37  Green HRM

37.1 What is Green HRM?

Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) is the integration of environmental management into HRM — the use of HR policies, practices and systems to promote sustainable use of resources and the well-being of employees and society. The term was popularised by Charles Wehrmeyer’s edited volume Greening People: Human Resources and Environmental Management (1996) and Renwick, Redman and Maguire’s influential 2008/2013 papers in the International Journal of Management Reviews.

TipWorking definitions of GHRM
Author Definition
Wehrmeyer (1996) “Greening of HR practices to promote environmental sustainability.”
Renwick, Redman & Maguire (2013) “The HRM aspects of environmental management — the use of HR policies to promote the sustainable use of resources within business organisations.”
Mandip (2012) “The integration of environmental management practices into the policies and processes of HRM.”
Mathapati “Aligning HRM systems and processes with the firm’s environmental goals.”
Opatha & Arulrajah (2014) “Policies, practices and systems that make employees of the organisation ‘green’ for the benefit of the individual, society, natural environment and business.”

37.2 Why Green HRM? — The Drivers

TipSix drivers of GHRM
  • Climate change and environmental degradation.
  • Regulatory pressure — Paris Agreement (2015), Net-Zero targets.
  • Investor pressure — ESG investing, climate disclosures.
  • Customer pressure — green brands, B-Corp.
  • Employee pressure — millennials/Gen Z prefer purpose-driven employers.
  • Reputation and licence to operate.
  • Cost savings through resource efficiency.

37.3 The Triple Bottom Line

John Elkington in Cannibals with Forks: The Triple Bottom Line of 21st Century Business (1997) — businesses should be measured against three Ps: People · Planet · Profit. GHRM is HR’s contribution to the People and Planet pillars.

flowchart TB
  TBL[Triple Bottom Line<br/>Elkington 1997]
  TBL --> P1[People<br/>Social equity]
  TBL --> P2[Planet<br/>Environment]
  TBL --> P3[Profit<br/>Economic]
    classDef default fill:#003366,color:#ffffff,stroke:#ffcc00,stroke-width:3px,rx:10px,ry:10px;

37.4 Green HRM Functions — The Full Cycle

37.4.1 1. Green Job Analysis and Design

TipGreen job analysis
  • Green duties added to job descriptions — recycling, energy saving, sustainability goals.
  • Green competencies added to specifications — environmental knowledge, sustainability mindset.
  • Eco-friendly job design — flexitime, telecommuting, paperless offices.

37.4.2 2. Green Recruitment and Selection

TipGreen recruitment & selection
  • Green employer branding — promote environmental record (Patagonia, Tesla, IKEA).
  • Online/Paperless recruitment — e-applications, video interviews.
  • Green selection criteria — environmental values, awareness.
  • Behavioural interview questions on past green behaviour.
  • Attracting Gen Z + Millennials with sustainability credentials.

37.4.3 3. Green Training and Development

TipGreen training and development
  • Environmental awareness training for all.
  • Job-specific green training — energy, waste, water.
  • Green leadership development.
  • e-Learning to reduce travel and paper.
  • Sustainability literacy workshops.
  • Job rotation to environmental departments.
  • ISO 14001 certification training.

37.4.4 4. Green Performance Management

TipGreen performance management
  • Environmental KPIs in appraisal — energy saved, waste reduced.
  • Green objectives in MBO/OKR.
  • Sustainability dashboards at team/individual level.
  • 360° feedback including environmental peers.
  • Negative reinforcement — penalties for environmental non-compliance.

37.4.5 5. Green Compensation and Rewards

TipGreen pay and rewards
  • Variable pay tied to environmental targets.
  • Green bonuses for energy/waste savings.
  • Recognition awards for environmental innovation.
  • Non-monetary — paid time off for environmental volunteering.
  • Stock options linked to sustainability metrics.
  • Carbon-credit-linked incentives.

