Impact Assessment of Green Port Practices on the Triple Bottom Line of Sustainability: The Case of South Asia Pakistan Terminals (SAPT)

Abstract

The sustainable operation of ports plays an important and valuable role in achieving overall product reach and logistics. Sustainable port operations ensure production efficiency, profitable business growth and increase customer satisfaction. In developing countries, these practices are neglected and not widely recognized in the literature. The inadequate implementation of these practices in SAPT contributes significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, creating problems for the environment and climate change. Therefore, this study examines the implementation of green port practices and answers the question of how these practices contribute to the environmental problems at South Asian Pakistan Terminals (SAPT) and recommends specific practices to transform SAPT into a green terminal. This study is based on a quantitative approach for which data was collected from 172 respondents using a questionnaire on a five-point Likert scale through random sampling. Respondents were selected based on their qualifications, experience and knowledge of green port practices. The model was analyzed using PLS-SEM via Smart PLS 4. PLS-SEM was chosen as the data analysis technique as it can handle complex models in a single trial and provides more generalized results. The results showed that IEM positively and significantly affects GO (p<0.05, β=0.356) and ED (p<0.05, β=0.277). Similarly, ED influences GO (p<0.05, β=0.305), while GO influences ENVIROPER (p<0.05, β=0.398), followed by ECONOPER (p<0.05, β=0.303) and SP (p<0.05, β=0.276). The results imply that Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and Hutchisons Port Holding (HPH) need to address the best practices of green ports in SAPT such as diversification of power generation portfolio, installation of electric Rubber-Tired Gantry (RTG) cranes and electric Internal Transfer Vehicle (ITV) around the port and consideration of Scope III emissions in the value chain of SAPT for sustainable growth and development. The results identify ways to improve the port's sustainability by implementing Green Port Practices (GPPs) that are best suited for SAPT. This study makes a novel contribution to the implementation and achievement of sustainable port performance in the context of developing countries. In the future, other practices such as green purchasing, investment recovery and supplier audits can be operationalized to expand the study.