How does green human resource management contribute to saving the environment? Evidence of emerging market manufacturing firms

Abstract The world is facing environmental challenges, and organizations must think outside the box to address these challenges. Despite the significant contribution of green human resource management (GHRM) to pro‐environmental behaviors (PBs) and environmental performance (EP), research analyzing underlying mechanisms and boundary conditions in these relationships is lacking in the context of the emerging market. Therefore, this study investigated the mediating effect of green commitment (GC) in the GRHM and PBs nexus. Additionally, environmental knowledge (EK) was explored as a boundary condition between PBs and EP. With 383 samples from manufacturing firm employees in Pakistan, this study employed the “structural equation modeling” [SEM] technique to analyze the data. Based on social cognitive theory, the SEM outcomes revealed that GHRM and PBs have a positive influence on EP. We also found that GHRM indirectly affects PBs via GC. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that EK strengthens the relationship between PBs and EP. Overall, this research contributes to and advances the existing literature by highlighting the pivotal role of GHRM and PBs in improving EP. Additionally, the mediation of GC and moderation of EK highlights the importance of these variables in environmental management. Specifically, this study suggests that GC is an underlying mechanism that connects GHRM to PBs, and employees' EK helps improve the relationship between their PBs and EP.