Digital ESG: Green Innovation Acceleration and Sustainable Performance of Maritime MSMEs

Indra Firdiyansyah (Faculty of Maritime Economics and Business, Raja Ali Haji Maritime University, Tanjungpinang)
Ezky Tiyasiningsih (Faculty of Maritime Economics and Business, Raja Ali Haji Maritime University, Tanjungpinang)
Nurul Yusyawiru (Faculty of Maritime Economics and Business, Raja Ali Haji Maritime University, Tanjungpinang)
Imalinda Deryane (Faculty of Maritime Economics and Business, Raja Ali Haji Maritime University, Tanjungpinang)
Jaya Dwi Nurcholis (Faculty of Maritime Economics and Business, Raja Ali Haji Maritime University, Tanjungpinang)
Sabri (Faculty of Economics and Business, Ibnu Sina University, Batam)

Jurnal Manajemen
Vol. 30 No. 3 (2026): October-January 2026

Maritime MSMEs in Tanjungpinang encounter a paradox between the promising potential of the Blue Economy and weak environmental sustainability practices. This study examines how Digital ESG capability influences green innovation and sustainable performance, with green innovation tested as a mediator. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was applied, beginning with qualitative exploration through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with key informants, followed by quantitative analysis using structural equation modeling. The qualitative phase revealed barriers related to structural dependency, deficits in digital literacy, opportunities for green innovation, and enabling policy factors. The quantitative phase confirmed that Digital ESG capability enhances both green innovation and sustainable performance, while green innovation itself contributes positively to sustainability outcomes. Mediation analysis shows that green innovation plays a partial role in linking Digital ESG capability with sustainable performance. These findings highlight the importance of strengthening digital literacy and innovation capacity to advance maritime MSMEs toward sustainable development.