37.4.6 6. Green Employee Relations and Engagement

TipGreen engagement and relations
  • Suggestion schemes for green ideas.
  • Green committees / Eco-clubs.
  • Volunteering programmes (CSR / green).
  • Communication — green newsletters, sustainability reports.
  • Carpooling, cycle-to-work, EV incentives.
  • Green grievance redressal — channel for environmental concerns.

37.4.7 7. Green Exit Management

TipGreen exit and offboarding
  • Paperless exit — digital clearance.
  • Exit interview on environmental issues.
  • Asset recycling — return of company laptops, IT equipment.

37.5 AMO Theory Applied to GHRM

Appelbaum-Bailey-Berg-Kalleberg (2000) — the AMO theory of HR performance: employees perform when they have Ability + Motivation + Opportunity. Renwick-Redman-Maguire (2013) mapped GHRM to AMO:

TipGHRM mapped to AMO
AMO Green HR Practice
Ability Green recruitment + Green training
Motivation Green performance management + Green compensation
Opportunity Green involvement + Green organisational culture

37.6 ISO 14001 — Environmental Management System

ISO 14001 (1996, revised 2015) is the international standard for Environmental Management Systems (EMS). Certified firms must:

TipISO 14001 — key elements
  • Environmental policy stated and communicated.
  • Planning — aspects, legal requirements, objectives, targets.
  • Implementation — resources, training, communication, documentation.
  • Checking — monitoring, audits, corrective action.
  • Management review — periodic top-management review.
  • Continual improvement — PDCA cycle (Plan-Do-Check-Act).

37.7 Green Office Practices

TipCommon green office practices
  • Paperless office — digital documents, e-signatures.
  • Recycling — paper, plastic, e-waste.
  • Energy efficiency — LED, smart HVAC, motion sensors.
  • Renewable energy — solar panels on campus.
  • Water conservation.
  • Green commuting — carpool, EV charging, cycle stands.
  • Green procurement — eco-friendly suppliers.
  • Reduce-Reuse-Recycle (3 Rs).
  • Telecommuting / Hybrid work to reduce commute.
  • LEED-certified buildings.
NoteLEED Certification

LEED — Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design — established by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) in 1998. Four certification levels — Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum. India has its parallel GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) by TERI-MNRE (2007) and IGBC (Indian Green Building Council, CII) ratings.

37.8 Sustainability Reporting Frameworks

TipMajor sustainability reporting frameworks
Framework Year Originator
GRI — Global Reporting Initiative 1997 CERES + UNEP
Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) 2000 Paul Dickinson
SASB — Sustainability Accounting Standards Board 2011 Jean Rogers
TCFD — Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures 2017 FSB (Mark Carney)
ISSB — International Sustainability Standards Board (IFRS) 2021 IFRS Foundation
BRSR — Business Responsibility & Sustainability Report (India) 2021 SEBI (mandatory for top 1000 listed companies)
NoteBRSR in India

BRSR — Business Responsibility & Sustainability Report — SEBI mandated for the top 1,000 listed companies by market cap from FY 2022-23. Replaced the earlier BRR. Aligned with India’s 9 National Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct (NGRBC).

37.9 Global Sustainability Milestones

TipGlobal environment + business milestones
Year Milestone
1972 UN Stockholm Conference — first global environment conference; UNEP founded
1987 Brundtland Report — “Our Common Future”; defined sustainable development
1992 UN Rio Earth Summit — Agenda 21; UNFCCC
1997 Kyoto Protocol — first binding emissions cuts; Triple Bottom Line — Elkington; GRI founded
2000 UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
2000 UN Global Compact — 10 principles
2015 Paris Agreement — limit warming to 1.5-2 °C; UN Sustainable Development Goals (17 SDGs)
2019 EU Green Deal — net-zero by 2050
2021 COP26 Glasgow — coal phase-down
2022 India’s Panchamrit — net-zero by 2070 (announced COP26, 2021)
2023 COP28 Dubai — “transition away from fossil fuels”

