Variables that Impact Environmental Sustainability Behaviors of Employees in the Textile Manufacturing Industry in Ghana.

摘要

The call for environmental sustainability has resonated among nations and Organizational leaders throughout the world (Hargreave & Fink, 2006; National Academies of the G8+5, 2009; Oppel, 2007). While many organizations have acknowledged the call for environmental sustainability behaviors (ESB), there is scant information about these behaviors as exhibited by employees in organizations (Dyllick & Hockerts, 2002; Ofori & Hinson, 2007; Ones & Dilchert, 2012). Thus, employee behaviors at the organizational level represent a unique research opportunity within the field of Human Resource Development (HRD). The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of variables that impact ESB of employees in the textile manufacturing industry in Ghana. This study explored environmental values, environmental knowledge of employees, and demographic variables (i.e., gender, age, level of educational, managerial level) as possible factors that could impact ESB of employees. This study used descriptive, causal-comparative, and correlational research methods to examine the relationship between independent variables distinguished as employees' environmental values, environmental knowledge, demographics, and the dependent variable identified as ESB (Gall, Gall, & Borg, 2007). The sample size was made up of 480 employees from Ghanaian textile companies. Data were collected through the use of paper and pencil based questionnaires. A series of hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to determine the contribution of each variable in ESB.;In general, the results of this study indicated statistically significant relationships among biospheric values (a sub-construct of environmental values), environmental knowledge, and ESB. The independent variables in this study accounted for 37% of the variance in ESB. Environmental values accounted for 18% of the variance in ESB. Environmental knowledge explained 8% of the variance in ESB, and demographic variables contributed 11% of the variance in ESB.