IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/palcom/v12y2025i1d10.1057_s41599-025-04389-8.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Examining the relationship between technological innovation, environmental social governance and corporate sustainability: the moderating role of green operational innovation

Author

Listed:
  • Oluwole Nurudeen Omonijo

    (Central South University)

  • Yunsheng Zhang

    (Central South University)

Abstract

While environmental social governance (ESG) and technological innovation are important foundations for corporate sustainability, how ESG activities and technological innovation impact corporate sustainability remains limited in the current literature. This study therefore examined the relationship between corporate sustainability, ESG activities and technological innovation through the moderating role of green operational innovation. To achieve the aims of this study, primary data were collected from 488 respondents of mobile app platform users for hypothesis testing. The collected data were analyzed using statistical analysis such as SPSS and AMOS. Findings show that ESG activities and technological innovation are related to corporate sustainability. This study finds green operational innovation to positively moderates the relationship between ESG, technological innovation, and corporate sustainability. This study further affirms that corporate sustainability can benefit from ESG activities, while green operational innovation can contribute to sustainable corporate growth and promote technological innovation activities. The originality of this study lies in the evidence that ESG activities, technological innovation, and green operational innovation are important factors that drive firms’ sustainable growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Oluwole Nurudeen Omonijo & Yunsheng Zhang, 2025. "Examining the relationship between technological innovation, environmental social governance and corporate sustainability: the moderating role of green operational innovation," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-15, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-025-04389-8
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-04389-8
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41599-025-04389-8
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41599-025-04389-8?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. Lei Ruan & Heng Liu, 2021. "Environmental, Social, Governance Activities and Firm Performance: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-16, January.
    2. Hoje Jo & Maretno Harjoto, 2011. "Corporate Governance and Firm Value: The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 103(3), pages 351-383, October.
    3. Mert Gürlek & Ertugrul Düzgün & Selma Meydan Uygur, 2017. "How does corporate social responsibility create customer loyalty? The role of corporate image," Social Responsibility Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 13(3), pages 409-427, August.
    4. Dwivedi, Yogesh K. & Hughes, Laurie & Ismagilova, Elvira & Aarts, Gert & Coombs, Crispin & Crick, Tom & Duan, Yanqing & Dwivedi, Rohita & Edwards, John & Eirug, Aled & Galanos, Vassilis & Ilavarasan, , 2021. "Artificial Intelligence (AI): Multidisciplinary perspectives on emerging challenges, opportunities, and agenda for research, practice and policy," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    5. Chih-Cheng Chen & Asif Khan & Tanaporn Hongsuchon & Athapol Ruangkanjanases & Yen-Tzu Chen & Ornlatcha Sivarak & Shih-Chih Chen, 2021. "The Role of Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Image in Times of Crisis: The Mediating Role of Customer Trust," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-20, August.
    6. Veronica, Scuotto & Alexeis, Garcia-Perez & Valentina, Cillo & Elisa, Giacosa, 2020. "Do stakeholder capabilities promote sustainable business innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises? Evidence from Italy," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 131-141.
    7. Gillan, Stuart L. & Koch, Andrew & Starks, Laura T., 2021. "Firms and social responsibility: A review of ESG and CSR research in corporate finance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    8. S. Prakash Sethi & Terrence F. Martell & Mert Demir, 2017. "Enhancing the Role and Effectiveness of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Reports: The Missing Element of Content Verification and Integrity Assurance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 144(1), pages 59-82, August.
