Green inclusive leadership and food waste behavior among students in higher education institutions: the moderating role of green role identity

Purpose Food waste behavior in the education institutions has been less researched compared to that in the household context. This paper aims to investigate the effects of green inclusive leadership on the food waste behavior of students in higher education institutions, considering the mediating role of moral attitude and the moderating role of green role identity. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 532 students in various colleges and universities in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This study used the partial least squares-structural equation modeling method to examine hypotheses. Findings The results show that green inclusive leadership and intention to reduce waste are critical determinants of students’ waste behavior. Furthermore, moral attitude toward wasting plays a mediating role in the relationship between green inclusive leadership and intention to reduce waste. The results also show that green role identity moderates the nexus between intention to reduce waste and waste behavior. Originality/value To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study advances the understanding of mechanisms underlying food waste behavior among students in higher institutions by exploring the mediating role of moral attitude toward wasting and the moderating role of green role identity.