Pro-environmental Behavior Research Articles

GREEN LOGISTICS: DEFINING THE FACTORS INFLUENCING EMPLOYEE’S ENGAGEMENT IN SUSTAINABILITY, AND LINKING IT TO THE CORPORATE IDENTITY AND ITS SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

This study investigates the degree of congruence between employees' perceptions of company sustainability and their use of sustainable activities outside of work. A total of 217 participants from logistics enterprises in Istanbul completed a detailed questionnaire that assessed demographics, corporate social responsibility (CSR), pro-environmental behavior (PEB), and organizational identification. The findings show a robust relationship between CSR perception and PEB, confirming the idea that employees who see their employer as socially responsible are more inclined to take pro-environmental measures. Furthermore, organizational identification predicts PEB, demonstrating the importance of employee commitment to the business in generating sustainable habits. The mediation analysis also demonstrates that OI mediates the link between CSR and PEB, emphasizing its significance in influencing workers' sustainable actions. The report emphasizes the need of organizations improving their CSR programs and promoting organizational identification in order to raise sustainability practices both within and outside of the workplace. Limitations include the study's narrow emphasis on a single city and industry, which suggests opportunities for larger geographical and sectoral replication.

Comprehensive Study on the Determinants of Green Behaviour of Slovenian Consumers: The Role of Marketing Communication, Lifestyle, Psychological, and Social Determinants

Despite the growing importance of green consumption, the green attitude–behaviour gap remains a key challenge, highlighting the discrepancy between consumers’ expressed environmental concerns and their actual sustainable-purchasing practices. This study identified key determinants of consumers’ sustainable behaviours and the influence of sustainable development goals-related marketing communication across socio-demographic groups. A quantitative causal research design was employed based on a self-administered online questionnaire targeting the Slovenian population (N = 502). The findings indicate a positive, though weak (ρ = 0.384), correlation between consumers’ attitudes and their behaviours. A substantial and significant positive influence of marketing communication, psychological, and social determinants on pro-environmental behaviour was found, while lifestyle inhibited this behaviour. An analysis of the marketing communication dimension showed that it had the greatest influence on men, consumers aged 35 years or more and those with lower education and income, especially through the information received, trust, and advertisement attractiveness. These results suggest the need for tailored marketing strategies that emphasise practical benefits and trustworthy information to effectively promote sustainable practices. This research underscores the importance of clear and credible marketing communications in fostering sustainable consumer behaviour, particularly in regions where scepticism towards marketing claims is widespread.

Photovoltaics rooftop regulations and their connection to pro-environment consumer behavior in Indonesia

To address environmental issues, Indonesia aims to achieve a 23% renewable energy share by 2025 and 31% by 2050, according to the National Energy Plan. This article examines the regulations governing the management of rooftop solar power plant (rooftop-PV) in Indonesia and their connection to pro-environment consumer behavior. Despite Indonesia’s ambitious targets for Renewable Energy (RE) growth, progress in the field still needs improvement. Pro-environmental behavior (PEB) within the community is crucial for adopting rooftop PV as a more environmentally friendly energy alternative. This research employs a qualitative descriptive methodology with content analysis to evaluate the current situation. The research findings indicate that rooftop PV offers economic benefits through cost savings for consumers and is supported by existing regulations. However, some businesses feel that the government needs to expedite revising relevant regulations to address investment stagnation and installed solar panel capacity. Concerns arise that proposed policy changes may hinder the growth of rooftop PV businesses and the achievement of national capacity targets. The role of pro-environment consumer behavior, which has the potential to drive rooftop PV adoption, will be influenced by psychological and social factors, as well as changes in applicable regulations.

Probing the CSR-pro-environmental behavior linkage: Insights into green reputation and chief sustainability officer influence

This study aims to examine the impacts of internal and external corporate social responsibility (CSR) on managers’ pro-environmental behaviors with the mediating role of green reputation and moderating of chief sustainability officer (CSO). We acquired information from 609 managers working in various Chinese manufacturing firms using a standardized survey tool. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was performed to analyze data. Our major findings are as follows. First, both internal and external CSR influence the pro-environmental behaviors of managers through the mediation role of corporate green reputation. Second, the CSO significantly moderates the relationship between CSR actions and corporate green reputation. Our study contributes to the body of current knowledge by giving empirical evidence for the theoretical framework linking CSR, reputation, and pro-environmental behavior. The findings from this study offer managerial insights for businesses that deliberately want to promote environmentally friendly activities.

