Green business in the digital age: sustainable performance in an era of technological advancement and leadership transformation

This study delves into the critical role of environmental stewardship, a notion ingrained in human culture since antiquity, accentuated by the rising environmental challenges and the global push towards sustainability. It highlights the emergence of green human resource management (GHRM), green corporate social responsibility (CSR), and green process innovation (GPI) as pivotal mechanisms enhancing firms’ eco-friendly and sustainable outcomes. Drawing upon the Natural-Resource-Based View (NRBV) and institutional theory, this research investigates the synergistic impact of green HRM, CSR, and innovation on sustainable and environmental performance. The analysis is grounded in empirical evidence from 407 Pakistan manufacturing employees. The findings reveal that green human resource management, green corporate social responsibility, and green innovation substantially contribute to environmental and sustainable performance, with green process innovation as a mediating factor. The study also uncovers that green leadership and technological progress significantly amplify these relationships, underscoring their importance in today’s evolving business landscape.