IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i4p1199-d320185.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Environmental Orientation, Green Supply Chain Management, and Firm Performance: Empirical Evidence from Chinese Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Author

Listed:
  • Xiangzhi Bu

    (Department of Business Administration, Business School, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong 515063, China)

  • Wilson V.T. Dang

    (Department of Business Administration, Dong Nai Technology University, Bien Hoa, Dong Nai 810000, Vietnam)

  • Jianming Wang

    (School of Business Administration, Zhejiang University of Finance & Economics, Hangzhou 310018, China)

  • Qiu Liu

    (Department of Business Administration, Business School, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong 515063, China)

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between environmental orientation and firm performance with the mediating role of green supply chain management (GSCM). This study uses a survey questionnaire to collect data from 247 CEOs from Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Structural equation modeling is used to analyze data and test hypotheses. Empirical results show that internal and external environmental orientations are positively related to the three elements of GSCM, namely, environmental selection, monitoring, and collaboration with suppliers which are also positively related to firm performance. In addition, results show that environmental selection, monitoring, and collaboration with suppliers mediates the relationship between internal and external environmental orientations and firm performance. The findings provide important implications for academic researchers and business managers in planning and implementing environmental strategies. In terms of theoretical implications, this study sheds a new light to current knowledge about the effect of environmental orientation on GSCM and firm performance of SMEs. This study also provides empirical evidence to clarify the mediating mechanism of GSCM in the link between environmental orientation and firm performance of SMEs. In terms of practical implications, this study provides knowledge for managers of SMEs to better understand the important role of environmental orientation and green supply chain management. Findings of this study provide knowledge for managers of SMEs to make their business policies better.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiangzhi Bu & Wilson V.T. Dang & Jianming Wang & Qiu Liu, 2020. "Environmental Orientation, Green Supply Chain Management, and Firm Performance: Empirical Evidence from Chinese Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-17, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:4:p:1199-:d:320185
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/4/1199/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/4/1199/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Menguc, Bulent & Ozanne, Lucie K., 2005. "Challenges of the "green imperative": a natural resource-based approach to the environmental orientation-business performance relationship," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 58(4), pages 430-438, April.
    2. Massoud Moslehpour & Van Kien Pham & Wing-Keung Wong & İsmail Bilgiçli, 2018. "e-Purchase Intention of Taiwanese Consumers: Sustainable Mediation of Perceived Usefulness and Perceived Ease of Use," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-17, January.
    3. Chan, Ricky Y.K., 2010. "Corporate environmentalism pursuit by foreign firms competing in China," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 80-92, January.
    4. Zhu, Qinghua & Geng, Yong & Sarkis, Joseph & Lai, Kee-hung, 2011. "Evaluating green supply chain management among Chinese manufacturers from the ecological modernization perspective," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(6), pages 808-821.
    5. Vito Albino & Azzurra Balice & Rosa Maria Dangelico, 2009. "Environmental strategies and green product development: an overview on sustainability‐driven companies," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(2), pages 83-96, February.
    6. Massoud Moslehpour & Wing-Keung Wong & Yi Hsin Lin & Thi Huyen Nguyen, 2018. "Top purchase intention priorities of Vietnamese low cost carrier passengers: expectations and satisfaction," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 8(4), pages 371-389, December.
    7. Gavronski, Iuri & Klassen, Robert D. & Vachon, Stephan & Nascimento, Luis Felipe Machado do, 2011. "A resource-based view of green supply management," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(6), pages 872-885.
    8. Hirunyawipada, Tanawat & Xiong, Guiyang, 2018. "Corporate environmental commitment and financial performance: Moderating effects of marketing and operations capabilities," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 22-31.
    9. Banerjee, Subhabrata Bobby, 2002. "Corporate environmentalism: the construct and its measurement," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 55(3), pages 177-191, March.
    10. Birger Wernerfelt, 1984. "A resource‐based view of the firm," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 5(2), pages 171-180, April.
    11. Dincer, Ibrahim, 1999. "Environmental impacts of energy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 27(14), pages 845-854, December.
    12. Pujari, Devashish & Wright, Gillian & Peattie, Ken, 2003. "Green and competitive: Influences on environmental new product development performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 56(8), pages 657-671, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Muhammad Ishfaq Khan & Shahbaz Khalid & Umer Zaman & Ana Ercília José & Paulo Ferreira, 2021. "Green Paradox in Emerging Tourism Supply Chains: Achieving Green Consumption Behavior through Strategic Green Marketing Orientation, Brand Social Responsibility, and Green Image," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-24, September.
    2. Maya Novitasari & Anggita Langgeng Wijaya & Nindya Mariana Agustin & Ardi Gunardi & Leo‐Paul Dana, 2023. "Corporate social responsibility and firm performance: Green supply chain management as a mediating variable," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(1), pages 267-276, January.
    3. Bashar Barakat & Marwan Milhem & Gehad Mohammed Ahmed Naji & Mohammed Alzoraiki & Habsah Binti Muda & Ali Ateeq & Zahida Abro, 2023. "Assessing the Impact of Green Training on Sustainable Business Advantage: Exploring the Mediating Role of Green Supply Chain Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-21, September.
    4. Ge Zhang & Yuxiang Gao & Gaoyong Li, 2023. "Research on Digital Transformation and Green Technology Innovation—Evidence from China’s Listed Manufacturing Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-23, April.
    5. Naila Nureen & Da Liu & Muhammad Irfan & Maida Malik & Usama Awan, 2023. "Nexuses among Green Supply Chain Management, Green Human Capital, Managerial Environmental Knowledge, and Firm Performance: Evidence from a Developing Country," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-22, March.
    6. Ali Ibrahim Balin & Kazim Sari, 2023. "The Effect of Green Purchasing Practices on Financial Performance under the Mediating Role of Environmental Performance: Evidence from Türkiye," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-15, February.
    7. Hua Feng & Fengyan Wang & Guomin Song & Lanlan Liu, 2022. "Digital Transformation on Enterprise Green Innovation: Effect and Transmission Mechanism," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-31, August.