Program Adiwiyata “School Garden for Better Future” Sekolah Dasar (SD) Kristen Satya Wacana Salatiga

Background: Environmental education in Indonesia aims to increase the younger generation's awareness of environmental sustainability. Student involvement in activities that support nature conservation from an early age is significant in forming pro-environmental behavior. The "School Garden for Better Future" program at Satya Wacana Christian Elementary School, Salatiga, is designed to provide an understanding of the importance of nature conservation and practical skills in agriculture. Method: The service partners in this program are 52 grade 4 students at Satya Wacana Christian Elementary School, Salatiga. Participatory approaches involve stages of coordination meetings, garden creation, monitoring, education, evaluation, and integration of service activities into the school curriculum. Data was collected through questionnaires, direct observation, and interviews and then analyzed using qualitative descriptive techniques. Results: The school garden has been successfully established as a dynamic learning environment. Education about ornamental plants and maintenance guides increases students' understanding of the living environment. Evaluation through filling out questionnaires show a high level of satisfaction among educational participants, with significant increases in knowledge and practical skills. The integration of community service activities into the school curriculum and extracurricular programs supports the sustainability of this program by involving active participation from students and teachers. Conclusion: Implementing the "School Garden for Better Future" Program at the Satya Wacana Christian Elementary School in Salatiga has achieved its primary objective, namely providing students with an understanding of the importance of nature conservation and practical skills in sustainable agriculture.

What Contributes to the Greening of the Polish Energy Industry? Pro-Environmental Inclusive Leadership and Pro-Environmental Behavior—A Moderation–Mediation Analysis

The functioning of the energy sector in Poland has been changing over recent years, influenced by growing concern for the environment. The concept of inclusive leadership can play a key role in the emergence of behavioral changes related to the development of environmental awareness and the initiation of pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors by employees. The guiding objective of this study is to verify a moderated mediation model of the impact of pro-environmental consciousness (PEC) on the mediating role of the fulfillment of the psychological contract for the environment (PCFE) in pro-environmental inclusive leadership (PEIL) and pro-environmental work behavior (PEWB) relationships in the energy industry. By self-completing a survey questionnaire using the computer-assisted web interview (CAWI) method, responses were collected from 649 respondents employed in various energy industry organizations. Structural equation modelling based on maximum likelihood with bootstrap estimation was used to test the hypothesis model. The findings confirm the assumptions of the research model, demonstrating a direct relationship between pro-environmental inclusive leadership and pro-environmental work behavior. Additionally, a mediating condition was found, where the fulfillment of the psychological contract for the environment mediates the relationship between pro-environmental inclusive leadership and pro-environmental work behavior, and pro-environmental consciousness moderates this process. It was found that higher pro-environmental consciousness enhances the indirect effect of pro-environmental inclusive leadership on employees’ pro-environmental work behavior through the fulfillment of the psychological contract for the environment. This highlights the importance of the fulfillment of the psychological contract for the environment and a pro-environmental consciousness in the effectiveness of pro-environmental leadership. The analysis indicates that managers who apply a pro-environmental inclusive management style contribute to an increasingly pro-environmental consciousness and the promotion pro-environmental work behavior among employees. Furthermore, the indirect effect of green leadership on employees’ green actions, through the fulfillment of a psychological contract for the environment that is moderated by their pro-environmental consciousness, highlights the importance of environmentally conscious leaders in building effective employee–employer relationships. These relationships facilitate the implementation of initiatives that accelerate the pace of change and enhance efforts to build tomorrow’s modern energy industry based on low- and zero-carbon energy sources. Additionally, this is one of the first studies in the Polish energy industry to provide insight into the role and importance of green leadership and green behavior in the energy industry.

Ecotourism design affordances, identity, and intelligence: how does it influence tourist pro-environmental behaviour?

