IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/finlet/v73y2025ics1544612324017021.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Data-Driven sustainability: Examining the impact of data element utilization on corporate ESG performance

Author

Listed:
  • Zhao, Yidan
  • Zhang, Cong
  • Zhao, Yiming
  • Zhou, Lin

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of data element utilization on corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance among Chinese listed companies, emphasizing the moderating influence of organizational resilience and various effects across different corporate life cycle stages. Using a comprehensive dataset of 28,962 firm–year observations from 2010 to 2022, this study reveals a positive correlation between data element utilization and improved ESG performance, which is significantly strengthened by organizational resilience. Additionally, the positive impact of data element utilization on ESG performance is more pronounced for firms in growing and declining life cycle stages, whereas the effect is less significant for mature firms. The findings highlight the critical role of sophisticated data management strategies and organizational resilience in enhancing corporate sustainability efforts. Companies should consider these factors when implementing data-driven strategies for sustainability, with a particular focus on the firm's life cycle stage to maximize ESG performance improvement.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhao, Yidan & Zhang, Cong & Zhao, Yiming & Zhou, Lin, 2025. "Data-Driven sustainability: Examining the impact of data element utilization on corporate ESG performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:73:y:2025:i:c:s1544612324017021
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2024.106673
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1544612324017021
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.frl.2024.106673?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jiapeng Dai & Qiao Liang & Eddy Tat Hiung Yap, 2024. "Driving Corporate Sustainable Development: Assessing the Impact of ESG Disclosure on Sustainable Growth," Palgrave Studies in Impact Finance, in: Ahmed Imran Hunjra & John W. Goodell (ed.), The Palgrave Handbook of Green Finance for Sustainable Development, chapter 0, pages 595-616, Palgrave Macmillan.
    2. Xiaofang Chen & Yilei Li & Yu Hu & Guangyu Yu, 2023. "The Impact of General Manager’s Responsible Leadership and Executive Compensation Incentive on Enterprise ESG Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-16, August.
    3. Alkaraan, Fadi & Albitar, Khaldoon & Hussainey, Khaled & Venkatesh, VG, 2022. "Corporate transformation toward Industry 4.0 and financial performance: The influence of environmental, social, and governance (ESG)," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    4. Guangyou Zhou & Lian Liu & Sumei Luo, 2022. "Sustainable development, ESG performance and company market value: Mediating effect of financial performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(7), pages 3371-3387, November.
    5. Shenshen Zhang, 2024. "The impact of digital transformation on ESG performance and the moderation of mixed‐ownership reform: The evidence from Chinese state‐owned enterprises," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(3), pages 2195-2210, May.
    6. Li, Lu & Zhou, Shiqi & Xu, Wei & Dai, Jiapeng, 2024. "Green innovation's impact on corporate financing: New insights from BRICS economies," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PB).
    7. Xu, Nana & Chen, Jiaqi & Zhou, Fangzhao & Dong, Qing & He, Zhifang, 2023. "Corporate ESG and resilience of stock prices in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    8. Lin Liang & Yan Li, 2023. "The double‐edged sword effect of organizational resilience on ESG performance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(6), pages 2852-2872, November.
    9. Susanne Arvidsson & John Dumay, 2022. "Corporate ESG reporting quantity, quality and performance: Where to now for environmental policy and practice?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3), pages 1091-1110, March.
    10. Yang Yang & Jinmian Han, 2023. "Digital transformation, financing constraints, and corporate environmental, social, and governance performance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(6), pages 3189-3202, November.
    11. Kedan Wang & Shanshan Yu & Mei Mei & Xiao Yang & Geng Peng & Benfu Lv, 2023. "ESG Performance and Corporate Resilience: An Empirical Analysis Based on the Capital Allocation Efficiency Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-31, November.
    12. Awan, Usama & Shamim, Saqib & Khan, Zaheer & Zia, Najam Ul & Shariq, Syed Muhammad & Khan, Muhammad Naveed, 2021. "Big data analytics capability and decision-making: The role of data-driven insight on circular economy performance," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    13. Feifei Zhao & Zhipeng Han & Liguo Wang, 2024. "Digitization path to improve ESG performance: A study on organizational perspectives," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(12), pages 1-20, December.
