Corporate Environmental Responsibility and Cultural Contexts: Fostering Pro-Environmental Behaviors in China's mainland and Hong Kong

Chufan Liu; Lili Yin; Yuanzhe Li

doi:10.54097/v0qhhw39

Authors

Chufan Liu
Lili Yin
Yuanzhe Li

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54097/v0qhhw39

Keywords:

Corporate Environmental Responsibility (CER), Pro-Environmental Behaviors (PEBs), Collective Efficacy, Organizational Commitment, Theory of Normative Conduct (TNC), Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) Theory

Abstract

Corporate Environmental Responsibility (CER) is increasingly recognized as a vital driver of Pro-Environmental Behaviors (PEBs) in both workplace and private settings. This study critically examines CER within the distinct socio-economic and cultural contexts of China's mainland and Hong Kong, exploring how regional differences in regulatory frameworks, economic structures, and cultural values shape the effectiveness of CER initiatives. The research highlights the roles of collective efficacy, organizational commitment, and biospheric values, alongside the spillover effect from workplace behaviors to private life. By integrating the Theory of Normative Conduct (TNC) and the Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) theory, the study provides deeper insights into these dynamics. The findings underscore the need for culturally and economically tailored CER strategies, offering actionable recommendations for policymakers and organizations. The study concludes by emphasizing the importance of ongoing research and practical interventions to further embed sustainability within corporate practices and contribute to the global sustainability agenda.

References

[1] Babiack, K., & Trendafilova, S. (2011). CSR and environmental responsibility: Motives and pressures to adopt green management practices. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 18, 11–24.

[2] Chen, J., & Zhang, F. (2019). Does environmental responsibility matter in cross-sector partnership formation? A legitimacy perspective. Journal of Environmental Management, 231, 612–621.

[3] Clarkson, P. M., Li, Y., Richardson, G. D., & Vasvari, F. P. (2011). Does it really pay to be green? Determinants and consequences of proactive environmental strategies. Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, 30(2), 122–144.

[4] Corte, A. E. R. (2015). Promoting pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors to reduce the consumption of illegal wildlife products in China (Doctoral dissertation).

[5] Crisostomo, V. L., Freire, F. D. S., & Vasconcellos, F. C. (2011). Corporate social responsibility, firm value and financial performance in Brazil. Social Responsibility Journal, 7(2), 295–309.

[6] Darnall, N., & Kim, Y. (2012). Which types of environmental management systems are related to greater environmental improvements? Public Administration Review, 72(3), 351–365.

[7] Flammer, C. (2015). Does corporate social responsibility lead to superior financial performance? A regression discontinuity approach. Management Science, 61(11), 2549–2568.

[8] Garcia-Pont, C., & Nohria, N. (2002). Local versus global mimetism: Dynamics of alliance formation in the automobile industry. Strategic Management Journal, 23(4), 307–321.

[9] Gola, M., La Milia, D., Cadeddu, C., Bardini, F., Bianconi, B., Bisceglia, R., ... & Ricciardi, W. (2023). Buffer spaces in healthcare facilities: strategies for managing and designing strategic areas. Population Medicine, 5(Supplement), 171-172.

[10] Griffin, A., Price, R. L., Maloney, M. M., Vojak, B. A., & Sim, E. W. (2009). Voices from the field: How exceptional electronic industrial innovators innovate. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 26(2), 222–240.

[11] Haddad, M. A. (2023). Environmental Politics in East Asia. Cambridge University Press.

[12] Harjani, T., He, H., & Chao, M. M. (2023). The Moral Foundations of Vaccine Passports. Journal of Business Ethics, 1-29.

[13] Hayes, A. F. (2018). Introduction to Mediation, Moderation, and Conditional Process Analysis: A Regression-Based Approach. The Guilford Press.

[14] Hobday, M. (1995). East Asian Latecomer Firms: Learning the Technology of Electronics. World Development, 23, 1171–1193.

[15] Hobday, M. (1995). Innovation in East Asia: The Challenge to Japan. Edward Elgar.

[16] Jalilvand, A., & Kim, S. M. (2013). Matching slack resources and investment strategies to achieve long-term performance: New perspectives on corporate adaptability. Journal of Economic Asymmetries, 10, 38–52.

[17] Jung, J., Lai, M., & Li, X. (2023). Part-time master’s students’ attitudes towards study and work. Studies in Continuing Education, 1-18.

[18] Keupp, M. M., & Gassmann, O. (2009). The past and future of international entrepreneurship: A review and suggestions for developing the field. Journal of Management, 35(3), 600–633.

