In the face of the challenges posed by the need to drastically decrease carbon emissions, all agents in the supply chain need to strengthen low-carbon collaboration with the support of digital transformation. This study sets up a low-carbon collaboration evolutionary game model of the supply chain based on benefit sharing by introducing digital transformation. The equilibrium-point stability of the supply chain is then analyzed under two separate conditions—i.e., less and more government rewards and punishments compared to supply-chain agents’ strategic risk cost. Furthermore, based on the evolutionary game model, this study draws the system dynamics (SD) flow diagram to analyze the research problem quantitatively. The main results show that: (1) low-carbon benefit-driven effects promotes collaboration benefit sharing, thereby increasing the probability of low-carbon collaboration; (2) digital transformation is an essential regulator of low-carbon collaboration in the supply chain and can amplify the low-carbon benefit-driven effect; (3) collaboration benefit sharing can perfectly coordinate the vertical supply chain under low-carbon collaboration; and (4) government support and management are critical links in the low-carbon collaboration formation path of the supply chain. This research provides theoretical support for low-carbon collaboration in the supply chain under digital transformation.

The used power batteries of new energy vehicles have become a combined issue of environmental pollution, resource scarcity, and economic sustainability. Power battery recycling is inevitably becoming the key link in the formation of the green closed-loop supply chain for new energy vehicles and the green cycle of the new energy vehicles industry. This study establishes a three-party evolutionary game model of “new energy vehicle manufacturers, power battery manufacturers, and power battery recyclers”, simulates the dynamic evolution process of each game player’s strategy, and analyzes the effects of the digital transformation factor and other factors leading to the evolution trend. The main results show that: (i) in the absence of sufficient incentives and constraints, the green closed-loop power battery supply chain cannot be formed naturally; (ii) digital transformation is an important factor in the journey of the green closed-loop supply chain for power battery recycling, and (iii) government rewards and penalties can promote the formation of the green closed-loop supply chain for power batteries. This research innovatively investigates the concept of the green closed-loop power battery supply chain and its formation mechanism, which provides theoretical support to promote the recycling of used power batteries to achieve sustainability.

Manufacturing is one of the vital carbon emission sources in China; its carbon emission reduction and carbon productivity improvement are the keys to the successful realization of “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality”. This paper investigates the impact of regional manufacturing digitalization on carbon productivity based on a panel data set covering 30 provinces in China over time from 2013 to 2020. We applied the mixed Ordinary Least-Squares (OLS) regression effect model and instrumental variable method, using a mediation effect model, and identified that technological innovation is the potential transmission channel of manufacturing digitalization affecting carbon productivity. The empirical results show that: (1) Digitalization of manufacturing can effectively contribute to increased carbon productivity. (2) Technological innovation plays a partial intermediary role in the impact of carbon productivity through the digitalization of manufacturing, and there is still much room for improvement. (3) Promoting the digitalization of manufacturing will promote technological innovation, which is an important influencing factor for manufacturing enterprises to enhance technological innovation. This research provides theoretical support for achieving carbon productivity in manufacturing in the context of digital development.

The synergy of digitalization and greening (DGS) enhances the resilience of the industrial chain (ICR), a critical aspect for the sustainable growth of the national economy. This symbiotic relationship not only facilitates the enhancement of quality and efficiency within the manufacturing sector but also propels forward sustainable economic development. Therefore, how DGS can improve ICR deserves in-depth study. Drawing on the panel data encompassing manufacturing industries across 30 provincial-level administrative regions in China from 2013 to 2022, this study employs a regression model to delve into the mechanisms through which DGS within manufacturing industries impacts ICR. The main results are as follows: (1) DGS in manufacturing makes a positive contribution to ICR; (2) The impact of DGS on ICR varies across regions, with a diminishing effect from the eastern to the western region. (3) Technological innovation reinforces the influence of DGS on ICR. (4) Spatial measures show that the development of DGS in one location has a negative spatial spillover effect on ICR in neighboring areas. Based on the above conclusions, this paper puts forward a series of recommendations aimed at promoting industrial chain resilience.

The servitization of manufacturing enterprises has two main directions: production servitization and product servitization. The value co-creation model describes the transformation process of servitization of manufacturing enterprises; it is far more complex than that of service enterprises, and requires more in-depth research. This paper explores the value co-creation model and upgrading path based on the servitization of manufacturing enterprises, based on the idea that the value network supported by information technology has become a vital support for the servitization value co-creation of manufacturing enterprises. Referring to the degree of servitization of manufacturing enterprises and the degree of integration of complementary resources among value network members, we explore the value co-creation model between manufacturing enterprises and each network subject. We obtain four models: double-low model, servitization leading model, resource complementary leading model, and double-high model. We then clarify the characteristics, scope of application, advantages, and disadvantages of each model, and the means of value creation. We also apply the rough set method to empirically test the feasibility of the classification parameters of the value co-creation model and the accuracy of the classification rules, using Chinese listed and non-listed manufacturing enterprises as a sample. The findings provide a theoretical reference and practical guidance for manufacturing enterprises to achieve sustainable development and determine the upgrade path of the value co-creation model.

The pressures to maintain a low-carbon economy makes green competitiveness (GC) a significant issue in China. It has been found that the development of Internet and E-commerce contributes significantly to GC of regional economy, yet there are still lack of quantitative investigation on their effects, which can be used to further guide the economic development. Therefore, this study constructs a new evaluation index for the green competitiveness of the regional manufacturing industry in China by introducing Internet application indicators and E-commerce development indexes into its evaluation system. The results show Jiangxi and Gansu moved upward significantly in the GC ranking over the period. The development of the Internet and E-commerce has the most significant impact on GC of regional manufacturing. The lack of green manufacturing capabilities and green innovation drivers led to a decline in the GC ranking of Liaoning, Tianjin, Guangxi and Heilongjiang. Finally, this study uses Moran’s I index to investigate the spatial agglomeration effect of the green development of the manufacturing industry at the province level. The results show an increase in the GC of China’s regional manufacturing industry, and the GC of manufacturing industry shows a significant agglomeration effect. Based on the above conclusions, the proposal to promote the balanced development of the GC of the manufacturing industry is proposed.