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Green giants: how high–tech manufacturers in China foster supplier green innovativeness for sustainable development

Chong Xin, Qi Wang, Ting ting Chen

Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing

ISSN: 0885-8624

Article publication date: 4 February 2025

Issue publication date: 17 February 2025

43

Abstract

Purpose

Based on the social exchange theory, this study aims to investigate the influence of green supplier development (GSD) on supplier green innovativeness (SGI), the mediating role of buyer–supplier cooperation and the moderating role of preferred customer status (PCS).

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses stratified regression analysis to test the hypothesized relationships with data collected from 385 Chinese high-tech manufacturing enterprises.

Findings

The results of regression analysis show that GSD has a significant positive effect on buyer–supplier cooperation and SGI; buyer–supplier cooperation plays a partially mediating role between GSD and SGI; PCS strengthens the positive relationship between buyer–supplier cooperation and SGI and enhances the mediating role of buyer–supplier cooperation between GSD and SGI.

Practical implications

Supplier participation in green innovation is of great significance to the green development transformation of China’s manufacturing industry. This study reveals the positive impact of GSD on enhancing SGI and provides specific suggestions for manufacturing enterprises to realize efficient supplier management and build mutually beneficial and win-win cooperative relationships.

Originality/value

This study enriches and expands the related research on SGI antecedents and reveals the mediating mechanism and boundary conditions therein, which better makes up for the lack of attention to GSD in the existing research on supplier management and can provide lessons and references for the subsequent related researches targeting the enhancement and utilization of SGI.

Keywords

Citation

Xin, C., Wang, Q. and Chen, T.t. (2025), "Green giants: how high–tech manufacturers in China foster supplier green innovativeness for sustainable development", Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, Vol. 40 No. 2, pp. 463-476. https://doi.org/10.1108/JBIM-12-2023-0746

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2025, Emerald Publishing Limited

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