Blockchain-enabled multi-information disclosure in fresh E-commerce: management for balancing economic and environmental performance

Purpose In e-commerce, eco-conscious consumers' focus on fresh produce has shifted from singular quality/safety to a composite dimension of quality, low-carbon and environmental attributes. This elevates information screening difficulty and disclosure management complexity, with blockchain technology (BT) offering a breakthrough for such issues. Design/methodology/approach We model a two-echelon supply chain (supplier-platform) under decentralized/integrated decision frameworks, constructing profit models with/without BT-based disclosure to derive optimal pricing, commission, carbon reduction and BT investment strategies. Findings Under any power structure, information disclosure motivation is jointly determined by information credibility and disclosure level: Full disclosure enhances the profit advantage of integrated decision-making while driving up prices; partial disclosure weakens this advantage and reduces carbon emission reduction sensitivity; BT's unit data maintenance cost solely influences the disclosure motivation's direction in integrated decision-making; platforms exhibit stronger disclosure willingness than suppliers when the pre- and post-disclosure trust gap is significant; and under specific conditions, BT-based integration outperforms decentralized decision-making in economic and environmental performance. Originality/value This study explores how BT-enabled multi-information disclosure affects fresh e-commerce optimization and management, advances BT's expanded application in e-commerce supply chains and provides theoretical guidance for balancing economic and environmental performance in sustainable fresh e-commerce by adjusting strategic information disclosure in complex scenarios.