IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i5p1877-d1345432.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Sustainable Digital Shifts in Chinese Transport and Logistics: Exploring Green Innovations and Their ESG Implications

Author

Listed:
  • Linxuan Yu

    (School of Economics & Management, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China)

  • Jing Xu

    (College of Mathematics and Physics, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai 201306, China)

  • Xiang Yuan

    (School of Economics & Management, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China)

Abstract

This study, situated in the context of China’s transportation and logistics industry, explores the impact of digital transformation on corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance, as well as the role played by green innovation. Analyzing data from 95 A-share listed transportation companies from 2011 to 2021, this paper examines the relationship between digital transformation and corporate ESG performance, drawing on information asymmetry and agency theories. The research finds that digital transformation significantly elevates corporate ESG levels, with more pronounced effects in state-owned and large enterprises. The degree of financing constraints modulates this relationship, indicating a stronger enhancement of ESG performance by digital transformation under lower financing constraints. Moreover, green innovation serves as a mediator between digital transformation and corporate ESG performance, revealing that digital transformation boosts ESG outcomes through fostering green innovation. The contribution of this study lies in providing new insights into the relationship between digital transformation and corporate ESG performance in a specific industry context, expanding the field through a lens of mechanisms and conditions, and underscoring the central mediating influence of green innovation.

