Superior Environmental Performance Research Articles

How do digital ­oriented firms perform superior environmental performance? A natural resource ­based view

Purpose A global industrial revolution driven by carbon neutrality and digital technologies (DTs) is fast gaining momentum. However, the present understanding of how firms should leverage digitalization for sustainability is underdeveloped. This paper aims to explore how digital orientation can improve environmental performance from the natural resource-based view. Design/methodology/approach Using a sample set of 132 Chinese firms, the authors adopt the hierarchical regression analysis and bootstrap approach to examine the hypotheses. Findings The empirical results show that green DT usage, green DT disposal and green practices-DT fit are three factors that mediate the positive relationship between digital orientation and environmental performance. In addition, of the five possible mediational paths, only the serial mediation of green DT usage and green practices-DT fit, as well as the serial mediation of green DT disposal and green practices-DT fit, show significant effects. Originality/value The authors contribute to the current digitalization and sustainability literature by demonstrating the processes through which digital orientation influences environmental performance. The study also provides managerial implications for firms to adjust their operations.

Environmental assessment of formal and informal waste treatment of liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors.

In Santiago, Chile, 315,000 liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors are discarded annually. Of this amount, the formal sector of refurbishment and recycling manages only 5%, creating the conditions for the emergence of informal management systems. This study provides the first comprehensive environmental and circularity assessment of monitor treatment across multiple impact categories, identifying trade-offs associated with formal and informal operations. For this, a life cycle assessment approach is utilised at both the product-level and the municipal management systems level, addressing the processes from the collection of the monitor to its end-of-life. At the product-level, two formal and two informal routes for managing an LCD monitor were evaluated. The results reveal that formal treatment companies have the best environmental performance in all the midpoint categories of ReCiPe, achieving benefits 42,000 times greater than formal disposal for marine eutrophication, and 25% better than informal flea market traders across all categories. The analysis of management processes attributes most environmental benefits to refurbishment, representing between 76% and 99% of the magnitude of the assessed environmental impacts. A sensitivity analysis shows that the environmental performance of an informal trader surpasses that of a formal treatment company when both offer the same expected lifespan for a refurbished monitor and maintain their respective refurbishment rates offered. The municipal-level analysis was carried out through the evaluation of three scenarios. The results indicate that the scenario in which the informal sector cooperates with the formal sector and exclusively dedicates to collecting monitors exhibits superior environmental performance, averaging environmental benefits that are ten times greater than the current scenario and achieving valorisation rates of 22%, the highest among the evaluated scenarios. The results of this research contribute to the discussion on formalisation and the promotion of the circular economy in the Global South.

A Case Study on ESG Performance: Brand Equity, Brand Love and Brand Respect in a South Korean Ski Resort

Objective: This study aims to investigate the structural relationships between the environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance of ski resorts and their brand equity value, encompassing brand awareness, perceived quality, brand associations and brand loyalty, as well as how these factors influence brand love and brand respect. Design/Method/Approach: To achieve this a web‑based survey was conducted, and after eliminating outliers, data from a total of 390 responses were analyzed using the SPSS and AMOS statistical software packages. Findings: The research findings indicate a positive correlation between the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance of ski resorts and brand equity (comprising brand awareness, perceived quality, brand associations and brand loyalty). Moreover, within this relationship, there is a positive correlation between brand equity and the concepts of brand love and brand respect. Conclusions/ Recommendation: This study reveals that in the ski resort industry, superior environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance significantly enhances brand equity dimensions such as brand awareness, perceived quality, brand associations and loyalty. Additionally, the enhancement of these brand equity di‑ mensions further elevates consumer brand love and respect, highlighting their critical role in the branding of ski resorts. Originality/Value: This research underscores the significant impact of environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance on enhancing brand equity within the ski resort industry, linking sustainable practices to improved brand perception and loyalty. It provides valuable insights for industry stakeholders, demonstrating the tangible benefits of integrating ESG considerations into strategic and marketing initiatives, thereby enriching the literature on sustainable business practices in tourism.

Large-scale commercial-grade volatile fatty acids production from sewage sludge and food waste: A holistic environmental assessment.

