•  
  •  
 

Abstract

In a Muslim majority, developing country like Indonesia, religion shapes employees’ work ethic and professional behavior, embedding spiritual and cultural values into the workplace. Despite the increasing attention to pro-environmental behavior, previous studies have largely examined Green Human Resource Management (GHRM), religiosity, and environmental concern separately, often focusing on a single sector. This leaves employees from various occupational backgrounds underexplored. This study aims to examine the effects of Green Concern (GC), Green Motivation (M), GHRM, and Religiosity (REL) on Employee Green Behavior (EGB) and Employee Green Attitude (EGA) of Muslim employees in Indonesia. Data were collected through a quantitative survey of 300 Muslim employees across various occupational sectors and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings revealed that although GC, GHRM, and REL did not have a direct affect on EGB, they exerted a significant indirect effect when M was introduced as a mediating factor. The novelty of this study lies in establishing green motivation as a robust psychological mechanism explaining how GC, GHRM, and REL shape EGA and EGB among an underexplored population: employees across various occupational sectors. Furthermore, this study highlights the unique role of religiosity in influencing EGA and EGB among Muslim employees, differentiating it from prior research. Theoretically, this study advances the green behavior model by highlighting motivation as a key mediator. Practically, it suggest that organizations in Muslim-majority developing countries can enhance green behavior by implementing environmental training programs grounded in religious values and developing culturally sensitive reward systems designed to strengthen employee motivation commitment to sustainable practices.

References

Abu Bakar, R., Cooke, F. L., & Muenjohn, N. (2018). Religiosity as a source of influence on work engagement: a study of the Malaysian Finance industry. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 29(18), 2632–2658. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2016.1254103

Abutaleb, S., El-Bassiouny, N. M., & Hamed, S. (2021). A conceptualization of the role of religiosity in online collaborative consumption behavior. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 12(1), 180–198. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIMA-09-2019-0186

Ahmed, S. K. (2024). How to choose a sampling technique and determine sample size for research: A simplified guide for researchers. Oral Oncology Reports, 12, Article 100662. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oor.2024.100662

Ahshanul Mamun, A. M. (2023). Motivating green behaviour in Bangladeshi employees: Self-determination theory application. Heliyon, 9(7), e18155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18155

Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179‑211. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T

Al-Domi, M. M. (2015). The Connection Between the Colors Mentioned in the Holy Quran and Its Significance the Green Model. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 11(26), 1857–7881. https://eujournal.org/index.php/esj/article/view/6239

Ali Ababneh, O. M., Awwad, A. S., & Abu-Haija, A. (2021). The association between green human resources practices and employee engagement with environmental initiatives in hotels: The moderation effect of perceived transformational leadership. Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality and Tourism, 20(3), 390–416. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332845.2021.1923918

Andrade, C. (2020). The Limitations of Online Surveys. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 42(6), 575–576. https://doi.org/10.1177/0253717620957496

Anwar, N., Nik Mahmood, N. H., Yusliza, M. Y., Ramayah, T., Noor Faezah, J., & Khalid, W. (2020). Green Human Resource Management for organisational citizenship behaviour towards the environment and environmental performance on a university campus. Journal of Cleaner Production, 256, 120401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120401

Begum, A., Jingwei, L., Haider, M., Ajmal, M. M., Khan, S., & Han, H. (2021). Impact of environmental moral education on pro-environmental behaviour: Do psychological empowerment and islamic religiosity matter? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041604

Bendig, D., Schulz, C., Theis, L., & Raff, S. (2023). Digital orientation and environmental performance in times of technological change. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 188(January), 122272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2022.122272

Cantillo, J., Astorino, L., & Tsana, A. (2025). Determinants of pro-environmental attitude and behaviour among European Union (EU) residents: differences between older and younger generations. Quality and Quantity, 59(3). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-025-02089-8

Chaudhary, R., & Bisai, S. (2018). Factors influencing green purchase behavior of millennials in India. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 29(5), 798–812. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-02-2018-0023

Darvishmotevali, M., & Altinay, L. (2022). Green HRM, environmental awareness and green behaviors: The moderating role of servant leadership. Tourism Management, 88(March 2021), 104401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2021.104401

De Groot, J. I. M., & Steg, L. (2010). Relationships between value orientations, self-determined motivational types and pro-environmental behavioural intentions. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30(4), 368–378. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2010.04.002

Evans, J. R., & Mathur, A. (2018). The value of online surveys: a look back and a look ahead. Internet Research, 28(4), 854–887. https://doi.org/10.1108/IntR-03-2018-0089

