Linking Sustainable Design and Social Sustainability Performance of Chemical Manufacturing Firms: Moderating Role of Islamic Work Ethics

Maryam Jamilah Asha’ari (), Salina Daud and Norazah Mohd Suki
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Maryam Jamilah Asha’ari: Institute of Energy Policy and Research, College of Business Management and Accounting, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan Kajang-Puchong, Kajang 43000, Selangor, Malaysia
Salina Daud: Institute of Energy Policy and Research, College of Business Management and Accounting, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan Kajang-Puchong, Kajang 43000, Selangor, Malaysia
Norazah Mohd Suki: Othman Yeop Abdullah Graduate School of Business (OYAGSB) and Institute of Sustainable, Growth and Urban Development (ISGUD), Universiti Utara Malaysia, Bukit Kayu Hitam 06010, Kedah, Malaysia

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 7, 1-21

Abstract: This study examines the impact of sustainable design on firms’ social sustainability performance, and the moderating role of Islamic work ethics in this relationship. 344 chemical manufacturing organisations in Malaysia were invited to participate in a survey. Data from 130 completed questionnaire sets were subjected to partial least square (PLS) analysis. The results demonstrated significant effect of sustainable design on social sustainability performance. It was also shown that Islamic work ethics moderate the relationship between sustainable design and social sustainability performance. Al-Quran and hadith were used to support this study to link the relationships of the variables under study, particularly in the context of chemical manufacturing organisations in Malaysia. The present study has furnished significant theoretical contributions of how the Natural-resource-based view theory and stakeholder theory could be incorporated into the present proposed framework with the inclusion of the moderating role of Islamic work ethics, and eventually enrich the findings of extant research. As for practical contributions, businesses in the chemical industry would make well-informed decisions about which eco-friendly practices, particularly sustainable design, to adopt in order to attain social sustainability performance and successfully implement Islamic work ethics. Direction for future research is also recommended.

Keywords: sustainable design; social sustainability performance; Islamic work ethics; chemical manufacturing organisation; partial least square (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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