Environmental Practices Research Articles

Green Innovation and Firm Performance: The Role of Environmental Management Practices

The relationship between environmental management practices (EMPs), green innovation, and company performance is investigated in this study. Although prior studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of implementing green management practices on financial performance, the objective of this study is to offer more comprehensive insights by integrating empirical measurements of green innovations. The study looks into how green innovations affect the connection between business performance and EMPs. EMPs are crucial policies that businesses implement to protect the environment and abide by environmental laws. According to the study, financial performance and environmental performance can reinforce one another when investments are made in green innovations. The study adds to the body of knowledge already available on the connection between business environmental sustainability and financial performance by expanding on earlier empirical claims. Keywords: Green innovation, environmental management practices, firm performance, financial performance, environmental performance, green products, technology.

Corrupt practice and sustainability reporting: Lifecycle perspective

AbstractThe study employs a lifecycle perspective to investigate the relationship between corrupt practices and sustainability reporting. The final sample is composed of 1388 firms from four European countries, namely France, Germany, UK, and Sweden. Data were retrieved from the Thomson Reuters database from 2015 to 2022. The findings revealed that corruption significantly reduces sustainability disclosure across different life cycle stages, albeit with varying magnitudes, perhaps due to the misallocation of resources and lack of incentives. The findings also showed that the detrimental effects of corruption on sustainability reporting is most profound during the “Shake‐Out” stage of a company life cycle. By adopting a lifecycle perspective, the research offers a new and in‐depth understanding of corruption's impact on environmental disclosure, offering policymakers and regulators valuable insights into enhancing environmental and sustainability practices.

The Effect of Market-Based Environmental Regulations on Green Technology Innovation—The Regulatory Effect Based on Corporate Social Responsibility

This study explores the impact of market-based environmental regulations on green technological innovation and the differential regulatory effects of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on different levels of green technological innovation. By analyzing data from 746 Chinese A-share listed companies from the period of 2008–2021, this paper examines the effect of market-based environmental regulations on corporate green technology innovation. The research findings are as follows: (1) Market-based environmental regulations have a significant promoting effect on green technology innovation in enterprises. (2) CSR amplifies the positive influence of market-based environmental on green technological innovation, but it has a greater impact on strategic innovations, like utility model patents, rather than substantial ones, like invention patents. Corporate may use CSR to superficially meet regulatory pressures and stakeholder expectations, focusing more on short-term compliance than on long-term sustainable innovation. Companies might utilize CSR as a superficial means to appease regulatory demands, concentrating on immediate compliance rather than fostering enduring innovation. (3) Market-based environmental regulations facilitate green technological innovation by alleviating enterprise financing constraints and improving the efficiency of innovation resource allocation. (4) The promotion effect of market-based environmental regulations on green technological innovation is particularly evident in state-owned enterprises, heavily polluted industries, and regions with high regulatory levels. The research contribution is to provide valuable insights into the implementation of market-based environmental regulations and firms’ green technological innovation. Specifically, it elucidates the nuanced regulatory effects of corporate social responsibility, presenting a fresh lens through which to reconsider the intricate mechanism of CSR’s role as a conduit between environmental policy and innovative practices.

Effect of instructional Guidelines regarding Climate Change on Nurses' knowledge and its Relation to Environmental Sustainability Practice

Effect of instructional Guidelines regarding Climate Change on Nurses' knowledge and its Relation to Environmental Sustainability Practice

THE IMPACT OF DESIGN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT PRACTICES ON OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE: A CASE OF FOOD MANUFACTURING COMPANIES IN KENYA

As industrialization grows, the need to address climate change concerns also seems to grow. Manufacturers are now forced to pay more attention to their environmental responsibilities. Nevertheless, these companies also need to balance both operational and environmental performance. The debate on whether Design for Environment (DfE) practices contribute to operational performance is ongoing. This study sought to examine the extent to which food manufacturers in Kenya have adopted DfE practices and investigate the impact of DfE practices on the operational performance of these companies. The study employed a cross-sectional survey strategy. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire from a sample of 50 food manufacturing companies in Nairobi. Data analysis was done using frequency, percentages, means, and multiple regression. The findings show that DfE practices are not optimally adopted and implemented by food manufacturers in Kenya. Moreover, the findings show that, generally, DfE practices have a significant positive impact on operational performance, except for end-of-life management. The findings can help managers of operations, production, research, and design in the food manufacturing sector to make relevant environmentally friendly choices.

