Green Office Projects in Thailand to Promote Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS)

Abstract

Objective: To examine the operationalization of the Green Office (GO) framework within public and private administrative ecosystems in Thailand, analyzing its role as a functional accelerator for the UN Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDGs 6, 7, 12, and 13.   Theoretical Framework: This study synthesizes institutional theory, transaction cost economics, and behavioral public administration frameworks to evaluate workplace sustainability interventions.   Method: A qualitative descriptive design was employed, utilizing semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Data was gathered from 15 purposively selected key informants across Thailand, including senior GO auditors, sustainability researchers, administrative directors, and civil society advocates.   Results and Discussion: Thematic analysis identified three core challenges: decoupled formal compliance (treating criteria as static checkboxes), structural resistance to cross-departmental data interoperability, and ingrained cultural habits disrupting resource management. Cultivating human awareness requires shifting from passive top-down messaging toward collaborative citizen-science, department-specific micro-incentives, and automated real-time consumption dashboards.   Research Implications: The paper proposes a strategic blueprint for institutional resilience. It emphasizes the end-to-end integration of automated resource tracking, the legal institutionalization of multi-tiered green procurement policies, and aligning administrative promotions with objective sustainability performance indices.   Originality/Value: This research highlights that reinforcing the structural and behavioral integrity of GO initiatives acts as a crucial transmission mechanism for optimizing national resource distribution, reducing carbon footprints, and driving long-term macroeconomic stability in transitional public management systems.