Environmental corporate social responsibility and green dynamic capability: The moderating role of slack resources

There is a widespread agreement that the current linear economic system is unsustainable due to the physical boundaries of our planet and must be replaced by a circular one, that is, by a circular economy (CE). Previous studies have theoretically proposed that eco‐innovations (EIs), or innovations that reduce the environmental impacts of consumption and production processes, are a key element to improve the circular use of resources. However, the analysis of the drivers of such a transition to a CE through EI, particularly at the micro‐level of firms, has not received attention in the past. The aim of this paper is to cover this gap in the literature. It quantitatively analyses the role of influencing factors (drivers and barriers) in that relationship, with a focus on the company's organisational (‘soft’) factors, rooted in organisational culture and strategy. With the help of data collected through a survey of Spanish small and medium‐sized firms in the industrial sector, a regression‐based moderation analysis is carried out. Therefore, four moderation models were defined based on organisational factors derived from the previous literature (sustainability, future, stakeholder and learning/knowledge orientation in firms. The results suggest that, indeed, two of those factors (a high level of sustainability and knowledge orientation) are particularly relevant drivers in the transition to the CE through EI. Thus, if the aim of policy makers and corporate decision makers is to increase the circularity of the economy or their firms, policies and measures should be targeted at these two factors.

How does corporate environmental culture enable the eco‐innovation transition of firms towards the circular economy?

Kiefer,

Carrillo‐Hermosilla,

del Río

2024

Unveiling the influence of corporate greenwashing on employees' pro‐environmental behavior: A cross‐cultural study from China, United Kingdom, Republic of Korea, and Japan

Tao,

Chao

2024

Corporate greenwashing and pro‐environmental behavior of employees have attracted a significant amount of research attention in journals related to corporate governance, green and sustainable development. However, limited research has currently investigated the relationship between the two, especially in today's globalized business environment. To fill this research gap, this study conducts a cross‐cultural validation of connection between the two, covering four countries: China, United Kingdom, Republic of Korea, and Japan. The study uses structural equation model and fsQCA methods for empirical analysis. The empirical results reveal that in China, United Kingdom, Republic of Korea, and Japan: (1) corporate greenwashing suppresses employees' pro‐environmental behavior; (2) corporate greenwashing leads to employees developing perceptions of corporate hypocrisy, negative pro‐environmental attitudes, and organizational cynicism; (3) corporate hypocrisy perception, negative pro‐environmental attitude, and organizational cynicism lead to employees displaying negative pro‐environmental behaviors; (4) corporate hypocrisy perception, negative pro‐environmental attitude, and organizational cynicism significantly mediate the influence of corporate greenwashing on employees' pro‐environmental behavior; (5) the mediating effects of these three variables do not significantly differ across the four countries; (6) the analysis results from the fsQCA method show that in China, there are 6 configurations leading to employees displaying significant (strong) negative pro‐environmental behaviors, while in the United Kingdom there are 5, and in the Republic of Korea and Japan there are 3 and 5, respectively. This cross‐cultural study offers insights for corporate management, aiding in understanding and mitigating the effects of greenwashing on employee pro‐environmental behavior. It also bolsters the creation of efficacious corporate environmental practices policies and serves as a resource for future cross‐cultural environmental preservation and corporate governance research.

Green dynamic capability and green product innovation for sustainable development: Role of green operations, green transaction, and green technology development capabilities

Borah,

Dogbe,

Marwa

2024

This study explored how three capabilities—green operations, green transactions, and green technology development—impact the relationship between manufacturing firms' green dynamic capability and green product innovation. The study surveyed 216 manufacturing firms in China and analyzed the data using structural equation modeling. The results showed that a company's green dynamic capability has a significant and positive effect on green product innovation. Additionally, the study found that: Green operations capability partially mediates the relationship between green dynamic capability and green product innovation; green transaction capability also partially mediates this relationship; and green technology development capability positively moderates the relationships between both green operations capability and green transaction capability and green product innovation. The study's findings suggest that managers should focus on developing their company's ability to adapt and rebuild resources, including technological and green resources, to stay competitive in a changing business environment.