    9. 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.
    10. C. B. Bhattacharya & Sankar Sen & Laura Marie Edinger-Schons & Michael Neureiter, 2023. "Corporate Purpose and Employee Sustainability Behaviors," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 183(4), pages 963-981, April.
    11. Seyedesmaeil Mousavi & Bart Bossink & Mario van Vliet, 2019. "Microfoundations of companies' dynamic capabilities for environmentally sustainable innovation: Case study insights from high‐tech innovation in science‐based companies," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(2), pages 366-387, February.
    12. Francisca Sempere-Ripoll & Sofia Estelles-Miguel & Ronald Rojas-Alvarado & Jose-Luis Hervas-Oliver, 2020. "Does Technological Innovation Drive Corporate Sustainability? Empirical Evidence for the European Financial Industry in Catching-Up and Central and Eastern Europe Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-19, March.
    13. Manjot Singh Bhatia, 2021. "Green process innovation and operational performance: The role of proactive environment strategy, technological capabilities, and organizational learning," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(7), pages 2845-2857, November.
    14. Hajir Afzali & Sang Soo Kim, 2021. "Consumers’ Responses to Corporate Social Responsibility: The Mediating Role of CSR Authenticity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-13, February.
    15. Monica Billio & Michele Costola & Iva Hristova & Carmelo Latino & Loriana Pelizzon, 2021. "Inside the ESG ratings: (Dis)agreement and performance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(5), pages 1426-1445, September.
    16. Chenglin Qing & Shanyue Jin, 2023. "Does ESG and Digital Transformation affects Corporate Sustainability? The Moderating role of Green Innovation," Papers 2311.18351, arXiv.org.
    17. Fuller, Christie M. & Simmering, Marcia J. & Atinc, Guclu & Atinc, Yasemin & Babin, Barry J., 2016. "Common methods variance detection in business research," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(8), pages 3192-3198.
    18. Fadi Alkaraan & Mahmoud Elmarzouky & Khaled Hussainey & V. G. Venkatesh & Yangyan Shi & Nadia Gulko, 2024. "Reinforcing green business strategies with Industry 4.0 and governance towards sustainability: Natural‐resource‐based view and dynamic capability," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 3588-3606, May.
    19. Thomas Dyllick & Kai Hockerts, 2002. "Beyond the business case for corporate sustainability," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 11(2), pages 130-141, March.
    20. Chen, Jiawen & Liu, Linlin, 2020. "Customer participation, and green product innovation in SMEs: The mediating role of opportunity recognition and exploitation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 151-162.
    21. Hua-Hung (Robin) Weng & Ja-Shen Chen & Pei-Ching Chen, 2015. "Effects of Green Innovation on Environmental and Corporate Performance: A Stakeholder Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(5), pages 1-30, April.
    22. Tiep Le Thanh & Ngo Quang Huan & Tran Thi Thuy Hong, 2021. "Effects of corporate social responsibility on SMEs’ performance in emerging market," Cogent Business & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(1), pages 1878978-187, January.
    23. Muhammad Khalid Anser & Zhihe Zhang & Lubna Kanwal, 2018. "Moderating effect of innovation on corporate social responsibility and firm performance in realm of sustainable development," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(5), pages 799-806, September.
    24. Samuel Drempetic & Christian Klein & Bernhard Zwergel, 2020. "The Influence of Firm Size on the ESG Score: Corporate Sustainability Ratings Under Review," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 167(2), pages 333-360, November.
    25. Chunying Wu & Xiong Xiong & Ya Gao, 2022. "Does ESG Certification Improve Price Efficiency in the Chinese Stock Market?," Asia-Pacific Financial Markets, Springer;Japanese Association of Financial Economics and Engineering, vol. 29(1), pages 97-122, March.
    26. Hee-Kyung Koh & Regina Burnasheva & Yong Gu Suh, 2022. "Perceived ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) and Consumers’ Responses: The Mediating Role of Brand Credibility, Brand Image, and Perceived Quality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-15, April.
    27. Krishna Raj Bhandari & Mikko Ranta & Jari Salo, 2022. "The resource‐based view, stakeholder capitalism, ESG, and sustainable competitive advantage: The firm's embeddedness into ecology, society, and governance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(4), pages 1525-1537, May.