Principles of critical theory organizing environmental educational practices via generating theme

Principles of critical theory organizing environmental educational practices via generating theme

Barriers and facilitators to learning health systems in primary care: a framework analysis

BackgroundThe learning health system (LHS) concept is a potential solution to the challenges currently faced by primary care. There are few descriptions of the barriers and facilitators to achieving an...

Experience of violence, social support, nursing practice environment, and burnout on mental health among mental health nurses in South Korea: A structural equation modeling analysis

AimsThis study examined the relationship between the experience of violence, social support, nursing practice environment, and mental health among South Korean mental health nurses. MethodsStructured questionnaires were distributed to participants who worked in twelve mental health hospitals, each with at least 200 beds, in South Korea. We analyzed 243 questionnaires and used AMOS 25.0 to explore the relationships between the constructs. ResultsThe total and indirect effects of the experience of violence and of social support on mental health were significant. The effects of burnout and of the nursing practice environment on mental health were positively significant. Burnout revealed a mediating association with the relationship between the experience of violence, social support, and mental health. ConclusionThe study confirmed that the experience of violence negatively affects burnout among mental health nurses, while social support relieves burnout and strengthens mental health. ImplementationOur research model shows that the experience of violence could affect burnout and mental health among mental health nurses. Therefore, nursing administrators should develop violence prevention policies and manuals for coping with the violence that can frequently occur in psychiatric wards.

The Effect of Video-Based Simulation Training on Nursing Students' Motivation and Academic Achievement: A Mixed Study.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of video-based simulation education on nursing students' motivation and academic achievement. The research was designed in a mixed model. A quasi-experimental method with a pretest-posttest control group was used for the quantitative part, and the descriptive phenomenology approach was used as the qualitative research method. The sample of the study consisted of second-year nursing students in two state universities in eastern Turkey. The data were collected with the Student Information Form, the Academic Achievement Test, and the Motivation Resources and Problems Scale using Google Forms Web application. Qualitative data were collected through online semistructured interview forms and focus group interviews. According to the results, the posttest academic achievement and Motivation Resources and Problems Scale mean scores of the students in the intervention group were significantly higher than those of the control group ( P < .05). In the analysis of the qualitative, three main themes emerged: We felt fortunate that it increased information retention," "We felt like we were in real practice environment," and "It made us feel that we were nurses." The results showed the use of video-based simulation can be suggested as a strategy to promote classroom teaching and engage students.

Nursing Practice Environment and Resilience: The Relation to Intention to Leave among Staff Nurses

Nursing Practice Environment and Resilience: The Relation to Intention to Leave among Staff Nurses

Comparison of United States Consumers’ Perceptions and Willingness to Pay for Sustainable Environmental Practices in the Retail Floral Industry Based on Geographical Regions

With an increase in social awareness of environmental degradation and the need to conserve resources while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, consumers have become increasingly concerned about the environmental standards of the industries from which they purchase products. This has motivated industries to restructure their business model to one that is more environmentally sustainable. Research of consumers’ floral purchasing habits based on geographic regions found that these habits varied depending on the region where they lived. The main purpose of this study was to investigate US consumers’ perceptions and willingness to pay as they relate to retail floral providers’ environmentally sustainable practices based on the geographical region where the consumer lives within the United States. The results indicated differences in the way respondents answered questions based on the geographical region where they live. However, regardless of the US region where the respondents live, from the list of sustainable attributes covered in this study, respondents indicated the use of locally sourced flowers and composting of floral waste as the two sustainable attributes with the most perceived value to consumers. The findings of this study indicate that floral providers that have incorporated any type of sustainable attribute into their businesses should be promoting this to the public. Floral providers located in the West and Northeast regions of the United States should especially consider emphasizing sustainable attributes within their business because consumers in these regions indicated that they were most willing to pay premiums for sustainable practices. Additionally, floral providers in the West should consider sourcing and promoting the use of fair-trade materials to their customers.

