Corporate Social Responsibility in the Logistics Supply Chain toward Green Logistics Development in Phu Tho Province

Abstract

This study investigates the institutional role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in shaping the transition toward green logistics in Phu Tho Province, an emerging logistics hub in Vietnam’s northern midland region undergoing large-scale administrative restructuring. Building upon the Triple Bottom Line, Stakeholder Theory, and Institutional Theory, the research employs a qualitative content analysis of provincial planning documents (2021–2030), political reports (2023–2025), socio-economic datasets, and international frameworks published by OECD and UNESCAP. The findings reveal that CSR has evolved beyond a voluntary philanthropic activity and now functions as a soft governance instrument that aligns enterprise behavior with green-development objectives. CSR commitments generate measurable improvements in fuel efficiency, emission reduction, occupational safety, and supply-chain transparency, especially among FDI firms operating in industrial zones. The study contributes a three-layer analytical framework: Institutional, Corporate Outcome, which explains the vertical linkages between policy pressures, enterprise capabilities, and sustainable logistics performance. This framework provides a generalizable model for midland provinces pursuing green-growth strategies. The paper concludes with policy recommendations for institutionalizing CSR into provincial logistics planning and identifies pathways for future empirical research.