The valorization of sewage sludge and food waste to produce energy and fertilizers is a well-stablished strategy within the circular economy. Despite the success of numerous laboratory-scale experiments in converting waste into high-value products such as volatile fatty acids (VFAs), large-scale implementation remains limited due to various technical and environmental challenges. Here, we evaluate the environmental performance of a hypothetical large-scale VFAs biorefinery located in Galicia, Spain, which integrates fermentation and purification processes to obtain commercial-grade VFAs based on primary data from pilot plant operations. We identify potential environmental hotspots, assess the influence of different feedstocks, and perform sensitivity analyses on critical factors like transportation distances and pH control methods, using life cycle assessment. Our findings reveal that, on a per-product basis, food waste provides superior environmental performance compared to sewage sludge, which, conversely, performs better when assessed per mass of waste valorized. This suggests that higher process productivity from more suitable wastes leads to lower environmental impacts but must be balanced against increased energy and chemical consumption, as food waste processing requires more electricity for pretreatment and solid-liquid separation. Further analysis reveals that the main operational impacts are chemical-related, primarily due to the use of NaOH for pH adjustment. Additionally, facility location is critical, potentially accounting for up to 99% of operational impacts due to transportation. Overall, our analysis demonstrates that the proposed VFAs biorefinery has a carbon footprint comparable to other bio-based technologies. However, enhancements in VFAs purification processes are necessary to fully replace petrochemical production. These findings highlight the potential of waste valorization into VFAs as a sustainable alternative, emphasizing the importance of process optimization and strategic facility placement.

A life cycle assessment model to evaluate the environmental sustainability of lignin-based polyols

Lignin-based polyols are expected to provide significant environmental benefits by offering new synthetic routes to various types of bio-resins for coating applications. Currently, no models evaluating lignin-based polyols are available in the literature, therefore, the present study introduces a new model to assess environmental impacts associated with the synthesis of lignin-based polyols and to evaluate their potential environmental advantages in bio-product manufacturing. The model follows the life cycle assessment methodology and is based on lignin-based polyols production at a pilot scale, beginning with kraft lignin extraction, followed by solvent fractionation. The results indicate that, compared to their petrochemical counterparts, lignin-based polyols demonstrate superior environmental performance under specific conditions, such as the use of bio-based solvents and an appropriate energy mix. Tetrahydrofuran and electricity consumption emerge as the primary hotspots contributing to environmental impact categories such as climate change, fossil resource use, and water use—identified as the main contributors to the overall environmental impact of lignin-based polyol production. An uncertainty analysis was conducted using Monte Carlo simulation. Based on the findings, producers can consider lignin-based polyols as a promising raw material if they replace tetrahydrofuran with its bio-based counterpart and adopt a renewable energy mix for production. This model can be easily extended by researchers and/or practitioners to further evaluate the environmental impacts of bio-products derived from lignin-based polyols. Moreover, the results of this study can guide policymakers in shaping bio-product policies, as lignin-based polyols show promise as a more sustainable chemical alternative.

A Case Study on Integrating an Eco-Design Tool into the Construction Decision-Making Process

To enhance the sustainability of construction and meet the sector’s environmental agenda, it is essential to comprehensively scrutinize the environmental, social, and economic impacts of construction projects from the project’s design stage. Such assessment is of utmost importance to minimize the impacts of both new construction and rehabilitation projects and is particularly critical during the selection of building materials and construction solutions. This work reports improvements in functionality and user-friendliness of an eco-design tool (UAveiroGreenBuilding) targeting the construction/rehabilitation sector and previously developed within our research group. The optimized version of the eco-design tool underwent validation through the assessment of competitive window frame materials (e.g., wood, PVC, and aluminum) for potential implementation in a rehabilitation project. Windows with PVC frames were identified as the preferred window configuration due to their superior environmental performance and favorable economic profile. Additionally, a digital communication interface was developed to connect the eco-design tool with building information modeling (BIM) projects, achieved through a routine integrated using a Dynamo application. Such successful integration not only streamlined and expedited the data transfer process by obviating the need for manual input but it also enabled the storage of environmental data throughout the life cycle of the project using a simple and reliable data storage protocol.

Corporate environmental R&D: does organisational innovation matter?

