Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Green Human Resource Management and Circular Economy

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Green Circular Economy

Part of the book series: Circular Economy and Sustainability ((CES))

  • 205 Accesses

Abstract

The term “green human resources management” refers to the application of human resources management techniques to support environmentally sound behaviour and heighten employee dedication to environmental sustainability. The circular economy, green human resource management, and the push for “zero waste” have all received a lot of attention in the previous 10 years as major approaches to addressing environmental challenges. Furthermore, without being impacted by outside variables like market demand, competitor commitment, or technical support for circularity, green human resource management helps the move to a circular economy. Business is crucial to this change, and an increasing number of organizations have made sustainability commitments that include waste reduction goals. The various green human resource management techniques, including green hiring, green training and engagement, and green performance management and rewarding, all have a unique impact on an organization’s success. Tools for sustainable consumption and production have been cited as both supporters of circularity and the accomplishment of sustainable development objectives. The highlighted practices included green employee empowerment and involvement, green incentive and compensation, green performance management and appraisal, green training and development, and green management of organizational culture. However, little research has been done on how green human resource management might aid in the shift to a more circular economy. Therefore, research is required to evaluate how green human resource management affects the circular economy, economic strength, and environmental reputation of a business.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Ahmad S (2015) Green human resource management: policies and practices. Cogent Bus Manag 2(1):1030817

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • AlGhazali BM, Afsar B (2021) Retracted: green human resource management and employees’ green creativity: the roles of green behavioral intention and individual green values. Corp Soc Responsib Environ Manag 28(1):536–536

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Shami S, Rashid N (2022) A holistic model of dynamic capabilities and environment management system towards eco-product innovation and sustainability in automobile firms. J Bus Ind Mark37(2):402–416

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Swidi AK, Gelaidan HM, Saleh RM (2021) The joint impact of green human resource management, leadership and organizational culture on employees’ green behaviour and organisational environmental performance. J Clean Prod 316:128112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andersen MS (2007) An introductory note on the environmental economics of the circular economy. Sustain Sci 2(1):133–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Asiaei K, Jusoh R, Barani O, Asiaei A (2022) How does green intellectual capital boost performance? The mediating role of environmental performance measurement systems. Bus Strateg Environ 31(4):1587–1606

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Auktor GV (2020) Green industrial skills for a sustainable future. United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Vienna

    Google Scholar 

  • Aust I, Matthews B, Muller-Camen M (2020) Common good HRM: a paradigm shift in sustainable HRM? Hum Resour Manag Rev 30(3):100705

    Google Scholar 

  • Banerjee A, Duflo E (2013) Poor economics. A radical rethinking of the way to fight global poverty

    Google Scholar 

  • Bangwal D, Tiwari P (2015) Green HRM–a way to greening the environment. IOSR J Bus Manag 17(12):45–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Bangwal D, Tiwari P, Chamola P (2017) Green HRM, work-life and environment performance. Int J Environ Workplace Employment 4(3):244–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bateh J, Horner DH Jr, Broadbent A, Fish D (2014) Towards a theoretical integration of sustainability: a literature review and suggested way forward. J Sustain Manage 2(1):35–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Bebbington J (2001) Sustainable development: a review of the international development, business and accounting literature. In: Accounting forum, vol. 25, no. 2. Taylor & Francis, pp 128–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Bocken NM, De Pauw I, Bakker C, Van Der Grinten B (2016) Product design and business model strategies for a circular economy. J Ind Prod Eng 33(5):308–320

    Google Scholar 

  • Bombiak E, Marciniuk-Kluska A (2018) Green human resource management as a tool for the sustainable development of enterprises: Polish young company experience. Sustainability 10(6):1739

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bonviu F (2014) The European economy: from a linear to a circular economy. Rom J Eur Aff 14:78

    Google Scholar 

  • Boulding K (1966) The economics of the coming spaceship earth. In: Jarrett H (ed) Environmental quality in a growing economy. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore

