Researchers: Dr. Mary Grace Berico, Vincent C. Cortiñas, Ma. Carmelita A. Carandang, and Bernadette G. Rojo

Abstract
This research assesses the environmental performance of various departments at LPU Cavite to develop operational guidelines for staff. The study used a descriptive research design along with a comparative analysis of participant input regarding green practices. It also employed a descriptive-correlational approach to examine how demographics relate to green practices. The primary participants were non-teaching staff at LPU Cavite, mostly aged 26-30, female, college graduates, and with 1-5 years of tenure. Findings showed that resource management received the highest rating (4.44), while indicator implementation and monitoring received the lowest (3.98). The study found no significant differences among participants based on various demographics except for gender concerning stakeholder support. Moreover, there was no significant relationship between demographics and green practices, except for the length of service related to resource management and occupation in relation to facility usage. In summary, non-teaching staff were more involved in resource management, but there’s room for improvement in monitoring and implementation of green practices. Female employees and those with longer tenure were more committed to sustainability, especially in resource management. Rank and file staff were more observant in using facilities and resources efficiently. It’s recommended that LPU Cavite consider the proposed operational guidelines for implementing green practices.

Introduction

Through rapid paces of growth and development, apparent competition over innovation, market share, customer patronization, and branding, among others, intensifies the global industry. Emerging countries, such as the Philippines, continuously pave the way to mark the global competition by improving processes and producing quality outputs in order to attract more investors. In this highly industrialized environment, no one has the best of both worlds. Strive for success directly implies destructive impacts on society, the community, and the environment. In highly innovative industries such as academia, being recognized for international standardization is an ultimatum. Along with the notion of producing industry-competitive students with a high orientation to research and business endeavors, the process of getting quality output must also mention the efficient and effective undertaking an organization practices in its daily operations.

The study primarily emphasized green practices in the operations of Lyceum Philippines University Cavite for the purpose of developing an operational guideline for the employees. LPU Cavite, being the “first and only resort campus” in the Philippines, highlights its modern and elegant architectural design. While this physical attribution has apparently set it apart from competitors, the researchers aimed to examine, on the other hand, the university’s operational practices that would reflect its capacity to minimize impacts on the environment.

Background of the Study

Lyceum of the Philippines University – Cavite is an institute of higher education located in the City of General Trias. The campus opened its doors to the public in 2008, increasing the total number of LPU campuses within the LPU system to five.

The university bills itself as “the first and only resort campus in the Philippines” due to its modern and elegant architectural design. It is the fifth campus of the Lyceum of the Philippines University after the Manila, Makati, Batangas, and Laguna campuses. It started with five colleges: the College of Allied Medical Sciences, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business Administration, the College of Engineering, Computer Studies, and Architecture, the College of International Tourism and Hospitality Management, and the College of Law. Due to the growing student population, LPU Cavite underwent expansion. In 2012, the fourth and fifth floors of LPU Cavite Phase II opened, connecting the Jose P. Laurel Building and the Sotero H. Laurel Building. This connection changed the shape of the campus from a semi-circle to a full circle. Phase II also houses the new Roman Catholic Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Four of its programs—the Business Administration, Hotel and Restaurant Management, Liberal Arts, and Science programs—were granted Level 3 Re-accredited Status by the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation, while the remaining programs were given Level 1 status (LPU Cavite, n.d).

The researchers are faculty members of LPU Cavite. The desire to conduct a study on green practices in the operations of the said institution was borne out of the felt need to improve the organization’s environmental performance, reduce costs, attract more customers, and enhance public image.

Statement of the Problem

The study aimed to figure out the level of performance of the different offices in LPU Cavite in terms of green practices for the improvement of the organization’s environmental performance. Specifically, it answered the following questions:

1. What is the demographic profile of the participants in terms of:
   1. Age;
   1. Gender;
   1. Marital status;
   1. Educational attainment;
   1. Job position;
   1. Employment status; and
   1. Length of service?
2. How do the participants observe green practices in their operations in relation to:
   1. Waste management;Facility usage;Purchasing policy;Environmental practices;Resource management;Stakeholder support and
   1. Implementation and monitoring?
3. Is there any significant difference in the observation of the participants on the green practices when grouped according to the type of participants?
4. Is there any significant relationship between the demographic profile and green practices?

• Based on the result of the study, what operational guidelines for the implementation of green practices in LPU Cavite can be proposed?

Hypotheses. The researchers tested the following null hypotheses at .05 level of significance:

HO1. There is no significant difference in the observation of the participants on the green practices when grouped according to the type of participants.

HO2. There is no significant relationship between the demographic profile and green practices.

Results and Discussion

Demographic Profile of the Participants. From Table 1, it is evident that most of the participants were between the ages of 26 and 30 (35%), and only 15 percent were between the ages of 31 and 35. In terms of gender, 73% of the participants were “female,” and only 27 percent were “male.” The majority (58%) of the participants were single in terms of their “marital status.” 50 percent of the participants were “college” graduates, and only 2 percent were “high school” graduates. Regarding the “length of service,” 47 percent of the participants were at the institution for about one to five years. It appears that 55 percent of the participants were “regular” in their “employment status,” and the majority (89%) of them were “rank and file.”

