Unleashing the role of greenwashing in the relationship of environmental sustainability thoughts and environmental performance: exploring the importance of generative leadership

Zahid Yousaf (), Maria Palazzo (), Magdalena Radulescu () and Asad Javed ()
Additional contact information
Zahid Yousaf: Government College of Management Sciences
Maria Palazzo: Universitas Mercatorum
Magdalena Radulescu: University of Pitesti
Asad Javed: Hazara University

Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, 2025, vol. 27, issue 9, No 36, 21175-21194

Abstract: Abstract The purpose of this paper is to explore the existing relationships among greenwashing, thoughts on environmental sustainability, environmental performance, and generative leadership. Data from 575 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from Saudi Arabia were used to test research hypotheses. By using a questionnaire, the results were derived through random sampling, indicating that the findings could be helpful for future research in this field. This study demonstrates how firms can become more efficient and improve their environmental performance through environment sustainable thoughts. However, greenwashing is expected to negatively influence the relationship of environment sustainable thoughts and environmental performance. Furthermore, the study examines the mediating roles of greenwashing and generative leadership in the relationship between environmental sustainability thoughts and environmental performance. The findings may be helpful for managers who want to run their companies sustainably since they need to understand the role of greenwashing and creative leadership. In fact, generative leadership within an organization increase the likelihood of promoting environmental performance, whereas greenwashing negatively contributes to improving environmental performance. The perspective adopted in this paper is consistent with previous theoretical studies and emphasizes attractive trends in environmental-friendly businesses. Similarly, the research offers insights into the sustainability realm, bridging various factors to provide a broader understanding and in-depth analysis of how greenwashing and generative leadership affect each dimension of sustainability and environmental performance of companies.

Keywords: Environmental sustainability thoughts; Greenwashing; Generative leadership; Environmental performance; Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10668-023-03473-w Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:endesu:v:27:y:2025:i:9:d:10.1007_s10668-023-03473-w

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/economics/journal/10668

DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-03473-w

Access Statistics for this article

Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development is currently edited by Luc Hens

More articles in Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().