GREENING THE WORKFORCE: INVESTIGATING THE NEXUS BETWEEN GREEN HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR

Environmental sustainability remains a critical challenge in Nigeria‘s manufacturing sector, where unsustainable production practices have exacerbated environmental degradation. Despite increasing global emphasis on green strategies, many manufacturing firms in Nigeria have yet to integrate sustainability into their human resource management systems. This study explores the influence of green human resource management (GHRM) practices on environmental sustainability in a plastic production plant in Nigeria. Employing Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) for data analysis, the research utilised a non-probability convenience sampling technique with 219 respondents, guided by the 10-times rule of thumb for sample adequacy. The study examined four key dimensions of GHRM: green recruitment, green performance management, green compensation, and green training and development. The findings reveal that green recruitment, performance management, and training significantly contribute to environmentally responsible behaviour and organisational alignment with sustainability goals. These practices promote the embedding of environmental values, enhance employee capabilities, and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. However, green compensation was found to be a less effective motivator, suggesting that financial incentives alone may not drive long-term environmental engagement in the Nigerian context. The study underscores the strategic role of GHRM in building organisational resilience and ecological responsiveness.