IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/bstrat/v34y2025i8p9652-9671.html

Green Proactivity in the Workplace: Organizational Drivers and Enablers

Author

Listed:
  • Katarzyna Gadomska‐Lila
  • Agata Sudolska
  • Justyna Łapińska

Abstract

This study addresses a research gap regarding the factors that encourage proactive green workplace behaviors. Namely, the study aims to investigate proactive green workplace behaviors by identifying their key contextual antecedents and finding ways to foster their development within the organization. The theoretical grounding is exemplified with the empirical study based upon individual interviews with firms' representatives. Study results contribute to the conceptualization of proactive green workplace behavior. The results, in particular, contribute to identifying organizational factors that promote proactive green workplace behaviors and highlight the significance of human resource management practices, organizational culture, and leadership. The study found that leadership and organizational culture are crucial in influencing pro‐environmental values, beliefs, and norms that promote green workplace behaviors. Given the above, this research can also be viewed as an extension of the value‐belief‐norm (VBN) theory of environmentalism, which incorporates an organizational aspect.

Suggested Citation

  • Katarzyna Gadomska‐Lila & Agata Sudolska & Justyna Łapińska, 2025. "Green Proactivity in the Workplace: Organizational Drivers and Enablers," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(8), pages 9652-9671, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:34:y:2025:i:8:p:9652-9671
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.70097
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.70097
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/bse.70097?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kiatkawsin, Kiattipoom & Han, Heesup, 2017. "Young travelers' intention to behave pro-environmentally: Merging the value-belief-norm theory and the expectancy theory," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 76-88.
    2. Eric Lamm & Jennifer Tosti-Kharas & Cynthia King, 2015. "Empowering Employee Sustainability: Perceived Organizational Support Toward the Environment," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 128(1), pages 207-220, April.
    3. Olawole Fawehinmi & Mohd Yusoff Yusliza & Zaleha Mohamad & Juhari Noor Faezah & Zikri Muhammad, 2020. "Assessing the green behaviour of academics," International Journal of Manpower, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 41(7), pages 879-900, January.
    4. Mehrajunnisa Mehrajunnisa & Fauzia Jabeen & Mohd Nishat Faisal & Thomas Lange, 2023. "The influence of green human resource management practices and employee green behavior on business performance in sustainability-focused organizations," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 66(12), pages 2603-2622, October.
    5. Wenjing Cai & Chun Yang & Bart A. G. Bossink & Jingtao Fu, 2020. "Linking Leaders’ Voluntary Workplace Green Behavior and Team Green Innovation: The Mediation Role of Team Green Efficacy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-17, April.
    6. Ian M. Katz & Rachel S. Rauvola & Cort W. Rudolph & Hannes Zacher, 2022. "Employee green behavior: A meta‐analysis," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(5), pages 1146-1157, September.
    7. Wenhan Ren & Jing Ni & Wen Jiao & Yan Li, 2023. "Explore the key factors of sustainable development: A bibliometric and visual analysis of technological progress," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(1), pages 492-509, February.
    8. Pascal Paillé & Jorge Humberto Mejía-Morelos & Anne Marché-Paillé & Chih Chieh Chen & Yang Chen, 2016. "Corporate Greening, Exchange Process Among Co-workers, and Ethics of Care: An Empirical Study on the Determinants of Pro-environmental Behaviors at Coworkers-Level," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 136(3), pages 655-673, July.
    9. Francesco Rizzi & Eleonora Annunziata & Marco Frey, 2018. "The Relationship between Organizational Culture and Energy Performance: A Municipal Energy Manager Level Study," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(6), pages 694-711, September.
    10. Yaw Agyabeng-Mensah & Charles Baah & Ebenezer Afum, 2024. "Do the roles of green supply chain learning, green employee creativity, and green organizational citizenship behavior really matter in circular supply chain performance?," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 67(3), pages 609-631, February.
    11. Luu Trong Tuan, 2021. "Effects of environmentally-specific servant leadership on green performance via green climate and green crafting," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 38(3), pages 925-953, September.
    12. Olivier Boiral & Pascal Paillé, 2012. "Organizational Citizenship Behaviour for the Environment: Measurement and Validation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 109(4), pages 431-445, September.
    13. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Wang, Chih-Wei & Ho, Shan-Ju, 2022. "The dimension of green economy: Culture viewpoint," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 122-138.
    14. Eiad Yafi & Shehnaz Tehseen & Syed Arslan Haider, 2021. "Impact of Green Training on Environmental Performance through Mediating Role of Competencies and Motivation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-15, May.
    15. Robert Cialdini, 2007. "Descriptive Social Norms as Underappreciated Sources of Social Control," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 72(2), pages 263-268, June.
    16. Muhammad Sarmad & Muhammad Ahmed Pirzada & Rimsha Iqbal, 2023. "Fostering extra-role green behavior through green HRM practices: mediating role of green absorptive capacity," International Journal of Manpower, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 44(8), pages 1535-1552, May.
    17. Liyan Yang & Xiaojing Shao & Yuan Jiang, 2023. "Fostering Employees’ Voluntary Green Behavior: The Role of Environmentally Specific Servant Leadership, Positive Affectivity, and Workplace Anxiety," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-17, October.
