Green Supply Chain Management and Sustainable Business Performance: The Mediating Role of Access to Technology in Pakistani Manufacturing Firms

Abstract

This study examines the impact of Green Supply Chain Management on Sustainable Business Performance with a specific focus on the mediating role of Access to Technology in the context of Pakistani manufacturing firms. The research addresses a critical gap in the literature by investigating whether technological infrastructure serves as an enabling mechanism that translates environmental supply chain initiatives into tangible performance outcomes. Grounded in the Resource-Based View theory, the study employs a quantitative research design utilizing a structured questionnaire administered to 290 employees from major manufacturing organizations including Unilever, Nestlé, and Procter & Gamble in Pakistan. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 23.0 through reliability analysis, descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis to test the hypothesized relationships. The findings reveal that Green Supply Chain Management practices have a significant positive direct impact on Sustainable Business Performance with a standardized beta coefficient of 0.219 at p less than 0.01. Critically, the results confirm that Access to Technology mediates the relationship between GSCM and Sustainable Business Performance, with all mediation path coefficients significant at p less than 0.01, including the effect of GSCM on Access to Technology at beta equals 0.176 and the effect of Access to Technology on Sustainable Business Performance at beta equals 0.720. These findings demonstrate that the beneficial effects of GSCM on business performance are realized to a considerable extent through the improved application and utilization of technology within the firm. The study contributes theoretically by extending the Resource-Based View theory through identifying Access to Technology as a critical complementary resource that enhances the value of Green Supply Chain Management capabilities. Practically, the findings recommend that Pakistani manufacturers should integrate GSCM with technology investments, training employees and supply chain partners while investing in IoT, Blockchain, and Analytics to create transparent, efficient, and green supply chains. Policymakers are advised to facilitate technology access through incentives and subsidized programs to enhance the manufacturing sector's sustainability performance.

Keywords: Green Supply Chain Management, Sustainable Business Performance, Access to Technology, Mediation, Manufacturing Firms, Pakistan