| dc.description.abstract | This study investigates the impact of adopting green procurement practices on the environmental
performance of tea processing industries in Meru County, Kenya. The research specifically focuses on four
critical areas: green supplier selection, green manufacturing, green logistics, and the incorporation of
renewable energy sources. Data were collected from a sample of 321 respondents, including managers,
departmental heads and staff from nine tea processing factories. Primary data was gathered through
structured questionnaires and face-to-face interviews, while secondary data were obtained from existing
literature. The study also included a pilot study conducted in Kericho County with 34 respondents
representing 10% of the sample size. The findings revealed that the selection of green suppliers was found to
significantly reduce environmental degradation, the adoption of green manufacturing practices led to
enhanced resource efficiency and minimized waste production, the implementation of green logistics
practices resulted in a substantial reduction in the carbon footprint of the tea processing factories and
improved operational efficiency and that the incorporation of renewable energy sources was found to
significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduce energy costs. The data were analyzed using
descriptive statistics, regression analysis, and correlation tools to establish the relationships between green
procurement practices and environmental performance. The main software used for the analysis was the
latest version of SPSS. The study concludes that the adoption of green procurement practices not only
enhances environmental sustainability but also provides a competitive advantage for tea processing
industries in the global market. The research recommends that industry stakeholders prioritize the
enforcement and adoption of these practices to achieve long-term sustainable development. Future studies
should investigate the long-term economic and environmental impacts of green procurement practices across
various agricultural sectors. | en_US |