37.10 Brundtland Definition of Sustainable Development

Gro Harlem Brundtland’s Our Common Future (1987) — the WCED report — defined sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

37.11 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The UN’s 17 SDGs (2015-2030) are the modern blueprint. HR-relevant SDGs:

TipHR-relevant SDGs
  • SDG 5 — Gender Equality.
  • SDG 8 — Decent Work and Economic Growth.
  • SDG 10 — Reduced Inequalities.
  • SDG 12 — Responsible Consumption and Production.
  • SDG 13 — Climate Action.
  • SDG 17 — Partnerships.
  • SDG 4 — Quality Education.
  • SDG 3 — Good Health and Well-being.

37.12 Sustainable HRM — Beyond Green

Sustainable HRM extends GHRM to all three TBL pillars. Ehnert (2009) defined sustainable HRM as “the adoption of HRM strategies and practices that enable the achievement of financial, social and ecological goals, with an impact inside and outside the organisation, over a long-term horizon”.

TipThree streams of sustainable HRM
  • Socially Responsible HRM — ethics, fairness, DEI.
  • Green HRM — ecological focus.
  • Triple-Bottom-Line HRM — integrates all three.

37.13 Indian Initiatives

TipGreen initiatives in India
Initiative Year Focus
Environment Protection Act 1986 Umbrella environmental law (post-Bhopal)
National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) 2008 8 national missions
Companies Act 2013, Sec. 135 2013 2 % CSR (covers green) — Vodafone-Birla etc.
GRIHA / IGBC 2007 / 2001 Green building ratings
National Solar Mission 2010 Renewable energy push
BRSR 2021 Sustainability reporting for top 1,000 companies
LiFE Mission (Lifestyle for Environment) 2022 PM Modi at COP26; UN-led
Mission Net Zero by 2070 COP26 2021 India’s Panchamrit — five-fold target
Green Hydrogen Mission 2023 5 MMT/yr by 2030
SEBI ESG Ratings 2023 Regulating ESG rating providers

37.15 Practice Questions

Q 01 Wehrmeyer Easy

The seminal volume *Greening People — Human Resources and Environmental Management* (1996) was edited by:

  • ARenwick
  • BCharles Wehrmeyer
  • CJohn Elkington
  • DMandip
View solution
Correct Option: B
Charles Wehrmeyer — 1996 volume that popularised the term GHRM.
Q 02 Triple Bottom Line Medium

The "Triple Bottom Line" — People, Planet, Profit — was coined in 1994/1997 by:

  • AJohn Elkington
  • BMichael Porter
  • CGro Brundtland
  • DMark Carney
View solution
Correct Option: A
John Elkington — coined 1994 (*California Management Review*); book 1997 (*Cannibals with Forks*).
Q 03 Brundtland Medium

"Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations" — defined sustainable development. This is from:

  • AStockholm Declaration 1972
  • BBrundtland Report 1987
  • CRio Earth Summit 1992
  • DKyoto Protocol 1997
View solution
Correct Option: B
Brundtland Report 1987 — *Our Common Future*.
Q 04 ISO 14001 Medium

ISO 14001 is the international standard for:

  • AQuality Management Systems
  • BInformation Security
  • CEnvironmental Management Systems
  • DOccupational Safety
View solution
Correct Option: C
Environmental Management Systems (EMS). First 1996; revised 2015.
Q 05 SDGs Easy

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) number:

  • A8
  • B10
  • C17
  • D20
View solution
Correct Option: C
17 SDGs, agreed 2015, target 2030. MDGs (2000) had 8 goals.
Q 06 Renwick Medium

The influential GHRM review applying the AMO framework to green HR practices was by:

  • ARenwick, Redman & Maguire (2013)
  • BWehrmeyer (1996)
  • CMandip (2012)
  • DOpatha (2014)
View solution
Correct Option: A
Renwick, Redman & Maguire, *IJMR* (2013).
Q 07 GRI Medium

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) was founded in:

