This study aims to develop a theoretical model for assessing the causal relationship between a proactive environmental strategy (PES), green mindfulness (GM), and environmental performance (EP) of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The theoretical model was established through a literature review and tested with 193 entrepreneurs and managers from manufacturing SMEs operating in Karachi, the largest city in Pakistan. The model was tested using PLS Smart with partial least square structural equation modeling. The results reveal that PES does not directly relate to EP. However, the study found a full mediation effect of GM on the relationship between PES and EP. Thus, this study is novel in its approach to using GM as a mediator in assessing the relationship between PES and EP. The study also found that the effects of PES are balanced when the SMEs incorporate GM, which further leads to the achievement of EP. Thus, the findings extend increasingly complex literature in the assessment of GM’s role in SMEs’ EP. Further, the scale and the models can be used to assess how SMEs respond to PES with mindful attention to achieve EP.

The textile sector and other high-risk industries need managers and supervisors to preserve ethical standards because they must ensure fair wages and working conditions for all employees. Managers must also ensure that all employees receive proper treatment at work. The ethical obligations related to occupational health and safety regulations do not receive proper attention in Bangladesh’s textile sector and many times go neglected. The protective measures required to safeguard workers receive inadequate attention from many managers who thus expose their employees to risk. The research focuses on ethical culture and managerial behavior within the textile industry sector. The research team used an intercept survey to gather data from 385 managers and supervisors who work at five factories in Dhaka and Narayanganj. The research study used SmartPLS 4 as a structural equation modeling tool to analyze the relationship between ethical culture and decision-making patterns. The results show that there is a positive correlation between ethical culture and ethical behavior. Those managers who follow ethical standards make better decisions that lead to better workplace practices. These results highlight the need for strong ethical commitments, thorough policies, and strict regulatory actions to develop a long-term ethical work culture. The study also reveals that managing ethical culture can provide managers with better reasons to focus on workplace safety. When organizational operations incorporate ethical principles as part of their daily routine, the organization becomes more transparent as well as fair and responsible. The research offers immediate practical implications while establishing a future research foundation to enhance ethical decision-making in Bangladesh’s textile sector. By establishing ethical standards and maintaining managerial accountability organizations can create lasting sustainability which benefits their employees and the industry as a whole.

As China advances its green transition, digital finance broadens firms’ access to external financing; however, whether improved access enhances financial allocation efficiency or drives green technology innovation remains unclear. This study addresses this through a dual-layer framework examining financing mechanisms and governance conditions. Using panel data from 2165 Chinese A-share firms (2011–2022) with two-way fixed-effects models, the analysis yields three key findings: First, digital finance significantly enhances green technology innovation. Second, financial mismatch partially mediates this relationship. Third, governance moderates these effects. Equity incentives exhibit threshold effects, where positive impacts emerge only above certain levels. Cash incentives, however, vary by period: they are positive in 2011–2018 and negative in 2019–2022. These results underscore that financial reform must accompany governance improvements, especially equity incentives. The Chinese experience also provides insights for emerging economies navigating digital finance expansion and green transition.

The Malaysian construction industry has experienced a concerning trend, ranking fifth in accidents from 2017 to 2021 and witnessing the highest number of fatal workplace injuries compared to other sectors. This study aimed to investigate the influence of safety leadership and safety competency on safety culture within the construction industry. To conduct the research, data were collected from 385 supervisors, engineers, and project managers employed by Grade G7 contractors registered with the Malaysian Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) in four Peninsular Malaysia states. A systematic random sampling method was employed, and data analysis was carried out using SmartPLS 4. The study's findings underscore the significance of both safety leadership and safety competency in positively impacting safety culture within the construction industry. The practical implications of these findings suggest that contractors should prioritize safety leadership and allocate resources to safety training and development initiatives. By enhancing employees' safety competencies, organizations can contribute to the establishment of a robust safety culture, ultimately addressing the industry's safety challenges. This research sheds light on crucial factors that can contribute to improving safety outcomes in the Malaysian construction industry