Encouraging sustainability in the workplace: a survey on the pro-environmental behaviour of university employees. (1st November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Blok, Vincent; Wesselink, Renate; Studynka, Oldrich; Kemp, Ron
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 106(2015:Nov. 01)
• Page Start: 55
• Page End: 67
• Publication Date: 2015-11-01
• Subjects: Human capital -- Pro-environmental behaviour -- Responsibility of individual employees -- Sustainable development -- Theory of planned behaviour -- University; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.07.063
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: In order to enhance more sustainable behaviour in households, recent research focuses on the identification of factors that have an impact on sustainable or pro-environmental behaviour. The aim of this study is to identify factors that could predict pro-environmental behaviour in the workplace. While many studies focused on the behaviour of households, this study is one of the first that focuses exclusively on pro-environmental behaviour in the workplace. Based on a comprehensive literature review, two groups of factors were identified which could predict pro-environmental behaviour in the workplace: internal factors and external factors. Next, the model was tested among employees of a green university in the Netherlands. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that the theory of planned behaviour can explain pro-environmental behaviour in the workplace. At the same time, the results show that there are clear differences between factors influencing pro-environmental behaviour in households and in the workplace. Furthermore, also other factors like leadership support and exemplary pro-environmental behaviour by leaders are at stake in case of pro-environmental behaviour in the workplace, and have a significant positive impact on employee's intention to act pro-environmentally. The findings of this study have various managerial implications for green companies and organizations in general and green universities in particular. Highlights: This study aims to identify factors that predict pro-environmental behaviour. One of the first studies focussing on pro-environmental behaviour in the workplace. The intention to act has a significant impact on pro-environmental behaviour. Leadership support has a significant positive relation with employee's behaviour. Leadership behaviour has a significant impact on employee's intention to act.