Corporate Social Responsibility and Supply Chain Efficiency: A Study on Chinese Enterprises

ABSTRACT As sustainability challenges, such as environmental pollution, become increasingly severe, businesses must balance stakeholder interests while achieving economic objectives. Applying stakeholder theory, this study finds that active participation in corporate social responsibility (CSR) significantly improves supply chain efficiency (SCE), with an indirect effect through mechanisms such as green technology innovation and information sharing. Heterogeneity experiments reveal that CSR has a greater effect on SCE in nonstate‐owned businesses, companies with highly competitive positions, strong media attention, and regions with lower market segmentation. These findings offer practical insights for businesses aiming to integrate CSR into supply chain strategies, providing a new perspective on the economic effects of CSR under varying market and competitive conditions.