Green Entrepreneurial Orientation and Sustainable Performance: A Moderated Mediation Analysis in Chinese Manufacturing

This study investigates the mechanisms through which green entrepreneurial orientation (GEO) influences sustainable performance (SuP) in Chinese manufacturing enterprises, focusing on the mediating role of green intellectual capital (GIC) and the moderating effect of environmental uncertainty (EU). Drawing on the Resource-Based View and Natural Resource Base View, we develop and test a moderated mediation model using data from 486 Chinese manufacturing firms. Results from partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) reveal that GEO positively influences SuP both directly and indirectly through GIC. Moreover, EU negatively moderates the relationship between GIC and SuP. These findings contribute to the literature on green entrepreneurship and sustainable performance by elucidating the complex relationships among GEO, GIC, EU, and SuP in the context of Chinese manufacturing. The study offers important implications for theory development and managerial practice in promoting sustainable development in manufacturing industries.