When Sustainability Becomes Meaningful Work: Linking Eco-Oriented Culture, Employee Innovation, and Psychological Well-Being

Abstract

Sustainability has become a strategic priority in contemporary human resource management, encouraging organizations to embed green values into workplace culture, employee behavior, and well-being practices. This study examines how green organizational culture shapes employee outcomes through intrinsic motivation, with particular attention to innovative work behavior and mental health. Drawing on sustainable human resource management and organizational behavior perspectives, this study addresses the limited understanding of whether sustainability-oriented culture can simultaneously strengthen productive and psychological outcomes. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted with 400 employees from companies that had adopted green values and sustainability-oriented practices. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling with SmartPLS 4. The results show that a green organizational culture has a positive effect on intrinsic motivation, innovative work behavior, and mental health. Intrinsic motivation also positively affects innovative work behavior and mental health and mediates the relationships between green organizational culture and both employee outcomes. These results suggest that green culture is not only relevant for environmental responsibility but also for enhancing employees' internal motivation, innovation capacity, and psychological functioning.