ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES AND AGILITY OF FOOD AND BEVERAGES MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

Amaewhule, E. C.

Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Administration and Management. Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

ibietelavictor.bob-manuel@ust.edu.ng

Ogbonda, E. H.

Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Administration and Management. Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

and

Olomi, P. O.

Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Administration and Management. Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

olomi.progress@rsu.edu.ng

ABSTRACT

This study examined the relationship between environmental practices and agility of food and beverages manufacturing firms in Rivers State, Nigeria. Environmental practices, which include waste reduction, pollution control, and resource efficiency, are becoming essential components of modern manufacturing due to increasing ecological awareness and regulatory demands. Organizational agility—the ability of a firm to adapt quickly to changes—is a critical success factor in dynamic and environmentally sensitive markets. Drawing on the Dynamic Capabilities Theory, the study explored how environmental practices influence key dimensions of agility: flexibility, innovation, and responsiveness. A correlational research design was employed, and data were collected from 90 respondents across 45 manufacturing firms using structured questionnaires. The findings revealed strong and statistically significant positive correlations between environmental practices and all three dimensions of agility: flexibility (r = .845), innovation (r = .715), and responsiveness (r = .639). These results suggest that firms integrating sustainability into their operations are better positioned to adjust to external changes, foster innovation, and meet market demands. The study concludes that environmental commitment is not only a path to regulatory compliance and reputation enhancement but also a strategic tool for improving organizational agility. It recommends investments in green technologies, incentive-based regulatory frameworks, and employee training as ways to strengthen sustainable business practices and adaptive capacity.

Keywords: Environmental practices, organizational agility, flexibility, innovation, responsiveness, manufacturing firms.