Green giants: how high–tech manufacturers in China foster supplier green innovativeness for sustainable development

Purpose Based on the social exchange theory, this study aims to investigate the influence of green supplier development (GSD) on supplier green innovativeness (SGI), the mediating role of buyer–supplier cooperation and the moderating role of preferred customer status (PCS). Design/methodology/approach This study uses stratified regression analysis to test the hypothesized relationships with data collected from 385 Chinese high-tech manufacturing enterprises. Findings The results of regression analysis show that GSD has a significant positive effect on buyer–supplier cooperation and SGI; buyer–supplier cooperation plays a partially mediating role between GSD and SGI; PCS strengthens the positive relationship between buyer–supplier cooperation and SGI and enhances the mediating role of buyer–supplier cooperation between GSD and SGI. Practical implications Supplier participation in green innovation is of great significance to the green development transformation of China’s manufacturing industry. This study reveals the positive impact of GSD on enhancing SGI and provides specific suggestions for manufacturing enterprises to realize efficient supplier management and build mutually beneficial and win-win cooperative relationships. Originality/value This study enriches and expands the related research on SGI antecedents and reveals the mediating mechanism and boundary conditions therein, which better makes up for the lack of attention to GSD in the existing research on supplier management and can provide lessons and references for the subsequent related researches targeting the enhancement and utilization of SGI.