Title: Sustainable garment manufacturing enterprises in China: the mediating role of business sustainability towards competitive advantage

Authors: Hao Wan; Emmanuel Paulino

Addresses: Gongqing Institute of Science and Technology, Gongqing City, Gongqing Avenue 1, Jiujiang City, 332020, Jiangxi Province, China ' College of Business Administration and Accountancy, De La Salle University Dasmarinas, DBB-B 4115 West Ave., Dasmariñas, Cavite, Philippines

Abstract: This study investigated the mediation of business sustainability on the link between green management and competitive advantage. The value of this pursuit is based on the vague findings of existing literature on how green management and business sustainability can contribute to competitive advantage. The participants of this study are managers of garment manufacturing companies in the Pearl River Delta of Guangzhou City, China. They were surveyed using a Likert scale questionnaire. Response data were analysed using partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). This study found a significant effect of green management on business sustainability. Furthermore, business sustainability has a significant effect on competitive advantage. However, direct analysis revealed no significant effect of green management on competitive advantage. Consequently, the link between green management and competitive advantage depends on the sustainable practices implemented by garment manufacturing companies. The implications for garment manufacturing and for future research are also given in this paper. The Garments manufacturing industry should emphasise deploying green management practices and ensure that these methods result in quantifiable advances in sustainability, enhancing their competitive edge.

Keywords: business sustainability; garments manufacturing; China; competitive advantage; green management; mediation analysis; structural equation model.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTM.2024.145231

International Journal of Services Technology and Management, 2024 Vol.29 No.2/3/4, pp.107 - 131

Received: 23 Dec 2023
Accepted: 08 Sep 2024
Published online: 28 Mar 2025 *