How can manufacturing firms transform green collaboration into sustainable innovation? Unpacking the sustainable supply chain finance and stakeholder pathways in Ghana

Abstract

Purpose Grounded in the natural resource-based view and contingency theory, this study investigates how green supply chain collaboration enhances sustainable business model innovation. It explores the mediating role of sustainable supply chain finance and the moderating effects of stakeholder pressures in shaping these relationships. Design/methodology/approach Data collected from 300 managers of manufacturing firms in Ghana were analysed using structural equation modelling to empirically test the proposed hypotheses. Findings Green supply chain collaboration significantly influences sustainable business model innovation, with sustainable supply chain finance serving as a crucial mediating mechanism. Organisational stakeholder pressures moderate the relationship between green collaboration and sustainable finance, while regulatory pressures show no significant moderating effect. Research limitations/implications This study advances understanding of how collaborative green practices translate into business model innovation through financial mechanisms, suggesting further research is needed on contextual factors affecting these relationships. Practical implications The findings guide manufacturing managers in leveraging supply chain collaboration to achieve sustainable innovation. They demonstrate that sustainable finance amplifies collaborative benefits, while organisational stakeholder engagement strengthens implementation effectiveness. Originality/value The findings enrich academic discourse by establishing sustainable supply chain finance as a critical pathway linking collaboration to innovation. This research highlights how financial and collaborative mechanisms jointly enable sustainable transformation in emerging economy manufacturing contexts.