[19] Leung, T. C. H., Guan, J., & Lau, Y. Y. (2023). Exploring environmental sustainability and green management practices: evidence from logistics service providers. Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal.

[20] Liu, H., Guo, K., & Li, Y. (2024). Impact of technical barriers to trade on sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions in China’s manufacturing sector. Environmental Pollutants and Bioavailability, 36(1), 2387682.

[21] Mangili, S., Ferraguzzi, G., & Capolongo, S. (2023). Assessing the quality of the built environment in dementia: a framework to evaluate long-term care facilities. Population Medicine, 5 (Supplement), 55-55.

[22] McGuire, J. B., Sundgren, A., & Schneeweis, T. (1988). Corporate social responsibility and firm financial performance. Academy of Management Journal, 31(4), 854–872.

[23] McWilliams, A., & Siegel, D. (2001). Corporate social responsibility: A theory of the firm perspective. Academy of Management Review, 26(1), 117–128.

[24] Meng, X. H., Zeng, S. X., Shi, J. J., Qi, G. Y., & Zhang, Z. B. (2014). The relationship between corporate environmental performance and environmental disclosure: An empirical study in China. Journal of Environmental Management, 145, 357–367. [PubMed]

[25] Meng, X. H., Zeng, S. X., Shi, J. J., Qi, G. Y., & Zhang, Z. B. (2014). The relationship between corporate environmental performance and environmental disclosure: An empirical study in China. Journal of Environmental Management, 145, 357–367. [PubMed]

[26] Orlitzky, M., Louche, C., Gond, J.-P., & Chapple, W. (2017). Unpacking the drivers of corporate social performance: A multilevel, multistakeholder, and multimethod analysis. Journal of Business Ethics, 144(1), 21–40.

[27] Pava, M. L., & Krausz, J. (1996). The association between corporate social-responsibility and financial performance: The paradox of social cost. Journal of Business Ethics, 15(3), 321–357.

[28] Qian, Y., Li, Y., Hao, Y., Yu, T., & Hu, H. (2024). Greenhouse gas control in steel manufacturing: inventory, assurance, and strategic reduction review. Carbon Research, 3(1), 27.

[29] Rettig, L. A. (2021). The Analysis and Characterization of the Cultural Dimensions of Food Waste Behavior in Hong Kong’s Luxury Hotels. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Hong Kong).

[30] Smith, W. A., Passmore, J., Turner, E., Lai, Y. L., & Clutterbuck, D. (Eds.). (2023). The Ethical Coaches’ Handbook: A Guide to Developing Ethical Maturity in Practice. Taylor & Francis.

[31] Spanos, Y. E., Zaralis, G., & Lioukas, S. (2004). Strategy and industry effects on profitability: Evidence from Greece. Strategic Management Journal, 25(2), 139–165.

[32] Varela-Candamio, L., Sánchez-Carreira, M. C., & del Río-Rama, M. D. L. C. (2022). Biospheric values and pro-environmental beliefs to explain energy conservation behavior: The role of social norms, responsibility, and awareness of consequences. Frontiers in Energy Research, 10, 940595. https: //doi. org/10.3389/fenrg.2022.940595

[33] Voss, G. B., Sirdeshmukh, D., & Voss, Z. G. (2008). The effects of slack resources and environmental threat on product exploration and exploitation. Academy of Management Journal, 51 (1), 147–164.

[34] Wang, Y., Hao, Y., Hou, Y., Quan, Q., & Li, Y. (2024). Optimizing scope 3 emissions in the automotive manufacturing industry: a multidisciplinary approach. Carbon Research, 3(1), 49.

[35] Yeung, S. S. (2023). The cultural logics of mothering practices: agency capacity of the university-educated Chinese mothers in Singapore and Hong Kong. Social Transformations in Chinese Societies.

[36] Zhang, L. (2023). Understanding Chinese corporate governance: Practical guidance for working with Chinese partners. Taylor & Francis.

[37] Zhong, J., Wang, Y., Quan, Q., & Li, Y. (2024). Biofilm Dynamics in Fluoride-Based Wastewater Systems: A Mini-Review on Pseudomonas spp. and Bacillus spp. Biofilms in Semiconductor Manufacturing WWTP. Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering, 1-15.

[38] Liu, H., Guo, K., & Li, Y. (2024). Impact of technical barriers to trade on sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions in China’s manufacturing sector. Environmental Pollutants and Bioavailability, 36(1). https://doi.org/10. 1080/26395940. 2024. 2387682.