Fawehinmi, O., Yusliza, M. Y., Wan Kasim, W. Z., Mohamad, Z., & Sofian Abdul Halim, M. A. (2020). Exploring the Interplay of Green Human Resource Management, Employee Green Behavior, and Personal Moral Norms. SAGE Open, 10(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244020982292

Fikri, I., & Colombijn, F. (2021). Is Green Islam going to support environmentalism in Indonesia? Anthropology Today, 37(2), 15–18. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8322.12642

Fransson, N., & Gärling, T. (1999). Environmental concern: Conceptual definitions, measurement methods, and research findings. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 19(4), 369–382. https://doi.org/10.1006/jevp.1999.0141

Hair, J., & Alamer, A. (2022). Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) in second language and education research: Guidelines using an applied example. Research Methods in Applied Linguistics, 1(3), 100027. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmal.2022.100027

Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., Sarstedt, M., Danks, N. P., & Ray, S. (2021). Evaluation of reflective measurement models. In Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using R (Classroom Companion: Business). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80519-7_4

Hair, J. F., Risher, J. J., Sarstedt, M., & Ringle, C. M. (2019a). When to use and how to report the results of PLS-SEM. European Business Review, 31(1), 2–24. https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-11-2018-0203

Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2019b). Multivariate data analysis (8th ed.). Cengage Learning EMEA.

Hair, J., Hollingsworth, C. L., Randolph, A. B., & Chong, A. Y. L. (2017). An updated and expanded assessment of PLS-SEM in information systems research. Industrial Management and Data Systems, 117(3), 442–458. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-04-2016-0130

Hameed, Z., Khan, I. U., Islam, T., Sheikh, Z., & Khan, S. U. (2019). Corporate social responsibility and employee pro-environmental behaviors: The role of perceived organizational support and organizational pride. South Asian Journal of Business Studies, 8(3), 246–265. https://doi.org/10.1108/SAJBS-10-2018-0117

Adi, P. H., & Adawiyah, W. R. (2018). The impact of religiosity, environmental marketing orientation and practices on performance: A case of Muslim entrepreneurs in Indonesia. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 9(4), 841–862. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIMA-09-2016-0067

Hu, Z., & Zhu, S. (2024). Retraction Note: Impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on China’s tourism economy and green finance efficiency. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 31(31), 44457. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-34156-2

Iqbal, R., Shahzad, K., & Donia, M. B. L. (2023). Environmentally specific transformational leadership and employee green attitude and behavior: An affective events theory perspective. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 92(June), 102181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2023.102181

Joshi, Y., & Rahman, Z. (2015). Factors Affecting Green Purchase Behaviour and Future Research Directions. International Strategic Management Review, 3(1-2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ism.2015.04.001

Kim, M., & Lee, S. M. (2022). Drivers and interrelationships of three types of pro-environmental behaviors in the workplace. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 34(5), 1854–1881. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-09-2021-1094

Kim, Y. J., Kim, W. G., Choi, H. M., & Phetvaroon, K. (2019). The effect of green human resource management on hotel employees’ eco-friendly behavior and environmental performance. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 76(April 2018), 83–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2018.04.007

Kumar, R. (2024). To save the environment is my moral duty: investigating young consumer’s green purchase behaviour with moderated mediation approach. Social Responsibility Journal, 20(8), 1508–1534. https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-02-2023-0066

Lestari, I. P., Pambekti, G. T., & Annisa, A. A. (2025). Determinant of green purchase behavior of Muslims: A systematic literature review. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 16(1), 211–235. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIMA-07-2023-0214

Li, W., Bhutto, T. A., Xuhui, W., Maitlo, Q., Zafar, A. U., & Ahmed Bhutto, N. (2020). Unlocking employees’ green creativity: The effects of green transformational leadership, green intrinsic, and extrinsic motivation. Journal of Cleaner Production, 255, 120229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120229

Long, Y., Liu, L., & Yang, B. (2023). Different types of environmental concerns and heterogeneous influence on green total factor productivity: Evidence from Chinese provincial data. Journal of Cleaner Production, 428(March), 139295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.139295

Lu, H., Zou, J., Chen, H., & Long, R. (2020). Promotion or inhibition? Moral norms, anticipated emotion and employee’s pro-environmental behavior. Journal of Cleaner Production, 258, 120858. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120858

Mateen, A. ul, Nisar, Q. A., & Nasir, N. (2023). Fostering pro-environmental behaviors in the healthcare organizations: An empirical analysis of psychological and strategic factors. Asia Pacific Management Review, 28(1), 13–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmrv.2022.01.004