ABSTRACT Investments in environmental research and development (R&D) are a crucial element for firms to make superior environmental performance compatible with financial performance. This relevance of environmental R&D suggests a need to identify its drivers. However, the literature on environmental R&D has given a prominent focus to external drivers to the firm, with a limited focus on factors internal to the firm. In contrast, the impact of crucial organisational changes in firms, in the form of organisational innovation, has not been addressed. We argue that organisational innovation drives environmental R&D expenditures. Using data on manufacturing firms from the Spanish Technological Innovation Panel survey during 2008–2016, we find support for this idea. Further analysis suggests that it is particularly the introduction of new methods of organising workplaces that is positively associated with environmental R&D. This suggests that a regulatory environment that facilitates workplace flexibility may promote environmental R&D investments.

Meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals with Mechanochemistry

AbstractChemistry traditionally relies on reactions in solution, but this method is increasingly problematic due to the scale of chemical processes and their economic and environmental impact. Handling residual chemical waste, including solvents, incurs significant costs and environmental pressure. Conversely, novel chemical approaches are needed to address pressing societal issues such as climate change, energy scarcity, food insecurity, and waste pollution. Mechanochemistry, a sustainable chemistry discipline that uses mechanical action to induce chemical reactivity without bulk solvents, is a hot topic in academic research on sustainable and green chemistry. Given its fundamentally different working principles from solution chemistry, mechanochemistry offers more efficient chemical processes and the opportunity to design new chemical reactions. Mechanochemistry has a profound impact on many urgent issues facing our society and it is now necessary to use mechanochemistry to address them. This Minireview aims to provide a guide for using mechanochemistry to meet the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), thereby contributing to a prosperous society. Detailed analysis shows that mechanochemistry connects with most UN SDGs and offers more cost‐efficiency than other approaches together with a superior environmental performance.

Meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals with Mechanochemistry.

Chemistry traditionally relies on reactions in solution, but this method is increasingly problematic due to the scale of chemical processes and their economic and environmental impact. Handling residual chemical waste, including solvents, incurs significant costs and environmental pressure. Conversely, novel chemical approaches are needed to address pressing societal issues such as climate change, energy scarcity, food insecurity, and waste pollution. Mechanochemistry, a sustainable chemistry discipline that uses mechanical action to induce chemical reactivity without bulk solvents, is a hot topic in academic research on sustainable and green chemistry. Given its fundamentally different working principles from solution chemistry, mechanochemistry offers more efficient chemical processes and the opportunity to design new chemical reactions. Mechanochemistry has a profound impact on many urgent issues facing our society and it is now necessary to use mechanochemistry to address them. This Minireview aims to provide a guide for using mechanochemistry to meet the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), thereby contributing to a prosperous society. Detailed analysis shows that mechanochemistry connects with most UN SDGs and offers more cost-efficiency than other approaches together with a superior environmental performance.

Environmental photograph use in corporate sustainability reporting: A machine‐supported visual content analysis

AbstractDespite the prevalence of photographs in corporate sustainability reporting, their use is not yet sufficiently understood. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the first large‐scale study in the field. Introducing a novel machine‐supported approach, we assess environmental photograph utilization based on a sample of 45,228 photographs contained in 1,463 separately disclosed sustainability reports from European firms between 2011 and 2020. We find that against the overall trend of decreasing photograph utilization, the share of environmentally themed photographs has markedly increased. Furthermore, operating in an environmentally sensitive industry is strongly associated with a substantially larger share of photographs depicting environmental subject matter. Lastly, we observe that companies signal their superior environmental performance through greater utilization of environmental photographs. By introducing a novel machine‐supported approach to analyzing photographs, this study makes a methodological contribution to the field of sustainability reporting. Our results also have important practical implications.

A Hybrid Pre-Assessment Assists in System Optimization to Convert Face Masks into Carbon Nanotubes and Hydrogen

With extensive attention being paid to the potential environmental hazards of discarded face masks, catalytic pyrolysis technologies have been proposed to realize the valorization of wastes. However, recent catalyst selection and system design have focused solely on conversion efficiency, ignoring economic cost and potential life-cycle environmental damage. Here, we propose an economic-environmental hybrid pre-assessment method to help identify catalysts and reactors with less environmental impact and high economic returns among various routes to convert discarded face masks into carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and hydrogen. In catalyst selection, it was found that a widely known Fe–Ni catalyst exhibits higher catalytic activity than a cheaper Fe catalyst, potentially increasing the economic viability of the catalytic pyrolysis system by 38%–55%. The use of this catalyst also results in a carbon reduction of 4.12–10.20 kilogram CO2 equivalent for 1 kilogram of discarded face masks, compared with the cheaper Fe catalyst. When the price of CNTs exceeds 1.49 × 104 USD·t–1, microwave-assisted pyrolysis is the optimal choice due to its superior environmental performance (in terms of its life-cycle greenhouse gas reduction potential, eutrophication potential, and human toxicity) and economic benefits. In contrast, conventional heating pyrolysis may be a more economical option due to its good stability over 43 reaction regeneration cycles, as compared with a microwave-assisted pyrolysis catalyst with a higher conversion efficiency. This study connects foundational science with ecological economics to guide emerging technologies in their research stage toward technical efficiency, economic benefits, and environmental sustainability.