ABSTRACT This study explores the link between perceived ecotourism design affordances, environmental identity, sustainable intelligence, and pro-environmental behaviour among ecotourists. Through quantitative research design with purposive sampling, the study analysed 239 responses using Partial-least Square-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The study found that dimensions of functional/aesthetic and social/symbolic affordance significantly influence environmental identity. The social/symbolic construct is subsequently found to contribute significantly to sustainable intelligence and later shapes pro-environmental behaviour. The study also validates that environmental identity mediates the functional/aesthetic and social/symbolic relationship with sustainable intelligence. These results contribute to refining theoretical models and provide a more robust foundation for future research in environmental psychology and sustainable behaviour. The study’s originality lies in its multifaceted exploration of ecotourism affordance dimensions and their interconnectedness, shedding light on the dynamics that underlie the formation of environmental identity, sustainable intelligence, and subsequent pro-environmental behaviour.

Good for the planet… and for you too? Comparing five travel and health-related outcomes among active, motorized, and public transport commuters

Aligned with sustainable development goals, the promotion of active and public transport commuting has gained ground in the last decade. However, literature empirically addressing the individual outcomes of different commuting modes remains scarce. AimThe core aim of this research was to assess and compare a literature-based set of travel, health, and welfare-related outcomes among three different groups of urban daily commuters: private motorized, public transport, and active commuters. MethodsThis cross-sectional study used a nationwide sample of n= 2370 urban daily commuters from all 17 regions of Spain. Participants, aged between 18 and 70, with an average of M= 33 years, were drawn from all 17 regions of Spain, and responded to an electronic survey on commuting issues. ResultsAs hypothesized, different groups of commuters had different psychosocial trip- and welfare-related outcomes. Indeed, most indicators, except for travel satisfaction, showed a favorable association with the sustainability value attributed to each commuting means. Particularly, active travelers had significantly lower commuting stress and Body Mass Index (BMI) values, and higher rates of life satisfaction and pro-environmental behavior in areas beyond transport, in stark contrast to private motorized users. Public transport users, although ‘in the middle’ in most aspects, report the highest commuter stress rates. ConclusionThe results of this research endorse the assumption that the commuting mode matters, but the relationship between transport sustainability and user outcomes cannot be understood as ‘totally linear’. These insights can be valuable for initiatives aimed at promoting shifts towards more sustainable –and active– transportation patterns among commuters, who constitute an interest group in current mobility planning and decision-making.

Post-Pandemic Shifts in Pro-Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors in a Marine Protected Area

Interest in understanding environmental attitudes and behaviors after traumatic events has been widely studied, but research specific to the COVID-19 pandemic has yielded inconclusive results. This study addresses a gap by exploring the relationship between COVID-19 and pro-environmental behavior (PEB) in marine protected areas (MPAs), which are vital for preserving marine ecosystems and biodiversity. We focus on scuba divers’ environmental attitudes and behaviors within an MPA, using a mixed methodology that combines surveys based on the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale with covert participant observation. Our findings indicate a moderate increase in pro-environmental concerns post-pandemic, particularly regarding nature’s fragility. However, a gap remains between expressed attitudes and actual behaviors, with notable differences in pro-ecological behavior during leisure activities compared to behavior at home. Additionally, risk perception related to COVID-19 has gained prominence, often overshadowing environmental concerns. This study contributes to a better understanding of environmental attitudes and behaviors in the context of MPAs during the ongoing social changes post-COVID-19. These insights can guide more sustainable management of MPAs and inform future research, which should further explore these trends in similar contexts.

The community contributions of urban farms in Singapore

ABSTRACT While urban farms are embedded in communities, little is known about their contributions to communities themselves, with most previous research on urban agriculture being focused on community gardens. Here we review existing literature on urban farms’ community contributions and discuss a case study of three farms in Singapore. Using content analysis on 27 interviews with employees and volunteers, we found the farms to empower participants, generate social capital, provide jobs, involve marginalized groups, and promote pro-environmental behaviors. The farms were limited by poor job prospects and lower-than-expected yield. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.

Corporate Environmental Responsibility and Cultural Contexts: Fostering Pro-Environmental Behaviors in China's mainland and Hong Kong

Corporate Environmental Responsibility and Cultural Contexts: Fostering Pro-Environmental Behaviors in China's mainland and Hong Kong

Changing Nepali children's attitudes toward conservation through a participatory education program.

