Balancing E-Commerce Platform and Manufacturer Goals in Sustainable Supply Chains: The Impact of Eco-Friendly Private Labels

This paper analyzes how consumer preferences for eco-friendly private labels affect platform selling formats and manufacturer channel strategies. We construct a game-theoretic model that encompasses both an e-commerce platform and a manufacturer. In this model, the platform chooses its selling forma...

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Main Authors: Zhiheng Liu, Xiangcheng Cui, Yuanyuan Ji
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Systems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/13/1/36
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author Zhiheng Liu
Xiangcheng Cui
Yuanyuan Ji
author_facet Zhiheng Liu
Xiangcheng Cui
Yuanyuan Ji
author_sort Zhiheng Liu
collection DOAJ
description This paper analyzes how consumer preferences for eco-friendly private labels affect platform selling formats and manufacturer channel strategies. We construct a game-theoretic model that encompasses both an e-commerce platform and a manufacturer. In this model, the platform chooses its selling format—either wholesale or agency—while the manufacturer determines whether to launch an online direct channel. Our analysis takes into account consumer preferences for both product brands and sales channels. We compare and analyze the equilibrium outcomes across four different scenarios, leading to the following conclusions: (1) When the platform utilizes the wholesale selling format, the manufacturer is consistently motivated to launch the direct channel if the costs associated with it are low. Conversely, when the platform employs the agency selling format, the manufacturer’s decision to establish an online direct marketing channel depends on the relative strength of consumers’ eco-friendly and channel preferences. (2) The platform’s choice of selling format is affected by the manufacturer’s channel strategy, leading the platform to modify its selling format based on varying manufacturer channel approaches. (3) The choices of the platform’s selling format and the manufacturer’s channel strategy are not always in conflict. When consumer preferences for the manufacturer’s direct channel are strong and the cost of introducing it is moderate, the platform’s decision to adopt the agency selling format can create a win-win outcome for both the platform and the manufacturer. And the establishment of online channels by manufacturers further enhances the sustainable growth of eco-friendly products.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2079-8954
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Systems
spelling doaj-art-efc3781db0314e51b92c12b9558db0fe2025-01-24T13:50:34ZengMDPI AGSystems2079-89542025-01-011313610.3390/systems13010036Balancing E-Commerce Platform and Manufacturer Goals in Sustainable Supply Chains: The Impact of Eco-Friendly Private LabelsZhiheng Liu0Xiangcheng Cui1Yuanyuan Ji2School of Business Administration, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110169, ChinaDepartment of Culture and Tourism of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin 150000, ChinaSchool of Business Administration, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110169, ChinaThis paper analyzes how consumer preferences for eco-friendly private labels affect platform selling formats and manufacturer channel strategies. We construct a game-theoretic model that encompasses both an e-commerce platform and a manufacturer. In this model, the platform chooses its selling format—either wholesale or agency—while the manufacturer determines whether to launch an online direct channel. Our analysis takes into account consumer preferences for both product brands and sales channels. We compare and analyze the equilibrium outcomes across four different scenarios, leading to the following conclusions: (1) When the platform utilizes the wholesale selling format, the manufacturer is consistently motivated to launch the direct channel if the costs associated with it are low. Conversely, when the platform employs the agency selling format, the manufacturer’s decision to establish an online direct marketing channel depends on the relative strength of consumers’ eco-friendly and channel preferences. (2) The platform’s choice of selling format is affected by the manufacturer’s channel strategy, leading the platform to modify its selling format based on varying manufacturer channel approaches. (3) The choices of the platform’s selling format and the manufacturer’s channel strategy are not always in conflict. When consumer preferences for the manufacturer’s direct channel are strong and the cost of introducing it is moderate, the platform’s decision to adopt the agency selling format can create a win-win outcome for both the platform and the manufacturer. And the establishment of online channels by manufacturers further enhances the sustainable growth of eco-friendly products.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/13/1/36e-commerce platformeco-friendly private label productonline direct channelagency sellingwholesale selling
spellingShingle Zhiheng Liu
Xiangcheng Cui
Yuanyuan Ji
Balancing E-Commerce Platform and Manufacturer Goals in Sustainable Supply Chains: The Impact of Eco-Friendly Private Labels
Systems
e-commerce platform
eco-friendly private label product
online direct channel
agency selling
wholesale selling
title Balancing E-Commerce Platform and Manufacturer Goals in Sustainable Supply Chains: The Impact of Eco-Friendly Private Labels
title_full Balancing E-Commerce Platform and Manufacturer Goals in Sustainable Supply Chains: The Impact of Eco-Friendly Private Labels
title_fullStr Balancing E-Commerce Platform and Manufacturer Goals in Sustainable Supply Chains: The Impact of Eco-Friendly Private Labels
title_full_unstemmed Balancing E-Commerce Platform and Manufacturer Goals in Sustainable Supply Chains: The Impact of Eco-Friendly Private Labels
title_short Balancing E-Commerce Platform and Manufacturer Goals in Sustainable Supply Chains: The Impact of Eco-Friendly Private Labels
title_sort balancing e commerce platform and manufacturer goals in sustainable supply chains the impact of eco friendly private labels
topic e-commerce platform
eco-friendly private label product
online direct channel
agency selling
wholesale selling
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/13/1/36
work_keys_str_mv AT zhihengliu balancingecommerceplatformandmanufacturergoalsinsustainablesupplychainstheimpactofecofriendlyprivatelabels
AT xiangchengcui balancingecommerceplatformandmanufacturergoalsinsustainablesupplychainstheimpactofecofriendlyprivatelabels
AT yuanyuanji balancingecommerceplatformandmanufacturergoalsinsustainablesupplychainstheimpactofecofriendlyprivatelabels