Supply chain digitization and corporate carbon emissions: A chain mediation examination based on digital transformation and green innovation

The integration of supply chains and digitization not only enhances corporate performance but also has the potential to drive companies toward greener development. This study analyzes A-share listed companies in China from 2007 to 2021, utilizing the 2018 China Supply Chain Innovation and Application Pilot Policy as a quasi-natural experiment. Our findings indicate that supply chain digitization facilitates green innovation through digital transformation, reducing corporate carbon emissions. Notably, the decrease in Scope 3 carbon emissions induced by supply chain digitization is significantly greater than the overall reduction in carbon emissions. At the same time, supply chain digitalization reduces the carbon emissions of the core enterprise's suppliers, but it does not have a significant effect on the carbon emissions of its customers. This effect is especially pronounced in low-pollution industries, businesses with high supplier and customer concentrations, and companies with previously low carbon emissions. This research enriches the literature on supply chains and corporate carbon emissions and provides valuable insights for businesses, guiding the implementation of digital supply chains and low-carbon strategies.