Cultural Roots of Green Manufacturing: How Traditional Chinese Values Shape Green Factory Certification Implementation

Abstract Book of the 10th International Conference on Applied Research in Business, Management and Economics

Year: 2026

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Cultural Roots of Green Manufacturing: How Traditional Chinese Values Shape Green Factory Certification Implementation

Yutong Liu, Candy Lim Chiu, Han-Chiang Ho, Wanming Li

ABSTRACT:

Industrial environmental certifications are increasingly recognized as governance instruments, yet cultural dimensions shaping certification implementation remain systematically underexplored in this literature. This study examines how traditional Chinese cultural values and contemporary societal expectations shape the understanding and operationalization of environmental sustainability within China’s Green Factory Certification (GFC) program. Through systematic document analysis employing three-stage grounded theory coding of policy frameworks, certification standards, and corporate sustainability disclosures spanning 2016–2025, we identify five key cultural manifestations: (1) holistic lifecycle integration reflecting Confucian harmony principles (天人合一 Tianren Heyi) emphasizing balanced ecosystem relationships; (2) collective responsibility extending beyond individual firm boundaries to supply chains and communities; (3) government-enterprise partnership models shaped by high power distance, creating reciprocal obligations between state authorities and certified factories; (4) long-term investment orientation prioritizing intergenerational resource management and continuous improvement; and (5) integration of ecological civilization discourse generating cultural legitimacy beyond purely regulatory compliance. Drawing on Institutional Theory, Hofstede’s cultural dimensions framework, and Confucian philosophy, we propose a Cultural-Ecological Integration Model demonstrating that China’s conceptualization of ‘green’ manufacturing extends beyond conventional Western environmental paradigms by embedding collectivist orientations and state-enterprise relational logic within certification governance. This research contributes to cross-cultural environmental management theory and provides actionable insights for multinational corporations, policymakers, and international certification bodies designing culturally resonant sustainability frameworks globally.

Keywords: Collectivism; Ecological Civilization; Institutional Theory; Long-term Orientation; Tianren Heyi