Investigating the relationship between pro-environmental behavior and environmental performance through development and application of a model for categorizing environmental management system implementation factors

Country specificities, national cultures and socio-economic contexts have been found to influence factors influencing pro-environmental behaviour in organisations (Darnall et al., 2008). Different categorisation models have been used to describe these factors (Tomer, 1992; Powell and DiMaggio, 1991; Bansal & Howard, 1997; Jiang & Bansal, 2003; Neumayer & Perkins, 2005; Gavronski et al., 2008; Matzsuzak & Flejsman, 2008; Heras & Arana, 2010; Zorpas, 2010 Curkovic & Sroufe, 2011). Though commonalities exist between models, differences in model structure and terminology have created variations in interpretation of factors, and introduced repetition and disparity in description. The uneven distribution of studies across world regions also limits the applicability of factors. A better representation of research studies and the development of a more efficient categorisation model will lead to a clearer description of factors influencing pro-environmental behaviour.Organisations adopt pro-environmental behaviour to bring about a change (improvement) in environmental performance. However, there is little consensus about the meaning of environmental performance (Perotto et al., 2007; Casadesus et al., 2008; Comoglio & Botta, 2011), indicating that organisations may interpret it differently and use inappropriate indices for measuring performance. A lack of understanding (or variations in understanding) of the intended outcome of pro-environmental behaviour creates further difficulty in the description and interpretation of factors influencing it. Studies focusing on investigating and describing organisations’ interpretation of environmental performance are rare. There is need for a better knowledge of organisations’ interpretation of environmental performance and a determination of the indicators used to measure performance. The aim of this study is to critically evaluate factors affecting pro-environmental behaviour and to investigate environmental performance as its intended result. The study focuses on EMS implementation as a case study of pro-environmental behaviour, so factors influencing pro-environmental behaviour are referred to as environmental management system implementation factors (EMSIFs). EMSIFs were identified and analysed, using a model developed as part of this research work (the Factors Affecting Corporate Environmental Management Systems model). Questionnaire responses from 200 organisational respondents in the developing country setting of Nigeria were collated, and the FACES model was used to analyse and describe EMSIFs. In order to determine trends in organisational pro-environmental behaviour, identified EMSIFs were compared with those reported in previous studies. Results showed that EMSIFs influencing pro-environmental behaviour differed in organisations in different geographical and economic world regions.Organisational respondents’ views on environmental performance were also identified. Results revealed that organisations had differing views of environmental performance. However, these differences we found not to be reflected in the selection and use of indicators for measuring environmental performance. Further results are analysed and discussed within the thesis