    Google Scholar 

  • Callenbach E, Capra F, Goldman L, Lutz R, Lutz L, Marburg S (1993) EcoManagement: the Elmwood guide to ecological auditing and sustainable business. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Camilleri MA (2017) Corporate sustainability and responsibility: creating value for business, society and the environment. Asian J Sustain Soc Responsib 2(1):59–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Castillo AC, Angelis-Dimakis A (2019) Analysis and recommendations for European carbon dioxide utilization policies. J Environ Manag 247:439–448

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cherian J, Jacob J (2012a) A study of green HR practices and its effective implementation in the organization: a review. Int J Bus Manag 7:25–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cherian J, Jacob J (2012b) A study of green HR practices and its effective implementation in the organization: a review. Int J Bus Manag 7(21):25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christmann P, Taylor G (2002) Globalization and the environment: strategies for international voluntary environmental initiatives. Acad Manag Perspect 16(3):121–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cicconi P (2020) Eco-design and eco-materials: an interactive and collaborative approach. Sustain Mater Technol 23:e00135

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clark R, Reed J, Sunderland T (2018) Bridging funding gaps for climate and sustainable development: pitfalls, progress and potential of private finance. Land Use Policy 71:335–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collier J, Esteban R (2007) Corporate social responsibility and employee commitment. Bus Ethics Eur Rev 16(1):19–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daily BF, Huang SC (2001) Achieving sustainability through attention to human resource factors in environmental management. Int J Oper Prod Manag 21(12):1539–1552

    Google Scholar 

  • Deepika R, Karpagam V (2016) A study on green HRM practices in an organization. Int J Appl Res 2(8):426–429

    Google Scholar 

  • Dumont J, Shen J, Deng X (2017) Effects of green HRM practices on employee workplace green behavior: the role of psychological green climate and employee green values. Hum Resour Manag 56(4):613–627

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dupont C, Ferauge P, Giuliano R (2013) The impact of corporate social responsibility on human resource management: GDF SUEZ’s case. Int Bus Res 6(12):145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elkington J (2006) Governance for sustainability. Corp Gov 14(6):522–529

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farooq R, Zhang Z, Talwar S, Dhir A (2022) Do green human resource management and self-efficacy facilitate green creativity? A study of luxury hotels and resorts. J Sust Tour 30(4):824–845

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher C, Vallaster C (2010) Connective branding: building brand equity in a demanding world. Wiley, Chichester

    Google Scholar 

  • Florida R, Davison D (2001) Gaining from green management: environmental management systems inside and outside the factory. Calif Manag Rev 43:64–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forman M, Jorgensen MSG (2001) The social shaping of the participation of employees in environmental work within enterprises-experiences from a Danish context. Tech Anal Strat Manag 13(1):71–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geissdoerfer M, Savaget P, Bocken NM, Hultink EJ (2017) The circular economy–a new sustainability paradigm? J Clean Prod 143:757–768

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geng Y, Doberstein B (2008) Developing the circular economy in China: challenges and opportunities for achieving ‘leapfrog development’. Int J Sustain Dev World Ecol 15(3):231–239

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghisellini P, Cialani C, Ulgiati S (2016) A review on circular economy: the expected transition to a balanced interplay of environmental and economic systems. J Clean Prod 114:11–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gottwald FT (2012) Toward sustainable agriculture and food production: an ethically sound vision for the future. In: Climate change and sustainable development. Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen, pp 307–312

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Gubeladze D, Pavliashvili S (2020) Linear economy and circular economy-current state assessment and future vision. Int J Innov Technol Econ 5:32

    Google Scholar 

  • Haden SSP, Oyler JD, Humphreys JH (2009) Historical, practical, and theoretical perspectives on green management: an exploratory analysis, vol 47. Manag Decis, p 1041

    Google Scholar 

  • Hao S, Kuah AT, Rudd CD, Wong KH, Lai NYG, Mao J, Liu X (2020) A circular economy approach to green energy: wind turbine, waste, and material recovery. Sci Total Environ 702:135054

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heesbeen C, Prieto A (2020) Archetypical CBMs in construction and a translation to industrialized manufacture. Sustainability 12(4):1572