    18. Mert Gürlek & Muharrem Tuna, 2018. "Reinforcing competitive advantage through green organizational culture and green innovation," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(7-8), pages 467-491, June.
    19. Pascal Paillé & Yang Chen & Olivier Boiral & Jiafei Jin, 2014. "The Impact of Human Resource Management on Environmental Performance: An Employee-Level Study," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 121(3), pages 451-466, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Andrea Kim & Youngsang Kim & Kyongji Han, 2019. "A Cross Level Investigation on the Linkage Between Job Satisfaction and Voluntary Workplace Green Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 159(4), pages 1199-1214, November.
    2. Felix Ostertag, 2023. "Integrating OCBE Literature and Norm Activation Theory: A Moderated Mediation on Proenvironmental Behavior of Employees," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-27, May.
    3. Katarzyna Gadomska‐Lila & Agata Sudolska & Justyna Łapińska, 2024. "The importance of green competencies in advancing organizational sustainability: The empirical perspective," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(1), pages 1152-1169, February.
    4. Pascal Paillé & Nicolas Raineri & Olivier Boiral, 2019. "Environmental Behavior On and Off the Job: A Configurational Approach," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 158(1), pages 253-268, August.
    5. Saskia Crucke & Marie Servaes & Tom Kluijtmans & Shana Mertens & Eveline Schollaert, 2022. "Linking environmentally‐specific transformational leadership and employees' green advocacy: The influence of leadership integrity," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(2), pages 406-420, March.
    6. Ibrahim A. Elshaer & Alaa M. S. Azazz & Sameh Fayyad, 2022. "Underdog Environmental Expectations and Environmental Organizational Citizenship Behavior in the Hotel Industry: Mediation of Desire to Prove Others Wrong and Individual Green Values as a Moderator," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-13, August.
    7. Piotr Zientara & Anna Zamojska & Grzegorz Maciejewski & Anna Maria Nikodemska-Wołowik, 2019. "Environmentalism and Polish Coal Mining: A Multilevel Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-15, May.
    8. Anisur Rehman & Aftab Ara & Harman Preet Singh, 2025. "How green HRM practices, organisational citizenship behaviour towards environment, technological competence and resistance to change influence the environmental performance of Saudi universities," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-18, December.
    9. Hongdan Zhao & Qiongyao Zhou & Peixu He & Cuiling Jiang, 2021. "How and When Does Socially Responsible HRM Affect Employees’ Organizational Citizenship Behaviors Toward the Environment?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 169(2), pages 371-385, March.
    10. Noor Ullah Khan & Haoqiang Wei & Guiling Yue & Nabila Nazir & Noor Raihani Zainol, 2021. "Exploring Themes of Sustainable Practices in Manufacturing Industry: Using Thematic Networks Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-26, September.
    11. Noor Ullah Khan & Wenya Wu & Roselina Binti Ahmad Saufi & Nur Ain Ayunni Sabri & Ashfaq Ahmad Shah, 2021. "Antecedents of Sustainable Performance in Manufacturing Organizations: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-23, January.
    12. Qing Tian & Jennifer L. Robertson, 2019. "How and When Does Perceived CSR Affect Employees’ Engagement in Voluntary Pro-environmental Behavior?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(2), pages 399-412, March.
    13. Hina Zafar & Feng Tian & Jo Ann Ho & Taewoo Roh & Badar Latif, 2025. "Understanding voluntary pro‐environmental behavior among colleagues: Roles of green crafting, psychological empowerment, and green organizational climate," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(1), pages 468-482, January.
    14. Olivier Boiral & Nicolas Raineri & David Talbot, 2018. "Managers’ Citizenship Behaviors for the Environment: A Developmental Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 149(2), pages 395-409, May.
    15. Francesco Testa & Niccolò Todaro & Natalia Marzia Gusmerotti & Marco Frey, 2020. "Embedding corporate sustainability: An empirical analysis of the antecedents of organization citizenship behavior," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(3), pages 1198-1212, May.
    16. Tai-Wei Chang & Fei-Fan Chen & Hua-Dong Luan & Yu-Shan Chen, 2019. "Effect of Green Organizational Identity, Green Shared Vision, and Organizational Citizenship Behavior for the Environment on Green Product Development Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-17, January.
    17. Nicolas Raineri & Pascal Paillé, 2016. "Linking Corporate Policy and Supervisory Support with Environmental Citizenship Behaviors: The Role of Employee Environmental Beliefs and Commitment," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 137(1), pages 129-148, August.
    18. Mónica Santana & Rafael Morales-Sánchez & Susana Pasamar, 2020. "Mapping the Link between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Human Resource Management (HRM): How Is This Relationship Measured?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-28, February.
    19. Juhari Noor Faezah & Mohd Yusoff Yusliza & T. Ramayah & Charbel Jose Chiappetta Jabbour & Sebastian Kot, 2024. "Green human resource management and employee ecological behaviour: Testing green culture and green satisfaction as parallel mediators in Malaysian higher education," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 4280-4297, September.
    20. Galina S. Arzamasova & Irena A. Esaulova, 2021. "Analysis of the environmental employee engagement: A case of a Russian enterprise," Upravlenets, Ural State University of Economics, vol. 12(3), pages 56-66, July.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:34:y:2025:i:8:p:9652-9671. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-0836 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.