The mediating role of supplier relationship management in enhancing green supply chain performance

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate how Environmental Regulatory Pressure (ERP), Market and Customer Green Pressure (MCP), Cost Pressure (CP), Top Management Environmental Commitment (TMEC), and Green Technological Readiness (GTR) influence Green Supply Chain Performance (GSCP) in Bangladesh’s agriculture and fisheries processing sector, with Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) as a mediator. Design / methodology / approach: A quantitative survey collected primary data from agriculture and fisheries processing firms in Bangladesh. Purposive sampling ensured respondents had relevant knowledge of sustainability and supply chain practices. A total of 417 valid responses were analyzed using SmartPLS 4 through structural equation modeling to test direct and indirect relationships among variables. Findings: The findings demonstrate that the majority of sustainability drivers exhibit a positive influence on GSCP, with SRM playing an essential mediating role in transforming these drivers into effective operational green performance. ERP, MCP, CP, and GTR demonstrated significant direct and indirect effects, whereas TMEC necessitates coordination via SRM to influence GSCP effectively. These findings emphasize the necessity of incorporating external forces, internal capabilities, and relational mechanisms to attain sustainable supply chain results. Practical implications: Firms should strengthen SRM practices, align green technologies with sustainability goals, and effectively respond to regulatory and market pressures to improve GSCP. Social implications: The study promotes environmentally responsible supply chain practices that support resource efficiency and reduced ecological impact in emerging economies. Originality / value: The study integrates Institutional Theory, Natural Resource-Based View, and Relational View Theory, providing empirical evidence on SRM’s mediating role in enhancing green supply chain performance in a developing country context.