Green supply chain management in China: pressures, practices and performance

Purpose – Green supply chain management (GSCM) has emerged as a key approach for enterprises seeking to become environmentally sustainable. This paper aims to evaluate and describe GSCM drivers, practices and performance among various Chinese manufacturing organizations. Design/methodology/approach – Based on a literature review, four propositions are put forward. An empirical study using survey research was completed. The survey questionnaire was designed with 54 items using literature and industry expert input. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to derive groupings of GSCM pressures, practice and performance from the survey data which included 314 responses. A categorical and descriptive nature of the results is then presented with an evaluation and comparative analysis with previous research findings. Findings – Chinese enterprises have increased their environmental awareness due to regulatory, competitive, and marketing pressures and drivers. However, this awareness has not been translated into strong GSCM practice adoption, let alone into improvements in some areas of performance, where it was expected. Research limitations/implications – The investigation and its findings are still relatively exploratory. Future research can investigate relationships identified in this work, as well as tease out mediating and moderating relationships. A more broadly‐based and random sample study across China would also provide a better picture of this GSCM situation. Practical implications – Efforts made by Chinese enterprises together with the Chinese government have established a good foundation for further development. After China's entry into the WTO, a win‐win relationship between foreign companies and Chinese manufacturers is still possible. Originality/value – This work is one of the few and pioneering efforts to investigate GSCM practices in China.