Abstract

The toll that industrialization had on the environment became more apparent after the Industrial Revolution. The increased demand for natural resources led to the exploitation and depletion of the non-renewable resources. Improper mining practices also led to toxic pollutants. It started a trend of wastefulness and overconsumption that would continue to affect the environment for decades. One such mining industry is Granite sector. Today, realizing the alarmingly increasing threat to the planet, the industry has no choice but to practice Green Management initiatives to positively impact the environment, society, and all the stakeholders compounding the triple bottom line (TBL) profit, people, and the planet. The operational definition of Green Management has been conceived as the organizational process where eco friendly practices are fully integrated into the operation in order to gain competitive advantage through waste disposal, sustainability, productivity and social responsibility. The present research work investigates the factors that determine the levels of adoption of green management practices by the owners of the granite polishing units in Madurai District. It also aims at contributing to the promotion of more green practices among the owners of the granite polishing units in the study area for the purpose of preserving the natural resources. The study concludes that owner’s attitude, owner’s awareness on environment and firm size have positive and significant influences on the adoption of green practices in the granite polishing units in Madurai District. The study has implications for achieving sustainable granite sector through recognizing, developing and rewarding green practices.
Keywords :Green Management, Sustainability, Competitive Advantage, Granite sector