PurposeThe global business environment has brought about great innovation according to the advent of the fourth industrial revolution era. Most of the enterprises are focusing on adapting to the era of the fourth industrial revolution and trying to find appropriate strategies. Competitiveness among enterprises is changing fiercely. Such environments are threatening to the sustainability of enterprises. In this regard, it is a key issue that how enterprises can be sustainable and gain competitive advantage. Based on this background, this study emphasized the importance of environmental involvement. Enterprise can improve its image through environmental involvement. Since enterprise image is a variable that directly impacts enterprise growth and performance, it promotes the sustainability of the enterprise. Therefore, this study aims to explore the improvement factors of environmental immersion and verified its influence.Design/methodology/approachThis study focused on creating shared value as a factor to improve environmental involvement. It is divided into three components, which are economic values, social values and cooperative values, respectively. The role of these three factors in enhancing environmental involvement was clearly identified and the process of enhancing enterprise image was verified.FindingsThe mediating effect of environmental involvement on the relationship between creative shared values (economic values, social values and cooperative values) and enterprise image was demonstrated.Originality/valueThis study emphasized the importance of environmental immersion in the era of the fourth industrial revolution and provided a way to improve enterprise image, which is directly related to the sustainability of the enterprise.