The Effects of CSR Strategy and Internationalization on the Relationship Between Environmental Performance and Supplier Performance in the Aviation Industry: From a Dual‐Moderation Perspective

ABSTRACT

The aviation industry faces escalating sustainability pressures, with supply chains being central to achieving net‐zero emissions (NZEs). This study develops a dual‐moderation framework to examine how corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies and internationalization conditions are the link between environmental performance (ENP) and supplier performance (SP). Using Range Directional Model Network Data Envelopment Analysis (RDM‐NDEA) to evaluate market and sustainability efficiency, including negative data handling via data shifts, we analyze 192 firm‐year observations from suppliers of American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Lufthansa (2018–2023). The results show that environmental performance improves supplier performance; however, the moderating effect of CSR relies on internationalization, and high internationalization amplifies the positive impact. This dual‐moderation framework shows that in a highly international environment, CSR strategies shift from potential substitutes to complementary roles, enabling companies to leverage environmental investments to gain a greater competitive advantage. While empirically grounded in aviation, these findings offer a scalable strategic template for other high‐capital, globalized sectors—such as maritime and automotive—where reconciling upstream supply chain decarbonization with market efficiency is critical.