Scaling sustainable pig manure treatment: Life cycle assessments for small to large piggeries in China

Over 50 % of pig stockpiling and slaughtering in China is attributed to medium and large piggeries. The diverse scales and distributions of these piggeries present significant challenges for the sustainable management of pig manure, with a research gap in assessing the environmental benefits of treatment technologies across different farm sizes. Therefore, the environmental and economic performances of ten pig manure treatment technologies for small, medium and large piggeries were evaluated via life cycle assessment and life cycle costing methods. The black membrane biogas pool (BMBP) technology for medium-scale piggeries demonstrates superior environmental performance, reducing emissions by 44.00 kg CO2 equivalent, 0.36 kg SO2 equivalent, and 0.05 kg PM2.5 equivalent per ton of dry pig manure treated. Additionally, the products generated from this process can offset 2.93 GJ of energy consumption and 0.25 tons of water consumption. Meanwhile, the ectopic microbial fermentation bed technology provides the best economic efficiency, at the cost of only $17.88 per ton. Significant disparities in the scale of piggeries and manure production across provinces necessitate region-specific policies. The estimated global warming potential (GWP) from pig manure treatment nationwide was 5.31 million tons of CO2 equivalent, with Henan, Sichuan, and Hunan provinces accounting for a combined 28.3 % of this total in 2020. Scenario analysis indicates that by 2025, achieving a pig manure utilization rate of 90 % could reduce GWP by 9.1 % (0.5 million tons of CO2 equivalent) compared to an 80 % utilization rate, with reductions ranging from 1.78 % to 22.36 % across other environmental indicators. Promoting technologies such as BMBP and transitioning 5 % of aerobic processes to anaerobic processes could reduce emissions by 2.9 %, while also lowering other environmental indicators by 12.8 % to 20.1 %. The utilization of anaerobic technology, coupled with enhanced utilization rates, can prove more efficacious in mitigating carbon emissions and pollutants.

Lithium‑sulfur batteries for next-generation automotive power batteries carbon emission assessment and sustainability study in China

The rise of electric vehicles has ushered in a revolution in the automotive industry, propelling the global automotive sector towards sustainable development. However, considerable controversy persists regarding the comprehensive performance of electric vehicle batteries and their environmental impact. The development of next-generation power batteries, aimed at enhancing energy storage performance while mitigating environmental consequences, has become a focal point of research in this field. Lithium‑sulfur batteries (LSBs), with their innovative structural design and environmentally friendly materials, not only enhance energy storage performance but also harbor significant environmental potential. When coupled with an all-solid-state battery structure, the all-solid-state lithium‑sulfur battery (A-LSB) demonstrates even more superior performance. This combination represents an ideal next-generation power battery for automotive applications, offering heightened efficiency and environmental sustainability. This study conducts a prospective life cycle assessment (LCA) to examine the environmental performance, particularly carbon emissions, during the production processes of LSBs and A-LSBs in the Chinese region. The primary objective is to uncover the potential for sustainable development in the future of lithium‑sulfur battery technologies. During the research process, we conducted comparative validation by comparing with traditional ternary lithium-ion batteries (NCM) and lithium iron phosphate batteries (LFP). Experimental setups were designed to simulate both laboratory and industrial production scenarios, with a primary focus on analyzing the sustainable performance of LSB and A-LSB. The results indicate that, compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries, both LSB and A-LSB exhibit lower carbon emissions and superior environmental performance, with A-LSB showing particular promise. However, A-LSB demonstrates higher sensitivity to environmental impacts, displaying significant variations before and after industrial production. Additionally, it exhibits a greater dependency on regional resources and energy structures. In contrast, LSB displays better regional adaptability.