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Homrich AS, Galvao G, Abadia LG, Carvalho MM (2018) The circular economy umbrella: trends and gaps on integrating pathways. J Clean Prod 175:525–543

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horbach J, Rennings K, Sommerfeld K (2015). Circular economy and employment. In: 3rd IZA workshop: labor market effects of environmental policies, pp 1–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Ishaq MI, Di Maria E (2020) Sustainability countenance in brand equity: a critical review and future research directions. J Brand Manag 27(1):15–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jabbar MH, Abid M (2014) GHRM: motivating employees towards organizational environmental performance. MAGNT Res Rep 2(4):267–278

    Google Scholar 

  • Jabbour CJC, Sarkis J, de Sousa Jabbour ABL, Renwick DWS, Singh SK, Grebinevych O et al (2019) Who is in charge? A review and a research agenda on the ‘human side’ of the circular economy. J Clean Prod 222:793–801

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson T, Victor P (2011) Productivity and work in the ‘green economy’: some theoretical reflections and empirical tests. Environ Innov Soc Trans 1(1):101–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jayaram J, Avittathur B (2015) Green supply chains: a perspective from an emerging economy. Int J Prod Econ 164:234–244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jeyanthan G, Ilankumaran G (2019) Circular economy–key for the change of natural resource from scarce to abundance. Int J Recent Technol Eng 8:666

    Google Scholar 

  • Joshi G, Dhar RL (2020) Green training in enhancing green creativity via green dynamic capabilities in the Indian handicraft sector: the moderating effect of resource commitment. J Clean Prod 267:121948

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jyoti K (2019) Green HRM–people management commitment to environmental sustainability. In: Proceedings of 10th international conference on digital strategies for organizational success

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim YJ, Kim WG, Choi HM, Phetvaroon K (2019) The effect of green human resource management on hotel employees’ eco-friendly behavior and environmental performance. Int J Hosp Manag 76:83–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kothiswari SL (2018) Analysing the benefits of green human resources management in organization. Int Res J Manag Sci Technol 9(1):244–225

    Google Scholar 

  • Kramar R (2014) Beyond strategic human resource management: is sustainable human resource management the next approach? Int J Hum Resour Manag 25(8):1069–1089

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Labella-Fernández A (2021) Archetypes of green-growth strategies and the role of green human resource management in their implementation. Sustainability 13(2):836

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lannelongue G, Gonzalez-Benito O, Gonzalez-Benito J (2014) Environmental motivations: the pathway to complete environmental management. J Bus Ethics 124(1):135–147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larrain M, Van Passel S, Thomassen G, Kresovic U, Alderweireldt N, Moerman E, Billen P (2020) Economic performance of pyrolysis of mixed plastic waste: open-loop versus closed-loop recycling. J Clean Prod 270:122442

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lok SYP, Chin TL (2019) Linking green HRM practices and employee sustainability engagement. Glob Bus Manag Res 11(2):151–156

    Google Scholar 

  • MacArthur E (2013) Towards the circular economy. J Ind Ecol 2(1):23–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Mandip G (2012) Green hrm: people management commitment to environmental sustainability. Res J Recent Sci 1:244–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Marrucci L, Daddi T, Iraldo F (2021) The contribution of green human resource management to the circular economy and performance of environmental certified organization. J Clean Prod 319:128859

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mathapati CM (2013) Green HRM: a strategic facet. Tactful Manag Res J 2(2):1–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Milliman J, Clair J (1996) Best environmental HRM practices in the US. In: Wehrmeyer W (ed) Greening people, human resources and environmental management. Greenleaf Publishing, Sheffield

    Google Scholar 

  • Mishra P (2017) Green human resource management: a framework for sustainable organizational development in an emerging economy. Int J Organ Anal 25(5):762–788

    Google Scholar 

  • Mishra JL, Hopkinson PG, Tidridge G (2018) Value creation from circular economy-led closed loop supply chains: a case study of fast-moving consumer goods. Prod Plan Control 29(6):509–521

