The Effect of Greenwashing on Firm Performance with Multiple Directorships as Moderating Variable
Abstract
This study investigates the impact of greenwashing on firm performance, with a focus on the moderating role of multiple directorships in the context of Indonesian public companies. Greenwashing, defined as the dissemination of misleading environmental information, has been shown to adversely affect firm performance, particularly in terms of profitability and long-term sustainability. Using data from companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) from 2018 to 2022, the study employs panel data analysis to examine the relationship between greenwashing, firm performance, and the influence of multiple directorships. The findings reveal that greenwashing significantly harms firm performance, as measured by Return on Assets (ROA). However, the presence of multiple directorships, while positively associated with firm performance, does not exhibit a statistically significant impact. Additionally, the moderating effect of multiple directorships on the relationship between greenwashing and firm performance is found to be negative but insignificant. These results suggest that while greenwashing poses a substantial risk to corporate financial health, the role of multiple directorships in mitigating or exacerbating this effect remains limited. The study highlights the importance of stricter Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting standards to curb greenwashing practices and enhance corporate transparency.
Full text article
References
[1] D. Zhang, M. Mohsin, A. K. Rasheed, Y. Chang, and F. Taghizadeh-Hesary, “Public spending and green economic growth in bri region: Mediating role of green finance,” Energy Policy, vol. 153, p. 112256, 2021.
[2] Q. He, B. Qiu, B. Marshall, J. Nguyen, N. Nguyen, and N. Visaltanachoti, “Greenwashing: Measurement and implications,” GRASFI Annual Conference, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://sustainablefinancealliance.org/paper/corporate-greenwashing-firm-performance-and-ceo-incentives/
[3] Q. Aini, I. Sembiring, A. Setiawan, I. Setiawan, and U. Rahardja, “Perceived accuracy and user behavior: Exploring the impact of ai-based air quality detection application (aiku),” Indonesian Journal of Applied Research (IJAR), vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 209–224, 2023.
[4] P. A. G. K. Dewi, A. D. Dwipayana, N. L. Darmayanti, and S. S. Ryanto, “Implementation of green human resource management in land transportation and logistics in indonesia,” ADI Journal on Recent Innovation, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 54–60, 2023.
[5] X. Wang, X. Gao, and M. Sun, “Construction and analysis of corporate greenwashing index: a deep learning approach,” EPJ Data Science, vol. 14, no. 1, p. 44, 2025.
[6] D. Zhang, “Green financial system regulation shock and greenwashing behaviors: Evidence from chinese firms,” Energy Economics, vol. 111, p. 106064, 2022.
[7] M. W. A. Saleh, M. A. A. Zaid, R. Shurafa, Z. S. Maigoshi, M. Mansour, and A. Zaid, “Does board gender enhance palestinian firm performance? the moderating role of corporate social responsibility,” Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society, vol. 21, no. 4, pp. pp. 222–251, 2021.
[8] H. Kamardin, R. A. Latif, K. N. T. Mohd, and N. C. Adam, “The impact of corporate governance and board performance on the performance of public listed companies in malaysia,” Jurnal Pengurusan, vol. 42, pp. pp. 1–15, 2021.
[9] R. P. Gregory, “How greenwashing affects firm risk: An international perspective,” Journal of Risk and Financial Management, vol. 17, no. 11, p. 526, 2024.
[10] L. Nirmalasari, A. Alwiyah, P. A. Sunarya, and A. S. Panjaitan, “A digital marketing strategy based on applications to rise customer satisfaction,” International Journal of Cyber and IT Service Management, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 139–145, 2022.
[11] W. L. Lin, S. C. Chong, C. K. Pek, J. Y. Yong, K. L. Y. Ming, and N. L. XeChung, “The impact of greenwashing: Risks and implications for corporate performance and stakeholder trust,” Proceedings of the International Conference on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ICESG 2024), pp. pp. 77–94, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.atlantis-press.com/proceedings/icesg-24/126008073
[12] E. Uniamikogbo, B. Ayorinde, and O. Babajide, “Audit committee multiple directorships and financial reporting quality in nigeria: An evaluation of the interconnectedness using empirical evidence,” Mediter-ranean Journal of Social Sciences, vol. 5, no. 20, pp. pp. 628–637, 2021.
