This study uses bibliometric analysis to analyze data extracted from the Web of Science database (WoS). Specific keywords were entered to obtain data for analysis ( Faheem et al., 2024 ). It is a quantitative evaluation technique that determines the bibliographic data on academic data ( Mehta, 2023 ). For this study, citation analysis, co-citation analysis, bibliographic coupling among authors and countries, keyword co-occurrence analysis, and co-authorship analysis were undertaken. Visualizing the bibliometric network, often called the mapping of science, constitutes an advanced tool for studying the science ( Fachada et al., 2022 ). To ensure greater comprehensiveness, future versions of this study should incorporate bibliographic data from multiple databases, including Scopus, Google Scholar, and Dimensions. This would mitigate database bias and capture a broader scope of relevant GHRM literature. Additionally, including non-English publications, especially those from Asian countries where regional languages dominate scholarly output, would enrich the analysis and enhance cultural inclusivity. The search criteria for the analysis are shown in Figure 1 .

For this paper, we employed VosViewer and Biblioshiny as part of the R code program to analyze the data ( Aria & Cuccurullo, 2017 ). Bibliometric analysis will be supported for visualizing similarities and mapping the study’s techniques ( Fachada et al., 2022 ). We used biblioshiny to evaluate the graphs and table for our study ( van Eck & Waltman, 2017 ). GHRM researchers use bibliometric techniques to study and assess authors, publications, journals, and countries.

Publications trend by the year, as shown in Figure 2 , presents the increase in publications from 2015 to 2024, the total number of publications grew from just 3 in 2015 to 64 in 2023, demonstrating a more than 20-fold increase (see Table 1 ). This rise in research can be attributed to organizations and companies increasingly focusing on environmental issues and sustainability. The relevance of Human resources management has brought this change to a deeper level.

Source: Author’s calculation.

This study focused solely on Asian nations and analyzed articles written in the English language. China led with 68 publications (34.3%), followed by Pakistan with 42 publications (21.2%), and Malaysia with 28 publications (14.1%). It has been observed that most publications reveal China to be the most influential country in GHRM research and regional collaboration, with prominent contributions from Pakistan, Malaysia, India, and emerging research hubs such as Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.

Table 2 provides insights into the top productive journals in GHRM based on their number of publications. The bibliometric analysis reveals vital insights into these journals, highlighting significant trends and patterns in the research landscape.

Table 2. The most productive journal and sources of GHRM.

Source: Author’s calculation.

According to Figure 3 , sustainability is the leading journal with 42 publications, showcasing its central role in addressing themes at the intersection of business, economics, and environmental sciences. The Journal of Cleaner Production (22 publications) and Environmental Science and Pollution Research (19 publications) closely follow. Both emphasize sustainability and environmental issues, reflecting the growing academic interest in these fields.

The primary research domains represented in these journals include Business & Economics, Environmental Sciences, and Psychology. Journals like Sustainability and Journal of Cleaner Production exhibit strong multidisciplinary appeal, addressing various topics related to sustainable development, corporate responsibility, and ecological impact. In contrast, journals such as Frontiers in Psychology and International Journal of Manpower focus more narrowly on specialized themes, such as behavioral sciences and human resource management. Diversity in research topics varies across journals.

Emerging journals, such as Heliyon and Environment Development and Sustainability, contribute fewer publications but indicate growth potential, particularly in addressing niche or evolving topics. These journals offer researchers opportunities to publish focused work in areas that may still be underrepresented in more established venues.

All top journals in the dataset show publication activity in 2024, signaling their relevance to the current research discourse. The dominance of sustainability-related journals underscores the global prioritization of environmental and socio-economic issues in scholarly research. This trend also underscores the importance of multidisciplinary platforms in promoting innovation and collaboration across various fields.

Figure 4 showcases the most globally cited documents, highlighting their significant academic impact. The top-cited works are Bin Saeed et al. (2019) , with 356 citations, and Zaid et al. (2018) , with 351 citations. Other notable contributions include Singh et al. (2019) , with 243 citations; Mousa & Othman (2020) , with 228 citations; and ( Kim et al., 2019 ), with 223 citations. Chaudhary (2020) follows closely with 219 citations, while Amrutha & Geetha (2020) and Anwar & Abdullah (2020) have 209 and 205 citations, respectively. These articles are published in prominent journals, such as the Journal of Cleaner Production, Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, and Sustainability-Basel, reflecting their relevance in the fields of sustainability and corporate responsibility.

Citation analysis

Co-citation analysis

Citation analysis is the technique used to determine the relationships among various publications. The visualization indicates the citation links between publications, with thicker lines indicating more frequent citations. These relationships reveal the impact and relevance of particular works within the broader research area, as shown in Figure 5 . The impact and relevance of certain works within the broader research area Bin Saeed et al. (2019) and Zaid et al. (2018) have the highest intellectual and influential linkage.

On the other hand, Co-citation analysis is revealed, as shown in Figure 6 . It illustrates the conceptual framework of a research domain, highlighting its core themes. Renwick et al. (2013) and Dumont et al. (2017) are the cornerstones of their research areas. Foundational themes reveal the main areas of focus in the field, such as human resource management, environmental sustainability, and operations management.

Bibliographic coupling

Bibliographic coupling among countries

Visualization of bibliographic coupling, which is shown in Figure 7 . The network indicates a significant number of shared references with other works. How publications are linked based on shared references. Key Influential Publications: Zaid et al. (2018) , Bin Saeed et al. (2019) , Mousa & Othman (2020) , and Anwar & Abdullah (2020) . These publications are the most prominent nodes in the network, indicating a significant number of shared references with other works. This suggests that Zaid et al. (2018) is a foundational paper frequently referenced by other researchers.