Table 1

Profile of the participants

Observation on Green Practices

Resource management. This indicator has the highest mean of 4.44, which means that the participants “observed” to choose products that are environmentally friendly, strictly follow policies on resource conservation, and focus on practices for saving energy. In a related study conducted by Sumaylo (2016), he emphasized that embracing green practices is not only a cost-saving undertaking but also a wise utilization of the depleting resources that exhaust the tradition of reusing, recycling, and reducing.

Facility usage. This indicator has the second highest mean of 4.38, which means that the participants “observed” the proper ways of using the school facility and amenities to save resources and protect the environment. The area of sustainability relates to incorporating sustainability in operations by providing beyond the attractive physical features and elegant atmosphere, but sustainability can be used as an asset to improve the loyalty of customers (Shanti, 2016).

Implementation and monitoring It has the lowest mean of 3.98, which means that there is a need to improve management support for green practices by providing incentives to those employees and students who comply with their green practice policies. The institution must have a structured monitoring strategy for green practices and set penalties for those who do not comply with the implemented rules. Delmas & Pekovic (2013) pointed out that greener firms are associated with higher labor productivity. It enhances a firm’s reputation, which leads to a positive impact on employee work attitudes and contributes to improved labor productivity.

Waste management. It has the second lowest mean of 4.02, which indicates that employees, though observed practicing, are not strictly complying with proper waste management, such as segregation of biodegradable from non-biodegradable, recycling resources for alternative utilization, and selling of non-biodegradable waste. Apparently, the active participation of employees in green projects in terms of recycling and reuse is considered an active involvement of employees in supporting green initiatives (Shres, 2014).

Table 2

Observation on Green Practices

Interpretation: 1.00-1.49 = Not observed; 1.50-2.49 = Sometimes observed; 2.50-3.49 = Neutral; 3.50-4.49 =Observed; 4.50- 5.00 = Always observed

Green Practices observations according to demographic profile

There was a difference in the observation of the participants’ green practices according to age. “Waste Management,” “Facility Usage,” “Purchasing Policy,” “Environmental Practices,” “Resource Management,” “Stakeholder Support,” and “Implementation and Monitoring” showed that the computed significant values are greater than the level of significance of 0.05, thus the null hypothesis is accepted. It is concluded that “age” does not affect the observation of the participants on green practices at LPU Cavite.

Table 3

Difference in the observation of the participants on the green practices according to age

The difference in the observation of the participants in green practices according to gender In terms of “Waste Management,” Facility Usage,” “Purchasing Policy,” “Environmental Practices,” “Resource Management,” and “Implementation and Monitoring,” the computed significant values are greater than the level of significance of 0.05; thus, the null hypothesis is accepted. While, in terms of “stakeholder support,” the significant value is.017, which is less than the level of significance of 0.05, the null hypothesis is rejected. It is concluded that gender, specifically females, is more conscious of observing green practices in relation to supporting internal and external stakeholders.

Table 4

Difference in the observation on the green practices according to gender

The difference in the observation of the participants in the green practices according to marital status For “Waste Management,” “Facility Usage,” “Purchasing Policy,” “Environmental Practices,” “Resource Management,” “Stakeholder Support,” and Implementation and Monitoring,” the computed significant values are greater than the level of significance of 0.05, thus the null hypothesis is accepted. It is concluded that there is no significant difference in the observation of the participants on green practices at LPU Cavite when grouped according to “marital status.”

Table 5

Difference in the Observation of the Participants on the Green Practices according to Marital Status

The difference in the observation of the participants on green practices when grouped according to educational attainment For “Waste Management,” “Facility Usage,” “Purchasing Policy,” “Environmental Practices,” “Resource Management,” “Stakeholder Support,” and Implementation and Monitoring,” the computed significant values are greater than the level of significance of 0.05, thus the null hypothesis is accepted. Seemingly, most of the participants were college graduates, which did not make any significant difference in their observation of green practices at LPU Cavite when grouped according to “educational attainment.”

Table 6

Difference in the observation of the participants on the green practices when grouped according to educational attainment

The difference in the observation of the participants on the green practices, according to employment status. For the “Waste Management,” “Facility Usage,” “Purchasing Policy,” “Environmental

Practices,” “Resource Management,” “Stakeholder Support,” and Implementation and Monitoring” the computed significant values are greater than the level of significance of 0.05, thus the null hypothesis is accepted. Evidently, being a regular or contractual employee does not affect the observation of the participants on green practices at LPU Cavite when grouped according to “employment status”.

Table 7

Difference in the observation of the participants on the green practices according to employment status      

The difference in the observation of the participants on the green practices, according to length of service. For the “Waste Management,” “Facility Usage,” “Purchasing Policy,” “Environmental Practices,” “Resource Management,” “Stakeholder Support,” and Implementation and Monitoring” the computed significant values are greater than the level of significance of 0.05, thus the null hypothesis is accepted. It is concluded that there is no significant difference in the observation of the participants of green practices at LPU Cavite when grouped according to “length of service.”

