IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/palcom/v12y2025i1d10.1057_s41599-025-05320-x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Integration and innovation of China’s manufacturing and logistics industries and carbon emissions

Author

Listed:
  • Weihua Liu

    (Tianjin University)

  • Rui Lan

    (Tianjin University)

  • Chaolun Yuan

    (Tianjin University)

  • Jingcheng Qiu

    (Tianjin University)

  • Yongzheng Gao

    (Tianjin University)

  • Ou Tang

    (Linköping University)

  • Yang He

    (Tianjin University)

  • Yang Cheng

    (Aalborg University)

Abstract

Integration and innovation of manufacturing and logistics industries (IIML) has become important on improving economic systems, with the concern of the carbon neutral targets. However, there is still a lack of studies on how IIML affects regional carbon emission (RCE). By applying jointly resource dependence theory and institutional theory, we construct an empirical model based on panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2014 to 2021. Our results show that: (1) the improvement of IIML level is slow and has an inverted U-shape impact on RCE; (2) the mediating effects of the industrial structure improvement (ISI) promotion is not supported, but the mediating effect of the technological innovation (TI) promotion is supported; (3) in some regions, external regulations (government regulation (GR) and social trust (ST)) make the inverted U-shaped relationship between IIML and RCE flatter; (4) the heterogeneity analysis reveals that economically developed provinces and provinces with diversified industrial structures are more effective in reducing RCE. This study points out theoretical guidance and policy insights for promoting IIML to realize the carbon-neutral plan.

Suggested Citation

  • Weihua Liu & Rui Lan & Chaolun Yuan & Jingcheng Qiu & Yongzheng Gao & Ou Tang & Yang He & Yang Cheng, 2025. "Integration and innovation of China’s manufacturing and logistics industries and carbon emissions," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-23, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-025-05320-x
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-05320-x
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41599-025-05320-x
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41599-025-05320-x?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

