Buyer–supplier collaboration in green practices: The driving effects from stakeholders

Abstract

Green and environmental practices are considered critical to enhancing firm innovation and performance. Previous research has not fully explained how and why buyers collaborate with suppliers in green practices. This study aimed to verify the driving effects of stakeholders and the underlying mechanism in buyer–supplier collaboration. Questionnaires were used to collect empirical data from selected purchasing managers in listed Taiwanese electronics firms. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the collected data and proposed model. Customer pressure and top management commitment are found to have a positive influence on buyer–supplier collaboration. Competitor pressure and regulatory pressure indirectly affect buyer–supplier collaboration through the mediating effects of customer pressure and top management commitment. However, green investment pressure does not significantly influence top management commitment and buyer–supplier collaboration. The results suggest that customers can leverage the pressure exerted by competing suppliers by bargaining with their current suppliers to improve collaboration with second‐tier suppliers.

Supply chain collaboration and eco‐innovations: An institutional perspective from China

“…Consistent with these arguments, Yen (2018) and others (e.g., Lee, 2008; Liu, Yang, Qu, Wang, Shishime, & Bao, 2012) find a significant impact of customer demands on buyer–supplier collaboration in the green practices of Chinese firms. Furthermore, the study shows an indirect effect of competitor pressure (through customer pressure) on environmental buyer–supplier collaboration, which means that “once customers have detected competing suppliers with superior green practices, they force their current suppliers to keep pace with or even outperform the competitive suppliers” (Yen, 2018, p. 8).…”

Should I stay, or should I go? Consumers' perceived risk and intention to visit restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil

“…The concern about an economic crisis, associated with positive feelings aroused by the admiration of those working during the pandemic, may explain this solidarity. Some studies state and discuss consumers’ appreciation of charitable and sustainable companies (e.g., through green buying) ( Yen, 2018 ). As expected, unemployed consumers do not show the inclination to solidarity since they are in an unfavorable situation, and social inequality undermines solidarity ( Mishra & Rath, 2020 ).…”

Can environmentally oriented CEOs and environmentally friendly suppliers boost the growth of small firms?

“…Thus, to ensure the greenness of the supply chain, multinational enterprises cannot only concentrate on their suppliers, they also need to ensure that their second‐tier suppliers and their suppliers are environmentally responsible. This notion has empirical support (Caniëls, Gehrsitz, & Semeijn, ) and, for example, Yen (, p. 1669) found that customer pressure “positively influences buyer‐supplier collaboration in green practices.” Thus, small manufacturing firms with well‐developed GPC will be attractive to multinational enterprises trying to minimize their environmental footprint. Being attractive is the first step; the customers must also be aware of the firm's attractiveness for this to result in economic growth.…”