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ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Sustainability Starts at the Top: How
Green Transformational Leadership
Shapes Corporate Social Responsibility
and Environmental Performance
1
School of Management, Wenzhou Business College, Wenzhou 325035, Zhejiang, China
2
International Business School, Guangzhou City University of Technology, Guangzhou 510800, China
3
Department of Management, Faculty of Informatics and Management, University of Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove,
Czechia
Submission date: 2023-11-15
Final revision date: 2024-04-16
Acceptance date: 2024-06-12
Online publication date: 2024-10-21
Publication date: 2025-07-05
Corresponding author
Ahsan Akbar
International Business School, Guangzhou City University of Technology, Guangzhou 510800, China
International Business School, Guangzhou City University of Technology, Guangzhou 510800, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2025;34(5):5353-5368
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The study investigates the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on environmental
performance (EP) within Chinese SMEs, utilizing a resource-based view framework. Additionally, it
examines the mediating role of green transformational leadership (GTL). Data from 524 respondents
were analyzed using PLS-SEM. Results reveal significant influences of CSR dimensions (environment,
employees, customers, and community) on environmental performance, indicating that environmentally
focused CSR practices contribute to resource efficiency and ecosystem preservation. Moreover, GTL
mediates these relationships, suggesting that employees are more inclined towards pro-environmental
behaviors when their employer demonstrates a commitment to sustainability. Finally, this study provides
theoretical and practical insights into CSR, GTL, and EP in Chinese SMEs, along with identified
limitations and suggestions for future research.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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