The Green Practices Outcome on Sustainability Performance: Evidence from Malaysian Manufacturing Companies

Abstract

Green practices have become an important strategic approach for manufacturing organisations seeking to improve sustainability while maintaining long-term competitiveness. Previous studies have extensively examined the environmental and financial benefits of green practices, and yet, limited research has explored their broader contribution to organisational performance from a qualitative perspective. This study explores the common green practices applied in the manufacturing industry and how these green practices contribute to organisational performance in Malaysian manufacturing companies. A qualitative multiple-case study design was adopted involving seven manufacturing companies located in Selangor, Malaysia. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with ten informants, complemented by document analysis and workplace observations to strengthen the data credibility. Thematic analysis supported by NVivo software was employed to identify the recurring themes across the participating organisations. The findings reveal that green practices contribute to organisational performance through three interrelated dimensions: safety performance, economic performance, and organisational reputation. Green initiatives such as waste management and work process innovation improved resource efficiency, reduced operational waste, enhanced workplace safety, lowered operational costs, and strengthened stakeholder confidence. The study extends the existing literature by demonstrating that green practices create organisational value beyond environmental sustainability and should be viewed as strategic resources that enhance overall organisational performance. The findings provide practical guidance for manufacturing managers and policymakers in integrating environmental and operational strategies to achieve sustainable business performance.