How corporate environmental responsibility enhances sustainable performance through green supply chain management under stakeholder theory perspective

Purpose Corporate environmental responsibility (CER) and green supply chain management (GSCM) have become important factors in improving corporate sustainable performance. Among them, GSCM can be divided into green procurement, green logistics, customer relationship collaboration, and internal environmental management, which are interrelated yet independent of each other. Therefore, based on the stakeholder theory, this study aims to explore how different dimensions of GSCM collectively or differentially transmit the impact of CER on sustainable performance outcomes, and to discuss the complex relationships among corporate environmental performance (ENP), economic performance (ECP), and social performance (SOP). Design/methodology/approach This study conducted data collection through a structured questionnaire among managers of medium-sized and above manufacturing enterprises in China. Subsequently, empirical analysis was performed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) on 332 valid samples. Findings The study revealed significant positive correlations among CER, GSCM, and corporate sustainable performance. Additionally, the four dimensions of GSCM (green procurement, green logistics, customer relationship collaboration, and internal environmental management) all exerted significant positive mediating effects on the enterprise’s economic, social, and environmental performance. Originality/value This study expands the application of stakeholder theory in the field of sustainable supply chains, demonstrating how environmental pressures from stakeholders drive enterprises to adopt multidimensional GSCM, thereby translating CER into measurable ECP. By elucidating the differential transmission mechanisms of GSCM’s four dimensions (including green procurement, green logistics, customer relationship collaboration, and internal environmental management) between CER and corporate sustainable performance. This research provides actionable insights for guiding enterprises to enhance ECP, facilitating the alignment of stakeholder expectations with economic and environmental goals within supply chain systems.