Seeking environmental performance through green manufacturing, lean culture and Industry 4.0: a study of manufacturing organizations in an emerging economy

Purpose Dwelling upon the natural resource-based view, complementarity theory and practice-based view, this research examines (1) direct relationship between green manufacturing practices (GMPs) and organizational environmental performance (OEP), (2) indirect relationship between GMPs and OEP through lean culture (LC) and (3) relationship between LC and OEP moderated by Industry 4.0. Design/methodology/approach Using referral sampling techniques, we collected primary data from 213 respondents holding various managerial positions in Omani manufacturing organizations. Employing a variance-based structural equation modelling approach, data were analyzed using SmartPLS 4.0. Findings The results reveal that GMPs directly as well as indirectly through LC contribute to OEP. However, Industry 4.0 technologies showed no moderating effects. Research limitations/implications The study provides evidence in favour of adopting GMPs and nurturing LC for achieving desired environmental outcomes. The sample, sampling techniques and general manufacturing context are the key limitations of this study. Originality/value In the light of national and global sustainability goals, this study marks the first known attempt to combine natural resource-based view, complementarity theory and practice-based view to examine the interplay among selected determinants of OEP. Furthermore, investigating these determinants in the Omani context distinguishes it among the first few studies.