green supply chain. Despite their different strategies, both companies have achieved significant sustainable supply chain management results, offering valuable insights for other businesses. Future research should include different regions and industries, explore the challenges and solutions in sustainable development, and optimize evaluation systems through quantitative analysis and model building to enhance practical application value.

Consumer Motivations for Solar Energy Adoption in Economically Challenged Regions

This study aims to investigate the factors contributing to and affecting consumer behavior toward renewable energy by following the theories of reasoned action and planned behavior. For this reason, a quantitative research method was employed and primary data were collected via a questionnaire, resulting in a random sample of 450 respondents. Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that concern for environmental commitment positively affects attitudes toward solar energy (β = 0.272, p &lt; 0.001), positive subjective norms toward environmental commitment positively influence attitudes (β = 0.092, p &lt; 0.001), perceptions of solar energy values significantly shape attitudes (β = 0.533, p &lt; 0.001), social influence also plays a role in shaping attitudes (β = 0.047, p &lt; 0.001), and that regulations (behavioral control) have a negative impact on attitudes (β = −0.204, p &lt; 0.001). A positive attitude toward solar energy strongly predicts purchase intention (β = 0.944, p &lt; 0.001). The overall model highlights the direct influence of attitude on buying intention and underscores the roles of environmental concern and functional utility in shaping consumer attitudes. This study contributes to the existing literature on renewable energy adoption by providing empirical evidence on the factors influencing consumers’ attitudes toward solar energy systems. By identifying key predictors, the study offers valuable insights into how these elements shape consumer attitudes and subsequent purchase intentions. Additionally, the study enhances the understanding of the role of positive attitudes in driving investment in solar energy, thereby contributing to both theoretical frameworks and practical applications in energy policy and marketing strategies.

Green voices in digital spaces: exploring the impact of knowledge sharing on sustainable engagement and eWOM in tourism

PurposeThis study explores the dynamics of companies’ green knowledge sharing (GKS) within the tourism sector, focusing on its influence on green electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) intention via the mediation of tourists’ green engagement behaviour. Additionally, the study considers the moderating effects of green destination psychological ownership and perceived injunctive norms of green self-expression online on the pathway from green knowledge sharing to tourists’ green engagement behaviour to green eWOM.Design/methodology/approachThe primary dataset, consisting of 902 valid responses obtained through time-lagged surveys administered to environmentally conscious tourists, was analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) by PROCESS package for R.FindingsFindings indicate that green destination psychological ownership enhances the mediation effect of tourists’ green engagement behaviour on green eWOM intention, reinforcing the sense of personal investment and belonging among tourists. Conversely, perceived injunctive norms of green self-expression online moderate this pathway by shaping the social norms and acceptability of green behaviours online.Practical implicationsTo effectively spread green knowledge, tourism businesses should focus on enhancing tourists' psychological ownership of green destinations and align their communications with the perceived norms of green expression online. This strategy not only deepens tourists' environmental commitment but also stimulates active participation in spreading sustainable practices.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the green marketing literature by revealing how intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors interact to influence green engagement and eWOM intention in the tourism industry, aiding marketers in strategically fostering green value co-creation and enhancing sustainable practices through targeted green knowledge sharing.

Utilising machine learning for corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) evaluation: Transitioning from committees to climate

Transparency and accountability are critical components of corporate sustainability. This study uses machine learning and empirical analysis to examine the influence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) committees and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives on corporate sustainability. Using 2017–2021 Bloomberg Terminal data, we investigated the environmental footprints, disclosure practices, risk profiles, and ESG fund commitments of Fortune 500 companies. Key findings indicate that CSR committees positively impact environmental performance, with an increase in environmental responsibility over time. Policy implications highlight the necessity for collaboration to prioritize environmental sustainability and address climate risk disclosure auditing within the audit profession.