    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. Nguyen Phong Nguyen & Samuel Adomako, 2022. "International orientation and environmental performance in Vietnamese exporting small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 2424-2436, July.
    2. López-Gamero, María D. & Molina-Azorín, José F. & Claver-Cortés, Enrique, 2011. "Environmental uncertainty and environmental management perception: A multiple case study," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 64(4), pages 427-435, April.
    3. Rosa Maria Dangelico & Pierpaolo Pontrandolfo, 2015. "Being ‘Green and Competitive’: The Impact of Environmental Actions and Collaborations on Firm Performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(6), pages 413-430, September.
    4. Andersén, Jim, 2021. "A relational natural-resource-based view on product innovation: The influence of green product innovation and green suppliers on differentiation advantage in small manufacturing firms," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    5. Liwei Feng & Wenwen Zhao & Hui Li & Yongtao Song, 2018. "The Effect of Environmental Orientation on Green Innovation: Do Political Ties Matter?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-15, December.
    6. Yang Chen & Guiyao Tang & Jiafei Jin & Ji Li & Pascal Paillé, 2015. "Linking Market Orientation and Environmental Performance: The Influence of Environmental Strategy, Employee’s Environmental Involvement, and Environmental Product Quality," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 127(2), pages 479-500, March.
    7. Ardito, Lorenzo & Raby, Simon & Albino, Vito & Bertoldi, Bernardo, 2021. "The duality of digital and environmental orientations in the context of SMEs: Implications for innovation performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 44-56.
    8. Ricky Y. K. Chan & Katherine H. Y. Ma, 2016. "Environmental Orientation of Exporting SMEs from an Emerging Economy: Its Antecedents and Consequences," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 56(5), pages 597-632, October.
    9. Eerdun Taoketao & Taiwen Feng & Yongtao Song & Yu Nie, 2018. "Does sustainability marketing strategy achieve payback profits? A signaling theory perspective," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(6), pages 1039-1049, November.
    10. Farida Saleem & Saiqa Saddiqa Qureshi & Muhammad Imran Malik, 2021. "Impact of Environmental Orientation on Proactive and Reactive Environmental Strategies: Mediating Role of Business Environmental Commitment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-16, July.
    11. Rivera-Camino, Jaime, 2012. "Corporate environmental market responsiveness: A model of individual and organizational drivers," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 65(3), pages 402-411.
    12. Akintunde Olayeni & Anastasia Ogbo & Henry Okwo & Benjamin Chukwu & Chuka Ifediora & Charity Ezenwakwelu, 2021. "Green Strategy Effect on Financial and Environmental Performance: A Mediation Analysis of Product Quality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-17, February.
    13. Kang Tan & Abu Bakkar Siddik & Farid Ahammad Sobhani & Muhammad Hamayun & Mohammad Masukujjaman, 2022. "Do Environmental Strategy and Awareness Improve Firms’ Environmental and Financial Performance? The Role of Competitive Advantage," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-24, August.
    14. Leonidou, Leonidas C. & Fotiadis, Thomas A. & Christodoulides, Paul & Spyropoulou, Stavroula & Katsikeas, Constantine S., 2015. "Environmentally friendly export business strategy: Its determinants and effects on competitive advantage and performance," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 24(5), pages 798-811.
    15. Markus Hang & Jerome Geyer‐Klingeberg & Andreas W. Rathgeber, 2019. "It is merely a matter of time: A meta‐analysis of the causality between environmental performance and financial performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(2), pages 257-273, February.
    16. Wagner, Marcus, 2015. "The link of environmental and economic performance: Drivers and limitations of sustainability integration," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(6), pages 1306-1317.
    17. Leonidou, Leonidas C. & Leonidou, Constantinos N. & Fotiadis, Thomas A. & Zeriti, Athina, 2013. "Resources and capabilities as drivers of hotel environmental marketing strategy: Implications for competitive advantage and performance," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 94-110.
    18. Ki‐Hoon Lee & Ji‐Whan Kim, 2011. "Integrating Suppliers into Green Product Innovation Development: an Empirical Case Study in the Semiconductor Industry," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 20(8), pages 527-538, December.
    19. Fracarolli Nunes, Mauro & Lee Park, Camila & Shin, Hyunju, 2021. "Corporate social and environmental irresponsibilities in supply chains, contamination, and damage of intangible resources: A behavioural approach," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    20. Dibrell, Clay & Craig, Justin B. & Hansen, Eric N., 2011. "How managerial attitudes toward the natural environment affect market orientation and innovation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 64(4), pages 401-407, April.

    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:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:4:p:1199-:d:320185. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.