GREEN MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA
This study investigated the relationship between green management practices and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) among manufacturing firms in Delta State, Nigeria. Growing global concern for environmental sustainability has increased pressure on firms to adopt responsible operational practices that support long-term competitiveness and social accountability. In this context, green management practices have emerged as an important mechanism for improving both environmental and corporate performance. Specifically, the study examined the effects of green waste management practices and green energy efficiency practices on CSR performance. Two research questions and two corresponding hypotheses guided the study. A descriptive survey design was adopted. The study population comprised 98 registered manufacturing firms in Delta State, from which one managerial-level respondent with adequate knowledge of environmental and CSR matters was purposively selected from each firm, resulting in a sample size of 98 respondents. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed that green waste management practices had a significant positive effect on CSR performance (β = 0.812, p < 0.05), while green energy efficiency practices also exerted a significant positive effect on CSR performance (β = 0.476, p < 0.05). The adjusted R² value further indicated that a substantial proportion of the variation in CSR was explained by the predictor variables. The study concludes that effective adoption of green management practices enhances CSR outcomes in manufacturing firms. It therefore recommends that firms embed environmental sustainability into their core operational strategies in order to strengthen corporate responsibility, improve stakeholder trust, and enhance long-term competitiveness.