[13] Q. He, B. Qiu, B. Marshall, J. Nguyen, N. Nguyen, and N. Visaltanachoti, “Corporate greenwashing, firm performance, and ceo incentives,” GRASFI Annual Conference, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://sustainablefinancealliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GRASFI_2024_paper_36.pdf
[14] J. Koenders, “Greenwashing practices and firm performance: Evidence for european mnes,” Master Thesis, Economics, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://theses.ubn.ru.nl/bitstreams/c11693b3-a148-41ae-beef-fc64ea7a794e/download
[15] N. Lassoued, “Sustainability and firm performance: The role of environmental, social, and governance disclosure and green innovation,” International Journal of Revenue Management, vol. 12, no. 3–4, pp. pp. 213–235, 2021.
[16] B. Global, “Greenwashing: A barrier to true sustainability,” BDO Insights, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.bdo.com.kw/en-gb/insights/featured-insights/greenwashing-a-barrier-to-true-sustainability
[17] Springer, “The agency of greenwashing,” Journal of Management and Governance, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10997-023-09683-8
[18] R. Torelli, F. Balluchi, and A. Lazzini, “Greenwashing and environmental communication: Effects on stakeholders’ perceptions,” Business Strategy and the Environment, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. pp. 407–421, 2021.
[19] M. Novitasari and D. Agustia, “Assessing the impact of green supply chain management, competitive advantage, and firm performance in proper companies in indonesia,” Operations and Supply Chain Management, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. pp. 395–406, 2022.
[20] E. Johnson and M. Lee, “Sustainability reporting and greenwashing: The role of corporate governance,” Corporate Governance: An International Review, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. pp. 290–306, 2021.
[21] A. Nuche, O. Sy, and J. C. Rodriguez, “Optimizing efficiency through sustainable strategies: The role of management and monitoring in achieving goals,” APTISI Transactions on Management, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 167–174, 2024.
[22] G. Dorfleitner and S. Utz, “Green, green, it’s green they say: a conceptual framework for measuring greenwashing on firm level,” Review of Managerial Science, vol. 18, no. 12, pp. 3463–3486, 2024.
[23] J. Smith and J. Doe, “Greenwashing and corporate social responsibility: An analysis of firm behavior,” Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 175, no. 3, pp. pp. 567–583, 2022.
[24] E. Teti, L. L. Etro, and L. Pausini, “Does greenwashing affect company’s stock price? evidence from europe,” International Review of Financial Analysis, vol. 93, p. 103195, 2024.
[25] C. Martinez and L. Ramirez, “Green innovation and firm performance: The moderating role of greenwashing,” Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 312, p. 127698, 2023.
[26] E. Uniamikogbo and A. Gina, “Firm attributes and tax aggressiveness in the nigerian banking sector,” Igbinedion University Journal of Accounting, vol. 2, no. 16, pp. pp. 88–126, 2021.
[27] Y. N. Qintharah and F. L. Utami, “Determinants on environmental disclosure moderating by integrated corporate governance,” Aptisi Transactions on Technopreneurship (ATT), vol. 5, no. 1Sp, pp. 22–37, 2023.
[28] T. Nguyen and H. Pham, “Environmental disclosures and greenwashing: Evidence from emerging markets,” Emerging Markets Review, vol. 41, p. 100765, 2024.
[29] Z. S. Maigoshi, M. W. A. Saleh, R. Shurafa, and A. Zaid, “The impact of multiple directorships, board characteristics, and ownership on the performance of palestinian listed companies,” International Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Performance Evaluation, vol. 16, no. 3, pp. pp. 222–251, 2021.
[30] N. W. APRIYANI, N. P. A. Y. MAHARANI, N. K. ASTINI, and N. M. A. PARTIWI, “The impact of sustainability reporting on company financial performance: a literature study,” Journal of Information Systems, Digitization and Business, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 01–09, 2025.
[31] A. AlHares, “Does financial performance improve the quality of sustainability reporting? exploring the moderating effect of corporate governance,” Sustainability, vol. 17, no. 13, p. 6123, 2025.
[32] H. Kamardin, R. A. Latif, K. N. T. Mohd, and N. C. Adam, “The impact of corporate governance and board performance on the performance of public listed companies in malaysia,” Jurnal Pengurusan, vol. 42, pp. pp. 1–15, 2022.
