The　CuMgZrOx　oxide　catalysts　were　employed　with　economical　2-PrOH　as　the　hydrogen　donor　for　catalytic　transfer　hydrogenation　of　ethyl　levulinate　(EL)　to　γ-valerolactone　(GVL).　The　cost-effective　Cu1Mg1.15Zr2Ox　catalyst　exhibited　excellent　physicochemical　properties,　with　99.8%　EL　conversion　and　88.0%　GVL　yield.　Studies　have　shown　that　sufficient　basic　sites　of　the　catalyst,　along　with　the　maintenance　of　the　Cu2+/Cu+　state　rather　than　Cu0,　are　crucial　for　achieving　high　GVL　yields.　Optimization　of　the　substrate-to-hydrogen　donor　ratio　(1:3),　along　with　recycling　tests　and　characterization,　demonstrated　excellent　activity　(99.5%　EL　conversion　and　90.0%　GVL　yield)　and　cycle　stability　for　the　Cu1Mg1.15Zr2Ox　catalyst,　highlighting　its　strong　potential　for　practical　applications.　The　mechanism　for　GVL　production　from　EL　via　the　metal　hydride　as　the　dominant　route　was　proposed　based　on　rigorous　experimental　studies　and　in-depth　characterization.　Substrate　scope　evaluation　showed　that　the　Cu1Mg1.15Zr2Ox　catalyst　also　exhibited　outstanding　activity　in　converting　methyl　levulinate　and　butyl　levulinate　to　GVL.　©　2025　Elsevier　Inc.