GREEN PRACTICES TO THE OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT OF RESTAURANT BUSINESS: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

Despite making a significant economic contribution, tourism today clearly has a negative influence on the environment. Along with other stakeholders, visitors are worried about environmental deterioration, and as their awareness of this issue grows daily, green practices in tourism are born. Restaurants can benefit from green practices by adopting them because they play a significant role in the tourism industry. The study focused on restaurants’ given importance on green practices. The research’s findings are obtained using a random sample technique, structured questionnaire interviews, and data editing in a reasonable way. The study explores that a poor number of restaurants can define green practice correctly but among them most of the restaurants have it consciously or unconsciously although such practices are not under full-fledged. Results also show that restaurants have a mixed grasp of environmental practices. Despite the fact that both owners and management understand the importance of environmental concerns, there is still a lack of instruments to fully execute them. The restaurant business must work together to prioritize and implement all practical green practices. In light of the restaurant industry’s negative effects on the environment, this research stresses the need of immediate collective action in the face of rising tourism.

Eco-green mirage: investigating turnover intention as organizational turbulence through perceived greenwashing, cynicism and alienation

PurposeUsing social and moral identity theory, this study aims to investigate the influence of perceived greenwashing on employee work attitudes by using social and moral identity theory. By examining the relationships between perceived greenwashing, employee cynicism, work alienation and turnover intention, this study unveils essential mechanisms that shed light on the complex relationship between these variables.Design/methodology/approachThe study gathered data from a sample of 267 employees in the service industry and used variance-based structuring equation modeling to test the hypothesized associations. The results of the study indicated a positive relationship between perceived greenwashing and turnover intention.FindingsEmployee cynicism and work alienation emerged as crucial mediating factors, revealing the underlying psychological dynamics linking perceived greenwashing to turnover intention. Moreover, the study identified organizational pride as a powerful moderator that mitigates the adverse effects of greenwashing on employee attitudes.Practical implicationsGenuine and transparent environmental practices are crucial in the service industry to avoid misleading claims, safeguard reputation and establish trust. Leaders should exemplify genuine commitment to environmental practices, serving as role models. Regular and honest feedback mechanisms should be established to gauge employee perceptions of the organization’s environmental initiatives. Educating employees about the signs of deceptive practices can empower them to make informed judgments, reducing the likelihood of falling victim to misrepresentations and mitigating associated negative outcomes.Originality/valueThe current research seeks to shed light on the profound impact of greenwashing on employees, an area that has been surprisingly overlooked. The study responds to the call of the antecedents that influence employees’ intentions to leave their organizations. The study explored the vital relationship between perceived greenwashing and employee attitudes, thereby contributing valuable insights to the existing literature on the sustainable practices of organizations, particularly those in the service industry.

Introducing Point-of-Care PCR technology in general practice: Ambiguities, experiences, and perceptions among health care professionals.

In this paper we present findings from a qualitative ethnographic study investigating the experiences and perceptions of general practitioners and other practice staff when introducing a new point of care diagnostic test technology (point of care polymerase chain reaction (POC PCR)) in general practice in Denmark. The ethnographic study was conducted in five general practice clinics, involving observations in four of the clinics and interviews with general practitioners and practice staff in all five clinics. Following an initial analytic phase in which barriers and facilitators in the implementation process of the Point-of-Care test were identified, we developed theoretically informed themes, drawing upon Hartmut Rosa's social theory of technological acceleration. These themes included ambiguous experiences and perceptions of: (i) diagnostic specification and inflation embedded in diagnostic practices; (ii) empowerment and erosion of professional judgment; (iii) strategies of security and insecurity in communication; (iv) the interdependence between professional autonomy and economic structures associated with organizational power; and (v) subjective and organizational time. We discuss how diagnostic technologies simultaneously contribute to and disrupt treatment safety, efficiency, and medical decision-making. Using Rosa's sociological concepts of alienation and resonance, this article furthermore explores how these ambiguous dynamics are experienced in general practice settings. It also examines the implications of navigating a heterogeneous socio-technical and medical landscape and what it means to be a health professional in a contemporary general practice environment that is increasingly shaped by diagnostic technologies.

