Impact of Green Process Innovation and Productivity on Sustainability: The Moderating Role of Environmental Awareness

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The article 'Impact of Green Process Innovation and Productivity on Sustainability: the Moderating Role of Environmental Awareness' addresses an interesting research topic, which is oriented towards the problem of analysing the impact of green process innovation and green production on the sustainability of cement and plastics production in selected countries. This is an important topic that requires scientific exploration.

The abstract broadly delineates the subject of the study and outlines the findings, indicating their practical value. The abstract should be refined - in addition to outlining the purpose of the study and the main findings, the methodology should be indicated. It is also worth highlighting the research gap, reinforcing the value of the study. 

The introduction presents the background of the research, it is worth highlighting more strongly the need for the research and the importance of the topic. It is worth highlighting the existing research gap and the importance of the paper against the background of existing research. The introduction identifies the research threads and it is also worth discussing the main steps of the research in relation to the methodology used.

Literature review conducted in a multithreaded manner, correctly. Provides a presentation of the background to the research and sets it in the light of the findings. 

Lines 214-215 need tidying up of the text (presentation of hypotheses altogether), apart from that I think that throughout the paper the figures and tables should be anchored in the text and signed, and under the figure should be completed in the text, a brief discussion and then move on.

The point 'methodology' describes the mode of data acquisition, while the mode of further processing of the data from the methods used, in relation to which further results are presented, should be described in more detail here. I believe that this point should elaborate on the assemblages adopted in relation to the methodology. In addition, it is worth pointing out here the research limitations arising from the available data and the way in which they were processed.

In the 'discussion' section, it is worth reinforcing the implications.

The summary should be elaborated - relate it to the purpose of the study, juxtapose it with the research results. Recommendation and practical usefulness of the results are indicated.

The response to the diagnosed gap is worth highlighting, and further research directions are outlined.

The literature is abundant; however, it is worth expanding it with the latest sources on the formation of sustainability-oriented business models that combine the ideas of the theses discussed. It is worth studying https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118889.

The literature record should be brought up to MDPI standards (e.g. initials of first names after the surname, date of access to the web source, remove active links). 

Numerous tables, lists and figures add value to facilitate the reception of the content.

This is an interesting article.

 

Author Response

Pont to Point Response

 

Thank you very much for your kind reply and suggestions. We believe your suggestions have increased the quality of the paper further.

 

Manuscript. Number.: sustainability-2525387

 

Title: Impact of Green Process Innovation and Productivity on Sustainability: The Moderating Role of Environmental Awareness

 

Reviewer 1

Thanks a lot for your valuable response. We have incorporated all of the suggested changes and we believe that your feedback has contributed a lot to the quality of the research work.

Thank you once again.

 

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The article 'Impact of Green Process Innovation and Productivity on Sustainability: The Moderating Role of Environmental Awareness' addresses an interesting research topic, which is oriented towards the problem of analyzing the impact of green process innovation and green production on the sustainability of cement and plastics production in selected countries. This is an important topic that requires scientific exploration.

Comment 1: The abstract broadly delineates the subject of the study and outlines the findings, indicating their practical value. The abstract should be refined - in addition to outlining the purpose of the study and the main findings, the methodology should be indicated. It is also worth highlighting the research gap, reinforcing the value of the study.

Response: Incorporated

Abstract: Sustainability is one of the fastest-growing research areas globally. Irrespective of industry and economic activity, it is the need of the day. This study examines the impact of green process innovation and green production on sustainability in Pakistan and India's cement and plastic manufacturing industries. The study also finds out the moderating role of environmental awareness, which increases the effect of green productivity and green innovation towards sustainability. This research is based quantitative approach to address the issue in question. Primary data was collected via a closed-ended questionnaire from 657 employees of Pakistan and India's plastic and manufacturing industries. The data was analyzed via partial least square structural equation modeling via SmartPLS. The findings show that green productivity and green process innovation have a significant impact on sustainability, while environmental awareness also plays a significant role in sustainable practices in the cement and plastic manufacturing industries of Pakistan and India. The results are helpful for policymakers, industries, and other governmental and non-governmental organizations to ensure sustainability through green process innovation, green productivity, and environmental awareness.