Suggested Citation

  • Linxuan Yu & Jing Xu & Xiang Yuan, 2024. "Sustainable Digital Shifts in Chinese Transport and Logistics: Exploring Green Innovations and Their ESG Implications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-21, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:5:p:1877-:d:1345432
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/5/1877/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/5/1877/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sol Kim & Geul Lee & Hyoung‐Goo Kang, 2021. "Risk management and corporate social responsibility," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(1), pages 202-230, January.
    2. Xingguang Guo & Xi Chen, 2023. "The Impact of Digital Transformation on Manufacturing-Enterprise Innovation: Empirical Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-19, February.
    3. Alexandre Sanches Garcia & Renato J. Orsato, 2020. "Testing the institutional difference hypothesis: A study about environmental, social, governance, and financial performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 3261-3272, December.
    4. Qincheng Zhang & Mingzeng Yang & Shanshan Lv, 2022. "Corporate Digital Transformation and Green Innovation: A Quasi-Natural Experiment from Integration of Informatization and Industrialization in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-21, October.
    5. Yonghong Jia & Xinghua Gao & Scott Julian, 2020. "Do firms use corporate social responsibility to insure against stock price risk? Evidence from a natural experiment," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(2), pages 290-307, February.
    6. Eduardo Duque-Grisales & Javier Aguilera-Caracuel, 2021. "Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Scores and Financial Performance of Multilatinas: Moderating Effects of Geographic International Diversification and Financial Slack," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 168(2), pages 315-334, January.
    7. Ghasemaghaei, Maryam & Calic, Goran, 2020. "Assessing the impact of big data on firm innovation performance: Big data is not always better data," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 147-162.
    8. Hao Zhou & Xinyi Li & Xiaoli Li, 2023. "Can the Digital Economy Improve the Level of High-Quality Financial Development? Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-13, April.
    9. Lang Xu & Jia Shi & Jihong Chen, 2023. "Agency encroachment and information sharing: cooperation and competition in freight forwarding market," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(3), pages 321-334, April.
    10. Dongyoung Lee, 2020. "Corporate social responsibility of U.S.‐listed firms headquartered in tax havens," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(9), pages 1547-1571, September.
    11. Jeremy Galbreath, 2013. "ESG in Focus: The Australian Evidence," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 118(3), pages 529-541, December.
    12. Beat Reber & Agnes Gold & Stefan Gold, 2022. "ESG Disclosure and Idiosyncratic Risk in Initial Public Offerings," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(3), pages 867-886, September.
    13. Shan Wu & Ying Li, 2023. "A Study on the Impact of Digital Transformation on Corporate ESG Performance: The Mediating Role of Green Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-17, April.
    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. Ting-Ting Li & Kai Wang & Toshiyuki Sueyoshi & Derek D. Wang, 2021. "ESG: Research Progress and Future Prospects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-28, October.
    2. Alan Kai Ming Au & Yi-Fan Yang & Huan Wang & Rui-Hong Chen & Leven J. Zheng, 2023. "Mapping the Landscape of ESG Strategies: A Bibliometric Review and Recommendations for Future Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-26, December.
    3. Shan Wu & Ying Li, 2023. "A Study on the Impact of Digital Transformation on Corporate ESG Performance: The Mediating Role of Green Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-17, April.
    4. Chung, Yessica C.Y. & Kunene, Noxolo & Chang, Hung-Hao, 2024. "Renewable energy certificates and firm value: Empirical evidence in Taiwan," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    5. Shakil, Mohammad Hassan, 2021. "Environmental, social and governance performance and financial risk: Moderating role of ESG controversies and board gender diversity," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    6. Ehsan Poursoleyman & Gholamreza Mansourfar & Mohammad Kabir Hassan & Saeid Homayoun, 2024. "Did Corporate Social Responsibility Vaccinate Corporations Against COVID-19?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 189(3), pages 525-551, January.
    7. Bagh, Tanveer & Zhou, Bingjun & Alawi, Suha Mahmoud & Azam, Rauf I, 2024. "ESG resilience: Exploring the non-linear effects of ESG performance on firms sustainable growth," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(PA).
    8. Raymond Kwong & Man Lung Jonathan Kwok & Helen S. M. Wong, 2023. "Green FinTech Innovation as a Future Research Direction: A Bibliometric Analysis on Green Finance and FinTech," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-27, October.
    9. DasGupta, Ranjan & Roy, Arup, 2023. "Firm environmental, social, governance and financial performance relationship contradictions: Insights from institutional environment mediation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    10. Manuela Gomez‐Valencia & Maria Alejandra Gonzalez‐Perez & Ana Maria Gomez‐Trujillo, 2021. "The “Six Ws” of sustainable development risks," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(7), pages 3131-3144, November.
    11. Heonyong JUNG, 2024. "The Moderating Effect Of Board Characteristics In The Relationship Between Esg And Corporate Financial Performance," Studies in Business and Economics, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 19(2), pages 110-119, August.
    12. Wu, Meng-Wen & Shen, Chung-Hua & Hsu, Hsing-Hua & Chiu, Po-Hao, 2023. "Why did a bank with good governance perform worse during the financial crisis? The views of shareholder and stakeholder orientations," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    13. Wang, Junkai & Qi, Baolei & Li, Yan & Hossain, Muhammad Istiaque & Tian, Haowen, 2024. "Does institutional commitment affect ESG performance of firms? Evidence from the United Nations principles for responsible investment," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    14. Xuemei Zhou & Sifeng Nian, 2024. "Sustainable Pathways: ESG Disclosure Performance and Optimization in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-25, May.
    15. Quayson, Matthew & Bai, Chunguang & Mahmoudi, Amin & Hu, Weihao & Chen, Wei & Omoruyi, Osayuwamen, 2023. "Designing a decision support tool for integrating ESG into the natural resource extraction industry for sustainable development using the ordinal priority approach," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).
    16. Mandas, Marco & Lahmar, Oumaima & Piras, Luca & De Lisa, Riccardo, 2024. "ESG reputational risk and market valuation: Evidence from the European banking industry," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    17. Beat Reber & Agnes Gold & Stefan Gold, 2022. "ESG Disclosure and Idiosyncratic Risk in Initial Public Offerings," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(3), pages 867-886, September.
    18. Martínez-Ferrero, Jennifer & Ramón-Llorens, M. Camino & García-Meca, Emma, 2024. "CEO narcissism and ESG misconduct," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    19. Zhou, Mengling & Huang, Zizhen & Jiang, Kangqi, 2024. "Environmental, social, and governance performance and corporate debt maturity in China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 95(PA).
    20. Mariani, Marcello M. & Fosso Wamba, Samuel, 2020. "Exploring how consumer goods companies innovate in the digital age: The role of big data analytics companies," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 338-352.

    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:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:5:p:1877-:d:1345432. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.