The moderating role of work environment in the relationship between proactive personality and personal growth initiative among nurses: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundsPersonal growth initiative (PGI) is regarded as a meaningful concept with potential value at both the individual and organizational levels, but little is known about the factors that contribute to nurses’ PGI. This study aimed to explore how proactive personality and hospital work environment affect PGI of clinical nurses.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted between September and October 2022 among 4414 nurses from 10 tertiary general hospitals in 10 cities in Sichuan, China, using a two-stage sampling method. Self-reported anonymous online questionnaires, such as sociodemographic information survey, personal growth initiative scale II, the 10-item proactive personality scale, and practice environment scale-nursing work index were used to collect data. Multiple hierarchical regression analyses were performed to examine research hypotheses.ResultsAmong the control variables in this study, nurses’ self-perceptions of general health status and professional title positively predicted PGI (β = 0.462, 95%CI = 0.272–0.653; β = 1.078, 95%CI = 0.508–1.648). After adding control variables, both proactive personality (β = 1.143, 95%CI = 1.096–1.190) and work environment (β = 3.391, 95%CI = 2.904–3.879) positively predicted PGI. The work environment positively moderated the association between proactive personality and PGI (β = 0.108, 95%CI = 0.025–0.191). These predictors jointly explained 50.3% of the variance in PGI.ConclusionsNurses with a greater tendency to have a typical proactive personality have higher levels of personal growth initiative, and this positive effect will be better highlighted in a healthier work environment. Nursing managers should prioritize the employment of people with proactive personality traits, focus on the development and stimulation of proactive personality traits in nurses, and establish a supportive work environment to maximize the personal growth initiative of nurses.

Determination of drivers in embedding environmental sustainability practices in the apparel sector of Sri Lanka

Apparel is the second most polluted industry in the world after oil. Therefore, implementing environmental sustainability practices in the apparel sector is a buzzing topic discussed worldwide. The apparel industry is the prominent export revenue generator of Sri Lanka which contributes to more than 40% of its export income. This research was done to determine the drivers in embedding environmental sustainability practices in the apparel sector of Sri Lanka. Data was collected using a mixed method approach using quantitative data collected through an online questionnaire survey (205 respondents) and qualitative data gathered via semi-structured interviews (30 interviews). Sample size and data analyzing methods were decided using globally accepted scientific methods. The researcher didn’t find any previous scholarly work of a similar study about the apparel sector of Sri Lanka even though many studies were found on the same topic related to other major apparel manufacturing countries in Asia and Africa. Thus, five drivers namely pressure from brands and retailers, enhancing organizational reputation, reduction of operational cost, government regulations, and safety of workers were extracted through the extensive literature survey conducted using previous scholarly work of other countries which were further evaluated for Sri Lankan context using above mentioned quantitative and qualitative data. It was found that all these drivers were relevant to the apparel sector of Sri Lanka while pressure from brands was the most influential and safety of workers was the least influential driver. No other drivers were mentioned by any of the respondents apart from the above-mentioned factors.

Environmental field transformation: a theory on local environmental protection changes in China

Understanding social space is a prerequisite for analyzing local environmental protection. A new theorized social space – the environmental field - is proposed to analyze local environmental protection practices in China, as the existing three types (environmental state, community, and network) can miss the main logics, actors, or practices. First, the actors’ positions in the field, where environmental and political-economic capital operate, significantly affects their perceptions, practices, and power relations. Second, the field transforms – in terms of new power relations and orders – if certain actors have accumulated significant temporary successes from the struggles with others after rupturing moments. This theory is illustrated by Latent Transition Analyses of the two species of capital in County T, China, from 2014 to 2019. I then analyze selected actors to examine whether their environmental protection practices echo the LTA results and whether the theory could explain their practices and transformation. This theory can help practitioners understand and evaluate environmental protection in developing countries.

