Mechanism and Path of Digital Transformation in Traditional Manufacturing from an ESG Perspective: A Case Study of DP Holdings

Abstract

Against the backdrop of the Dual Carbon goals and high-quality development, digital transformation has become a critical pathway for traditional manufacturing enterprises to resolve the conflict between economic and environmental benefits and to achieve green transition. Taking Dongpeng Holdings (DP) as a case study, this paper employs a single-case research method to deeply analyze the internal mechanisms and practical paths through which digital empowerment enhances ESG performance. The findings indicate that DP has achieved significant improvements in environmental, operational, and governance performance through four key mechanisms: data-driven decision- making, process optimization and resource efficiency enhancement, innovation empowerment and value creation, as well as transparency and governance strengthening. Furthermore, the company has constructed a transformation path framework encompassing six dimensions: strategy, data, process, innovation, ecosystem, and culture, thereby realizing the dialectical unity between mechanism elucidation and practical implementation. This study not only reveals the coupling mechanism between digital transformation and ESG performance but also provides theoretical references and practical insights for traditional manufacturing enterprises aiming to advance the digital + green dual transition.