A structural analysis of green human resource management, innovation, and cultural factors in progressing university sustainability

Environmental crises pose unprecedented threats to biodiversity and human well-being, necessitating imperative actions globally. The study explores Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) exclusively in educational institutions that augments with environmental sustainability (ES) as an approach based on popular practices. This study examines GHRM directly, with Green Culture (GC) on ES. The study also delves upon the mediating influence of green innovation. The study underwent quantitative assessment by purposive sampling using PLS-SEM, with 247 samples from university staff members in Chennai, India. The study findings highlight the robustness for the proposed framework by emphasizing on the integration of GHRM practices, Green Culture and green innovation. The analysis also confirms that GHRM practices and green culture are statistically significant with ES, in which Green Innovation (GI) partially mediates. GHRM practices and GC plays a stronger impact with ES, as GC claims to support green values among the employees to be more influential in driving GI, which stands out to be a powerful predictor of ES. The study also concludes that universities that invest in GHRM practices and foster a strong green culture significantly enhances green innovation, which directly leads to higher environmental sustainability performance.