Unraveling the Mechanisms of the Digital Economy’s Impact on Green Transformation in the Manufacturing Industry of China
The rapid advancement of scientific innovation and industrial restructuring has extensively promoted high-quality industrial development. However, whether the digital economy ( DE ) can effectively drive the green transformation ( GT ) of manufacturing remains uncertain. This study examines the influence of DE on GT in China’s manufacturing sector by developing an impact-effect model ( IEM ) to analyze their relationship. The study examines panel data from thirteen Heilongjiang cities using fixed-effect, quantile regression, and threshold models to assess DE impacts on GT across manufacturing industries. The results reveal heterogeneous effects: industries with lower levels of green development benefit more from DE , while advanced sectors experience reduced marginal gains. Digital technologies significantly aid eco-friendly transformation. The findings emphasize the importance of tailoring digitalization policies to industry-specific stages of green development to maximize GT potential. Targeted strategies, particularly for less environmentally friendly industries, are recommended to optimize the transformative role of DE in sustainable manufacturing.