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The impact of greenwashing practices on green employee behaviour: Mediating role of employee value orientation and green psychological climate

Author

Listed:
  • Rubab Tahir
  • Muhammad Razzaq Athar
  • Aneela Afzal

Abstract

The awareness of environmental issues is rising among employees, customers, investors, and businesses. This study is focused on assessing the outcomes of practicing greenwashing and factors effecting green employee behaviour. A quantitative method was applied by collecting data from agri-inputs industry in Pakistan using survey (N = 520). The data were analysed by partial least square structural equation modelling in SmartPLS. Greenwashing has a negative impact on green employee behaviour with employee value orientation and green psychological climate negatively mediating (partially) this effect. The internal environmental orientation has no significant effect of mediation on the linkage of greenwashing and green employee behaviour. It is a cross-sectional study that might not have captured the constructs (e.g., greenwashing) fully. Besides, data were collected from one province and a single industry. It will help policymakers understand greenwashing effects and devising appropriate psychological strategies. The study emphasized on the holistic approach towards greening of organizations, and is, according to our best knowledge, the first empirical study that explored the impact of greenwashing on green employee behaviour in Pakistan.

Suggested Citation

  • Rubab Tahir & Muhammad Razzaq Athar & Aneela Afzal, 2020. "The impact of greenwashing practices on green employee behaviour: Mediating role of employee value orientation and green psychological climate," Cogent Business & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 7(1), pages 1781996-178, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:oabmxx:v:7:y:2020:i:1:p:1781996
    DOI: 10.1080/23311975.2020.1781996
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    Cited by:

    1. Yufei Ma & Shuming Zhao & Jiaxi Chen & Chenhong Hu & Jiaojiao Qu, 2025. "Perceived greenwashing and employee green behavior: The roles of green organizational identity and self‐serving leadership," Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(4), pages 1475-1486, October.
    2. Ruth Elias & Debora Gabriel & Ismail Abdi Changalima, 2025. "Green is Lovely! The Mediating Effect of Employees’ Green Behavior on Perceived Organizational Support for the Environment and Job Satisfaction," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(3), pages 21582440251, September.
    3. Fatih Uslu & Ali Keles & Arif Aytekin & Ozgur Yayla & Huseyin Keles & Gozde Seval Ergun & Abdullah Tarinc, 2023. "Effect of Green Human Resource Management on Green Psychological Climate and Environmental Green Behavior of Hotel Employees: The Moderator Roles of Environmental Sensitivity and Altruism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-22, March.
    4. Wei Wang & Ziyuan Sun & Weixing Zhu & Lin Ma & Yuting Dong & Xiao Sun & Fengzhi Wu, 2023. "How does multi‐agent govern corporate greenwashing? A stakeholder engagement perspective from “common” to “collaborative” governance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(1), pages 291-307, January.
    5. Guosen Miao & Guoping Chen & Fan Wang & Anupam Kumar Das, 2023. "The Effect of Corporate Greenwashing on Employees’ Environmental Performance: Person–Organization Values Fit Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-19, February.
    6. Wei Li & Weining Li & Veikko Seppänen & Timo Koivumäki, 2022. "How and when does perceived greenwashing affect employees' job performance? Evidence from China," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(5), pages 1722-1735, September.
    7. repec:bcp:journl:v:8:y:2024:i:9:p:2008-2016 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Halit Keskin & Ekrem Tatoglu & Ali E. Akgün & Emel Esen & Esin Salt, 2025. "Employee Green Values and Perceived Greenwashing: The Mediating Role of Person‐Organization Fit in CSR‐Oriented Companies," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(4), pages 4861-4879, July.
    9. Irfan Ullah & Bo Wang & Muhammad Fiaz & Yasir Hayat Mughal & Saif Ud Din & Shahzad Khan Durrani, 2026. "Shaping a Sustainable Future Through Multilevel Environmental Behaviors Inside and Outside Organizations," Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 35(1), pages 231-253, January.
    10. Junqian He & Hyosun Kim, 2021. "The Effect of Socially Responsible HRM on Organizational Citizenship Behavior for the Environment: A Proactive Motivation Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-21, July.
    11. Zhibin Tao, 2025. "Unsustainable Development Under Greenwashing: Exploring the Impact of Corporate Greenwashing Behavior on Employees' Negative Pro‐Environmental Behavior in China, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, and New Zealand," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(6), pages 7326-7357, November.
    12. MengMeng Jiang & XueYan Shan & Sikandar Ali Qalati, 2025. "Enhancing corporate sustainability and employees’ innovative behavior through senior executives sustainable entrepreneurial orientation and green HRM practices: the role of corporate social responsibility," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 1-28, December.
    13. Olawale Fatoki, 2022. "Determinants of Employee Electricity Saving Behavior in Small Firms: The Role of Benefits and Leadership," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-20, April.
    14. Tran Thu Thao & Le Thi Phuong Linh & Nguyen Quoc Cuong, 2025. "The Relationship Between Green Advertising Receptivity, Green Brand Image, Perceived Brand Authenticity and Perceived Greenwashing on Green Purchase Intention," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(4), pages 21582440251, October.
    15. Minh‐Tri Ha & Vo Thi Kim Ngan & Phuong N. D. Nguyen, 2022. "Greenwash and green brand equity: The mediating role of green brand image, green satisfaction and green trust and the moderating role of information and knowledge," Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(4), pages 904-922, October.
    16. Maria Jose Murcia & Maria Dolores del Rio & Maria Carmela Annosi, 2025. "The Procession Goes Inside: Employees' Dissonance Reduction Strategies in Response to Corporate Hypocrisy," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(5), pages 6106-6119, September.
    17. Elias Appiah‐Kubi & Codruța Cornelia Dura & Francisca Omama Koranteng & Maria‐Madela Abrudan & Dorina Niță & Mirabela Constanța Matei, 2026. "How to Achieve Green Innovation in Resource‐Constrained Environments: Why Organizational Green Culture, Sustainable Finance, Bricolage, and Digital Competence Matter?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 33(2), pages 2018-2035, March.

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