Investigating environmental education of employees in the maritime industry: The role of employee green training for sustainability improvement

Employees’ education on environmental issues is important for improving corporate sustainability. Against this background, the present study intends to examine the relationship between employee green training and sustainability by drawing evidence from the Greek maritime context. It also aims to investigate whether this relationship is influenced by the implementation of a certified environmental management system. An empirical study took place in maritime companies located in Greece. The data were analyzed with the use of exploratory factor analyses and regression analyses. The findings confirm the positive impact of employee green training on all dimensions of sustainability. Also, it was found that the magnitude of this relationship is influenced by the implementation of a certified environmental management system in maritime companies. Specifically, the relationship between employee green training and three (out of four) sustainability dimensions is stronger for certified maritime companies than for the uncertified companies. The present study augments the literature that addresses the positive implications of employee green practices in various organizational contexts and therefore adds to the larger academic and professional discussion on the topic.