Building green intellectual capital in construction organisations for environmental sustainability : an exploratory structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis

Abstract

Green intellectual capital (GIC) is required to effectively improve environmental performance (EP) of construction organisations. However, the lack of an appropriate GIC model impedes environmental sustainability efforts. To bridge the existing practice gap, this study employed a partial least squares structural equation modelling method to develop a GIC model for the construction industry. The model confirmed a positive significant impact of green structural capital (GSC) (β = 0.260, p < 0.001), green human capital (GHC) (β = 0.283, p < 0.000) and green relational capital (GRC) (β = 0.372, p < 0.000) on EP. GSC has a strong mediating role in the relationship between GHC and EP (β = 0.795, p < 0.000) and a moderate mediating role in the relationship between GRC and EP (β = 0.399, p < 0.000). Novel insights presented revealed the complexities in organisational dynamics that are key to achieving a sustainable built environment.