 

Comment 2: Literature review conducted in a multithreaded manner, correctly. Provides a presentation of the background to the research and sets it in the light of the findings.

Response: Incorporated

 

Comment 3: Lines 214-215 need tidying up of the text (presentation of hypotheses altogether), apart from that I think that throughout the paper the figures and tables should be anchored in the text and signed, and under the figure should be completed in the text, a brief discussion and then move on.

Response: Incorporated

Comment 4: The point 'methodology' describes the mode of data acquisition, while the mode of further processing of the data from the methods used, in relation to which further results are presented, should be described in more detail here. I believe that this point should elaborate on the assemblages adopted in relation to the methodology. In addition, it is worth pointing out here the research limitations arising from the available data and the way in which they were processed.

Response: Incorporated

3. Methodology

3.1. Philosophical Foundations

Research philosophy is the key driver for the researcher, which sets the direction for the researcher at each research stage. Common research philosophies used in the social sciences are interpretivism and positivism. Interpretivism philosophy is based on qualitative research analysis, while positivism is based on quantitative research analysis. The philosophical basis of this study is rooted in the positivism paradigm. A quantitative technique based on deductive reasoning addresses the problem in question.

 

3.2. Data Collection and Statistical Tools

Primary data was gathered from the managerial-level employees of Pakistan's and India's cement and plastic manufacturing industries. Data were collected from 657 employees from the overall population using a purposive sampling technique and a closed-ended questionnaire based on a Likert scale of 1 to 5. Where 1 denotes the least level of agreement, and 5 represents the highest level. A partial least squares technique was employed to analyze the data.

 

3.3. Measures

All the measures used for the study were adapted from prior studies to ensure their reliability and validity. Table 1 shows the data for each construct, their respective items, and source articles.

 

Comment 5: In the 'discussion' section, it is worth reinforcing the implications.

Response: Incorporated

5.2. Implications

 

5.2.1 Policy Implications

This study has the following policy implications for the policymakers to promote sustainable practices in Pakistan and India's plastic and manufacturing industries.

1. Industry must take strong actions for environmental awareness among their employees to better implement sustainable practices.
2. Government and other state environmental regulation authorities must arrange different environmental awareness for the industries to guide their employees better towards green practices, ultimately leading to sustainability.

 

5.2.2 Practical Implications

1. Environmental awareness training programs for the industry's employees should be enforced, and, in this session, they must be given awareness about the importance of care for the environment through sustainable practices in the industry.
2. Green process innovation and production should be encouraged to increase the viability and sustainability of the manufacturing and plastic industry and lessen their environmental impacts.

Comment 6: The summary should be elaborated - relate it to the purpose of the study, juxtapose it with the research results. Recommendation and practical usefulness of the results are indicated.

Response: Incorporated

5.2.2 Practical Implications

 

1. Environmental awareness training programs for the industry's employees should be enforced, and, in this session, they must be given awareness about the importance of care for the environment through sustainable practices in the industry.
2. Green process innovation and production should be encouraged to increase the viability and sustainability of the manufacturing and plastic industry and lessen their environmental impacts.

 

Comment 7: The response to the diagnosed gap is worth highlighting, and further research directions are outlined.

Response: Incorporated

5.3 Research Limitations and Future Research Direction

1. The study was conducted in Pakistan and India's cement and plastic manufacturing industries. Other countries may be considered for testing the conceptual model proposed in this study to determine its generalizability.
2. Similarly, other industries may be targeted in the future.
3. This study is quantitative, based on four variables, and may have missed some important ones. Other variables can be found and added to minimize the issue.
4. The sample size of this study was only limited to 657 respondents; further, researchers can enhance the sample size to increase the validity of the findings.
5. Environmental awareness was taken as a moderate variable for the framework of this study. Further studies can include the other two aspects of sustainability, social and economic, as a moderate variable to check their impact.

