Relationship and performance transmission paths of different types of green technology innovation in industrial enterprises

Abstract

Green technology innovations can be divided into end-of-pipe technology innovation, green process innovation, and green product innovation, which can improve the environmental performance as well as the economic performance of enterprises. Based on existing research, this study constructed a conceptual model of economic performance transmission with green technology innovation and upgrading, and conducted an empirical analysis using the survey data of 642 industrial enterprises. The results show that the three types of green technology innovation can significantly improve the environmental performance and market competitiveness of the enterprises. Enterprise environmental performance and market competitiveness are important meditation variables in the process of transmission. End- of- pipe technology innovation can positively affect green process innovation and green product innovation. Green process innovation of enterprises can positively promote green product innovation, and there is room for technology innovation upgrading between different types of green technology innovations. There are some differences in the transmission path from different types of green technology innovation to economic performance, which shows that green process innovation can directly generate higher economic performance, while the end-of-pipe technology innovation and green product innovation can only improve the economic performance of enterprises through indirect paths. Through this research, the relationship between different types of green technology innovation in enterprises is identified, more paths to improve the economic performance of green technology innovation in enterprises are given, and the similarities and differences between different types of green technology innovation are compared and analyzed, which is of great significance for deepening the understanding of green technology innovation process and optimizing policy design.