Synergy of blockchain-enabled supply chains, resilience, and sustainability performance in Chinese logistic firms

The growing complexity and vulnerability of global supply chains underscore the need for robust frameworks to enhance resilience and sustainability. This quantitative study investigates the enablers of supply chain resilience and examines its dual role as both a direct contributor to sustainability performance and a mediator in the relationship between blockchain technology and sustainability outcomes. A cross-sectional approach was used to collect 387 valid responses from medium- and large-scale logistics firms operating in four major logistics hub cities in China. The data were analyzed using a structural equation modeling approach by applying partial least squares structural equation modeling. The results show that the proposed model explains 37.4% of the variance in SCR (R² = 0.374), 25.2% in economic performance (R² = 0.252), and 30.3% in environmental performance (R² = 0.303). Among the blockchain capabilities, transparency (β = 0.264, p = 0.001) and transaction cost efficiency (β = 0.212, p = 0.000) had the strongest direct effects on SCR, while value co-creation (β = 0.371, p = 0.000) significantly mediated the path between SCR and sustainability outcomes. Furthermore, multi-group analysis revealed significant differences based on firm size and operational tenure, such as a stronger effect of value chain integration on SCR among firms operating for eight years or less (β = 0.421, p = 0.022). Theoretically, this study integrates the multidimensional dynamic capabilities perspective with transaction cost economics, providing a nuanced understanding of blockchain’s role in enhancing supply chain resilience and sustainability, and enriching dynamic capability theory. Practically, it offers actionable insights for practitioners and policymakers by identifying enablers and barriers to blockchain adoption and emphasizing the need for standardized frameworks and supportive policies. This study advances the understanding of blockchain’s transformative potential for building resilient, adaptive, and sustainable supply chains amid global volatility.