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morone P (2020) A paradigm shift in sustainability: from lines to circles. Acta Innov (36):5–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Muster V, Schrader U (2011) Green work-life balance: A new perspective for green HRM. German J Hum Resour Manag 25(2):140–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Nisar QA, Haider S, Ali F, Jamshed S, Ryu K, Gill SS (2021) Green human resource management practices and environmental performance in Malaysian green hotels: the role of green intellectual capital and pro-environmental behavior. J Clean Prod 311:127504

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Connor KE (2021) Microbiology challenges and opportunities in the circular economy. Microbiology 167(1):001026

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Donohue W, Torugsa N (2016) The moderating effect of ‘green’ HRM on the association between proactive environmental management and financial performance in small firms. Int J Hum Resour Manag 27(2):239–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ones DS, Dilchert S (2012) Environmental sustainability at work: a call to action. Ind Organ Psychol 5(4):444–466

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Opatha HHDNP, Anton Arulrajah A (2014) Green human resource management: a simplified general reflections. Int Bus Res 7(8):101–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palley TI (2012) From financial crisis to stagnation: the destruction of shared prosperity and the role of economics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Park J, Sarkis J, Wu Z (2010) Creating integrated business and environmental value within the context of China’s circular economy and ecological modernization. J Clean Prod 18(15):1494–1501

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearce DW, Turner RK (1989) Economics of natural resources and the environment. Johns Hopkins University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Peattie K, Charter M (1992) Green marketing. In: The marketing book, p 726

    Google Scholar 

  • Pinzone M, Guerci M, Lettieri E, Huisingh D (2019) Effects of ‘green’ training on pro-environmental behaviors and job satisfaction: evidence from the Italian healthcare sector. J Clean Prod 226:221–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prahalad CK (2004) The fortune at the bottom of the pyramid: eradicating poverty through profits. Wharton School Publishing, Upper Saddle River

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramus CA (2002) Encouraging innovative environmental actions: what companies and managers must do. J World Bus 37(2):151–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rana V, Jain SN (2014) Green HR practices: an empirical study of Cargill, Jalgaon. Pratibha Int J Sci Spiritual Bus Technol 3(1):14–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Rani S, Mishra K (2014) Green HRM: practices and strategic implementation in the organizations. Int J Recent Innov Trends Comput Commun 2(11):3633–3639

    Google Scholar 

  • Renwick DW, Redman T, Maguire S (2013) Green human resource management: a review and research agenda. Int J Manag Rev 15(1):1–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roscoe S, Subramanian N, Jabbour CJ, Chong T (2019) Green human resource management and the enablers of green organisational culture: enhancing a firm's environmental performance for sustainable development. Bus Strateg Environ 28(5):737–749

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rothenberg S (2003) Knowledge content and worker participation in environmental management at NUMMI. Journal of Green HRM – A way to greening the environment DOI: https://doi.org/10.9790/487X-171214553. www.iosrjournals.org 53 | Page Manag Stud 40: 1783–1802

  • Sabokro M, Masud MM, Kayedian A (2021) The effect of green human resources management on corporate social responsibility, green psychological climate and employees’ green behavior. J Clean Prod 313:127963

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saini P, Shukla KK (2016) Green recruitment: a new tool of cost cutting (conceptual study). Int J Sci Innov Res 4(1):195–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Sariatli F (2017) Linear economy versus circular economy: a comparative and analyzer study for optimization of economy for sustainability. Visegrad J Bioecon Sustain Dev 6(1):31–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma R, Gupta N (2015) Green HRM: an innovative approach to environmental sustainability. In: Proceeding of the twelfth AIMS international conference on management, pp 2–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Shrivastava P, Berger S (2010) Sustainability principles: a review and directions. Organ Manag J 7(4):246–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sillanpaa M, Ncibi C (2019) The circular economy: case studies about the transition from the linear economy. Academic Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh SK, Chen J, Del Giudice M, El-Kassar AN (2019) Environmental ethics, environmental performance, and competitive advantage: role of environmental training. Technol Forecast Soc Chang 146:203–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Söderholm P (2010) Environmental policy and household behaviour: sustainability and everyday life. Earthscan, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Sroufe R (2003) Effects of environmental management systems on environmental management practices and operations. Prod Oper Manag 12(3):416–431

