How Can Supply Chain Management Drive Enterprises’ Low-Carbon Transformation: Evidence from the Supply Chain Innovation and Application Pilot Program in China

Abstract

Under the strategic constraints of global carbon emission targets, how supply chain management can effectively drive enterprises’ low-carbon transformation has become an important issue. Based on China’s Supply Chain Innovation and Application Pilot Program (SCIAPP), this paper approaches it as a quasi-natural experiment to empirically investigate how supply chain management affects enterprises’ low-carbon technological innovation (LCTI). This paper uses the data from publicly listed companies in China. and the difference-in-differences approach to empirically test the policy effect of SCIAPP and determine its influencing path. The study finds that first, SCIAPP significantly enhances enterprises’ LCTI level by approximately 14.2%. Second, SCIAPP mainly achieves this through three mechanisms, including strengthening enterprises’ green management, promoting digital transformation, and improving operational efficiency. Third, the impact effect is stronger in enterprises with more robust environmental management systems, fewer financing constraints and higher capital intensity. Additionally, the LCTI driven by SCIAPP can further positively impact the supply chain resilience. This study innovatively incorporates pilot policies, supply chain management, and LCTI for analysis, providing theoretical evidence and empirical support for the government to optimize supply chain governance and achieve climate goals.