关键词: 绿色供应链, 区块链, 质量检验, 漂绿, 绿色信贷

Abstract: China has been committed to achieving “peak carbon” by 2030 and “carbon neutrality” by 2060 and has implemented policies to promote green enterprise improvement and green supply chain transformation. To support these goals, the Chinese government has introduced policies aimed at promoting the improvement of green enterprises and the transformation of green supply chains. This has triggered a growing trend of “green and low-carbon” initiatives, resulting in heightened environmental awareness among consumers and motivating numerous companies to embark on green supply chain transformations. However, these transformations encounter a persistent challenge known as “greenwashing”, which is largely fueled by information asymmetry. Blockchain technology has emerged as a promising solution to addressing the issue of information asymmetry in green supply chains. As a decentralized and tamper-resistant technology, blockchain enables secure and transparent information sharing, thus enhancing collaboration and efficiency among supply chain stakeholders.
This research focuses on a green supply chain comprising a manufacturer, a retailer, and a bank, with the retailer assuming a dominant role as the core enterprise in the Stackelberg game, while the manufacturer faces financial constraints and follows suit. To bolster green quality inspection and foster consumer confidence, this study introduces a blockchain-based information sharing mechanism. Two supply chain models are developed for comparison: one representing a conventional green supply chain without blockchain technology and the other featuring blockchain-enabled green information sharing. The research findings shed light on the importance of blockchain technology in green supply chains. In the absence of blockchain technology, retailers must adopt distinct strategies to cater to price-sensitive and green-sensitive consumers, seeking to meet diverse demands while maximizing profits. The retailer’s quality inspection capability significantly influences the manufacturer’s potential greenwashing behavior, thereby impacting the overall greenness of the supply chain.
The study reveals that an increase in loan interest rates results in higher operational costs and product prices for enterprises, potentially deterring manufacturers from investing in green initiatives and leading to decreased market demand for green products due to consumer distrust. To promote green manufacturing and foster the development of entire green supply chains, banks can offer subsidies or preferential loan rates to green borrowers, ultimately contributing to a positive brand image. However, consumer distrust negatively affects product prices, greenness, and the proportion of authentic green products in the market, necessitating the adoption of blockchain technology to enhance consumer trust, encourage green manufacturing, and significantly influence green quality control. Though cost remains a hurdle for retailers, below a certain threshold, adopting blockchain technology yields substantial economic benefits. Moreover, blockchain technology influences manufacturers’ profits and serves as a restraint against their greenwashing practices. An interesting finding of this study is the impact of the retailer’s inspection capabilities on the effectiveness of blockchain implementation. When the retailer’s inspection capability falls below a certain threshold, adopting blockchain benefits both the retailer and the bank. Blockchain not only curtails manufacturers’ greenwashing behavior but also affects their profits. This research represents the first comparative analysis of the two dimensions of blockchain technology’s impact in green supply chains, highlighting the greater significance of green quality inspection over enhancing consumer confidence.
The study’s conclusions provide valuable insights for managers and policymakers alike. Retailers should actively promote and guide green consumption, offer convenient green shopping experiences, and enhance supply chain quality management and efficiency. Embracing green transformations, increasing information transparency, and leveraging blockchain technology will help build a strong green brand image. Manufacturers, in turn, should prioritize environmentally friendly factors in product design, improve green manufacturing standards, and adhere to green regulations. Commercial banks have an important role to play by increasing green credit allocation, providing preferential interest rates, and strengthening pre-lending investigations and post-lending management. Government is encouraged to advocate green values, guide consumers towards green consumption, and establish supportive policies and regulations for sustainable green development. By fostering a conducive market environment and combating corporate greenwashing behaviors, governments can champion green industries and environmental projects. Additionally, governments should incentivize enterprises to adopt blockchain technology by reducing blockchain platform costs, ultimately driving genuine green development in the industry.

Key words: green supply chain, blockchain, quality inspection, greenwashing, green finance