Fostering green initiatives among employees: the influence of corporate entrepreneurship climate

Purpose Employee green behavior is a crucial factor in the successful implementation of pro-environmental policies and practices within businesses. It is essential that employee initiative and creativity manifest as green behaviors that extend beyond recycling, reducing and reusing (3R). This paper aims to investigate the antecedents of these advanced green behaviors, focusing on the influences of corporate entrepreneurship climate and green human resource management. Design/methodology/approach The proposed conceptual model links green human resource management and employee green behaviors beyond 3R, while corporate entrepreneurship climate mediates the link. The model was tested in Poland in a quantitative study on a sample of 1,228 employees. Findings The relationship between green human resources management and employee green behaviors beyond 3R is both direct and mediated through three dimensions of corporate entrepreneurship climate: environmental proactiveness and transparency, stakeholder salience and rewards/reinforcement – the rewards/reinforcement dimension having a negative effect. Originality/value The study sheds new light on the role of green human resource management and corporate entrepreneurship climate in encouraging employee green behaviors. It also provides new insights into categories and antecedents of employee green behavior.