  • A1992
  • B1997
  • C2000
  • D2015
View solution
Correct Option: B
GRI — 1997; founded by CERES + UNEP.
Q 08 Paris Agreement Easy

The Paris Agreement on climate change targets warming below:

  • A1.0 °C
  • B1.5-2.0 °C
  • C3.0 °C
  • D4.0 °C
View solution
Correct Option: B
Paris (2015): well below 2 °C, ideally 1.5 °C.
Q 09 India Net-Zero Medium

India's net-zero target year, announced at COP26, is:

  • A2050
  • B2060
  • C2070
  • D2100
View solution
Correct Option: C
2070. *Panchamrit* — five-fold target. EU is 2050; China 2060.
Q 10 BRSR Medium

India's BRSR sustainability disclosure is mandatory for:

  • AAll listed companies
  • BTop 1000 listed companies by market cap
  • CPublic-sector firms only
  • DMNCs only
View solution
Correct Option: B
SEBI mandated BRSR for the top 1,000 listed companies by market cap from FY 2022-23.
Q 11 AMO Hard

The AMO theory of HRM performance stands for:

  • AAbility + Motivation + Opportunity
  • BAwareness + Mindset + Outcome
  • CAudit + Measure + Operate
  • DAttitude + Motivation + Outcome
View solution
Correct Option: A
Ability + Motivation + Opportunity — Appelbaum et al. (2000).
Q 12 LEED Medium

LEED certification for green buildings is administered by:

  • AUSGBC
  • BUNEP
  • CISO
  • DCII
View solution
Correct Option: A
US Green Building Council (1998). India has GRIHA (TERI-MNRE) and IGBC (CII).
Q 13 GRIHA Hard

India's GRIHA green-building rating is developed by:

  • ATERI and MNRE
  • BCII and IGBC
  • CCPCB
  • DFICCI
View solution
Correct Option: A
GRIHA — Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment; TERI + MNRE (2007).
Q 14 UNGC Hard

The UN Global Compact, launched in 2000, has how many principles?

  • A5
  • B8
  • C10
  • D17
View solution
Correct Option: C
10 principles covering human rights, labour, environment, anti-corruption.
Q 15 Stockholm Hard

The first UN Conference on the Human Environment was held in 1972 at:

  • AStockholm
  • BRio
  • CKyoto
  • DGeneva
View solution
Correct Option: A
Stockholm 1972 — UNEP founded as a result.
Q 16 Ehnert Hard

"Sustainable HRM" — integrating financial, social and ecological goals — is most associated with:

  • AIna Ehnert (2009)
  • BCharles Wehrmeyer
  • CDouglas Renwick
  • DJohn Elkington
View solution
Correct Option: A
Ina Ehnert (2009) — sustainable HRM textbook.
Q 17 Sec 135 Medium

India's Companies Act 2013, Section 135 mandates CSR spending of:

  • A1 % of net profit
  • B2 % of net profit
  • C5 % of revenue
  • D10 % of profit
View solution
Correct Option: B
2 % of three-year average net profit on CSR — including green/environmental projects.
Q 18 LiFE Hard

India's "LiFE Mission" stands for:

  • ALifestyle for Environment
  • BLife Insurance for Employees
  • CLow-emission Industry Framework Effort
  • DLocal Inclusion of Forest Ecosystems
View solution
Correct Option: A
Lifestyle for Environment — launched at COP26 by PM Modi.
Q 19 TCFD Hard

The TCFD framework — Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures — was established by the Financial Stability Board under:

  • AMark Carney
  • BBen Bernanke
  • CChristine Lagarde
  • DJanet Yellen
View solution
Correct Option: A
Mark Carney — Bank of England Governor, FSB Chair; TCFD 2017.
Q 20 Match concepts Hard

Match the concept with its author/origin:

(i) Greening People (a) Renwick et al.
(ii) Triple Bottom Line (b) Brundtland
(iii) Our Common Future (c) Wehrmeyer
(iv) GHRM-AMO map (d) Elkington
  • A(i)-(c), (ii)-(d), (iii)-(b), (iv)-(a)
  • B(i)-(a), (ii)-(b), (iii)-(c), (iv)-(d)
  • C(i)-(b), (ii)-(c), (iii)-(d), (iv)-(a)
  • D(i)-(d), (ii)-(a), (iii)-(c), (iv)-(b)
View solution
Correct Option: A
Greening People — Wehrmeyer; TBL — Elkington; Our Common Future — Brundtland; GHRM-AMO — Renwick et al.