    28. Abbas, Jaffar & Balsalobre-Lorente, Daniel & Amjid, Muhammad Asif & Al-Sulaiti, Khalid & Al-Sulaiti, Ibrahim & Aldereai, Osama, 2024. "Financial innovation and digitalization promote business growth: The interplay of green technology innovation, product market competition and firm performance," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(1).
    29. R. Rajesh & Chandrasekharan Rajendran, 2020. "Relating Environmental, Social, and Governance scores and sustainability performances of firms: An empirical analysis," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(3), pages 1247-1267, March.
    30. Ayça Kubra Hizarci‐Payne & İlayda İpek & Gülüzar Kurt Gümüş, 2021. "How environmental innovation influences firm performance: A meta‐analytic review," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 1174-1190, February.
    31. Crane, Diana, 1977. "Technological innovation in developing countries: a review of the literature," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 6(4), pages 374-395, October.
    32. Gunday, Gurhan & Ulusoy, Gunduz & Kilic, Kemal & Alpkan, Lutfihak, 2011. "Effects of innovation types on firm performance," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(2), pages 662-676, October.
    33. Broadstock, David C. & Matousek, Roman & Meyer, Martin & Tzeremes, Nickolaos G., 2020. "Does corporate social responsibility impact firms' innovation capacity? The indirect link between environmental & social governance implementation and innovation performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 99-110.
    34. Anrafel Souza Barbosa & Maria Cristina Basilio Crispim Silva & Luiz Bueno Silva & Sandra Naomi Morioka & Vinícius Fernandes Souza, 2023. "Integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria: their impacts on corporate sustainability performance," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-18, December.
    35. Thomas Maak, 2007. "Responsible Leadership, Stakeholder Engagement, and the Emergence of Social Capital," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 74(4), pages 329-343, September.
    36. Lahcene Makhloufi & Abderrazak Ahmed Laghouag & Tang Meirun & Fateh Belaid, 2022. "Impact of green entrepreneurship orientation on environmental performance: The natural resource‐based view and environmental policy perspective," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(1), pages 425-444, January.
    37. Juha‐Antti Lamberg & Henrikki Tikkanen & Tomi Nokelainen & Henri Suur‐Inkeroinen, 2009. "Competitive dynamics, strategic consistency, and organizational survival," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(1), pages 45-60, January.
    38. Jiang, Yihuo & Ni, Hongliang & Guo, Xiaomei & Ni, Yihan, 2023. "Integrating ESG practices and natural resources management for sustainable economic development in SMEs under the double-carbon target of China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 87(PA).
    39. Dima Jamali & Asem M. Safieddine & Myriam Rabbath, 2008. "Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility Synergies and Interrelationships," Corporate Governance: An International Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 16(5), pages 443-459, September.
    40. Yahya Ali Al-Matari & Abdullah Kaid Al-Swidi & Faudziah Hanim Bt Fadzil & Ebrahim Mohammed Al-Matari, 2012. "Board of Directors, Audit Committee Characteristics and Performance of Saudi Arabia Listed Companies," International Review of Management and Marketing, Econjournals, vol. 2(4), pages 241-251.
    41. Jill Atkins & Federica Doni & Andrea Gasperini & Sonia Artuso & Ilaria Torre & Lorena Sorrentino, 2023. "Exploring the Effectiveness of Sustainability Measurement: Which ESG Metrics Will Survive COVID-19?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 185(3), pages 629-646, July.
    42. He, Qiao & Li, Wenjuan & Zhang, Panpan & Guo, Cheng, 2024. "Corporate governance, policy robustness and carbon neutrality in the digital economy: Insights from the natural resource exploitation sector," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    43. Asif, Muhammad & Searcy, Cory & Castka, Pavel, 2023. "ESG and Industry 5.0: The role of technologies in enhancing ESG disclosure," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    44. Arslan, Ahmad & Haapanen, Lauri & Hurmelinna-Laukkanen, Pia & Tarba, Shlomo Y. & Alon, Ilan, 2021. "Climate change, consumer lifestyles and legitimation strategies of sustainability-oriented firms," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 39(6), pages 720-730.