    14. Stephanie Duchek, 2020. "Organizational resilience: a capability-based conceptualization," Business Research, Springer;German Academic Association for Business Research, vol. 13(1), pages 215-246, April.
    15. Wang, Haijun & Jiao, Shuaipeng & Ma, Chao, 2024. "The impact of ESG responsibility performance on corporate resilience," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 93(PB), pages 1115-1129.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Dongheng Han & Zhihui Li & Xun Cui & Lin Liang, 2025. "How Can We Improve the ESG Performance of Manufacturing Enterprises?—The Carbon Resilience Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-26, March.
    2. Li, Yu & Zhong, Huiyi & Tong, Qiye, 2024. "Artificial intelligence, dynamic capabilities, and corporate financial asset allocation," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 96(PB).
    3. Hao, Xiaoli & Sun, Qingyu & Li, Ke & Li, Peilun & Wu, Haitao, 2024. "Does environmental decentralisation improve ESG performance? Evidence from listed companies in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    4. Jin, Shaorong & Xiong, Ruoyu & Peng, Huan & Tang, Shiyu, 2025. "ESG performance and private enterprise resilience: Evidence from Chinese financial markets," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    5. Tan, Yingxue & Lin, Bo & Wang, Leyi, 2025. "Green finance and corporate environmental performance," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    6. Cai, Cen & Li, Yijia & Tu, Yongqian, 2024. "Big data capabilities, ESG performance and corporate value," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA).
    7. Ruixin Su & Na Li, 2024. "Environmental, Social, and Governance Performance, Platform Governance, and Value Creation of Platform Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-21, August.
    8. Yu Sang & Kannan Loganathan & Lu Lin, 2024. "Digital Transformation and Firm ESG Performance: The Mediating Role of Corporate Risk-Taking and the Moderating Role of Top Management Team," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-18, July.
    9. Kang, Songhee & Hong, Ahreum, 2025. "Navigating ESG challenges in ICT: Risks and rewards across the pandemic landscape," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    10. Xue, Qinyuan & Jin, Yifei & Zhang, Cheng, 2024. "ESG rating results and corporate total factor productivity," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 95(PA).
    11. Cai, Cen & Tu, Yongqian & Li, Zhi, 2023. "Enterprise digital transformation and ESG performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PD).
    12. Zhao, Xinlu & Zhang, Huixue, 2024. "How does ESG performance determine the level of specific financing in capital structure? New insights from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 95(PC).
    13. Mohy-ud-Din, Kamran, 2024. "ESG reporting, corporate green innovation and interaction role of board diversity: A new insight from US," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(4).
    14. Yang, Yanwu & Ren, Haili & Liu, Yutong & Yang, Yusen, 2025. "Integration of technology and finance, digital transformation and corporate green innovation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    15. Alan Kai Ming Au & Yi-Fan Yang & Huan Wang & Rui-Hong Chen & Leven J. Zheng, 2023. "Mapping the Landscape of ESG Strategies: A Bibliometric Review and Recommendations for Future Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-26, December.
    16. Chen, Lifeng & Khurram, Muhammad Usman & Gao, Yuying & Abedin, Mohammad Zoynul & Lucey, Brian, 2023. "ESG disclosure and technological innovation capabilities of the Chinese listed companies," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    17. Riccardo Savio & Edoardo D’Andrassi & Francesca Ventimiglia, 2023. "A Systematic Literature Review on ESG during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-17, January.
    18. Zhang, Xiaohan & Yang, Xi & Fu, Qiuyao, 2025. "Digital economy, dynamic capabilities, and corporate innovation boundary," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    19. Fei Qin & Mao Zhang, 2024. "The Impact of High-Tech Policies on Corporate ESG Performance: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-25, November.
    20. Jeehan Awad & Rodrigo Martín‐Rojas, 2024. "Enhancing social responsibility and resilience through entrepreneurship and digital environment," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(3), pages 1688-1704, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:73:y:2025:i:c:s1544612324017021. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/frl .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.