The bibliographic coupling analysis among countries shown in Figure 8 . The network demonstrates a significant level of regional cooperation. It indicates that China is the leading country in GHRM research. The network highlights a strong degree of regional collaboration, showcasing notable contributions. A high degree of regional collaborationfrom Pakistan, Malaysia, India, and emerging research hubs like Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.

Keyword analysis

The keyword analysis helps to identify the frequency of occurrence of specific keywords or terms within the literature, as shown in Figure 9 . Identify the clusters or groups of terms that frequently co-occur and explore interdisciplinary connections. The most frequent keywords were “sustainability” (appeared in 78 papers), “green HRM” (65), “environmental performance” (54), and “employee behaviour” (47).

Co-authorship analysis

The relationships or social connections between authors, as shown in Figure 10 . The co-authorship analysis highlights the central role of T. Ramayah and Yukun Cao in their respective research networks. These findings underscore the importance of key authors in facilitating research collaboration and the potential for cross-cluster partnerships to enhance interdisciplinary research efforts.

The bibliometric analysis underscores the dynamic evolution of GHRM research, particularly its rapid growth in the past decade. The sharp rise in 2023 suggests a peak in attention, possibly influenced by global environmental policies or corporate pressures. The increasing number of publications, especially in the last five years, reflects the growing importance of sustainability in organizational strategies. The heightened focus on GHRM underscores its alignment with global trends that emphasize environmental responsibility and sustainable development. This reflects an increasing recognition of the strategic role HRM plays in fostering environmental sustainability. Our paper reinforces the theoretical alignment between HRM strategies and sustainability frameworks, such as the Resource-Based View (RBV) and Stakeholder Theory ( Kulkov, 2021 ). The findings align well with the Resource-Based View (RBV), which posits that organizations can gain sustained competitive advantage through strategic internal resources, including environmentally conscious HR practices ( Barney, 1991 ). Green HRM, in this context, becomes a valuable, rare, and inimitable capability contributing to firm-level sustainability.

Simultaneously, Stakeholder Theory ( Freeman, 1984 ) emphasizes the importance of addressing the concerns of multiple stakeholder groups. GHRM practices, such as employee engagement in green initiatives and corporate responsibility, directly contribute to satisfying the environmental and ethical expectations of stakeholders.

Key themes, such as sustainable supply chain management, employee green behavior, and the role of transformational leadership in promoting green innovation, have emerged as critical areas of focus ( Zhao & Huang, 2022 ). These highlight an interdisciplinary nexus but also suggest a need for deeper exploration of underrepresented topics like employee well-being in green initiatives and a shift from traditional HR practices to a more integrated approach that includes ecological considerations, contributing to the development of Green HR theories.

The study identified foundational works and authors shaping the intellectual discourse in GHRM. The prominence of co-citation networks involving researchers such as Renwick and Dumont highlights the interdisciplinary nature of GHRM, bridging organizational behavior, environmental management, and HRM. Authors like Ramayah and Cao show strong research networks, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in advancing the field.

The analysis revealed significant contributions from Asian countries, with China leading the research output. The solid regional collaboration suggests that GHRM is particularly relevant in emerging economies where sustainability challenges are pressing.

The findings of this study offer several actionable insights for HR managers aiming to integrate Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) practices into organizational strategies. Table 3 provides essential implications particularly relevant for HR practitioners in the Asia-Pacific region, where sustainability challenges and opportunities are distinct.

Table 3. Practical implications for HR managers.

This study focuses on GHRM trends in the Asia-Pacific region, so it is essential to position these findings within the broader global research landscape. Table 4 presents a comparative summary of key aspects of GHRM research in Asia and globally, highlighting the unique contributions of the Asia-Pacific region to advancing GHRM practices. This comparison underscores Asia’s emerging leader in sustainability-oriented HR strategies while identifying areas for further global integration and cross-regional collaboration.

Future studies should focus on developing theoretical frameworks that link GHRM practices with organizational outcomes such as innovation, employee engagement, and operational efficiency. While descriptive patterns of GHRM are now well documented, the field requires further theoretical articulation. Future research could synthesize GHRM with theories such as Institutional Theory, examining how national cultures and regulatory pressures influence green practices. Additionally, the role of Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) in facilitating employee-driven environmental change deserves theoretical exploration. For example, exploring the interplay between green transformational leadership and GHRM could yield insights into enhancing eco-friendly organizational behavior.

The majority of GHRM research has been conducted in the Asian context. Comparative studies across regions or industries are needed to understand how cultural, regulatory, and economic factors influence the adoption and effectiveness of GHRM practices.

Most studies rely on bibliometric or survey-based methodologies. Future research could adopt mixed-method approaches, combining quantitative and qualitative data to provide richer insights into GHRM practices and their impact.

Incorporate mixed methods, longitudinal studies, and qualitative analyses to capture nuanced employee perspectives on GHRM policies. Utilize experimental designs to measure the direct impact of GHRM strategies on organizational performance and environmental outcomes. Future studies could investigate the long-term benefits of green policies, such as reduced carbon footprints and enhanced employee retention.

The role of digital tools and technologies in enabling GHRM is an emerging area that warrants further exploration. For instance, integrating AI and big data analytics into HRM processes could enhance the precision and effectiveness of green initiatives.

By incorporating these avenues, future studies can build on the current analysis to address gaps and drive innovation in GHRM research, contributing to global sustainability goals.