 

Comment 8: The literature is abundant; however, it is worth expanding it with the latest sources on the formation of sustainability-oriented business models that combine the ideas of the theses discussed. It is worth studying https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118889.

Response: Incorporated

GPI, GP, sustainability, and EA are all inextricably linked. GPI refers to employing green technologies, and processes in order to reduce negative environmental impacts. Organisations seek for eco-efficiency, reduced resource usage, and decreased corban emissions by applying GPI [94]. As a result, it has a direct impact on improved sustainability results. Furthermore, it may increase organisational productivity and efficiency. Companies may optimise resource utilisation, simplify operations, and minimise waste output by embracing sustainable practises and technology. The relationship between GPI and productivity enables organisations to do more with less resources, so improving both economic  and environmental sustainability [95].

The relation between GP and sustainability is also essential. Increased productivity, particularly when achieved via green process, contributes to sustainability by lowering resources consumption and waste creation. Businesses that prioritise environmental efficiency as well as sustainability in their daily activities may generate revenue while reducing their environmental impact [96].

EA is critical in fostering the adoption of GPI and GP. Individuals and organisations who are environmentally conscious become more aware of their influence on the environment. This increased awareness motivates the development of sustainable solutions, such as GPI and GP. Environmental awareness promotes an understanding of sustainability by supporting the ongoing pursuit of green practises and technology. Similarly, EA is inextricably tied to a sustainable future. Individuals and organisations that are environmentally conscious are more inclined to adopt activities that are in accordance with the aims of sustainable development [97]. These actions might include lowering carbon emissions, saving resources, promoting green power, and decreasing pollution. Environmental consciousness becomes a critical driver for environmentally friendly behaviours. The link between GPI, GP, and sustainability is also moderated by EA. GPI has an increased influence on sustainability results when there is a high level of EA [98]. Organisations and individuals that are environmentally conscious are more inclined to embrace and sustain GPI, resulting in considerable gains in sustainability outcomes. GPI, GP, EA and sustainability are all have interrelated and have mutually reinforcing relationships. GPI boosts productivity while lowering the ecological footprint, resulting in improved sustainability results. EA serves as an important moderator, boosting the positive benefits of GPI and GP on sustainability. As organisations and individuals grow more EA, they are more inclined to embrace ecologically responsible practises and innovations, encouraging a more sustainable future.

Comment 9: The literature record should be brought up to MDPI standards (e.g., initials of first names after the surname, date of access to the web source, remove active links).

Response: Incorporated

Reviewer 2 Report

The author(s) proposes a study on the moderating effect of Environmental Awareness on the construct of Sustainability and through two constructs/drivers of green innovation processes and green productivity. The theoretical framework is well structured and offers the reader a useful analysis framework to be able to interpret the subsequent data. The methodological section is well explained, as is the composition of the constructs. In the results, the various fit indices are proposed, which can be considered good (and in any case within acceptable ranges), up to the exposure of the structural model. The conclusion, however, is a weak part of the paper that can be further implemented by reflecting on the implications that this study also poses for new and future research.

 

I recommend reviewing the paper in terms of language and formatting (i.e. the error on page 13 line 472).

Author Response

 

 

Reviewer 2

 

The author(s) proposes a study on the moderating effect of Environmental Awareness on the construct of Sustainability and through two constructs/drivers of green innovation processes and green productivity. The theoretical framework is well structured and offers the reader a useful analysis framework to be able to interpret the subsequent data. The methodological section is well explained, as is the composition of the constructs. In the results, the various fit indices are proposed, which can be considered good (and in any case within acceptable ranges), up to the exposure of the structural model.

1. The conclusion, however, is a weak part of the paper that can be further implemented by reflecting on the implications that this study also poses for new and future research.

