Institutional pressure and business greening: mediation role of green training

Purpose This empirical study verified the positive effects of three institutional pressure types – coercive, normative and mimetic pressure – on business greening mediated by green training. Design/methodology/approach This study collected data by conducting a questionnaire survey. A total of 177 valid questionnaires were collected and analyzed in Taiwanese companies. Structural equation modeling was performed using AMOS 20 software to verify the research framework and proposed hypotheses. Findings These findings indicated that coercive and normative pressure positively affected green training. There was no positive effect between mimetic pressure and green training. Green training was positively associated with business greening. Moreover, coercive and normative pressure had no positive effects on business greening. Mimetic pressure had a positive effect on business greening. Additionally, green training fully mediated the relationship between coercive pressure and business greening. Practical implications Enhancing green training in Taiwan’s manufacturing sector is critical. The present empirical results revealed that the degree of green training in nonmanufacturing companies considerably exceeded that in manufacturing companies. Additionally, companies should invest in sustainable development projects as soon as possible. The results indicated that companies that had engaged in green projects for more than 10 years had higher levels of green training and business greening than those that had engaged in such projects for less than 10 years. Originality/value This study examined the link between institutional pressure and green training and verified the mediating effect of green training on the association between coercive pressure and business greening, thereby providing valuable insights for Taiwanese companies.