Blockchain Adoption and Demand Information Sharing Strategies in a Green Supply Chain

This study investigates the interaction between a manufacturer’s blockchain adoption strategy and a retailer’s demand information sharing strategy in a green supply chain. For four strategy combinations, we establish a multi-stage game-theoretical model of a green supply chain consisting of a single manufacturer and a single retailer. We first derive the optimal pricing, greenness, service level, and profits, followed by sensitivity and comparative analyses. Next, by examining how consumer price sensitivity and the unit adoption cost of blockchain technology interact, we identify equilibrium strategy combinations. Finally, we validate the relevant findings through numerical analysis. The results demonstrate that adopting blockchain can mitigate the double marginalization effect when consumer price sensitivity is moderate, and can enhance product greenness and service level when the adoption cost remains low. Interestingly, the manufacturer is inclined to adopt blockchain irrespective of the degree of consumer skepticism. Meanwhile, the implementation of blockchain may motivate the retailer to share information when price sensitivity falls within a moderate range. These findings present actionable guidance for green supply chains regarding blockchain and information-sharing strategies.