Pengaruh Ketidakpastian Lingkungan dan Komitmen Organisasi Terhadap Kinerja Manajerial Dengan Kualitas Sistem Informasi Akuntansi Manajemen Sebagai Variabel Intervening

This study aims to directly test and analyze the Influence of Environmental Uncertainty, Organizational Commitment and Quality of Management Accounting Information Systems on Managerial Performance and indirectly to test and analyze directly the influence of Environmental Uncertainty and Organizational Commitment on Managerial Performance with the Quality of Management Accounting Information Systems as an Intervening Variable in Star Hotels in Medan City. The research approach uses quantitative associative. The population of this study is all 3 to 5 star hotels in Medan City, totaling 48 hotels with a total sample of 240 respondents. This study uses the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis method using SmartPLS.3 software. Based on the results of direct hypothesis testing, there is an influence of environmental uncertainty, organizational commitment and management accounting information systems on managerial performance. Indirectly, there is an influence of environmental uncertainty and organizational commitment on managerial performance mediated by management accounting information systems

Can Corporate Environmental Social Responsibility and Financial Performance Achieve a Win-win Situation in China? -From the Perspective of Executive Social Capital

ABSTRACT Based on the new market corporate social responsibility theory, enterprises try their best to achieve a win-win situation between environmental social responsibility and corporate financial performance. This paper quantifies corporate environmental social responsibility from the perspective of enterprise front-end governance, back-end governance and employee green behavior, based on the data of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2010 to 2022. Return on assets is used to measure the corporate financial performance. Then, from the perspective of executive social capital, this paper explores the threshold effect of environmental social responsibility on financial performance and draws the following conclusions: (1) In the short term, corporate environmental social responsibility exerts a negative effect on financial performance by augmenting R&D investment. In the long term, corporate environmental social responsibility has a positive effect on financial performance by enhancing reputation or reducing financing costs; (2) Specifically, compared with employee green behavior, front-end and back-end governance have a notably substantial adverse effect on corporate financial performance; (3) When executive social capital crosses a specific threshold, the negative impact of corporate environmental social responsibility commitment on financial performance becomes insignificant. Consequently, this study suggests that bolstering executive social capital is essential for concurrently advancing corporate environmental social responsibility and financial performance.

Environmental resilience of the largest European public transport providers during the COVID-19 pandemic

The environmental commitment of public transport authorities plays a role in addressing the challenges ahead. After the COVID-19 pandemic, we can analyze the strength of green commitments during that turbulent time. Green public procurement (GPP) is a government tool dedicated to mitigating the environmental impact of public acquisitions. These actions can be monitored as an indicator that captures efforts for green actions by organizations. GPP adoption rates among public transport suppliers are comparable across countries because they operate in the same sector and share characteristics that facilitate comparison. In this study, the largest public transport suppliers in 38 European cities are compared from 2010 to 2023. A subsample of 13,280 contract notices was employed for the public transport sector from the Tender Electronic Database and GPP adoption was found to be higher on bus vehicle acquisitions than on tramway/metro vehicle acquisitions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a marked GPP fall. These findings also indicate that while GPP adoption rates are higher among the 38 large public transport suppliers compared with medium and lower ones, the largest ones are not the front-runners in terms of GPP adoption. Our results suggest that environmental priorities are not as significant as one might expect.

Environmental agricultural practices in the Ziban palm groves: Should we choose between yield and sustainability?

Since antiquity, with transhumant breeding, the cultivation of the date palm has been the main agricultural vector around which social and economic activities are articulated in oasis regions. The conduct of this culture is guided by a specific and complex technical itinerary. The objective of the present study aims to identify and characterize the main sustainable agricultural practices within the palm groves of the Ziban in south-eastern Algeria and the sensitivity of date palm farmers to environmental practices as well as their degree of adaptation. Our study is based on face-to-face surveys conducted among 50 producers among 10 date palm areas in the region. It brings to light that despite the production developments, date palm farming in this region remains dominated by extensive and traditional agriculture, either due to a lack of means, knowledge, or environmental commitment. As a result, several sustainable practices remain widely shared in the majority of palm groves. Similarly, it appears that several larger and newly established producers are committed to these new practices which have various objectives in particular, to protect the environment, and to sustain the culture and the quality of the products.

