Abstract: Although previous studies have found that both green supply chain management practices and green innovationcan impact firms’ performance, and few have examined the internal mechanism of green innovation between the green supply chain management practices and firms’ performance. Based on the knowledge-based view, a three-order moderated mediation model is constructed in this research by introducing the variables of ambidextrous knowledge search and green social capital to explore the deep-seated mechanism of green supply chain management practices on green innovation and firms’ performance.The results show that firms’ performance can be significantly improved by green supply chain management practices, and green innovation plays a mediation role in the above relationship. Moreover, the mediating effect is further positively moderated by ambidextrous knowledge search, and green social capital positively moderates the moderating impact of ambidextrous knowledge search on the relationship between green supply chain management practices and green innovation. Overall, this study not only deepens the theoretical research of green supply chain management but also provides practical implications for firms to benefit from green supply chain management practices and green innovation.

Key words: green supply chain; green innovation; ambidextrous knowledge search; green social capital