Environmental pressure, green logistics strategy and sustainability performance: the moderating role of competitive intensity

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between environmental pressure, green logistics strategy (GLS) and sustainability performance as well as the moderating role of competitive intensity in the relationship between environmental pressure and GLS in the context of the Ghanaian Manufacturing firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The study included a thorough review of the literature and an empirical questionnaire-based data collection with responses from 220 participant manufacturing firms in Ghana. The data collected was statistically analysed using the PLS-SEM software.

Findings

The findings of the study indicated that environmental pressure positively influences the implementation of GLS. Again, it was revealed that there is a significant relationship between GLS and sustainability performance. Likewise, the study also found that environmental pressure significantly influences sustainability performance. Also, competitive intensity was found to moderate the relationship between environmental pressure and GLS.

Practical implications

This study gives insight into GLS and sustainability performance and also suggested that when managers in manufacturing industries adopt green practices as a result of environmental pressure, sustainability performance will be achieved. The geographic scope of the study area and time constraints were some of the research's limitations.

Originality/value

Although there have been studies carried out on the subject of green logistics, this study is the first of its kind to examine the relationship between environmental pressure, GLS and sustainability performance within the context of developing economies such as Ghana. Also, this study shows how intense competition in the market can moderate the adoption of GLS.

Citation

Ellison, O., Nuertey, D., Poku, E., Agbemude, S. and Owusu, F. (2024), "Environmental pressure, green logistics strategy and sustainability performance: the moderating role of competitive intensity", Benchmarking: An International Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/BIJ-12-2023-0893