This　study　seeks　to　explore　the　intricate　relationship　between　total　quality　management　(TQM)　and　environmental　performance　(EP),　incorporating　the　mediating　role　of　green　manufacturing　practices　(GMPs).　Additionally,　the　study　examines　the　moderating　impact　of　environmental　strategy　on　the　connections　between　GMPs　and　EP.　Data　were　collected　through　a　questionnaire　distributed　to　managers　of　manufacturing　small　and　medium-sized　enterprises　(SMEs)　and　were　subjected　to　analysis　using　structural　equation　modeling.　The　results　reveal　a　positive　and　significant　impact　of　TQM　on　EP.　Furthermore,　the　findings　suggest　that　GMPs　partially　mediate　the　association　between　TQM　and　EP,　while　the　anticipated　moderating　effect　of　environmental　strategy　between　GMPs　and　EP　is　also　supported　in　this　study.　These　outcomes　hold　valuable　implications　for　enhancing　the　environmental　performance　of　SMEs　through　the　integration　of　TQM　and　GMPs.　It　is　important　to　note　that　this　research　exclusively　focuses　on　manufacturing　SMEs;　therefore,　future　studies　should　extend　their　examination　of　this　concept　to　other　industries.　Additionally,　the　study’s　findings　provide　a　valuable　roadmap　for　SME　administrators　aiming　to　elevate　their　environmental　performance.　©　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　licence　to　Springer-Verlag　GmbH　Germany,　part　of　Springer　Nature　2024.