    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. 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.
    2. Caterina Lucarelli & Sabrina Severini, 2024. "Anatomy of the chimera: Environmental, Social, and Governance ratings beyond the myth," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(5), pages 4198-4217, July.
    3. Paolo Agnese & Francesca Romana Arduino & Massimiliano Cerciello & Simone Taddeo, 2024. "Does board knowledge matter for ESG performance in the European banking industry?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 4454-4468, September.
    4. Chen, Zhixiong & Sugiyama, Kohei & Tasaka, Kazuyuki & Kito, Tomomi & Yasuda, Yukihiro, 2024. "Impact of environmental, social and governance initiatives on firm value: Analysis using AI-based ESG scores for Japanese listed firms," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(PA).
    5. Jin Zhu & Fei Huang, 2023. "Transformational Leadership, Organizational Innovation, and ESG Performance: Evidence from SMEs in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-23, March.
    6. Qiao, Penghua & Zhao, Yuying & Fung, Anna & Fung, Hung-Gay, 2025. "How digital leadership guides ESG sustainability," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(PB).
    7. 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).
    8. Tingting Hu & Kun You & Char-Lee Lok, 2025. "State ownership, political connection and ESG performance," Risk Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 27(1), pages 1-33, February.
    9. Xue, Qinyuan & Jin, Yifei & Zhang, Cheng, 2024. "ESG rating results and corporate total factor productivity," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 95(PA).
    10. Cheng, Louis T.W. & Cheong, Tsun Se & Wojewodzki, Michal & Chui, David, 2025. "The effect of ESG divergence on the financial performance of Hong Kong-listed firms: An artificial neural network approach," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(PA).
    11. Chang Liu & Zihao Xin, 2024. "Does environmental, social, and governance practice boost corporate human capital inflow in China? From the perspective of stakeholder response," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(4), pages 3251-3273, July.
    12. Hyun-Jung Nam & Mehmet Huseyin Bilgin & Doojin Ryu, 2024. "Firm value, ownership structure, and strategic approaches to ESG activities," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 14(1), pages 187-226, March.
    13. Barbosa, Anrafel de Souza & Crispim, Maria Cristina & da Silva, Luiz Bueno & da Silva, Jonhatan Magno Norte & Barbosa, Aglaucibelly Maciel & Correia, Lucas Miguel Alencar de Morais & Morioka, Sandra N, 2025. "Empirical analysis of workers' perceptions of ESG impacts on corporate sustainability performance: A methodological innovation combining the PLS-SEM, PROMETHEE-ROC and FIMIX-PLS methods," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    14. Yang Liu & Fukang Zhang & Han Zhang, 2024. "CEO foreign experience and corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 3331-3355, May.
    15. Eduardo Ortas & Igor Álvarez & Eugenio Zubeltzu, 2017. "Firms’ Board Independence and Corporate Social Performance: A Meta-Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-26, June.
    16. Wang, Kai & Chen, Xi & Wang, Chenye, 2023. "The impact of sustainable development planning in resource-based cities on corporate ESG–Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(PA).
    17. Tristan Jourde & Arthur Stalla-Bourdillon, 2024. "Environmental preferences and sector valuations," Post-Print halshs-04948464, HAL.
    18. Chao Wang & Jiapeng Li & Yang Yi & Shuwang Yang, 2024. "Crowding in or crowding out? Executive environmental attention and ESG performance of mining listed companies," Mineral Economics, Springer;Raw Materials Group (RMG);Luleå University of Technology, vol. 37(4), pages 897-913, December.
    19. Rajesh, R. & Rajeev, A. & Rajendran, Chandrasekharan, 2022. "Corporate social performances of firms in select developed economies: A comparative study," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    20. Sakkakom Maneenop & Chaiyuth Padungsaksawasdi & Sirimon Treepongkaruna, 2024. "Co‐opted board, environment, social and governance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 1161-1172, February.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-025-04389-8. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.nature.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.