ROSE (Recycling Organization through Sustainability Education): Examining the mediating effects of waste minimization behaviour in the relationship between environmental education and environmental performance at the Saudi Arabian Universities

Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih, Hassane Gharbi, Imed Zaiem, Nadir Aliane

Article ID: 6462
Vol 8, Issue 6, 2024

VIEWS - 1260 (Abstract)

Abstract


The world has never been more developed, yet humanity is on the brink of irreversible environmental loss. Despite the urgency of the situation, there is a limited body of studies addressing environmental concerns in higher education institution, particularly in developing countries, i.e., Saudi Arabia. Sustainable development is the only viable solution, albeit it requires the courage to initiate and sustain efforts dedicated to preserving the environment for the well-being of future generation. The article delves into this issue and examines the impact of environmental education program (EEP) on environmental performance (EP) via waste minimization behaviour (WMB). The research involved meticulous data collection from a sample of 597 students, representing diverse genders and academic specialties at the esteemed public university—King Faisal University (KFU) in Saudi Arabia. The study used statistical software (including SPSS and AMOS, v 25) for rigorous analysis and revealed significant findings. Firstly, the study showed a significant and positive relationship between EEP and EP. Secondly, it revealed a significant and positive association between EEP and WMB. Thirdly, the study ascertained a significant and positive association between WMB and EP. Finally, the study found that the relationship between EEP and EP remains significant even after presenting WMB as a mediator, proposing that WMB has a partial mediation role between EEP and EP. The results highlighted the significance role of EEP in stimulating WMB and achieving EP in the Saudi universities, which contributes to national initiative of green Saudia.


Keywords


environmental education; environmental performance; public universities; Saudi Arabia; KFU; waste minimization behaviour

Full Text:

PDF


References

  1. Alam, Md. S., Atif, M., Chien-Chi, C., et al. (2019). Does corporate R&D investment affect firm environmental performance? Evidence from G-6 countries. Energy Economics, 78, 401–411. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2018.11.031
  2. Aliedan, M. M., Elshaer, I. A., Alyahya, M. A., et al. (2022). Influences of University Education Support on Entrepreneurship Orientation and Entrepreneurship Intention: Application of Theory of Planned Behavior. Sustainability, 14(20), 13097. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142013097
  3. Ambe, B. A., Agbor, C. E., Amalu, M. N., et al. (2024). Electronic media learning technologies and environmental education pedagogy in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 9, 100760. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2023.100760
  4. Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(6), 1173–1182. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.51.6.1173
  5. Barney, J. (1991). Firm Resources and Sustained Competitive Advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99–120. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639101700108
  6. Boiral, O., Talbot, D., & Paillé, P. (2013). Leading by Example: A Model of Organizational Citizenship Behavior for the Environment. Business Strategy and the Environment, 24(6), 532–550. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.1835
  7. Brandl, R., Alvarado, A., & Peltomaa, A. (2019). Evaluating efficacy of environmental education programming. School Science and Mathematics, 119(2), 83–93. https://doi.org/10.1111/ssm.12319
  8. Brendel, U. M., Eberhardt, R. and Wiesmann, K. (2024). Conservation of the Golden Eagle (aquila Chrysaetos) in the European Aplasia Combination of Education, Cooperation, and Modern Techniques. Journal of Raptor Research, 36(5).
  9. Bryman, A., & Cramer, D. (2012). Quantitative data analysis with IBM SPSS (21): A guide for social scientists. Rutledge.
  10. Chung, S. S., & Leung, M. M. Y. (2007). The Value-Action Gap in Waste Recycling: The Case of Undergraduates in Hong Kong. Environmental Management, 40(4), 603–612. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-006-0363-y
  11. Christen, M., & Schmidt, S. (2011). A Formal Framework for Conceptions of Sustainability – a Theoretical Contribution to the Discourse in Sustainable Development. Sustainable Development, 20(6), 400–410. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.518
  12. Daily, B. F., Bishop, J. W., & Govindarajulu, N. (2009). A Conceptual Model for Organizational Citizenship Behavior Directed Toward the Environment. Business & Society, 48(2), 243–256. https://doi.org/10.1177/0007650308315439
  13. Dezdar, S. (2017). Green information technology adoption: influencing factors and extension of theory of planned behavior. Social Responsibility Journal, 13(2), 292–306. https://doi.org/10.1108/srj-05-2016-0064
  14. Elshaer, I. A., Sobaih, A. E. E., Aliedan, M., et al. (2021). The Effect of Green Human Resource Management on Environmental Performance in Small Tourism Enterprises: Mediating Role of Pro-Environmental Behaviors. Sustainability, 13(4), 1956. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041956
  15. Erhabor, N. I., & Don, J. U. (2016). Impact of environmental education on the knowledge and of students towards the environment. International Journal of Environmental & Science Education, 11(12), 5367–5375 https://doi.org/10.25073/0866-773X/68
  16. Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Structural Equation Models with Unobservable Variables and Measurement Error: Algebra and Statistics. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(3), 382–388. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224378101800313
  17. Fu, L., Sun, Z., Zha, L., et al. (2020). Environmental awareness and pro-environmental behavior within China’s road freight transportation industry: Moderating role of perceived policy effectiveness. Journal of Cleaner Production, 252, 119796. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119796
  18. Gharbi, H., Sobaih, A. E. E., Aliane, N., Almubarak, A. (2022). The Role of Innovation Capacities in the Relationship between Green Human Resource Management and Competitive Advantage in the Saudi Food Industry: Does Gender of Entrepreneurs Really Matter? Agriculture, 12(6), 857. https://doi.org/10.3390/ agriculture12060857
  19. Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2014). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Sage.
  20. Hecht, A. D., & Fiksel, J. (2015). Solving the problems, we face: The United States Environmental Protection Agency, sustainability, and the challenges of the twenty-first century. Sustainability: Science, Practice, & Policy, 11(1), 75–89. https://doi.org/10.1080/15487733.2015.119081
  21. Hong, P., Schmid, B., De Laender, F., et al. (2022). Biodiversity promotes ecosystem functioning despite environmental change. Ecology Letters, 25(2), 555–569. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.13936
  22. Igalens, J., & Roussel, P. (1998). Research methods in human resources management (French). Economica.
  23. Nesselroade, J. R., & Cattell, R. B. (1988). Handbook of Multivariate Experimental Psychology. Springer.
  24. Jôreskog K, Sorbom D. (1994). LISREL, A Guide of the Program and Applications. SPSS Inc.
