How Resilient Green Logistics drives Sustainable Environmental Outcomes: the multi-mediating role of governance, leadership and work ethos

Purpose This study looks at how Resilient Green Logistics (RGL) affects Sustainable Environmental Outcomes (SEO) in the Indian dairy sector. It focuses on the roles of Sustainability-Driven Governance (SDG), Eco-Transformative Leadership (ETL) and Pro-Environmental Work Ethos (PWE) as mediators. The research also aims to show how governance, leadership and employee behavior collectively contribute to environmental sustainability in dairy supply chains. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative survey design was adopted, covering 189 registered dairy companies across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and New Delhi. Purposive sampling targeted key supply chain professionals, including senior managers, logistics/supply chain managers and sustainability/environment officers. Of 567 targeted respondents, 407 provided valid responses. The data were analyzed using SmartPLS-SEM 4.1 to examine the proposed relationships. Findings The analysis strongly indicated that RGL directly improves environmental outcomes through business and behavioral mechanisms in the dairy sector's supply chain. Furthermore, the mediating roles of SDG, PWE and ETL have been established, and these mediators strengthen the relationship between RGL and SEO. Among the above-defined mediators, SDG emerged as the strongest, followed by PWE and ETL. Practical implications Adopting and implementing sustainable logistics practices, backed by strong governance, sustainable leadership and environmentally responsible employee behavior, will help the dairy sector leverage them to gain a competitive advantage at national and international levels. These insights can support policymakers and dairy managers in developing more sustainable logistics strategies and reducing environmental harm in the dairy sector. Originality/value This study integrates the roles of SDG, ETL and PWE as mediators into an inclusive framework for the Indian dairy sector.