The Power of Culture : How Passion, Trust, and Ethical Leadership Impact Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Outcomes

Our research explores how managers in the waste management industry view their ability to impact the achievement of corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals. The industry is heavily regulated, and external stakeholders critically evaluate organizations’ actions to handle waste streams. Organizations must also ensure profitability for their shareholders. Underscoring these targeted goals is the ever-growing focus of corporate responsibility. Our research included interviews with managers at organizations deemed “positive institutions” with ISO 14001 Environmental Management certification. Participants stated they felt empowered to impact organizational goals due to a culture of trust and responsibility and indicated that accountability and communication contribute to achieving ESG goals. Participants also revealed that internal perceptions of the value and importance of their tasks created a strong sense of responsibility, resulting in feelings of empowerment. Findings suggest organizations may benefit from building a culture of trust and empowering employees to help achieve organizational ESG goals. Communicating goals and ensuring that workers realize the value of their contributions may help organizations achieve ESG goals and build a more robust, positive work environment