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stahel WR (1982) The product life factor. In: An inquiry into the nature of sustainable societies: the role of the private sector (series: 1982 Mitchell Prize papers), NARC, pp 74–96

    Google Scholar 

  • Stahel WR, Reday G (1976) The potential for substituting manpower for energy, report to the Commission of the European Communities, Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  • Stokstad E (2005) Ecology: taking the pulse of earth’s life-support systems. Science 308:41–43

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stringer L (2010) The green workplace: sustainable strategies that benefit employees, the environment, and the bottom line. St. Martin’s Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Su B, Heshmati A, Geng Y, Yu X (2013) A review of the circular economy in China: moving from rhetoric to implementation. J Clean Prod 42:215–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suharti L, Sugiarto A (2020) A qualitative study of green HRM practices and their benefits in the organization: an Indonesian company experience. Verslas: Teorija ir praktika/Bus Theory Practice 21(1):200–211

    Google Scholar 

  • Sulich A, Sołoducho-Pelc L (2022) The circular economy and the green jobs creation. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29(10):14231–14247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tian H (2018) Establishing green finance system to support the circular economy. In: Industry 4.0: empowering ASEAN for the circular economy, p 203

    Google Scholar 

  • Ullah MM (2017) Integrating environmental sustainability into human resources management: a comprehensive review on green human resources management (green HRM) practices. Econ Manag 6(1):14–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Upadhayay S, Alqassimi O (2018) Transition from linear to circular economy. Westcliff Int J Appl Res 2(2):62–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Urbinati A, Chiaroni D, Chiesa V (2017) Towards a new taxonomy of circular economy business models. J Clean Prod 168:487–498

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uzzell D, Moser G (2009) Introduction: environmental psychology on the move. J Environ Psychol 29(3):307–308

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weber KM (2003) Transforming large socio-technical systems towards sustainability: on the role of users and future visions for the uptake of city logistics and combined heat and power generation. Innov Eur J Soc Sci Res 16(2):155–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webster K (2021) A circular economy is about the economy. Circ Econ Sustain 1(1):115–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wehrmeyer W (1996) Greening people: human resources and environmental management. Greenleaf, Sheffield

    Google Scholar 

  • Wehrmeyer W (ed) (2017) Greening people: human resources and environmental management. Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Wirtenberg J, Harmon J, Russell WG, Fairfield KD (2007) HR’s role in building a sustainable enterprise: insights from some of the world's best companies. People Strategy 30(1):10

    Google Scholar 

  • World Wide Fund for Nature (2014) Living planet report. In: McLellan R, Iyenger L, Jeffries B, Oerlemans N (eds) Species and spaces, people and places. Gland WWF, Gland

    Google Scholar 

  • Yuan Z, Bi J, Moriguichi Y (2008) The circular economy: a new development strategy in China. J Ind Ecol 10:4–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zoogah DB (2011) The dynamics of green HRM behaviors: a cognitive social information processing approach. Ger J Hum Resour Manag 25(2):117–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zu L (2019) Purpose-driven leadership for sustainable business: from the perspective of Taoism. Int J Corp Soc Responsib 4(1):1–31

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, DAV University, Jalandhar, Punjab, India

    Abhay Punia

  2. Central Public Works, New Delhi, India

    Ravindra Pratap Singh

  3. P.G Department of Zoology, Kanya Maha Vidyalaya, Jalandhar, Punjab, India

    Nalini Singh Chauhan

Authors
  1. Abhay Punia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ravindra Pratap Singh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nalini Singh Chauhan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Studies, PGDAV College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India

    Pardeep Singh

  2. Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi, India

    Anamika Yadav

  3. Department of Economics, PGDAV College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India

    Indranil Chowdhury

  4. Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Government of India, New Delhi, India

    Ravindra Pratap Singh

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Punia, A., Singh, R.P., Chauhan, N.S. (2023). Green Human Resource Management and Circular Economy. In: Singh, P., Yadav, A., Chowdhury, I., Singh, R.P. (eds) Green Circular Economy. Circular Economy and Sustainability. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-40304-0_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation