Green manufacturing is gaining traction across industries as a response to intensifying global environmental concerns and rising demand for sustainable production methods. The growth of green manufacturing research can be attributed to the misalignment between traditional manufacturing industries’ characteristics and global environmental conservation, as these sectors face mounting pressure to reduce their ecological footprint while maintaining (or increasing) their economic impact. This article aims to develop current knowledge on the challenges, opportunities, and future directions in the green manufacturing literature. A total of 78 articles from the fields of business, management, and economics were retrieved from the Scopus Database and evaluated using thematic analysis. This study uses eight themes for thematic analysis such as Green Supply Chain Management; Green Innovation and Product Development; Lean, Agile, and Green Integration; Circular Economy and End-of-Life Management; Digital Transformation and Technology in Green Manufacturing; Sustainability Performance and Environmental Management Systems; Green Finance and Policy Interventions; and Challenges in Adopting Green Practices in SMEs. The researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders of the manufacturing industry can use the findings of this study as a valuable reference for attaining the targets of sustainable development Goal (SDG) 13 (climate change), SDG 08 (decent economic growth), SDG 09 (green innovations) and environmental, social, and economic benefits.