How Internal, external Green Supply Chain (GSC) Practices, and Green Training effect environmental, economic and social performance in Manufacturing Sector of Pakistan: The Mediatory Role of GSC Collaboration. Sustainable Manufacturing, Environmental Process Integration, and Green Innovation, complemented by Green Self-Efficacy

Purpose: This study investigates the role of green supply chain practices (GSCP), green training, collaboration, and innovation in driving sustainable performance within Pakistan's manufacturing sector. The research was undertaken to address a key gap in emerging economies, where sustainability strategies often remain compliance driven and their contribution to innovation and performance is underexplored. A theoretical framework was proposed contending that Internal (IGSCP) and external Green Supply Chain (GSC) Practices (EGSCP), as well as Green Training (GT) would enable GSC Collaboration (GSCC), enhance Sustainable Manufacturing (SM), and Environmental Process Integration (EPI). These will in turn increase Green Innovation (GI) ultimately leading towards a better triple bottom line i.e. Environmental (EP), Economic (ECOP), and Social Performance (SP). We also infer that the effect of GSCC, SM, EPI on GI is moderated by Green Self-Efficacy (GSE) in a way that higher level GSE will strengthen the above mentioned effect. Design/methodology/approach: Using a quantitative, cross-sectional design, data were collected from 385 supply chain professionals across multiple industries. The research employed a structured questionnaire adapted from prior validated scales, and SmartPLS 4 was used for analysis. Measurement model assessment confirmed reliability and validity, while structural equation modeling (SEM) tested direct, indirect, and moderating effects. Findings: Results reveal that external GSCP, green training, and collaboration significantly influence sustainable manufacturing. Green innovation emerged as the strongest mediator, positively driving environmental (β = 0.826),economic (β = 0.848), and social (β = 0.785) performance outcomes. Conversely, environmental process integration and internal GSCP showed weaker or non-significant effects, underscoring contextual barriers. Results indicate that external GSCP significantly improved environmental process integration and collaboration, while internal GSCP strongly enhanced process integration and sustainable manufacturing. Green training positively influenced collaboration and manufacturing, though it had a negative effect on process integration. Green innovation emerged as the strongest mediator, driving environmental (β = 0.826), economic (β = 0.848), and social (β = 0.785) outcomes. Collaboration and self-efficacy significantly supported innovation, but moderation effects of self-efficacy were non-significant. Sustainable manufacturing showed no direct effect on innovation. Overall, the model highlights innovation and collaboration as key pathways to sustainability. Originality/value: This study contributes by integrating NRBV and DCT to explain sustainability pathways in an underexplored context. It offers theoretical insights, empirical evidence, and practical recommendations for managers and policymakers to strengthen sustainability strategies in emerging economies.