Gender and environment in the Japanese workplace

Previous literature depicts women as more pro-environment than men in terms of attitudes and behaviour. A survey was conducted in two sectors of Japanese society - industry and academia - whose workplace is considered relatively male dominated. The study sampled 221 respondents from 15 schools and ten firms to evaluate gendered differences in environmental concern. Women were found to demonstrate greater levels of pro-environmental behaviour compared to men due to their higher level of consideration of the impacts of their companies' production processes and products on the environment, their willingness to pay slightly more for environmental products than men, their positive perception of sustainable behaviours and their higher general level of concern about the environment. The study also reveals that the successful implementation of environmental sustainability programmes in organisations hinges on the interest and participation of management.