Environmental Awareness in the Workplace: a Study of Employees’ Environmental Knowledge, Perception and Behaviour from an Individual and Organisational Perspective
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Environmental Awareness in the Workplace: A Study of Employees’ Environmental Knowledge, Perception and Behaviour from an Individual and Organisational Perspective Submitted by Willy Francis Chedjou Jouontso This thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Abertay Dundee for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy April, 2013 Environmental Awareness in the Workplace: A Study of Employees’ Environmental Knowledge, Perception and Behaviour from an Individual and Organisational Perspective This thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Abertay Dundee for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Submitted by Willy Francis Chedjou Jouontso June, 2013 I certify that this thesis is the true and accurate version of the thesis approved by the examiners. Signed:.............................. Date: (Director of Studies) i DECLARATION I hereby declare that this thesis is my own work and that it has not being the subject of examination which has led to the award of a degree. All additional sources of information are acknowledged by means of reference in accordance with academic convention Willy F C Jouontso Date DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated with love in memory of my dad and to my mum for their continual supports, commitments, love and sacrifices... ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My foremost Thank goes to GOD for providing me with the means (health, finance, inspiration and motivation) to complete this study The successful completion of this study would not have been possible without the dedication, the love, the help and support of certain people. First and foremost, I am indebted to both my parents. This thesis is dedicated to them. I must extend my appreciation to my brothers and sisters for their love and encouragement through the good times and especially during the bad times: Aurelie, Arnaud, Celestin, Frederic, Madeleine, Nelly, Sylvie, Serge and Zokam. I would like to express my thanks to my other family for their encouragements. In particular, I thank Marta Sito for her outstanding support. I thank Salvatore and Antonella for always trying to make me rest by inviting me to their home in Venice, Paolo and Paola for their care. A special thank to Nicolo and Thomas, Giulia and Anna for their friendship and unmatchable attitudes. My deepest gratitude goes to my supervisor Professor Mohamed Branine without who the completion of this thesis (which represents my achievement in undertaking a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme at the University of Abertay Dundee) would not have been possible. Professor Branine gave me guidance, valuable advices, encouragement, and was constantly available during this long journey I took. I also Thank Professor Nat Jack and Dr Simona Hapca for the help they provided for understanding SPSS. I must acknowledge the help and support I received from the University of Abertay colleagues (Moran and Vanessa) and staff. My appreciation goes to all my friends who have supported me throughout the course of this PhD. In particular, I thank Raoul T. Feukia, Jean M. Atangana, Lisa Prati, Paul M. Nkholongo, Richard L. Esingle, Jean M. Thomas and William Boadu for their willingness to listen to my memorable speeches. Finally, I would like to express my appreciation all my other friends in Scotland, France and Cameroon for the moral support I received from them during these years. IV ABSTRACT The study attempts to assess employees’ environmental awareness at a personal and organisational level as well as their perception of their organisations’ environmental policies in order to propose a theoretical model on environmental awareness. The research focuses on employees’ knowledge, perception and behaviour toward the environment. The respondents (composed of 43% males and 53% females) are employed in a variety of industries in the United Kingdom. The objectives of the study are: (1) to demonstrate how employees’ environmental awareness and behaviour differs according to their socio demographic characteristics (i.e. gender, age, parental status, education level, income); (2) to investigate organizations’ environmental awareness and actions, as well as factors influencing organisations’ environmental decisions; (3) to evaluate the environmental actions of organisations, and to determine if organisations’ environmental policies influence employees’ environmental knowledge and behaviour; (4) to identify ways of how to improve and promote environmental awareness in the workplace; and (5) to make recommendations for the improvement of environmental awareness and behaviour and hence environmental management in organisations. A quantitative research approach is adopted by the study and data was collected through the use of questionnaires. The analysis of 93 questionnaires (response rate was 31%) revealed that no association exists between people’s gender, age, earnings (employment), and parental status and environmental awareness. However, a correlation exists between employees’ education level and their environmental knowledge and behaviour. Furthermore, tests revealed that an association exists between employees’ parental status and their perception of their organisations’ environmental actions. There was also an association between people aged 35 or under and those aged over 35 years old and their environmental knowledge and perception of environmental issues. It is hoped that the research will contributes to knowledge by developing a theoretical model representing the development process of environmental awareness and behaviour. Such model enables employees to acquire sufficient environmental knowledge so that they can engage into pro-environmental initiatives and organisations to fully embrace environmental management policies and practices. v Table of Contents Thesis Title i Declaration ii Dedication iii Acknowledgements iv Abstract v Table of Contents 1 List of Appendices 4 List of Tables 5 List of Figures 7 Abbreviations 8 CHAPTER O N E ............................................................................................................................................ 10 1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE S T U D Y .................................................................................................... 10 1.2 RESEARCH PR O B LE M ......................................................................................................................11 1.3 AIM AND O BJECTIVES OF THE S T U D Y .....................................................................................13 1.4 RESEARCH Q U ESTIO N S.................................................................................................................. 15 1.5 THE CONDUCT OF TH E S T U D Y .................................................................................................... 16 1.6 THE SCOPE OF THE S T U D Y ........................................................................................................... 17 1.7 OUTLINE OF THE C H A P T E R S ........................................................................................................19 CHAPTER T W O ...........................................................................................................................................21 2.1 IN TRO DUCTIO N....................................................................................................................................21 2.2 ENVIRONM ENTAL M A N A G E M E N T .............................................................................................. 22 2.2.1 Emergence of Environmental Issues........................................................................... 22 2.2.2 Understanding Environmental Management..............................................................25 2.2.2.1 Promoting Environmental A wareness.....................................................................27 2.3 CONCEPTUALIZING ENVIRONM ENTAL M A N A G E M E N T ....................................................29 2.3.1 The Concept of Environmental Sustainability........................................................ 30 2.3.1.2 Approaches to Sustainable Development................................................................32 2.3.1.3 Measuring Sustainable Development....................................................................... 34 2.3.1.4 Critiques of Sustainability......................................................................................... 36 2.3.2 The Social Approach to Sustainability....................................................................... 38 2.3.2.1 Environmental Justice (EJ) Conception...................................................................39 2.3.2.1 Principles of Environmental Justice....................................................................... 40 2.3.2.1.2 Critiques of Environmental Justice...................................................................... 43 2.3.2.2 Gender and Sustainability Conception..................................................................44 2.3.2.2.1 Critiques of the Gender Conception.................................................................... 47 2.3.2.3 The Environmental Education Conception..............................................................48 2.3.2.3.1 Principles of Environmental Education...............................................................49 2.3.2.3.2 Critiques of Environmental Education.................................................................50 2.3.3 The Economic Approach to Sustainability..............................................................