Mehdi, A., Chi, G., & Göker, P. (2021). A Comparative Study between the Quran’s Vision of Paradise and the Mughal Islamic Gardens of Lahore. Online Journal of Art and Design, 9(3), 1–16. https://adjournal.net/articles/93/931.pdf

Nayak, M. S. D. P., Narayan, K. A., & Narayan, K. A. (2019). Strengths and Weakness of Online Surveys Strengths and weaknesses of online surveys. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (IOSR-JHSS, 24(5), 31–38. https://doi.org/10.9790/0837-2405053138

Ng, P. M. L., Wut, T. M., Chan, J. K., Lau, M. M., Cheung, C. T. Y., Kwok, J., & Choy, E. T. K. (2024). Can internal social media foster employee green behavior (EGB)? Construal level perspective. Sustainable Futures, 100425. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2024.100425

Norton, T. A., Parker, S. L., Zacher, H., & Ashkanasy, N. M. (2015). Employee Green Behavior: A Theoretical Framework, Multilevel Review, and Future Research Agenda. Organization and Environment, 28(1), 103–125. https://doi.org/10.1177/1086026615575773

Opatha, H. H. D. N. P., & Arulrajah, A. A. (2014). Green Human Resource Management: Simplified General Reflections. International Business Research, 7(8), 101–112. https://doi.org/10.5539/ibr.v7n8p101

Pandey, M., & Yadav, P. S. (2023). Understanding the role of individual concerns, attitude, and perceived value in green apparel purchase intention; the mediating effect of consumer involvement and moderating role of generation Z&Y. Cleaner and Responsible Consumption, 9(September 2022), 100120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clrc.2023.100120

Qasim, S., Ahmed, W., & Frooghi, R. (2024). Influence of employees’ beliefs and values on shaping green work culture for boosting firm’s environmental performance. International Journal of Ethics and Systems, 40(2), 320–339. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOES-06-2022-0120

Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory. Routledge Handbook of Adapted Physical Education, 55(1), 296–312. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429052675-23

Sabbir, M. M., & Taufique, K. M. R. (2022). Sustainable employee green behavior in the workplace: Integrating cognitive and non-cognitive factors in corporate environmental policy. Business Strategy and the Environment, 31(1), 110–128. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2877

Sabokro, M., Masud, M. M., & Kayedian, A. (2021). The effect of green human resources management on corporate social responsibility, green psychological climate and employees’ green behavior. Journal of Cleaner Production, 313(June), 127963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127963

Sebastian, B. (2003). How does environmental concern influence specific environmentally related behaviors? A new answer to an old question. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 23(1), 21–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-4944(02)00078-6

Shahzad, M. A., Wang, X., Li, Z., & Junaid, M. (2025). The nexus between green HRM, employee well-being, and citizenship behavior: Exploring the mediating role of employee sustainability and motivation. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 126(December 2024), 104053. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2024.104053

Shehawy, Y. M., & Ali Khan, S. M. F. (2024). Consumer readiness for green consumption: The role of green awareness as a moderator of the relationship between green attitudes and purchase intentions. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 78(February), 103739. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2024.103739

Shen, T., Rasdi, I. B., Ezani, N. E. B., & San, O. T. (2024). The mediating role of pro-environmental attitude and intention on the translation from climate change health risk perception to pro-environmental behavior. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-60418-7

Srijani, N., Taufiq, A. R., Andriani, D. N., Erlianasari, N., & Wikanso, W. (2025). Green human resource management and business performance of MSMEs in Indonesia. International Journal of Innovative Research and Scientific Studies, 8(2), 2670–2681. https://doi.org/10.53894/ijirss.v8i2.5766

Sulistiawati, L. Y. (2024). Climate change related litigation in Indonesia. Communications Earth and Environment, 5(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01684-1

Tuan, L. T. (2022). Promoting employee green behavior in the Chinese and Vietnamese hospitality contexts: The roles of green human resource management practices and responsible leadership. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 105(November 2021), 103253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2022.103253

UN. (2023). SDGs Report 2023. In United Nation (p. 80). https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2023/

Zafar, H., Malik, A., Gugnani, R., Agarwal, R., & Nijjer, S. (2023). Green thumbs at work: Boosting employee eco-participation through ecocentric leadership, green crafting, and green human resource management. Journal of Cleaner Production, 432(October), 139718. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.139718

Zhang, X., Panatik, S. A., & Zhang, N. (2024). Employee green behavior: Bibliometric-content analysis. Heliyon, 10(10), e31045. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31045

World Bank Group. (2023). Tunisia Country Climate and Development Report. CCDR Series. https://doi.org/10.1596/40658

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.