People's attitude toward wildlife is known to affect the success of conservation programs. Public education can increase support for conservation measures by providing the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions, improve pro-environmental behaviour and potentially enlist participation. To that end, we developed a participatory conservation education program in Nepal with a target audience of secondary school students. Our lessons emphasized ecological balance by highlighting the roles of individual species, including the rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). This species presents a challenge for educating the public about maintaining balance in nature, because although an important seed disperser and species of religious significance, macaques are frequently involved in human-wildlife conflict and considered a pest species. We evaluated the impact of our program by surveying students from six socioeconomically similar schools, four that participated in our program and two that had not. Our questionnaire was comprised of knowledge questions about local wildlife and conservation issues, an open-ended listing exercise to determine species preferences, and statements that elicited students' opinions regarding empathy toward animals. Knowledge about and attitude toward wildlife, including M. mulatta, were greater in students that participated in the program. More importantly, these students were more likely to understand the role individual species play in a balanced ecosystem, how human behaviour can negatively impact wildlife, and how they could participate in conservation efforts. Gender was not a factor in any response. We discuss the merits of using a participatory learning platform in a standalone education program that has long-term purpose, funding, and buy-in.

Environmental Behavior Framework Revisited: Where Do We Stand Ten Years Later and Where Do We Go from Here?

Increasing environmental challenges are prompting sport managers to act to minimize negative ecological impacts. Educational opportunities for sport management students are critical for developing awareness and understanding of environmental sustainability across the sport industry. In 2012, Casper and Pfahl examined the personal environmental actions of sport administration and recreation students. The purpose of our current research is to expand on Casper and Pfahl’s work by assessing the predictive relationships of values, beliefs, and norms on behaviors related to environmental sustainability using the Value–Belief–Norm (VBN) framework. Sport management students (N = 510) representing 23 higher education institutions completed the online survey. Structural equation modeling showed minimal changes over ten years. Norms were the strongest predictors of pro-environmental behaviors, and results indicated that students hold sport management organizations to a higher environmental standard than traditional businesses. The authors provide discussion and recommendations on bridging the gap between academia and industry to better prepare students for their professional futures in the sport industry.

Determinants of the Willingness to Pay for Environmental Sustainability in Participatory Sport Events

Awareness is rising that sport events can serve as a platform to stimulate pro-environmental behavior. To fulfil this role, event organizers might have to invest in the environmental sustainability of their events, which can be expensive. This paper investigates whether the participants of a running event would be willing to pay to compensate these costs and which factors determine their choice. A sample of 1,056 online surveys was collected in collaboration with the event organizer. Using a contingent valuation scenario, an average willingness to pay of 4.5 EUR for sustainability measures on top of the participation fee is identified. Unlike socio-demographic and sport-related characteristics, the environmental attitude of the participants and the experienced social pressure appear significant predictors of the amount they are willing to pay. As such, this study contributes to the current body of literature and has implications for sport managers and the sustainability of their events.

The Influence of Awareness of Consequences, Internal Locus of Control, and External Locus of Control on Pro-Environmental Behavior in Students

The purpose of this research is to determine whether there is a relationship between Awareness of Consequences, Internal Locus of Control, and External Locus of Control with Pro-Environmental Behavior among students. This study is correlational and comparative, with data collected using a Likert scale consisting of scales for pro-environmental behavior, Awareness of Consequences, Internal Locus of Control, and External Locus of Control. The population of this study is students, and the sample taken was 320 individuals using proportional random sampling. Multiple linear regression analysis was used for data analysis. The results showed that there is no relationship between awareness of consequences and external locus of control with pro-environmental behavior among students, while there is a relationship between internal locus of control and pro-environmental behavior among students.

How Perceived Proximity to Climate Change Threats Affects Pro-Environmental Behaviors in South Korea?

This study explores how perceived proximity to environmental threats influences pro-environmental behaviors in South Korea. We find that individuals are more likely to engage in environmentally friendly actions, such as reducing their standard of living, paying higher taxes, and purchasing higher-priced eco-friendly products when they perceive climate change as a nearby threat. Our findings highlight the importance of perceived immediacy in motivating significant lifestyle changes and financial sacrifices for environmental protection. The results also reveal that political ideology influences these behaviors, with conservative individuals showing less support for green taxes and financial sacrifices. Additionally, higher levels of education and income, along with older age, correlate with a greater willingness to adopt pro-environmental behaviors. These insights contribute to environmental psychology by highlighting the role of perceived proximity in shaping environmental attitudes and behaviors, informing the development of targeted policies aimed at fostering sustainable behaviors, and addressing local environmental threats.

