Can supply chain integration enhance corporate ESG performance?

This research investigates the link between supply chain integration (SCC) and corporate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance, using panel data from Chinese listed firms between 2010 and 2023. Drawing on stakeholder theory, the resource-based view, and institutional perspectives, we argue that SCC fosters sustainability by improving coordination and accountability across supply networks. Our fixed-effects regressions show a positive and robust association between SCC and ESG outcomes, confirmed through multiple endogeneity tests. Our detailed heterogeneity tests reveal that this positive effect is driven by the environmental and social components of ESG, while being significantly stronger for firms in high-technology sectors and those in the mature stages of their corporate life cycle. We also identify key mechanisms: industrial chain integration (ICI) partially mediates the SCC-ESG relationship, while perceived economic policy uncertainty (PEPU) acts as a positive moderator, reinforcing the value of SCC in turbulent times. Collectively, these findings contribute to the sustainable operations literature by identifying the specific channels, contextual factors, and ESG dimensions through which operational integration shapes corporate sustainability in emerging economies.