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wang Dong & Hongling Han & Yun Ke & Kam C. Chan, 2018. "Social Trust and Corporate Misconduct: Evidence from China," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 151(2), pages 539-562, August.
    2. Zhu, Bangzhu & Zhang, Mengfan & Zhou, Yanhua & Wang, Ping & Sheng, Jichuan & He, Kaijian & Wei, Yi-Ming & Xie, Rui, 2019. "Exploring the effect of industrial structure adjustment on interprovincial green development efficiency in China: A novel integrated approach," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    3. Tian, Ying & Pang, Jun, 2023. "What causes dynamic change of green technology progress: Convergence analysis based on industrial restructuring and environmental regulation," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 189-199.
    4. Kaika, Dimitra & Zervas, Efthimios, 2013. "The Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) theory—Part A: Concept, causes and the CO2 emissions case," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 1392-1402.
    5. Lin, Boqiang & Li, Zheng, 2022. "Towards world's low carbon development: The role of clean energy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    6. Zhao, Jun & Jiang, Qingzhe & Dong, Xiucheng & Dong, Kangyin & Jiang, Hongdian, 2022. "How does industrial structure adjustment reduce CO2 emissions? Spatial and mediation effects analysis for China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    7. Xiang, Yitian & Cui, Haotian & Bi, Yunxiao, 2023. "The impact and channel effects of banking competition and government intervention on carbon emissions: Evidence from China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    8. Zhang, Wei & Liu, Xuemeng & Wang, Die & Zhou, Jianping, 2022. "Digital economy and carbon emission performance: Evidence at China's city level," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    9. Yuan Feng & Liyuan Wang & Changfei Nie, 2024. "Can place-based policy reduce carbon emissions? Evidence from industrial transformation and upgrading exemplary zone in China," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    10. Richard F. J. Haans & Constant Pieters & Zi-Lin He, 2016. "Thinking about U: Theorizing and testing U- and inverted U-shaped relationships in strategy research," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(7), pages 1177-1195, July.
    11. Guo, Xuepeng & Pang, Jun, 2023. "Analysis of provincial CO2 emission peaking in China: Insights from production and consumption," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 331(C).
    12. Ye, Chusheng & Ye, Qin & Shi, Xunpeng & Sun, Yongping, 2020. "Technology gap, global value chain and carbon intensity: Evidence from global manufacturing industries," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    13. Feng, Zhiying & Tang, Wenhu & Niu, Zhewen & Wu, Qinghua, 2018. "Bi-level allocation of carbon emission permits based on clustering analysis and weighted voting: A case study in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 1122-1135.
    14. Tol, Richard S.J., 2007. "Carbon dioxide emission scenarios for the USA," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(11), pages 5310-5326, November.
    15. Qiang Wang & Yuanfan Li & Rongrong Li, 2024. "Ecological footprints, carbon emissions, and energy transitions: the impact of artificial intelligence (AI)," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-18, December.
    16. Wurlod, Jules-Daniel & Noailly, Joëlle, 2018. "The impact of green innovation on energy intensity: An empirical analysis for 14 industrial sectors in OECD countries," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 47-61.
    17. Wang, Jianlong & Wang, Weilong & Wu, Haitao & Liu, Yong, 2023. "Exploring the effects of manufacturing servitization on enterprise energy conservation and emissions reduction moderated by digital transformation," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    18. Yang, Zhenbing & Fan, Meiting & Shao, Shuai & Yang, Lili, 2017. "Does carbon intensity constraint policy improve industrial green production performance in China? A quasi-DID analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 271-282.
    19. Yi, Ming & Wang, Yiqian & Sheng, Mingyue & Sharp, Basil & Zhang, Yao, 2020. "Effects of heterogeneous technological progress on haze pollution: Evidence from China," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    20. Yuan, Yang & Chu, Zhaofang & Lai, Fujun & Wu, Hao, 2020. "The impact of transaction attributes on logistics outsourcing success: A moderated mediation model," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 219(C), pages 54-65.
    21. Wang, Lei & Chen, Yangyang & Ramsey, Thomas Stephen & Hewings, Geoffrey J.D., 2021. "Will researching digital technology really empower green development?," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    22. Pascual Berrone & Andrea Fosfuri & Liliana Gelabert & Luis R. Gomez‐Mejia, 2013. "Necessity as the mother of ‘green’ inventions: Institutional pressures and environmental innovations," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(8), pages 891-909, August.
    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. Kangni Lyu & Shuwang Yang & Kun Zheng & Yao Zhang, 2023. "How Does the Digital Economy Affect Carbon Emission Efficiency? Evidence from Energy Consumption and Industrial Value Chain," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-20, January.
    2. Hongyang Yu & Jinchao Wang & Jiajun Xu & Binghao Ding, 2025. "Does digital economy agglomeration promote green economy efficiency? A spatial spillover and spatial heterogeneity perspective," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(3), pages 7379-7406, March.
    3. Wang, Bo & Wang, Jianda & Dong, Kangyin & Nepal, Rabindra, 2024. "How does artificial intelligence affect high-quality energy development? Achieving a clean energy transition society," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    4. Jiao, Yong & Wang, Gaofei & Li, Chengyou & Pan, Jia, 2024. "Digital inclusive finance, factor flow and industrial structure upgrading: Evidence from the yellow river basin," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PA).
    5. Yang, Senmiao & Dong, Kangyin & Wang, Jianda & Taghizadeh-Hesary, Farhad, 2024. "Blessings or curses? Exploring the impact of digital technology innovation on natural resource utilization efficiency in China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    6. Yang, Zhenbing & Shi, Qingquan & Lv, Xiangqiu & Shi, Qi, 2022. "Heterogeneous low-carbon targets and energy structure optimization: Does stricter carbon regulation really matter?," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 329-343.
    7. Zeng, Shihong & Li, Tengfei & Wu, Shaomin & Gao, Weijun & Li, Gen, 2024. "Does green technology progress have a significant impact on carbon dioxide emissions?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    8. Muhammad Shahzad Sardar & Nabila Asghar & Mubbasher Munir & Reda Alhajj & Hafeez ur Rehman, 2022. "Moderation of Services’ EKC through Transportation Competitiveness: PQR Model in Global Prospective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-17, December.
    9. Dong, Ruoyu & Fu, Cong & Liu, Yan & Xu, Yanqing & Li, Kenan, 2025. "Modeling China's carbon emission reduction trajectory and peak path using a system dynamic approach," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 505(C).
    10. Zhao, Jun & Dong, Kangyin, 2023. "Is environmental regulation a powerful weapon to mitigate China’s PM2.5 emissions? The role of human capital," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    11. Lin, Boqiang & Huang, Chenchen, 2023. "How will promoting the digital economy affect electricity intensity?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    12. Jun Shao & Lianghu Wang, 2024. "The role of different paths of technological progress in improving China's energy efficiency," Energy & Environment, , vol. 35(4), pages 2008-2030, June.
    13. Huang, Ruting & Yao, Xin, 2024. "City size and energy efficiency of Chinese manufacturing firms: An empirical study from a city characteristic perspective," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    14. Sun, Chuanwang & Khan, Anwar & Xue, Juntao & Huang, Xiaoyong, 2024. "Are digital economy and financial structure driving renewable energy technology innovations: A major eight countries perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 362(C).
    15. Yi Wang & Junke Feng & Nosheena Yasir & Yu Bai, 2022. "The Impact of Political Incentives Received by Key Local Officials on Enterprises’ Green Innovations for the Development and Construction of Ecological Civilization in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-24, September.
    16. Ding, Chante Jian & Chen, Hang & Liu, Yin & Hu, Jin & Hu, Mingjun & Chen, Dong & Irfan, Muhammad, 2024. "Unleashing digital empowerment: Pioneering low-carbon development through the broadband China strategy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 295(C).
    17. Aihua Shen & Rui Wang, 2023. "Digital Transformation and Green Development Research: Microscopic Evidence from China’s Listed Construction Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-31, August.
    18. Yi, Ming & Liu, Yafen & Sheng, Mingyue Selena & Wen, Le, 2022. "Effects of digital economy on carbon emission reduction: New evidence from China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    19. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Yan, Jingyang, 2024. "Will artificial intelligence make energy cleaner? Evidence of nonlinearity," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 363(C).
    20. Bingjie Liu & Fengyi Wang, 2025. "The Impact of the Global Digital Economy on Carbon Emissions: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-22, May.

    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_s41599-025-05320-x. 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/palcomms/ .

    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.