Computerized Cognitive Retraining Program for Home Training of Children with Disabilities

Cognitive impairments in children with disabilities can significantly impact their learning and daily functioning. Computerized cognitive retraining programs offer a promising solution for enhancing cognitive skills in a home-based setting. This research paper explores the development and effectiveness of a computerized cognitive retraining program designed specifically for children with disabilities. The program includes a series of interactive exercises aimed at improving attention, memory, problem- solving, and executive functioning skills. The study involved a cohort of children with various disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder and attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Participants engaged in the retraining program at home under the guidance of caregivers, with progress monitored over a period of several weeks. The results showed a marked improvement in cognitive performance across multiple domains, as measured by standardized assessment tools. Caregivers also reported increased engagement and motivation among the children. This paper concludes that computerized cognitive retraining can be a valuable tool for supporting children with disabilities. It provides a flexible and accessible approach to cognitive development, allowing for consistent practice in a familiar environment. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term effects of the program and to identify specific elements that contribute to its success.

Assessing soil pollution concerns in proximity to Fence-type solar photovoltaic system installations

This study conducted in the Kyungpook National University Eco-friendly Agriculture Research Centre between 2022 and 2023 investigates the environmental implications of fence-type solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in diverse agricultural settings. Despite the increasing adoption of solar energy for climate change mitigation, there is a noticeable gap in research regarding the potential environmental impact of these specific PV systems. Focusing on heavy metal concentrations, including Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Arsenic (As), Mercury (Hg), Lead (Pb), Hexavalent Chromium (Cr+6), Zinc (Zn), and Nickel (Ni), across distinct fields, the study reveals significant fluctuations. Notably, the Rice Field experienced a substantial increase in Cd levels from 0.47 mg/kg in 2022 to 1.55 mg/kg in 2023, while Cu and Pb concentrations decreased to acceptable levels in 2023. The findings underscore the dynamic nature of heavy metal concentrations, emphasizing the importance of continuous soil quality monitoring to prevent contamination. This research provides valuable insights into the impact of fence-type solar PV system installations on agricultural soil quality, emphasizing the urgent need to secure these ecosystems through vigilant monitoring and environmental management practices.

Understanding Refugees Health Experiences in Host Countries: Three Theoretical Perspectives.

Healthcare providers working with forcefully displaced populations often have limited knowledge and skills regarding the care of this population. The reasons are twofold. First, most of the research on refugee health does not consider refugees' adaptive skills, diversity of experiences, and daily life context. Second, healthcare providers' knowledge of how the sociopolitical environment shapes health research and practice in the context of refugee care is often limited. This work aims to specify gaps in refugee healthcare and research by applying a relational approach to three theoretical frameworks. The relational approach supports a pragmatic, in-depth understanding of healthcare practices by shifting the focus of the inquiry from description of social structures toward exploration of processes and relations that propagate and sustain such structures. The focus is on the threefold interaction between refugees, healthcare providers, and healthcare institutions. The three theoretical frameworks are as follows: First, using concepts from the Theory of Practice by Bourdieu, we examine how gaps in care can result from a mismatch between the dispositions and skills that refugees develop through life experience and the cultural-professional practices of healthcare providers in host countries. Second, the Cultural Determinants of Help Seeking by Saint Arnault is applied to posit that gaps in care can result from differences in the meanings that healthcare providers and refugees assign to their interactions. Finally, we use the concept of Othering as described in nursing by Canales to explain how power dynamics inherent in the interaction between refugees and healthcare systems can affect refugee healthcare and research. This relational approach helps to elucidate some of the culture-bound mechanisms of health maintenance and help-seeking and brings attention to the sociopolitical context that shapes the way we care to refugees.