Green supply chain management and the induced performance changes of companies in the Yangtze River delta of China

Corporate environmental management in China has been expanding from the efforts of individual companies to various cooperative practices improving environmental performance of the supply chain, which may be classified as green supply chain management (GSCM). Using the data collected from 165 companies in the Yangtze River delta of China, this paper analyses the driving mechanisms of GSCM of the companies with different practice levels. The valid respondents are classified as laggard companies and advanced practitioners by a cluster analysis of the scores presented to the pre-defined 12 GSCM activities. Multivariate regression analyses indicate different driving models for these two groups of companies. GSCM of laggard companies are driven by the regulatory pressures and the client’s demands but restricted by the company’s capacities. The GSCM levels of advanced companies may be attributed to the company’s business strategies for development. The business competitor’s performance and top management support...