Oct 2026· European journal of sustainable development research· 0 citations· 43 references
Abstract
In the context of growing environmental concerns and digital transformation, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging economies face increasing pressure to improve sustainable performance (SP). Green logistics management (GLM) and Industry 4.0 technologies (ID4.0) have emerged as promising solutions. However, previous studies have often examined these dynamics individually and failed to capture the mediation mechanisms particularly circular economy practices (CEP) and waste management (WM) that transform digital and green capabilities into sustainable outcomes. This study aims to develop and empirically test an integrated model that investigates the direct and indirect effects of green logistics management and ID4.0 on SP, with CEP and WM as mediating variables. The model is evaluated using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) conducted in R. Data were collected from 144 respondents representing manufacturing and logistics SMEs in Vietnam. The findings confirm that GLM positively influences both CEP (β = 0.644) and SP (β = 0.276), while ID4.0 significantly impacts WM (β = 0.575) but has only a modest direct effect on SP (β = 0.126). CEP (β = 0.225) and WM (β = 0.388) both play significant mediating roles, reinforcing their importance in sustainable performance. This study contributes to sustainability research by validating a comprehensive framework that connects digitalization, green logistics, and environmental process integration. For practitioners, the results offer a strategic roadmap for SMEs to enhance SP through the simultaneous adoption of ID4.0 technologies, green logistics practices, and circular economy principles.
In the context of ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and the post–COVID‐19 environment, firms in developing economies face increasing pressure to adopt advanced digital technologies while simultaneously improving their environmental responsibility. Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies are widely recognized as enablers of sustainable operations; however, empirical evidence explaining how these technologies translate into improved environmental performance (EP) through responsible supply chain practices remains limited. Addressing this gap, the present study examines the effect of I4.0 technologies on EP, emphasizing the mediating role of green supply chain management (GSCM) and the moderating influence of government regulation. Using survey data collected from textile manufacturing firms in Pakistan, the proposed moderated mediation model is tested employing partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS‐SEM) and importance–performance map analysis (IPMA). The results demonstrate that I4.0 technologies have a significant and positive influence on the EP; while GSCM significantly and positively mediates the association between I4.0 technologies and EP, and government regulation positively moderates the relationship between GSCM and EP. The results highlight the complementary roles of digital transformation, green supply chain practices, and regulatory governance in promoting environmental sustainability. This study offers actionable insights for managers and policymakers seeking to align technological innovation with corporate social responsibility and environmental management objectives in developing economies.
Zulfiqar Ali, Shi Qiang Liu, Xinyu Huang et al.· Corporate Social Responsibil...· 0 citations
Green supply chain management (GSCM) has become a strategic requirement for industrial firms seeking to reduce environmental harm while improving long-term sustainability performance. Despite growing interest in green procurement, eco-design, green manufacturing, and green distribution, limited empirical evidence explains how these practices are converted into sustainability performance through collaborative environmental action in the Sultanate of Oman. Guided by the Natural Resource-Based View, this study examines the effects of four GSCM practices on environmental collaboration and investigates the mediating role of environmental collaboration in the relationship between GSCM practices and sustainability performance. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted among procurement, manufacturing, logistics, and supply chain professionals working in Omani industries. From 520 questionnaires distributed, 342 valid responses were retained for analysis. The data were analyzed using Smart PLS 4.0 and partial least squares structural equation modelling. The measurement model demonstrated acceptable reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. The structural results show that eco-design, green procurement, green manufacturing, and green distribution have significant positive effects on environmental collaboration. Environmental collaboration, in turn, has a strong positive effect on sustainability performance. The indirect effects also support the mediation of the relationships between the GSCM practices and the sustainability performance, confirming the mediation chain. The results indicated that green practices are not enough; they have to be integrated with the collaboration of suppliers, customers, logistics and other functions within the company to make green practices produce results in terms of performance. The study adds to GSCM and sustainability literature by providing a relational mechanism that determines the contribution of green practices to the industrial sustainability of the Oman context.
Shahzad Ahmad Khan, D. Muniyanayaka, Khalifa Al Adabi et al.· Journal of Intelligent Decis...· 0 citations
The global business environment is increasingly shaped by environmental concerns, regulatory pressures, and stakeholder demands for sustainability, compelling Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in emerging economies to adopt sustainable business practices. This study conducts a systematic literature review to examine the integration of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) and Total Quality Management (TQM) as strategies for enhancing MSME performance and long-term sustainability. The review highlights that GSCM embeds environmental considerations across supply chain activities ranging from procurement and production to distribution and end-of-life product management while TQM fosters continuous improvement, stakeholder involvement, and quality-driven processes. The synergy between GSCM and TQM is shown to amplify both environmental and organizational benefits, although adoption and effectiveness vary across different institutional and resource contexts. The advanced institutional support and quality management integration facilitate better GSCM–TQM synergy, whereas Indonesia faces challenges such as limited resources and uneven technological adoption. The findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of how integrated quality and environmental management strategies can be adapted to diverse MSME ecosystems, offering practical insights for policymakers and practitioners aiming to foster resilient and sustainable enterprises.
