The nexus of digitalization and sustainable consumption and production patterns: Empirical evidence from Vietnamese textile and garment industry

Abstract

Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG 12) aims at boosting sustainable consumption and production patterns (SCPP) globally, forming a critical component of the 2030 Agenda for SD. Despite progress in corporate sustainability reporting, significant challenges remain. Addressing these issues requires urgent action to raise awareness and manage finite natural resources more sustainably. Digitalization (DI) in supply chains has emerged as a key solution for greening product life cycles. Thus, this research delves into the association DI and SCPP among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging economies, emphasizing the mediating roles of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and green supply chain management (GSCM). This research employed a quantitative approach and collected data through a thoughtfully crafted survey questionnaire targeting individuals in managerial roles at companies. This earned 429 valid responses from 546 based companies in Vietnam. Subsequently, the hypothesized relationships were tested using SmartPLS (version 4.1.0.0). The outcomes highlight that DI positively impacts GSCM, CSR and the SCPP of enterprises, as well as the bond between CSR and GSCM, which are statistically significant. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate the mediating role of CSR and GSCM in the correlation between DI and SCPP in enterprises. This study adds valuable insights to the current set of insights on SCPP by presenting a novel perspective through the lens of dynamic capabilities theory as the main theoretical foundation while presenting an empirically operationalized framework that integrates dynamic capabilities theory and stakeholder theory. It also highlights underexplored mechanisms for advancing SCPP in SMEs, particularly in the textile supply chain of emerging economies, which have been insufficiently addressed in recent literature. The research provides theoretical implications for managers on how to pursue SCPP as part of green supply chain transformation through digital innovation, as well as, makes a meaningful advancement in the evolution of the academic discourse on the SDGs.