What stops businesses from adopting green management practices? A qualitative study from the Turkish manufacturing sector

Being green has many benefits both for national economies and organisations. According to the literature, green management impacts various performance indicators and strengthens the competitive power of firms in the manufacturing industry. Considering that the manufacturing sector is highly likely to harm the environment, it is important to note why firms do not have green management practices. This study aims to understand the most common reasons hindering green management practices in the Turkish manufacturing industry. According to a thematic analysis based on the responses of 76 interviewees, five main themes as (1) financial inadequacy, (2) insufficient infrastructure, (3) lack of awareness, (4) lack of experience, and (5) resistance have been identified as the main reasons for not to implement green management practices. Another finding of the study suggests that the most crucial contribution of green management to businesses in the manufacturing industry is the long-term reduction of costs.