Response: Incorporated

5.2. Implications

 

5.2.1 Policy Implications

This study has the following policy implications for the policymakers to promote sustainable practices in Pakistan and India's plastic and manufacturing industries.

1. Industry must take strong actions for ENR among their employees to better implement sustainable practices.
2. Government and other state environmental regulation authorities must arrange different environmental awareness for the industries to guide their employees better towards green practices, ultimately leading to sustainability.

 

• Practical Implications

1. ENR training programs for the industry's employees should be enforced, and, in this session, they must be given awareness about the importance of care for the environment through sustainable practices in the industry.
2. GPI and production should be encouraged to increase the viability and sustainability of the manufacturing and plastic industry and lessen their environmental impacts.

Reviewer 3 Report

Dear authors,

Thank you for sending your paper to the journal. The paper is interesting; further, in order to the improvement of the paper the following issues should be fixed in the next draft:

1-    Why the paper only concentrated only in two industries; whereas, even in other industries we have consider the current issues? Another question is why the paper focused in India and Pakistan which the two mentioned countries are not similar from economic view point.

2-    You mentioned three research questions and four hypotheses. You need to align the number of question with the hypotheses. In the other words, you need to add one extra question in the research question.

3-      The theoretical issues and literature sections should be improved by the most recent studies; some are here:

-Evaluating green productivity of the regional transport sector in South Asia considering environmental and safety constraints: the evolution from static and dynamic perspectives

     -Knowledge sharing barriers and knowledge sharing facilitators in innovation

    -The Effect of CO2 Gas Emissions on the Market Value, Price and Shares Returns

     -Sustainability Reporting and Corporate Reputation: The Moderating Effect of CEO Opportunistic      Behavior

-Sustainability performance of global chemical industry based on green total factor productivity

4-The number of managerial and industrial recommendations should be equal with the number of the hypotheses.

Author Response

Reviewer 3

 

Thanks a lot for your valuable response. We have incorporated all of the suggested changes and we believe that your feedback has contributed a lot to the quality of the research work.

Thank you once again.

 

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear authors,

Thank you for sending your paper to the journal. The paper is interesting; further, in order to the improvement of the paper the following issues should be fixed in the next draft:

 

Comment 1: Why the paper only concentrated only in two industries, whereas, even in other industries we have consider the current issues? Another question is why the paper focused on India and Pakistan which the two mentioned countries are not similar from economic viewpoint.

Response:

Regarding the concentration on two industries: We agree that considering current issues across various industries would provide a more comprehensive analysis. The decision to focus on two industries was primarily driven by the need to maintain depth and specificity in our research. By concentrating on a limited number of industries, we aimed to provide a more in-depth examination of the issues and challenges faced by those particular sectors. However, we acknowledge the importance of considering other industries, and in future research, we will strive to broaden our scope to encompass a more diverse range of sectors.

Concerning the focus on India and Pakistan: We agree that these two countries may have significant differences from an economic viewpoint. The selection of India and Pakistan as the primary focus of our study was motivated by their geopolitical significance and the potential for cross-border impacts on the chosen industries. Our intention was to investigate the dynamics of these particular countries and how their economic differences and similarities influence the industries under consideration. Nevertheless, we recognize the importance of acknowledging such differences explicitly, and in future work, we will make sure to address them more explicitly in the context of our research.

 

Comment 2: You mentioned three research questions and four hypotheses. You need to align the number of questions with the hypotheses. In the other words, you need to add one extra question in the research question.

Response: Incorporated

1. Does green process innovation lead to sustainability?
2. Does green productivity lead to sustainability?
3. Is there any mediating role of environmental awareness between GPI and sustainability?
4. Is there any mediating role of environmental awareness between GP and sustainability?