Saving the world voluntarily: Experimental evidence of gain-loss framing on voluntary pro-environmental behavior

Empirical research shows that loss framing appears to be a promising tool to promote pro-environmental behavior. However, only a limited amount of experimental research has examined the effect of loss framing on actual behavior. Here, we use a variation of the Work for Environmental Protection Task (Lange & Dewitte, 2022) to study voluntary pro-environmental behavior. In an online experiment (N = 897), we find a trend of higher working efforts in the LOSS frame. However, this effect is small and marginally statistically significant. Interestingly, as explorative analyses suggest, the effect of loss framing is consistent for people with low and high intrinsic values to protect the environment.

From teachers to students: a correlational analysis of the pro-environmental behavior in a private university in the Philippines

Purpose This study aims to address the following objectives: determine the pro-environmental behavior of students and professors engaged in the course Sustainable Tourism; determine the pro-environmental behavior component of the professor that has the highest influence on the pro-environmental behavior of students; and formulate a model describing the components of the pro-environmental behavior of the professor with significant influence on the pro-environmental behavior of students. It also evaluates the norm-activation-theory-aligned pro-environmental behavior of the course's instructor and the students taking the course after they participated in the course Sustainable Tourism. Design/methodology/approach A correlational analysis using the partial least squares structural equation modeling approach was conducted in the survey results to determine the specific components of the professor's pro-environmental behavior that influenced the students' pro-environmental behavior. Findings Situational responsibility, efficacy and denial of responsibility were proven more influential in shaping students' pro-environmental behavior. This implies that students learn and adopt a pro-environmental orientation through role modeling and practical application, not by knowledge acquisition. Originality/value This could improve the body of knowledge on pro-environmental behavior by analyzing the reciprocal relationships between the person who delivers the course that instills pro-environmental behavior and students who learn from their professors using the norm activation theory.

The roles of anthropomorphism, spirituality, and gratitude in pro-environmental attitudes

ABSTRACT Emotions can be a powerful motivator of pro-environmental behavior, but less is known about how religious factors shape these emotional responses. Two studies investigated how spiritual views of nature—as an anthropomorphic being, that provides positive self-transcendent emotional experiences and spiritual resources—are associated with gratitude to the natural environment. Feeling gratitude was a robust unique predictor of pro-environmental attitudes, including a desire to preserve and protect nature, moral disapproval of environment degradation, and pro-environmental civic engagement. We documented the association between spiritual views of nature, gratitude, and pro-environmental attitudes in Singapore (n = 1375) and the United States (n = 745) and across diverse religious groups. Furthermore, the association between gratitude to nature and pro-environmentalism was not moderated by perceived overlap between God and the natural environment, indicating that spiritually-grounded feelings of gratitude to nature have direct associations with environmental attitudes that extend across religious and cultural boundaries.

What motivates people to purchase food products with traceability systems? A structural equation modeling approach

This study focuses on food traceability, defined as the ability to track a product from raw material to end consumer using an identification code. By reviewing 49 studies from 2005 to 2022, this research aimed to understand the determinants influencing consumer purchases of food products with traceability systems. The results of the review enabled the development of a conceptual model with hypotheses and variables to be empirically tested. Data were collected via an electronic questionnaire, which received 263 responses from 21 Brazilian states. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the hypothesized relationships. The findings confirmed that confidence in food producers and the government has a positive influence on consumer perceptions of food safety. Additionally, knowledge, pro-environmental behavior, perceived health benefits, and food safety positively impact consumers’ intentions to purchase traceable products. Most food traceability studies have predominantly focused on developed countries. This study seeks to expand existing knowledge and contribute to formulating more informed and adapted strategies, offering comprehension for more effective traceability practices in developing markets. It also makes a significant contribution to the fields of food safety and consumer behavior by empirically examining the relationships among consumer confidence, government perceptions, environmental concerns, health perceptions, food safety, and purchase intentions. The managerial implications highlight critical areas for building positive relationships with consumers and addressing their growing needs.