A. D. Witjaksono, U. Hartono, Sanaji et al.· Veredas do Direito· 0 citations
PURPOSE: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging economies face increasing pressure to improve Environmental Management Performance (EMP) under severe resource constraints. Within the green economy paradigm, green dynamic capabilities (GDCs), a firm’s ability to sense environmental opportunities, seize green markets, and reconfigure processes, are important organizational capabilities associated with improving environmental outcomes. Although green technologies (GT) are widely promoted as a solution, adoption alone may be insufficient. This study examines the association between GT and EMP in SMEs by investigating the mediating role of GDCs and the moderating role of green innovation (GI), drawing on green resource orchestration (GRO) and dynamic capabilities view. METHODOLOGY: A quantitative, cross-sectional design using survey data from 266 Green SMEs in Addis Ababa was employed. Data from owner-managers were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). FINDINGS: The total GT–EMP association (estimated from a model without the mediator GDCs) was β = 0.280 (p < 0.001). GDCs show a statistically significant but substantively modest complementary role in the GT–EMP relationship, with an indirect effect through GDCs of β = 0.030 (95% CI [0.008, 0.062]). GI negatively moderates the GDCs–EMP relationship (β = -0.186, p = 0.002) in the main model. However, this effect is not robust to the inclusion of firm-level controls.The cross-sectional design precludes causal claims. IMPLICATIONS: The study contributes to the GRO and GDCs literature by providing findings consistent with a GRO interpretation, suggesting that EMP is associated with managerial coordination beyond mere resource possession. For practitioners and policymakers, the findings highlight the importance of balancing technology adoption and innovation with internal capability development. ORIGINALITY & VALUE: This research provides novel empirical evidence from an underexplored African emerging economy and demonstrates a negative moderating role for GI in the sustainability capability nexus.
Leul Girma Haylemariam· Journal of Entrepreneurship,...· 0 citations
Growing pressures for environmental responsibility have intensified the need for manufacturing SMEs to pursue sustainability as a core strategic priority, especially as these firms often operate under severe resource constraints. In this context, firms increasingly adopt advanced digital technologies such as big data analytics–artificial intelligence to strengthen their environmental, social, and economic performance. Guided by the Resource‐Based View (RBV), this study contributes to the ongoing discussion on how digital technologies support sustainable development by proposing the mediating roles of green supply chain management and green innovation in the relationship between BDA–AI capability and sustainable performance. The study further examines whether organizational green culture enhances the ability of BDA–AI to foster green capabilities. Using survey data from 388 Chinese manufacturing SMEs and structural equation modeling through SmartPLS, the findings show that BDA–AI significantly improves GSCM, GI, and sustainable performance. Mediation results confirm that GSCM and GI act as essential mechanisms through which BDA–AI generates environmental and operational benefits. However, the moderating influence of OGC is uneven: it significantly strengthens the pathway from BDA–AI to GI, whereas its effect on the BDA–AI to GSCM relationship remains insignificant. These insights highlight that digital adoption alone is insufficient; sustainability gains emerge when technological investment is accompanied by strong green capabilities and supportive cultural values.
Qing Chong, T. Ramayah· Business Strategy and the En...· 0 citations
Achieving circular economy performance (CEP) in resource‐constrained economies depends on the combined influence of organisational culture and green supply chain integration (GSCI). Although both have received increasing attention in the sustainability literature, little is known about how different organisational culture types interact with GSCI to enhance CEP. This study addresses this gap using the competing values framework (CVF) and analysing survey data collected from 311 managers of manufacturing SMEs. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS‐SEM) was used to examine the hypothesized relationships; necessary condition analysis (NCA) was employed to identify conditions that are essential for achieving CEP; and importance‐performance map analysis (IPMA) was conducted to identify improvement priorities. The findings reveal that apart from rational culture, the three cultural dimensions (developmental, group and hierarchical) significantly enhance CEP, with the model explaining 54.7% of CEP variance. Green internal integration and green customer integration also have significant positive effects on CEP, whereas green supplier integration does not. Furthermore, green internal integration significantly mediates the relationships between all four organisational culture types and CEP. The NCA results further identify developmental culture (d = 0.275), rational culture (d = 0.191), hierarchical culture (d = 0.160) and green internal integration (d = 0.146) as necessary conditions for achieving CEP. This study extends the application of the CVF to CE contexts in Sub‐Saharan Africa where empirical evidence is scarce. The study provides both theoretical understanding and practical guidance for improving circular economy performance among manufacturing SMEs.
Adwoa Benewaa Brefo-Manuh, Gabriel Dwomoh, F. Tetteh· Business Strategy and the En...· 0 citations
