Sustainable Marine Structures

Green HRM and Green Port Performance: Evidence from Turkish Ports Using SEM

Gönül Kaya Özbağ

Department of Maritime Business Management, Maritime Faculty, Kocaeli University, Karamürsel 41500, Turkey

Özge Aşkın

Department of Maritime Business Management, Institute of Social Sciences, Kocaeli University, İzmit 41380,Turkey

Aysen Şimşek Kandemir

Hereke Vocational School, Kocaeli University, Hereke 41800, Turkey

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36956/sms.v8i1.2844

Received: 20 October 2025 | Revised: 10 December 2025 | Accepted: 7 January 2026 | Published Online: 4 February 2026

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Abstract

In today's globalized world, the surge in international trade has propelled maritime transportation to the forefront, underscoring the indispensable role of ports in facilitating global commerce. However, the consequential environmental footprint of maritime activities has become increasingly undeniable, prompting a critical reassessment of sustainability practices within port operations. To address these concerns, the implementation of environmentally friendly port practices has gained momentum worldwide as a strategic imperative to reduce ecological effects. This research investigates the significant power of green human resource management approaches on enhancing green port performance, utilizing data from ports in Turkey. SEM results indicate that Green human resource management positively influences green port performance, with green training having the strongest effect (β = 0.504) and green performance management the weakest (β = 0.050). Although green awareness significantly affects green port performance, the effect is weak. Green human resource management practices are instrumental in fostering environmentally responsible behaviors among employees and reducing environmental footprints within port operations. These practices not only foster an environmentally aware organizational culture but also elevate employees' awareness of sustainability issues, thus contributing to enhanced environmental performance within ports. The findings underscore a positive association between Green human resource management and green port performance. While factors like green awareness and creativity were explored, they were found not to mediate or moderate this relationship significantly. Nevertheless, the study highlights the essential impact of actions to strengthen environmental sustainability in the maritime industry, providing insightful directions for future research and strategic policymaking.

Keywords: Green HRM; Green Port Performance; Green Creativity; Green Awareness; SEM; Turkish Ports

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