Exploring the linkage between digital transformation, green innovation, and carbon neutrality: Implications for business sustainability

Achieving business sustainability progressively depends on alignment of digital transformation, green innovation and carbon neutrality initiatives. This study aims to identify and prioritize the key factors to achieve green innovation and carbon neutrality. Based on the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework, the Grey Ordinal Priority Approach (G-OPA) is applied to evaluate the relative importance of factors under uncertainty using insights from 14 industry experts. The results highlight 16 critical factors, with “Digital orientation”, “Innovation capability” and “Optimizing energy consumption structure” as three most influential factors that businesses must address to effectively integrate digital transformation strategies with sustainability initiatives. The study contributes a structured understanding of how digital transformation drives sustainability and provides practical guidance for managers and policymakers pursuing carbon-neutral strategies.