The Power of Responsibility: Unlocking the Potential of CSR in Hospitality’s Fight against Food Waste

Zhiren Ma (), Talles Vianna Brugni, Heiko Hector and Bernd Sauer
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Zhiren Ma: Economics and Management School, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
Talles Vianna Brugni: Department of Accounting and Finance, FUCAPE Business School, Vitória 29075-505, Brazil
Heiko Hector: Department of Economics and Finance, Comenius University, 82005 Bratislava, Slovakia
Bernd Sauer: Department of Economics and Finance, Comenius University, 82005 Bratislava, Slovakia

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 7, 1-18

Abstract: This research focuses on the significant role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in shaping employees’ behavior towards the reduction of food waste in the hospitality industry that has been under scrutiny for its environmental impact. The study aimed at understanding how CSR, coupled with employees’ moral attitudes, admiration for their organization, and climate change awareness influences sustainable practices by realizing the complex interplay between company initiatives and personal psychology. The participants were staff members who worked in several hotels in China where there were active CSR programs. Using established scales, we collected 422 valid responses over three waves to strengthen our data collection process. Empirically, it was found that CSR directly influenced food-waste-reduction behavior. Additionally, it was discovered that this relationship was mediated by moral attitudes and employee admiration as well as moderated by awareness of climate change. The findings have substantial theoretical implications regarding the interaction between emotional and cognitive factors within the CSR framework to influence behavior among employees. This paves the way for creating well-rounded strategies that appeal to staff and encourage sustainability in the hotel business. While focused on China’s hospitality industry, this research creates room for future studies in other places around the world using various methods. The conclusions drawn underline the critical role of CSR in promoting environmental sustainability in the hospitality industry, providing a pathway for organizations to engage employees in meaningful and impactful sustainability initiatives.

Keywords: sustainable individual behavior; food wastage; emotions; cognitions; hospitality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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