Senior Management and Corporate Environmental Behaviors in Manufacturing Industries of Bangladesh

ABSTRACT Sustainable environmental management (SEM) is a critical issue for the manufacturing industries, given the rapid economic growth and increasing environmental challenges. This study investigates the relationship between the attitudes of top management teams (TMTs) toward environmental issues and their perceived benefits of implementing environmental management practices (EMPs) in the manufacturing industries of Chattogram City, Bangladesh. A semi‐structured questionnaire survey was conducted using purposive sampling, collecting data from 30 manufacturing industries. The results indicate that 50% of the studied industries fall into the red category, posing the highest threat to the environment. The study finds a strong positive correlation between TMT environmental attitudes and the number of EMPs implemented ( r = 0.826, p < 0.05), as well as the perceived benefits of internal environmental management (IEM) ( r = 0.890, p < 0.05). Industries with more positive TMT environmental attitudes tend to implement more EMPs and perceive greater benefits from these practices. However, financial and technological challenges remain significant barriers to the full implementation of EMPs. The study concludes that enhancing TMT environmental attitudes through training and awareness programs can significantly improve the adoption and effectiveness of EMPs in the manufacturing sector. Future research should focus on identifying strategies to overcome financial and technological challenges and explore the role of government policies and international buyer pressure in driving sustainable practices.