Plastic products, including plastic packaging, were products whose increasing demand continued because the community still needed plastic as packaging. On the other hand, plastic waste, which was increasingly high and difficult to decompose, was a problem that needed to be solved together. This study aims to understand how plastic company packaging implements TQM, its environmental impact, and how plastic packaging companies are taking steps towards green manufacturing. This research used a qualitative phenomenological method to understand the problem based on the actor’s perspective. The data collection method was in-depth interviews with informants from 3 plastic companies in East Java, Indonesia, followed by observation and FGD. We carried out Triangulation, member checking, and professional involvement to determine the data’s validity, reliability, and trustworthiness. The results of this study indicated a management system that promotes quality as a business strategy and is oriented towards customer satisfaction by involving all members of the organization. TQM emphasized continuous improvement, customer satisfaction, and employee involvement. By implementing aspects of TQM, plastic packaging companies could improve their production processes and reduce waste, increasing efficiency and profitability. In addition, TQM could also contribute to the company’s green performance by promoting environmentally friendly practices, including using electric machines to replace hydraulic machines, thereby reducing the use of electrical energy and CO₂ emissions. The use of solar panels was a step towards green manufacturing. Companies that adopt TQM principles are more likely to implement environmentally friendly initiatives such as reducing energy consumption and using recyclable materials and can demonstrate a commitment to corporate social responsibility. The company’s membership in EcoVadis and SMETA further strengthens the company’s direction towards Green Manufacturing and competitive advantage.

Enterprise green innovation drives sustainable development and contributes to the realization of a ‘beautiful China’. It enhances resource utilization, reduces energy consumption, and achieves economic-environmental objectives through technological advancements. This paper examines the impact of the gender composition of a company’s CEO and CFO on green innovation by empirical research method using the data of the firms listed on Chinese capital market from 2015 to 2022. Our findings indicate that: (1) Male CEOs and CFOs are more likely to promote green innovation compared to their female counterparts; (2) Leadership teams comprising opposite-sex pairs tend to weaken the promotion of green innovation. These conclusions are consistent across state-owned enterprises and within the manufacturing sector. This study provides a novel perspective on enterprise green innovation, offering insights for companies regarding their green innovation strategies and for policymakers in shaping relevant policies.

Introduction: The growing global focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards necessitates that companies optimize their corporate governance to balance economic, social, and ecological responsibilities. This study examines how the synergistic effects of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental Responsibility (ER) can promote sustainable corporate development. Objective: The objective of this study is to analyze the critical elements of corporate governance structure optimization and to explore how companies can enhance their governance to achieve sustainable development through strengthened social and environmental management practices. Methods: The study uses case analysis and literature review to assess high-performing enterprises in CSR and ER integration, examining their governance, policy, and environmental strategies to uncover the factors behind their success in economic, social, and environmental spheres. Results: The research shows that optimizing governance structures markedly improves operational effectiveness. Companies need to create strong internal controls for equitable and transparent decisions, embedding CSR and ER into their strategies. CSR fulfillment builds public trust and environmental support, whereas ER improves brand reputation and competitiveness, driving sustainable and mutually advantageous development. Conclusion: The key to sustainable development in ESG practice lies in optimizing corporate governance and strengthening the synergy between social and environmental responsibilities. It is imperative for companies to build a governance structure that complies with ESG standards and to incorporate social and environmental considerations into their corporate strategies to effectively manage the triple bottom line of economic, social, and environmental performance.

Sustainable innovation is crucial for addressing social and environmental challenges and is a key driver of enterprise competitiveness and economic growth. This study examines how board heterogeneity influences sustainable innovation in enterprises, particularly within the context of China’s Science and Technology innovation board. Findings reveal that diverse boards enhance sustainable innovation and impact M&A activities, which in turn mediate the relationship between board diversity and corporate sustainability. The research aims to understand the optimal board composition for scientific and creative enterprises, analyze the mechanisms behind board heterogeneity’s effect on innovation, and assess M&A’s role in this process. The study’s outcomes underscore the importance of board diversity for fostering sustainable innovation and suggest that M&A can be a critical pathway to enhancing corporate sustainability.

Problem statement: An environmentally conscious consumer’s perspective can shift as they look for things that are gentler on the planet. Conversely, businesses engage in greenwashing when they try to cover up their lacklustre environmental initiatives. The current research was used the theory of rational choice behaviour to examine a model that connects corporate green washing and consumers’ green purchase intentions via the mediating roles of perceived risk, green trust and green confusion about food and beverage brands in Saudi Arabia. Research motivation: Sustainable business practices have been developed and adopted by corporations in response to the growing interest in environmentally friendly lifestyles and green products. However, green washing has become increasingly common as a means for businesses to give off the impression that they care about the environment when they really don’t. Research methodology: The online survey was used to obtain data directly from consumers about their views on green washing by corporations. Primary data was analysed using appropriate statistical tools and techniques in SPSS, AMOS and SmartPLS software, such as Correlation, Regression, Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), etc. Results: In terms of perceived greenness and confusion, the results showed that green wash mediates the relationship between green purchasing intention and greenness. There is a two-way correlation between consumers’ intentions to buy environmentally friendly products and their levels of green perception, and green confusion. The findings of this study were broadening our understanding of the consequences of green washing. Conclusions: All things considered, the study was encouraging more research on the subject and be a useful tool for academics, corporate managers, and students interested in environmental sustainability, product innovation, and green branding. According to the results, businesses can improve their green purchasing intentions by cutting down on green washing and focusing instead on building a positive reputation for their brand and encouraging customer loyalty. Corporate performance and social environment sustainability can both benefit greatly from this paper’s expansion of knowledge regarding the processes of individual customer psychological effects after perceptions of corporate greenwashing behaviour.

As the global ecological and environmental problems become more and more serious, the concept of green finance and sustainable development has been advocated by more and more domestic and foreign experts, scholars and investors, and the Environmental Responsibility, Social Responsibility, and Corporate Governance (ESG) rating has gradually become a hotspot of attention. ESG is a kind of investment concept and a comprehensive assessment criterion of corporate performance for systematic evaluation of enterprises, and it has become an important indicator of the ability of measuring the sustainable development of enterprises. It has become an important indicator of corporate sustainable development capability. In this paper, we investigate the relationship between ESG ratings and cumulative abnormal returns of listed companies’ stocks under the impact of sudden risk events. The outbreak of the New Crown epidemic as an exogenous risk event provides an opportunity for this paper. This paper examines the role of firms’ ESG ratings and the three sub-dimensions of ratings on the cumulative abnormal returns of listed firms’ stocks during the New Crown Epidemic outbreak and verifies the role of ESG ratings on firms in times of crisis. The final regression results prove that under the impact of sudden exogenous risk events, listed firms’ ESG ratings have a positive effect on the cumulative abnormal stock returns during the event window. Finally, this paper provides recommendations to help firms and investors prevent and mitigate risks.