[33] S. Williams and R. Thompson, “Csr performance and greenwashing: The impact on firm value,” Journal of Corporate Finance, vol. 75, p. pp. 102089, 2022.
[34] W. Zhang and M. Li, “Board characteristics and greenwashing: Evidence from chinese firms,” Asia-Pacific Journal of Accounting & Economics, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. pp. 223–240, 2023.
[35] M. Garcia and J. Lopez, “Stakeholder pressure, greenwashing, and firm performance in the european union,” Business Strategy and the Environment, vol. 33, no. 1, pp. pp. 45–60, 2024.
[36] H. I. Chou, P. A. Hamill, and Y. H. Yeh, “Are all regulatory compliant independent director appointments the same? an analysis of taiwanese board appointments,” Journal of Corporate Finance, vol. 50, pp. pp. 371–387, 2022.
[37] A. Rodriguez and J. Martinez, “Greenwashing and firm risk: Evidence from the energy sector,” Energy Economics, vol. 105, p. pp. 105752, 2022.
[38] R. Ahli, M. F. Hilmi, and A. Abudaqa, “Moderating effect of perceived organizational support on the relationship between employee performance and its determinants: A case of entrepreneurial firms in uae,” Aptisi Transactions on Technopreneurship (ATT), vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 199–212, 2024.
[39] H. Kim and J. Park, “Greenwashing and stock price crash risk: Evidence from korean firms,” Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, vol. 73, p. pp. 101807, 2024.
[40] L. Brown and K. Davis, “Greenwashing in the fashion industry: Impact on brand loyalty and consumer trust,” Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, vol. 25, no. 4, pp. pp. 617–634, 2021.
[41] W. Li and et al., “Under the microscope: An experimental look at board transparency and director monitoring behavior,” Strategic Management Journal, vol. 39, no. 4, pp. pp. 1216–1236, 2022.
[42] B. Callula, E. Sana, G. Jacqueline, J. Nathalie, and L. Maria, “A structural framework for effective time management in dynamic work environments,” APTISI Transactions on Management, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 152–159, 2024.
[43] D. Zhang, M. Mohsin, and F. Taghizadeh-Hesary, “Does green finance counteract the climate change mitigation: Asymmetric effect of renewable energy investment and r&d,” Energy Economics, vol. 113, p. 106183, 2022.
[44] K. Schumacher, “Competence greenwashing could be the next risk for the esg industry,” Responsible Investor, 2021.
[45] F. Bravo-Urquiza and N. Reguera-Alvarado, “The role of multiple board directorships in sustainability strategies: symbol or substance?” Review of Managerial Science, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 871–898, 2025.
[46] T. Liu, Q. Wang, S. Yang, and Q. Shi, “The impact of shareholder and director networks on corporate technological innovation: A multilayer networks analysis,” Systems, vol. 12, no. 2, p. 41, 2024.
[47] M. W. A. Saleh, R. Shurafa, S. N. T. Mohd, and N. C. Adam, “The effect of board multiple directorships and ceo characteristics on firm performance: Evidence from palestine,” Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. pp. 637–654, 2022.
[48] Government of the Republic of Indonesia, “Law of the republic of indonesia number 5 of 1999 concerning the prohibition of monopolistic practices and unfair business competition,” https://peraturan.go.id/uu/nomor-5-tahun-1999, 1999, accessed: 2025-01-01.
[49] W. Li, R. Krause, J. Zhang, and H. Zhu, “Under the microscope: An experimental look at board transparency and director monitoring behavior,” Strategic Management Journal, vol. 42, no. 10, pp. pp. 1767–1768, 2023.
[50] P. Chen and A. A. Dagestani, “Greenwashing behavior and firm value–from the perspective of board characteristics,” Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, vol. 30, no. 5, pp. 2330–2343, 2023.
Authors
Copyright (c) 2025 Arista Febri Eriyawan, Cynthia Afriani Utama

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This journal permits and encourages authors to post items submitted to the journal on personal websites while providing bibliographic details that credit its publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted to post their work online in institutional/disciplinary repositories or on their own websites. Pre-print versions posted online should include a citation and link to the final published version in Journal of Librarianship and Scholarly Communication as soon as the issue is available; post-print versions (including the final publisher's PDF) should include a citation and link to the journal's website.