  25. Jorgenson, S. N., Stephens, J. C., & White, B. (2019). Environmental education in transition: A critical review of recent research on climate change and energy education. The Journal of Environmental Education, 50(3), 160–171. https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964.2019.1604478
  26. Judge, W. Q., & Douglas, T. J. (1998). Performance Implications of Incorporating Natural Environmental Issues into the Strategic Planning Process: An Empirical Assessment. Journal of Management Studies, 35(2), 241–262. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6486.00092
  27. KFU. (2024). About the University. Available online: https://www.kfu.edu.sa/en/Pages/AboutKKFU.aspx (accessed 01 May 2024).
  28. Kline, P. (2015). A handbook of test construction (psychology revivals): Introduction to psychometric design. Routledge.
  29. Lober, D. J. (1996). Evaluating the environmental performance of corporations. Journal of Managerial Issues, 8(2), 184–205
  30. Matsekoleng, T. K., Mapotse, T. A., & Gumbo, M. T. (2024). The role of indigenous games in education: a technology and environmental education perspective. Diaspora, Indigenous, and Minority Education, 18(1), 68–82. https://doi.org/10.1080/15595692.2022.2160436
  31. Meadows, M. E. (2020). Geography Education for Sustainable Development. Geography and Sustainability, 1(1), 88–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geosus.2020.02.001
  32. Ojo, A. O., & Fauzi, M. A. (2020). Environmental awareness and leadership commitment as determinants of IT professionals engagement in Green IT practices for environmental performance. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 24, 298–307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2020.07.017
  33. Ojo, A. O., Tan, C. N. L., & Alias, M. (2022). Linking green HRM practices to environmental performance through pro-environment behaviour in the information technology sector. Social Responsibility Journal, 18(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1108/srj-12-2019-0403
  34. Paillé, P., Chen, Y., Boiral, O., et al. (2014). The Impact of Human Resource Management on Environmental Performance: An Employee-Level Study. Journal of Business Ethics, 121(3), 451–466. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-013-1732-0
  35. Potter, G. (2010). Environmental Education for the 21st Century: Where Do We Go Now? The Journal of Environmental Education, 41(1), 22–33. https://doi.org/10.1080/00958960903209975
  36. Ramadhan, S., Sukma, E., & Indriyani, V. (2019). Environmental education and disaster mitigation through language learning. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 314(1), 012054. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/314/1/012054
  37. Ramus, C. A. (2001). Organizational Support for Employees: Encouraging Creative Ideas for Environmental Sustainability. California Management Review, 43(3), 85–105. https://doi.org/10.2307/41166090
  38. Roy, M., & Thérin, F. (2008). Knowledge acquisition and environmental commitment in SMEs. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 15(5), 249–259. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.145
  39. Sobaih, A. E. E., Gharbi, H., Hasanein, A. M., Elnasr, A. E. A. (2022). The Mediating Effects of Green Innovation and Corporate Social Responsibility on the Link between Transformational Leadership and Performance: An Examination Using SEM Analysis. Mathematics, 10, 2685. https://doi.org/10.3390/ math10152685 https://doi.org/10.3390/math10152685
  40. Sobaih, A. E. E., Hasanein, A., Gharbi, H., & Elnasr, A. E. A. (2022). Going Green Together: Effects of Green Transformational Leadership on Employee Green Behaviour and Environmental Performance in the Saudi Food Industry. Agriculture, 12(8), 1100. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12081100
  41. Sobaih, A. E. E. (2023). Saudi Zero Food Waste Certification: A Novel Approach for Food Waste Management in Saudi Arabia. Agronomy, 13(6), 1654. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13061654
  42. Sobaih, A. E. E., & Abu Elnasr, A. E. (2023). Exploring the 5Rs Holistic Model for Zero Food Waste in Saudi Arabian Food Service Outlets. Recycling, 8(6), 91. https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling8060091
  43. Shore, L. M., Tetrick, L. E., Lynch, P., et al. (2006). Social and Economic Exchange: Construct Development and Validation. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 36(4), 837–867. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0021-9029.2006.00046.x
  44. Temminck, E., Mearns, K., & Fruhen, L. (2015). Motivating Employees towards Sustainable Behaviour. Business Strategy and the Environment, 24(6), 402–412. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.1827
  45. UNESCO. (1978). Rapport Final. In: Proceedings of the 1997 Intergovernmental Conference on Environmental Education.
  46. Wulandari, A. A., Pertuak, A. C., & Rakuasa, H. (2023). Climate Change and its Impact on Human Health: A Medical Geography Perspective. Journal of Health Science and Medical Therapy, 1(02), 80–90. https://doi.org/10.59653/jhsmt.v1i02.279
  47. Yong, J. Y., Yusliza, M.-Y., & Fawehinmi, O. O. (2020). Green human resource management. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 27(7), 2005–2027. https://doi.org/10.1108/bij-12-2018-0438


DOI: https://doi.org/10.24294/jipd.v8i6.6462

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2024 Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih, Hassane Gharbi, Imed Zaiem, Nadir Aliane

License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.