Redefining supply chain dynamics: digitization and green innovation as catalysts for energy supply chain resilience under UN-SDGs

Muhammad Ismail; Zhongdong Xiao; Abdul Waheed; Shahid Mahmood; El-Sayed M. El-Kenawy; Amel Ali Alhussan; Marwa M. Eid; Doaa Sami Khafaga; Muhammad Ismail; Zhongdong Xiao; Abdul Waheed; Shahid Mahmood; El-Sayed M. El-Kenawy; Amel Ali Alhussan; Marwa M. Eid; Doaa Sami Khafaga

doi:10.3934/jimo.2026004

Journal of Industrial and Management Optimization

2026, Volume 22, Issue 1: 70-99. doi: 10.3934/jimo.2026004

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Research article

Redefining supply chain dynamics: digitization and green innovation as catalysts for energy supply chain resilience under UN-SDGs

1.
School of Management, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
2.
School of Business, Xian International University, Xian, China
3.
Malik Firoz Khan Noon Business School, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan
4.
Delta Higher Institute of Engineering and Technology, Department for Communication and Electronics, Mansoura 35511, Egypt
5.
Applied Science Research Center, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan
6.
Department of Computer Sciences, College of Computer and Information Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
7.
Faculty of Artificial Intelligence, Delta University of Science and Technology, Mansoura, Egypt
8.
Jadara Research Center, Jadara University, 21110, Jordan
9.
Department of Computer Sciences, College of Computer and Information Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia

Received: 12 June 2025 Revised: 19 October 2025 Accepted: 28 October 2025 Published: 17 November 2025
90C26, 90C30

Considering UN-SDGs 2030, increased globalization, and consumer concern for environmental sustainability, digitization and green innovation have become important instruments for companies to promote energy supply chain resilience (ESCR). This study aimed to check the effect of digitization and green innovation on ESCR through the lens of UN-SDGs. Initially, indicators for digitization, green innovation, and ESCR were collected from a literature review and confirmed through the Delphi methodology, which was subsequently used to analyze the data using the ISM-MICMAC methodology. Based on a hybrid methodology of ISM-MICMAC and Delphi through a unified threshold rule with its three rounds, data collected from 15 experts/stakeholders from academia, industry, and policy domains highlighted that "renewable energy integration", "sustainable sourcing", and "eco-friendly packaging" are the most important indicators of green innovation affecting ESCR. All indicators of digitization indirectly affect ESCR, except "optimization of SC", which is directly associated with it. At the 5th level of the ISM model, it was found that different indicators of green innovation and digitization can be implemented in four distinct stages, which will also help policymakers implement stepwise initiatives to promote ESCR. Furthermore, these key drivers will serve as a decision-support system for promoting ESCR. This research offers policymakers and practitioners actionable insights by identifying the pathways through which digitization and green innovation contribute to operational efficiency, sustainability, and long-term resilience in energy supply chains.
- supply chain sustainability,
- energy supply chain resilience,
- supply chain digitization,
- green innovation,
- decision support,
- UN-SDGs,
- ISM-MICMAC
Citation: Muhammad Ismail, Zhongdong Xiao, Abdul Waheed, Shahid Mahmood, El-Sayed M. El-Kenawy, Amel Ali Alhussan, Marwa M. Eid, Doaa Sami Khafaga. Redefining supply chain dynamics: digitization and green innovation as catalysts for energy supply chain resilience under UN-SDGs[J]. Journal of Industrial and Management Optimization, 2026, 22(1): 70-99. doi: 10.3934/jimo.2026004

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Abstract

Considering UN-SDGs 2030, increased globalization, and consumer concern for environmental sustainability, digitization and green innovation have become important instruments for companies to promote energy supply chain resilience (ESCR). This study aimed to check the effect of digitization and green innovation on ESCR through the lens of UN-SDGs. Initially, indicators for digitization, green innovation, and ESCR were collected from a literature review and confirmed through the Delphi methodology, which was subsequently used to analyze the data using the ISM-MICMAC methodology. Based on a hybrid methodology of ISM-MICMAC and Delphi through a unified threshold rule with its three rounds, data collected from 15 experts/stakeholders from academia, industry, and policy domains highlighted that "renewable energy integration", "sustainable sourcing", and "eco-friendly packaging" are the most important indicators of green innovation affecting ESCR. All indicators of digitization indirectly affect ESCR, except "optimization of SC", which is directly associated with it. At the 5th level of the ISM model, it was found that different indicators of green innovation and digitization can be implemented in four distinct stages, which will also help policymakers implement stepwise initiatives to promote ESCR. Furthermore, these key drivers will serve as a decision-support system for promoting ESCR. This research offers policymakers and practitioners actionable insights by identifying the pathways through which digitization and green innovation contribute to operational efficiency, sustainability, and long-term resilience in energy supply chains.

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