Blockchain and big data-optimized supply chains as facilitators of eco-innovative firm performance

In response to environmental demands, the textile production industry is transforming toward circular and sustainable practices. This study examines the synergistic impacts of blockchain and big data-optimized supply chain (BDOSC) techniques in reducing the ecological impact of the textile industry, addressing an area that has not been thoroughly explored. Data were collected through a survey of 352 employees from textile producers in Guangzhou, China. Grounded in the theory of the Resource-Based View, the findings reveal that blockchain significantly enhances eco-innovative firm performance (EIFP) with closed-loop and sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices acting as mediators. The results also show that BDOSC further amplifies the impact of blockchain, closed-loop practices, and SSCM practices on EIFP. These findings provide new insights into advancing environmental sustainability practices in the textile industry. The primary academic contribution of the study is in demonstrating how blockchain and BDOSC can be integrated as strategic technological assets within the Resource-Based View framework. Practitioners and policymakers can also gain a better understanding of how these technologies, as core capabilities, can support the adoption of sustainable practices in the textile industry.