Breaking new ground in sustainability (SD): a novel integrated framework for eco/green-innovation (EI) and green supply chain management (GSCM) implementation in emerging economies – evidence from Jordan’s industrial transformation

Abstract

The Emerging economies face a Sustainability (SD) paradox is the need to adopt green logistics and supply chain practices while constrained by limited resources and inadequate institutional frameworks. This study tackles three core challenges: (1) the absence of context-specific theories explaining Eco/Green-Innovation (EI) integration within Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM), (2) lack of empirical insights into SD implementation in Middle Eastern industries, and (3) the missing link between organizational practices and progress toward UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).The research introduces four innovations: (1) a mixed-methods design combining PRISMA-based literature review with a case study for both breadth and depth, (2) the first validated measurement framework for EI–GSCM integration in the Middle East, (3) a theoretical model combining Resource-Based View, Institutional Theory, and Diffusion of Innovation Theory to explain implementation under constraints, and (4) an SDG-mapping method directly linking SD practices to specific SDG targets. Key insights include: green procurement as the most effective starting point (78 % adoption); Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) as a vital mediator (r = 0.399); the need for integrated, not sequential, implementation; Total Quality Environmental Management as a strong secondary approach (65 %); and practical pathways linking practices to SDG 12.This is integrated empirical and theoretical study on EI and GSCM tailored to emerging economies, offering practical frameworks and advancing sustainable supply chain transformation. Building on these findings, future research should explore emerging eco-technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and smart irrigation systems to enhance SD performance.