Dense 3D Point Cloud Environmental Mapping Using Millimeter-Wave Radar

To address the challenges of sparse point clouds in current MIMO millimeter-wave radar environmental mapping, this paper proposes a dense 3D millimeter-wave radar point cloud environmental mapping algorithm. In the preprocessing phase, a radar SLAM-based approach is introduced to construct local submaps, which replaces the direct use of radar point cloud frames. This not only reduces data dimensionality but also enables the proposed method to handle scenarios involving vehicle motion with varying speeds. Building on this, a 3D-RadarHR cross-modal learning network is proposed, which uses LiDAR as the target output to train the radar submaps, thereby generating a dense millimeter-wave radar point cloud map. Experimental results across multiple scenarios, including outdoor environments and underground tunnels, demonstrate that the proposed method can increase the point cloud density of millimeter-wave radar environmental maps by over 50 times, with a point cloud accuracy better than 0.1 m. Compared to existing algorithms, the proposed method achieves superior environmental map reconstruction performance while maintaining a real-time processing rate of 15 Hz.

Environmental performance of a multi-energy liquid air energy storage (LAES) system in cogeneration asset – A life cycle assessment-based comparison with lithium ion (Li-ion) battery

Increase in energy demand is shaping both developed and developing countries globally. As a result, the endeavour to reduce carbon emissions also encompasses electrical energy storage systems to ensure environmentally friendly power production and distribution. Currently, the scientific community is actively exploring and developing new storage technologies for this purpose. The focus of this work is to compare the eco-friendliness of a relatively novel technology such as liquid air energy storage (LAES) with an established storage solution such as Li-Ion battery (Li-ion). The comparison is carried out through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology which aims to assess the environmental impacts from each life stage, according to different impact categories. In particular, the study refers to the unitary storage and the delivery of electricity as well as cooling energy, considering all the inefficiencies and limits of each technology. The results show that in the full electric case study Li-ion battery environmentally outperform LAES due to (1) the higher round trip efficiency and (2) the significantly high environmental impact of the diathermic oil utilized by LAES, accounting for 92 % of the manufacture and disposal phase. Conversely, the cogeneration case study highlights that the “flexibility” and “dualism” of LAES, capable to efficiently deliver both electricity and cooling, offset the impact related to the higher electricity consumption during the use phase. Notably in energy mix frameworks with high share of primary energy source from fossil fuels, cogenerative LAES demonstrates superior environmental performance compared to Li-ion battery (i.e. 1302 kgCO2eq/MWhe vs 1140 kgCO2eq/MWhe for Singapore energy mix), attributable to its reduced electricity consumption.

Do women board members contribute to companies’ superior environmental performance? A literature review

AbstractThe urgent need to tackle climate change has led scholars to study the factors that affect companies’ ability to achieve superior environmental performance. One such factor, the influence of women board members, has received considerable attention because of women’s greater tendency to care for the planet. However, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, no literature review has yet attempted to describe the state of the art of this relationship and its conditioning factors. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the degree of consensus in the literature regarding the role of board gender diversity in environmental performance and to specify the variables that condition this relationship. The content of all studies that offer evidence of this relationship is analyzed. The results imply that there is a high degree of consensus regarding the positive influence of female leadership on environmental performance in studies that focus exclusively on this relationship. The review also shows that this relationship is conditioned by numerous factors. However, the evidence in this regard is scant and in some cases inconclusive. Therefore, this review reveals both the scope and the unfilled needs in this field of study. It thus supports the sharing of knowledge on this topic and draws attention to the questions that need to be addressed.

Path dependence in environment-related innovation: evidence from listed firms in China

ABSTRACT This paper studies the path dependence effect in corporate innovation based on the patent data of Chinese listed firms. The results provide robust evidence of the path dependence in technology innovation. The accumulated stock of brown patents reduces the ratio of green patents to total patents newly granted, thus inhibiting green structural changes in innovation. The accumulated stock of green patents increases the ratio of green patents in total patents granted, promoting structural change towards green innovation. The path dependence effect exists in both green inventions and green utility model patents. The heterogeneity analysis shows that both brown and green patent stocks of heavy polluting firms have a weaker effect on the ratio of green inventions than non-heavy polluting firms. The negative path dependence effect of brown patents on green innovation is stronger in firms with large scale, state ownership, and a high level of environmental regulation. However, the negative path dependence effects on green innovation can be alleviated for firms with superior environmental and financial performance. This suggests that the government has to create economic incentives to break the path dependence and encourage firms to engage in green innovation.

