Green Business Strategies and Environmental Sustainability: The Mediating Role of Corporate Recycling Practices in Manufacturing Firms in Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the influence of green business strategies on environmental sustainability, with corporate recycling practices serving as a mediating factor among manufacturing firms in Delta State, Nigeria. Specifically, it assessed the effects of eco-innovation and green supply chain management on sustainability outcomes. The study adopted a descriptive survey design and collected quantitative data from 217 respondents across three major manufacturing firms. Using SPSS version 26, descriptive and inferential statistics were applied. Findings revealed that both eco-innovation and green supply chain management have significant positive effects on environmental sustainability, explaining 52% and 48% of its variance, respectively. These results suggest that the adoption of green technologies, sustainable procurement, and waste recycling practices substantially enhances waste reduction efficiency and pollution control performance. It concludes that integrating eco-innovation and green supply chain management into operational processes promotes long-term sustainability and improved corporate performance. It was recommended among other things that manufacturing firms should integrate eco-innovation and green supply chain management into their core strategic planning. This can be achieved through continuous investment in cleaner technologies, capacity building for staff, and partnerships with eco-friendly suppliers to reduce environmental degradation and strengthen sustainable production processes.