 

Comment 3: The theoretical issues and literature sections should be improved by the most recent studies; some are here:

Response: Incorporated

GPI, GP, sustainability, and EA are all inextricably linked. GPI refers to employing green technologies, and processes in order to reduce negative environmental impacts. Organisations seek for eco-efficiency, reduced resource usage, and decreased corban emissions by applying GPI [94]. As a result, it has a direct impact on improved sustainability results. Furthermore, it may increase organisational productivity and efficiency. Companies may optimise resource utilisation, simplify operations, and minimise waste output by embracing sustainable practises and technology. The relationship between GPI and productivity enables organisations to do more with less resources, so improving both economic  and environmental sustainability [95].

The relation between GP and sustainability is also essential. Increased productivity, particularly when achieved via green process, contributes to sustainability by lowering resources consumption and waste creation. Businesses that prioritise environmental efficiency as well as sustainability in their daily activities may generate revenue while reducing their environmental impact [96].

EA is critical in fostering the adoption of GPI and GP. Individuals and organisations who are environmentally conscious become more aware of their influence on the environment. This increased awareness motivates the development of sustainable solutions, such as GPI and GP. Environmental awareness promotes an understanding of sustainability by supporting the ongoing pursuit of green practises and technology. Similarly, EA is inextricably tied to a sustainable future. Individuals and organisations that are environmentally conscious are more inclined to adopt activities that are in accordance with the aims of sustainable development [97]. These actions might include lowering carbon emissions, saving resources, promoting green power, and decreasing pollution. Environmental consciousness becomes a critical driver for environmentally friendly behaviours. The link between GPI, GP, and sustainability is also moderated by EA. GPI has an increased influence on sustainability results when there is a high level of EA [98]. Organisations and individuals that are environmentally conscious are more inclined to embrace and sustain GPI, resulting in considerable gains in sustainability outcomes. GPI, GP, EA and sustainability are all have interrelated and have mutually reinforcing relationships. GPI boosts productivity while lowering the ecological footprint, resulting in improved sustainability results. EA serves as an important moderator, boosting the positive benefits of GPI and GP on sustainability. As organisations and individuals grow more EA, they are more inclined to embrace ecologically responsible practises and innovations, encouraging a more sustainable future.

Comment 4: The number of managerial and industrial recommendations should be equal to the number of the hypotheses.

Response: Incorporated

5.1. Recommendation

 

5.1.1. Industrial Recommendation

The study recommends the plastic and cement industry promote GPI and GP towards sustainability.

1. Increase the research and development budget for GPI and GP that minimize energy usage, waste, and carbon and also encourage material reuse and recycling to reduce waste by adopting a circular economy.
2. Adopt green supply chain management practices that reduce environmental impacts across the manufacturing chain and ensure sustainability.
3. Train and motivate employees on environmentally friendly production processes and collaborate with stakeholders, including consumers, suppliers, and communities, to create awareness and support sustainable practices.
4. Incentives should be announced for GPI and GP to promote sustainable cultures among industries.

 

5.1.2. Managerial Recommendation

The study makes recommendations for policymakers to promote GPI and GP towards sustainability.

1. Set up policies encouraging ecologically friendly production practices and incentivize firms to adopt GPI and GP.
2. Adopt environmental labeling schemes that enable consumers to make informed choices regarding environmentally friendly items.
3. Fund research and development of GPI and GP and provide tax incentives to firms who adopt sustainable manufacturing practices to invest in GPI and GP.
4. Collaborate with stakeholders to establish standards and guidelines that support sustainability for the Strong regulations at the national and international levels to ensure GPI and GP.

 

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The article has been corrected as suggested, only the comments on the references remain (MDPI format).

Author Response

Thanks a lot for your positive response. We have incorporated all of the suggested changes and we believe that your feedback has contributed a lot to the quality of the research work.

Reviewer 3 Report

Dear authors,

Thank you for sending your revised manuscript; you incorporated my comments in the current version.

Author Response

 

Thanks a lot for your positive response. We have incorporated all of the suggested changes and we believe that your feedback has contributed a lot to the quality of the research work.