The role of organizational citizenship behaviour in mediating the relationship between green leadership, green human resources management and sustainable business performance

Hareendrakumar Vr, Anusha Issac and Amal Jishnu H M

Social Responsibility Journal, 2026, vol. 22, issue 6, 1381-1400

Abstract: PurposeSustainable business performance (SBP) has become a focal concern in contemporary management research, propelled by escalating environmental challenges and intensifying institutional pressures. This study aims to examine the direct and indirect influence of three critical organizational enablers − green transformational leadership (GTL), green human resource management (GHRM) and organizational citizenship behaviour towards the environment (OCBE) − on SBP.Design/methodology/approachA conceptual model incorporating these four constructs was created with sufficient theoretical support, and seven hypotheses were established for empirical validation. Data were collected from 277 employees working in sustainability-orientated organizations through a simple random sampling technique using scales adapted from previous studies and analysed using structural equation modelling.FindingsThe results provided robust support for all hypothesized relationships, confirming both the direct structural linkages and the indirect behavioural pathways that collectively enhance sustainable performance. The findings emphasize that sustainability should be pursued through a holistic approach that aligns leadership vision, human resource systems and voluntary employee engagement within a unified strategic framework.Originality/valueTheoretically, this study advances the understanding that sustainability is not merely a top-down managerial directive but an emergent organizational capability arising from the synergy between green leadership, supportive HRM practices and pro-environmental citizenship behaviour. From a practical perspective, the results suggest that policymakers and industry bodies can enhance organizational sustainability by promoting leadership development initiatives, GHRM-based training programmes and benchmarking mechanisms that institutionalize environmental stewardship across organizational structures and processes.

Keywords: Green leadership; Green human resource management; Organizational citizenship behaviour; Sustainable business performance; Environment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eme:srjpps:srj-10-2025-1087

DOI: 10.1108/SRJ-10-2025-1087

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