Integrating smart food safety systems with enterprise information management for net-zero goals

Purpose This study investigates how Smart Food Safety Management Systems (SFSMS), supported by emerging digital technologies, can be leveraged as enterprise information systems (EIS) to achieve both carbon neutrality and economic performance, contributing to the broader objectives of a net-zero economy within the food industry. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-method research design is employed using quantitative survey data collected from 269 food-related enterprises in Vietnam and China. The study applies structural equation modeling and moderated regression analysis to examine the relationships between SFSMS, Critical Success Factors (CSFs), and sustainable performance outcomes. Findings The findings demonstrate that SFSMS components such as Smart Quality Standards and digitally integrated ecosystems are positively associated with carbon neutrality but have limited direct economic benefits. However, when SFSMS are supported by tailored CSFs, particularly Top Management Support and system-wide Integration, they significantly enhance both environmental and economic performance. These results suggest that the integration of compliance-driven systems with strategic digital leadership and enterprise-level enablers is key to achieving net-zero goals. Originality/value This study advances the discourse on enterprise information systems by reframing food safety compliance mechanisms as enablers of eco-innovation and sustainable transformation. The originality of this study lies not in claiming that standards create business value per se, but in showing that food safety compliance, as a non-environmental and safety-critical system, may generate sustainability spillovers through traceability, process discipline, and waste reduction, conditional on capabilities such as robustness, top management support, and integration. The research offers actionable insights for managers, policymakers, and system designers in the food supply chain seeking to align operational, technological, and sustainability objectives.