Table 8

Difference in the observation of the participants on the green practices according to length of service          

The difference in the observation of the participants on the green practices according to occupation. For the “Waste Management,” “Facility Usage,” “Purchasing Policy,” “Environmental Practices,” “Resource Management,” “Stakeholder Support,” and Implementation and Monitoring” the computed significant values are greater than the level of significance of 0.05, thus the null hypothesis is accepted. Employees whether in middle management or rank and file, do not significantly affect the observation on green practices at LPU Cavite when grouped according to “occupation.”

Table 9

Difference in the observation of the participants on the green practices according to occupation

Significant relationship between the Demographic Profile and Green Practices

Age and green practices There is no significant relationship between the indicator “age” of the “demographic characteristic” and each of the indicators of “green practices,” namely “waste management,” “facility usage,” “purchase policy,” “environmental practices,” “resource management,” “stakeholder support,” and “implementation and monitoring.”.

Gender and green practices Similarly, there is no significant relationship between the indicator “Gender” of the “demographic characteristic” and each of the indicators of “green practices,” namely “Waste Management,” “Facility Usage,” “Purchasing Policy,” “Environmental Practices,” “Resource Management,” “Stakeholder Support,” and “Implementation and Monitoring”.

Marital Status and Green Practices There is no significant relationship between the indicator “Marital Status” of the “demographic characteristic” and each of the indicators of “green practices,” namely “Waste Management,” “Facility Usage,” “Purchasing Policy,” “Environmental Practices,” “Resource Management,” “Stakeholder Support,” and “Implementation and Monitoring”.

Educational Attainment and Green Practices There is no significant relationship between the indicator “Educational Attainment” of the “demographic characteristic” and each of the indicators of “green practices,” namely “Waste Management,” “Facility Usage,” “Purchasing Policy,” “Environmental Practices,” “Resource Management,” “Stakeholder Support,” and “Implementation and Monitoring”.

Employment status and green practices There is no significant relationship between the indicator “Employment Status” of the “demographic characteristic” and each of the indicators of “green practices,” namely “Waste Management,” “Facility Usage,” “Purchasing Policy,” “Environmental Practices,” “Resource Management,” “Stakeholder Support,” and “Implementation and Monitoring”.

Length of Service and Green Practices There is no significant relationship between the indicator “Length of Service” of the “demographic characteristic” and each of the indicators of “green practices,” namely “Waste Management,” “Facility Usage,” “Purchasing Policy,” “Environmental Practices,” “Stakeholder Support,” and “Implementation and Monitoring,” except for “Resource Management.” Employees staying longer at LPU Cavite are relatively more involved in practicing sustainability in relation to resource management.

Occupation and green practices There is no significant relationship between the indicator “occupation” of the “demographic characteristic” and each of the indicators of “green practices,” namely “waste management,” “purchase policy,” “environmental practices,” “resource management,” “stakeholder support,” and “implementation and monitoring.” However, there is a significant relationship between the indicator “occupation” of the demographic characteristic” and “facility sage.” Rank and file employees are evidently more exposed to the position of taking care of facility usage than middle managers.

Table 10

Relationship between demographic characteristics and green practices

Table 10

Continuation…

Proposed Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of Green Practices

Table 11

Proposed operational guidelines

Conclusions

Based on the findings of the study, the following conclusions are presented:

1. Most of the non-teaching staff at LPU Cavite ranged in age from 26 to 30 years. The majority were females, college graduates who stayed at LPU Cavite between 1 and 5 years of age.
2. Non-teaching staff apparently were more involved in the daily resource management routine, including conservation and the use of environmentally friendly products. However, strict monitoring and implementation of these activities were least observed by employees, which could affect the environmental initiatives of LPU Cavite.
3. Females were more conscious and supportive of implementing green practices for the protection of the
4. Employees who stayed more than a year in the company were more committed to practicing sustainability in relation to resource management, like saving energy and recycling.
5. Among LPU Cavite non-teaching employees, rank and file staff are more observant in applying green practices in using facilities and resources.

Recommendations

Based on the conclusions drawn above, the following recommendations are hereby offered:

1. Future studies should be conducted with a more diverse population, which will cover teaching personnel and other
2. Teaching staff must also be encouraged to participate in implementing green practices in daily
3. LPU Cavite must provide incentives and recognitions to highly motivate newly hired staff to actively participate in green projects and
4. LPU Cavite must institute green policies such as moving to a paperless administrative environment and taking part in socially responsible
5. A formal team should be appointed to monitor and promote green issues and conduct a green audit to ensure that standards are
6. LPU Cavite should purchase from suppliers selling environmentally friendly products and ensure that all departments are complying with ISO to meet environmental certification.
7. To conduct future studies on integrating green practices into the curriculum of business