A structural model for assessing the impact of Lean-Green barriers on sustainable performance

Purpose The purpose of the study is to examine the impact of internal and external barriers on Lean-Green manufacturing during its post-implementation phase. Examining the impact of Lean-Green manufacturing on the environmental, economic and social performance of organisations is also an aim of the study. The study further explores the inter-relationships between environmental, economic and social performance. Design/methodology/approach Data was gathered from the Zimbabwean manufacturing industry, of which 302 valid responses were obtained and analysed through structural equation modelling using SMART PLS. Findings The results showed that both internal and external barriers impede organisations from improving economic, social and environmental performance measures, and hence, deserve attention. Research limitations/implications The study concentrated on Zimbabwe’s manufacturing industry; hence, the results may need further validation before they can be adopted by other countries and industries. Practical implications Through analysing the impact of internal and external barriers on Lean-Green, organisations can understand which barriers greatly affect them and they can allocate resources accordingly to address them. Originality/value Existing studies focused on identifying and ranking the barriers faced during Lean-Green implementation. This study identifies the Lean-Green barriers that are faced post-implementation and examines their relationship with Lean-Green Manufacturing and sustainable performance. Thus, outlining a clear picture of the extent to which these barriers hinder the attainment of sustainable development improvements.