Survival of the greenest: environmental sustainability and longevity of organizations

Much research has been devoted to how environmental sustainability of organizations is related to organizational reputation and financial performance, but little is known about whether and how organizational environmental sustainability relates to longevity of organizations. We quantitatively examin...

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Main Authors: Daria M. Haner, Yilei Wang, Deniz S. Ones, Stephan Dilchert, Yagizhan Yazar, Karn Kaura
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Organizational Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/forgp.2025.1521537/full
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author Daria M. Haner
Yilei Wang
Deniz S. Ones
Stephan Dilchert
Yagizhan Yazar
Karn Kaura
author_facet Daria M. Haner
Yilei Wang
Deniz S. Ones
Stephan Dilchert
Yagizhan Yazar
Karn Kaura
author_sort Daria M. Haner
collection DOAJ
description Much research has been devoted to how environmental sustainability of organizations is related to organizational reputation and financial performance, but little is known about whether and how organizational environmental sustainability relates to longevity of organizations. We quantitatively examined the relation between organizational longevity and environmental sustainability of organizations, hypothesizing a positive relationship. Using two large samples of organizations—one from the U.S., and another from multiple regions (Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and Asia, analyzed separately)—results indicate a significant, replicable positive relation between organizational longevity and environmental sustainability performance. Statistically controlling for organizational wealth and size of workforces did not appreciably diminish relations. Additionally, older organizations demonstrated better resource use and management, operational eco-efficiency, climate strategy, and environmental reporting. However, differences in innovation were less pronounced, though still favored older organizations. We discuss the implications for human resources and evolutionary theories of organizations, suggesting it is not the largest companies that endure, nor the wealthiest, but those most committed to environmental sustainability.
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series Frontiers in Organizational Psychology
spelling doaj-art-d2bf38b2893d4c35a2ab5c3de56957382025-08-20T02:02:54ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Organizational Psychology2813-771X2025-06-01310.3389/forgp.2025.15215371521537Survival of the greenest: environmental sustainability and longevity of organizationsDaria M. Haner0Yilei Wang1Deniz S. Ones2Stephan Dilchert3Yagizhan Yazar4Karn Kaura5Department of Anthropology & Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United StatesShanghai Institute of AI for Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Psychology, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, United StatesDepartment of Management, Baruch College, City University of New York, New York, NY, United StatesDepartment of Psychology, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, United StatesStanford University, Stanford, CA, United StatesMuch research has been devoted to how environmental sustainability of organizations is related to organizational reputation and financial performance, but little is known about whether and how organizational environmental sustainability relates to longevity of organizations. We quantitatively examined the relation between organizational longevity and environmental sustainability of organizations, hypothesizing a positive relationship. Using two large samples of organizations—one from the U.S., and another from multiple regions (Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and Asia, analyzed separately)—results indicate a significant, replicable positive relation between organizational longevity and environmental sustainability performance. Statistically controlling for organizational wealth and size of workforces did not appreciably diminish relations. Additionally, older organizations demonstrated better resource use and management, operational eco-efficiency, climate strategy, and environmental reporting. However, differences in innovation were less pronounced, though still favored older organizations. We discuss the implications for human resources and evolutionary theories of organizations, suggesting it is not the largest companies that endure, nor the wealthiest, but those most committed to environmental sustainability.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/forgp.2025.1521537/fullenvironmental sustainabilityESG ratingssustainable developmentgreen organizationscompany agebusiness history
spellingShingle Daria M. Haner
Yilei Wang
Deniz S. Ones
Stephan Dilchert
Yagizhan Yazar
Karn Kaura
Survival of the greenest: environmental sustainability and longevity of organizations
Frontiers in Organizational Psychology
environmental sustainability
ESG ratings
sustainable development
green organizations
company age
business history
title Survival of the greenest: environmental sustainability and longevity of organizations
title_full Survival of the greenest: environmental sustainability and longevity of organizations
title_fullStr Survival of the greenest: environmental sustainability and longevity of organizations
title_full_unstemmed Survival of the greenest: environmental sustainability and longevity of organizations
title_short Survival of the greenest: environmental sustainability and longevity of organizations
title_sort survival of the greenest environmental sustainability and longevity of organizations
topic environmental sustainability
ESG ratings
sustainable development
green organizations
company age
business history
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/forgp.2025.1521537/full
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