The Impact of Perceived CSR on Employees’ Pro-Environmental Behaviors: The Mediating Effects of Environmental Consciousness and Environmental Commitment

Abstract

Employees’ pro-environmental behaviors contribute to environmental sustainability. Drawing on social exchange theory, this research extends corporate social responsibility (CSR) literature by investigating the positive effect of perceived CSR on employees’ pro-environmental behaviors and exploring the mediating mechanisms of environmental consciousness and environmental commitment between perceived CSR and employees’ pro-environmental behaviors. Survey data were collected from 301 employees working in the textile manufacturing industry of Pakistan. The findings of this study demonstrate a positive direct impact of perceived CSR on pro-environmental behaviors. Moreover, environmental consciousness and environmental commitment mediated this relationship. Taken together, this study indicates that perceived CSR has three paths to impact employee pro-environmental behavior: direct effect, indirect effect via environmental consciousness, and indirect effect via environmental commitment. The contributions of this study include supporting social exchange theory and presenting pioneering evidence of environmental consciousness and environmental commitment mediating processes between perceived CSR and pro-environmental behaviors. This paper provides directions for future research and suggests practical implications for organizations.