Exploring the urban-rural dichotomies in post-pandemic migration intention: Empirical evidence from Europe

Since the beginning of the 21st century, we have been living in the ‘urban century’, characterised by a rise in the number of cities and mega-cities and a structural population increase in most cities, to the detriment of rural areas. Given the declining interest in rurality, the aims and scope of this paper are to map out the complex force field of rurality versus urbanity, and explore if the COVID pandemic has become a ‘game changer’ that thus may swift the existing patterns. Relying on multilevel modelling, to also account for between-country differences, and using Eurobarometer data on post-pandemic migration intention in both rural and urban areas, our results do not find support for a major post-covid urban exodus. Younger individuals from large cities are indeed more willing to leave for rural areas when they are convinced that they can play an active role in the local decision-making process. Teleworking, as well as EU concrete actions for addressing environmental issues, may also drive more migration toward rural areas. On the other hand, poor access to health services may push individuals towards urban areas. In policy terms, our findings advocate for improving access to public services in rural areas. In addition, the study reinforces the role of the Cohesion Policy to urge the twin transition, as facilitating teleworking and strengthening the environmental commitment were shown to make rural areas more appealing.

Environmental collaboration in construction projects: roles of CSR motivations, environmental commitment and team autonomy

PurposeThis study identifies three main CSR motivations (i.e. strategic benefits, altruism and greenwashing) and explores the relationship between CSR motivations and environmental collaboration by considering the mediating role of environmental commitment and the moderating role of team autonomy.Design/methodology/approachThe data collected from 336 respondents in the construction industry, structural equation modeling and bootstrapping were used to test hypotheses.FindingsThe findings show that altruistic CSR enhances environmental collaboration through enhancing environmental commitment, whereas greenwashing CSR damages environmental collaboration through reducing environmental commitment. Although there is no direct association between strategic CSR and environmental collaboration, environmental commitment mediates the effects of strategic CSR on environmental collaboration. Moreover, the positive effect of strategic CSR and altruistic CSR on environment commitment is stronger when team autonomy is stronger, whereas the negative effect of greenwashing CSR on environment commitment is weaker when team autonomy is stronger.Originality/valueThe findings contribute to the understanding of how CSR motivations can act as catalysts for collaborative efforts in addressing environmental issues within construction projects and offer theoretical understanding of team autonomy by illustrating its role in shaping organizational responses to CSR motivations. The findings can provide insights into why and how participating teams can collaborate better on environmental management, enriching the knowledge of environmental management practices in construction projects.

The influence of green human resource management on university sustainability in higher education: the role of mediating environmental performance and green commitment.

The purpose of the research is to examine how green human resource management (GHRM) contributes to the sustainability of the university. This study also focuses on how environmental performance and dedication to sustainability can act as mediators. Additionally, it seeks to examine the interplay between GHRM practice and university sustainability and how green environmental success and green dedication moderate that interaction. As the primary technique of data collection, a survey questionnaire on green HRM and environmental factors was distributed to a total of 273 university staff at Majmaah University in Saudi Arabia. The results of staff environmental performance and commitment point to a beneficial impact on sustainability in higher education institutions. Our study also demonstrates that when an employee scores highly on green performance evaluation and appraisal, the impact of green HRM practices on green dedication is more significant. By connecting green HRM practices to university sustainability through sustainability impact and green commitment, the current study adds fresh theoretical insights into the field of environmental management literature. Our findings give staff members advice on how and when to use green HRM techniques to improve university sustainability in higher education institutions.

Environmental ratification moves

For over 60 years, International Environmental Law has produced hundreds of texts aimed at protecting the environment at global to regional scales. Most of these texts do not gather the support of all the states concerned. The reasons for this are analysed here. This retrospective look provides a striking panorama of the current situation. The international and domestic motivations that lead a state to the sovereign decision to ratify or not a treaty, are first recalled and put into perspective in their interdependencies. The analysis of thousands of ratifications of 51 major treaties draws lines of divergence between leading states, follower states, and states reluctant to enter into environmental commitments. On a global scale the latter form a large majority, including most African and Asian states. The states of Northern and Western Europe are among the first to ratify these treaties, followed by other European states. G7 member states occupy vey contrasting normative positions. Overall, three major moves emerge from this global panorama. First, historical and persistent inequalities in the development of countries have cast an indelible shadow on environmental international multilateral treaties which do not bring the expected fruits of development. Second, in environmental matters, over the past 15 years the trend consists in establishing agreements of more restricted range (regional, bilateral), with commitments from states on fairly flexible objectives, adaptable to their social and economic context. Third, these agreements are set within the broadly negotiated and thematically inclusive principles of sustainable development.