Energy-efficient separation of a ternary azeotropic mixture via azeotropic reflux-induced sequences based on the intensified pressure-swing distillation

The recovery and separation of chloroform, acetonitrile and ethanol from waste water involving two azeotropes and a distillation boundary has emerged as a pivotal concern in the pursuit of environmental protection and resource conservation. Herein, the energy-efficient separation design of the ternary azeotropic mixture based on a triple-column pressure-swing distillation (TCPSD) process with five azeotropic reflux induced sequences is comprehensively investigated. The suitable operating pressure range of the distillation columns and the potential optimal distillation sequence is investigated based on the thermodynamic intrinsic probe. According to the optimal distillation sequence, further process intensification strategies are proposed to improve the thermodynamic efficiency encompassing the heat integration pressure-swing distillation (HI-PSD), heat pump assisted pressure-swing distillation (HP-PSD), and a combination of heat pump assisted and heat integration pressure-swing distillation (HPHI-PSD). It unveils the economic preeminence of the HI-PSD process, characterized by the lowest total annual cost (TAC) in a shorter payback period (3 to 7 years). Conversely, both the HP-PSD and HPHI-PSD processes exhibit superior environmental performance on CO2 emissions of 111.46 kg/h and 119.78 kg/h respectively, with the HP-PSD demonstrating prolonged economic viability and the HPHI-PSD showcasing heightened thermodynamic efficiency of a 65.12 % improvement. This study potentially provides a theoretical basis for devising industrial separation schemes for analogous pressure-sensitive ternary azeotropic systems.

Linking manufacturing firms with environment: role of green manufacturing and environmental management on firm’s environmental performance with moderating effect of external environmental regulations

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the vital link between manufacturing firms and the environment, delving into the intricate connections among factors affecting these firms. Specifically, it investigates how the environmental performance of manufacturing firms is shaped by their adoption of environmental management practices and the regulatory environment in which they operate.Design/methodology/approachData are currently being collected through a structured questionnaire from employees working in manufacturing firms in Pakistan. Random sampling was used to select the participants. The hypotheses were tested using PLS-SEM analysis.FindingsThe study reveals a positive correlation between green manufacturing practices and superior environmental performance. Effective environmental management systems further help firms reduce their environmental footprint. External environmental regulations play a significant role as moderators, influencing the strength and direction of the relationship between green manufacturing, environmental management and environmental performance.Practical implicationsThe practical implications offer valuable insights and guidance for manufacturing companies seeking to improve their environmental responsibility and performance. Additionally, policymakers gain insights into how regulatory frameworks can be designed or modified to better support sustainability efforts within the manufacturing sector.Originality/valueThis study offers timely insights for sustainable business practices, aligning with corporate responsibility efforts. It contributes to both academic knowledge and provides actionable guidance for fostering environmentally responsible practices in the manufacturing sector.

Bridging green supply chain practices and environmental performance in Chinese semiconductor sector: With the role of energy efficiency and green HRM

The semiconductor sector of China, which is an essential part of the global electronics market, is experiencing significant pressure to adopt green practices. Therefore, this study examines the role of green supply chain practices such as customer environmental collaboration, green purchasing and sustainable innovation in environmental performance. By leveraging the integrated perspective of the resource based-view, natural resource-based view and ability-motivation-opportunity as a theoretical lens, the study evaluates whether green practices lead to better environmental performance. In this study, energy efficiency is explored as a mediator between green purchasing, sustainable innovation and environmental performance, revealing its part in reaping the benefits of green initiatives. Additionally, green human resource practices are assessed as a moderator to identify how supportive such practices can be to amplify the relationship between customer environmental collaboration and firm environmental performance. Leveraging a PLS-SEM methodology, the findings reveal that environmental collaboration with customers, green purchasing and sustainable innovation directly lead to superior environmental performance. The study identifies the crucial role of energy efficiency as a mediator as it helps reinforce the effectiveness of green practices. The proven role of green human resource management as a moderator underscores the need to integrate human resource management with environmental objectives. Policymakers could take guidelines from the study to develop policies related to enhancing environmental performance using effective green supply chain practices and green human resource management practices.