Examining the effects of blockchain technology on sales models: A study from the dual perspectives of economy and environment

Abstract

Amid the booming E-commerce era, customers increasingly prioritize online purchases and product selection. This paper employs four models to investigate the dynamics between a low-carbon manufacturer (LCM) and an E-platform (EP) with blockchain technology (BT). From an economic perspective, the optimal sales model for LCM shifts from the agency selling model (AGSM) to the reselling model (RSM) as the commission rate increases. However, from the environmental perspective, the carbon emission reduction effort level is not always optimal in the AGSM without BT. In the BT situation, manufacturers are aiming to mitigate the cost pressures linked to carbon emissions reduction through the strategic approach of lowering commission rate thresholds. We find there is a beneficial range exists in the relationship between the LCM and the EP. Furthermore, as the sensitivity coefficient of consumers to negative online reviews decreases, the win-win interval increases when BT is employed, compared to scenarios without BT.