The interplay between operational supply chain transparency and sustainable supply chain: Does supply chain complexity and business regulatory compliance matter?

Purpose This study examines the relationship between operational supply chain transparency (OSCT) and sustainable supply chains using business regulatory compliance (BRC) as a moderator and supply chain complexity (SCC) as the mediator in manufacturing firms in Greater Kumasi, Ashanti region. Design/methodology/approach The survey used 200 of 223 manufacturing firms from Greater Kumasi. Both direct, mediating and moderating effects among the research variables were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling and SPSS. Findings The findings indicate that BRC and OSCT significantly enhance sustainable supply chains. OSCT has a direct effect on the sustainable supply chain. Again, SCC did not support a sustainable supply chain, and SCC does not mediate this relationship either. However, BRC strengthens the effect of OSCT on sustainable supply chains. Practical implications This study gives manufacturing firm managers evidence-backed guidance on matching their operations with regulatory standards. The study also provides insights on how to use transparency and compliance together to boost sustainability results, which helps inform decisions in complex supply chain settings. Originality/value By integrating BRC and OSCT into a single model, this study breaks new ground in understanding how these variables jointly affect sustainable supply chains. The study offers a fresh viewpoint by exploring the ways these two elements work together, an area that has been largely overlooked by scholars.