37.15.1 Advanced Format Questions

AR 1Assertion-ReasonHard

A: Green HRM integrates environmental management into HR.
R: Renwick et al. (2013) formalised the AMO framework for GHRM.

  • ABoth true; R explains A
  • BBoth true; R does not explain A
  • CA true, R false
  • DA false, R true
View solution
Correct Option: B
S 1Statement-basedMedium

Green-HR practices: (i) Green recruitment. (ii) Green training. (iii) Green appraisal. (iv) Green rewards.

  • AAll four
  • B(i) and (ii) only
  • C(iii) and (iv) only
  • D(i), (ii), (iii) only
View solution
Correct Option: A
S 2Statement-basedHard

Triple-bottom-line (Elkington 1994): (i) Profit. (ii) People. (iii) Planet. (iv) Purpose.

  • A(i), (ii), (iii) only
  • BAll four
  • C(i) only
  • D(ii) and (iv) only
View solution
Correct Option: A

37.16 Quick Recall

ImportantQuick recall
  • GHRM origin: Wehrmeyer (1996) Greening People; Renwick-Redman-Maguire (2013) IJMR review.
  • Definitions: Wehrmeyer · Renwick · Mandip · Mathapati · Opatha-Arulrajah (2014).
  • Drivers: climate · regulatory · investor (ESG) · customer · employee · reputation · cost.
  • Triple Bottom Line — Elkington (1994/1997): People · Planet · Profit.
  • Sustainable Development — Brundtland 1987 definition; Our Common Future / WCED.
  • GHRM Functions: Green Job Analysis · Recruitment · Training · Performance · Compensation · ER/Engagement · Exit.
  • AMO theory (Appelbaum 2000) mapped to GHRM by Renwick et al. (2013): Ability (recruit/train) · Motivation (PM/comp) · Opportunity (involvement/culture).
  • ISO 14001 (1996/2015) — EMS; PDCA cycle.
  • Green office: paperless · 3Rs · LED · solar · green commuting · LEED.
  • LEED — USGBC (1998) — Certified/Silver/Gold/Platinum. India: GRIHA (TERI-MNRE 2007) · IGBC (CII).
  • Reporting frameworks: GRI (1997) · CDP (2000) · SASB (2011) · TCFD (2017, Mark Carney) · ISSB (2021) · India BRSR (SEBI 2021 — top 1000 listed).
  • Global milestones: Stockholm 1972 · Brundtland 1987 · Rio 1992 · Kyoto 1997 · MDGs 2000 · UN Global Compact 2000 · Paris 2015 (1.5-2 °C) · SDGs (17, 2015-2030) · EU Green Deal 2050 · India Net-Zero 2070 (Panchamrit).
  • Sustainable HRM (Ehnert 2009) — extends GHRM to all three TBL pillars.
  • India initiatives: Environment Protection Act 1986 · NAPCC 2008 · Companies Act 2013 Sec 135 (2 % CSR) · GRIHA/IGBC · National Solar Mission 2010 · BRSR 2021 · LiFE Mission 2022 · Mission Net Zero 2070 · Green Hydrogen Mission 2023 · SEBI ESG Ratings 2023.
  • Modern trends: ESG-linked exec comp · climate clawback · net-zero HR roadmaps · carbon literacy · just transition · green skills frameworks · internal carbon pricing · ecological well-being · climate-aligned employer brand.