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The Influence of Smart Supply Chain Policies on Corporate Green Transformation: Empirical Evidence and Implications

Author(s)

Ziqi Zhai1,2,#, Yanfei Su1,2,#,*

Affiliation(s)

1UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia 2SILC Business School, Shanghai University, 20 Chengzhong Road, Jiading District, Shanghai, China *Corresponding Author #Ziqi Zhai and Yanfei Su contributed equally to this work

Abstract

As the global movement toward carbon neutrality accelerates and China continues to advance its 'dual-carbon' goals, smart supply chain initiatives have become crucial tools for combining digital innovation with sustainable practices and fostering high-quality corporate growth. Drawing on panel data from Chinese A-share listed companies between 2010 and 2023, this study uses a difference-in-differences (DID) method to assess the impact of smart supply chain models on corporate green transformation. The findings show that these models significantly improve firms’ environmental performance, with especially strong effects seen in non-state-owned companies, enterprises in eastern China, firms outside the high-tech sector, pollution-intensive industries, and those in the growth or decline phases of their life cycles. Additionally, the study finds that contextual elements play an important role: stronger environmental regulation boosts the positive effects, while higher industry concentration weakens them. Mediation analysis highlights that green innovation, green investment, and financing constraints are key channels through which smart supply chain upgrades drive sustainability outcomes. These insights help improve the institutional framework for intelligent supply chain systems and provide valuable evidence to support the green transition of businesses.

Keywords

Smart Supply Chain; Corporate Green Transformation; Environmental Regulation Intensity; Industry Concentration; Difference-in-Differences Model

References

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