Recent Developments in Green Supply Chain Management

Evaluation of green and sustainable supply chain management using structural equation modelling: A systematic review of the state of the art literature and recommendations for future research

The purpose of this research is to investigate how sustainability is integrated into supply chain management (SCM). Emphasis is particularly devoted to determining how the sustainability of supply chains may be assessed. Four key objectives were developed to support this purpose: (1) define sustainable supply chain management (SSCM), (2) identify and analyze the published metrics for SSCM, (3) develop a comprehensive approach for assessing sustainability performance at the company level, and (4) develop an integrative sustainability performance framework for the broader context of supply chain. The first two objectives were accomplished through two different sets of in-depth literature reviews. The reviews focused on analyzing the convergences and divergences in the literature on green supply chain management (GSCM), SSCM, and the metrics used in these areas. The reviews helped provide the basis for accomplishing the remaining research objectives. Accordingly, stochastic models for measuring sustainability performance at the company and supply chain levels were developed. This research addresses several important gaps in the literature. As research on the integration of sustainability into SCM continues to expand, it becomes increasingly important to highlight the inconsistencies in the various definitions and metrics used to measure GSCM and SSCM. The lack of reasonably consistent definitions and metrics may lead to confusion regarding the appropriate scope in theory and practice of SSCM initiatives. Exploring the implications of and potential resolutions to the many differences in the published definitions and metrics provide much needed reference points, and further provide the foundation necessary to support the development of scientifically-sound sustainability models. By providing relatively simple and informative measurement, the model developed in Objective 3 presents a unique method of adopting the strong sustainability concept to assessing sustainability at the company level. Furthermore, by providing an original and straightforward analytical approach, the SSCM models developed in Objective 4 are one of the first to explicitly adopt probabilistic approaches for sustainability assessment in the supply chain context. Given their unique ability to accommodate any number of SSCM characteristics, the models can be employed as integrative, multi-dimensional tools for evaluating changes in the sustainability status of a supply chain over time.

The purpose of this research is to investigate how sustainability is integrated into supply chain management (SCM). Emphasis is particularly devoted to determining how the sustainability of supply chains may be assessed. Four key objectives were developed to support this purpose: (1) define sustainable supply chain management (SSCM), (2) identify and analyze the published metrics for SSCM, (3) develop a comprehensive approach for assessing sustainability performance at the company level, and (4) develop an integrative sustainability performance framework for the broader context of supply chain. The first two objectives were accomplished through two different sets of in-depth literature reviews. The reviews focused on analyzing the convergences and divergences in the literature on green supply chain management (GSCM), SSCM, and the metrics used in these areas. The reviews helped provide the basis for accomplishing the remaining research objectives. Accordingly, stochastic models for measuring sustainability performance at the company and supply chain levels were developed. This research addresses several important gaps in the literature. As research on the integration of sustainability into SCM continues to expand, it becomes increasingly important to highlight the inconsistencies in the various definitions and metrics used to measure GSCM and SSCM. The lack of reasonably consistent definitions and metrics may lead to confusion regarding the appropriate scope in theory and practice of SSCM initiatives. Exploring the implications of and potential resolutions to the many differences in the published definitions and metrics provide much needed reference points, and further provide the foundation necessary to support the development of scientifically-sound sustainability models. By providing relatively simple and informative measurement, the model developed in Objective 3 presents a unique method of adopting the strong sustainability concept to assessing sustainability at the company level. Furthermore, by providing an original and straightforward analytical approach, the SSCM models developed in Objective 4 are one of the first to explicitly adopt probabilistic approaches for sustainability assessment in the supply chain context. Given their unique ability to accommodate any number of SSCM characteristics, the models can be employed as integrative, multi-dimensional tools for evaluating changes in the sustainability status of a supply chain over time.

In recent years, the interdisciplinary research of supply chains and sustainability has received extensive, yet gradual, attention; when compared to the rapid economic growth of the service industry, however, sustainable supply chain management has not been systematically explored yet. It has not only great theoretical significance, but also positive practical significance to provide a framework for the operation of a sustainable service supply chain from a sustainable development point of view. Based on the triple bottom line (TBL), we have analyzed related sustainable supply chain management research between 2006 and 2015, reviewed papers involving two or three bottom lines as well, and then introduced some classical frameworks for manufacturing supply chain management and service supply chain management. Afterward, by analyzing the differences between the manufacturing and service industries, we propose a framework of sustainable service supply chain management (SSSCM). Based on the impacts of sustainable development TBL on service supply chain participants, we have finally made a framework for sustainable operation facing triads service supply chain and proposed a future research agenda.

The sustainable supply chain is an integration of mainly environmental and social aspects to the traditional supply chain for an organization’s economic performance over a long period and creating a competitive advantage. Supply chain collaboration or strategic partnership is important in the supply chain network, which can result in effective sustainable supply chain in all three dimensions of environmental, social, and economic aspects of an organization. In the present study, an attempt has been made to develop a conceptual framework in understanding the role of supplier strategic partnership and collaboration in creating a sustainable supply chain in Indian aerospace industries. This framework has been developed by considering the concepts and research gaps identified by several researchers in the relevant research articles on sustainability, sustainable supply chain management, green supply chain management, supplier collaboration, or strategic partnership. This framework is developed focusing on goal 9 of the 17 sustainable development goals namely Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.

In supply chain management, economical objectives have traditionally guided decisions of the supply chains. However, with increased global environmental and social concerns, in recent years, green aspects have been incorporated in supply chain decisions. These expansions lead to new research areas about green or sustainable supply chain management that includes applying various green practices in order to reduce negative impact on the environment or providing sustainable development. The purpose of this study is to develop a multi-objective optimization model for determining network design of the green supply chains. In multi-objective frame of the proposed model, total profit maximization and environmental impact minimization objectives are considered in order to obtain best network configuration for economic and environmental performance of the green chain. The proposed model is validated with numerical experiments. Obtained results showed that the model can be used as a strategic decision tool in problems with multi and conflicting objectives. Keywords: Green supply chain management, multi-objective modelling, network optimization;

Although significant research has been undertaken on sustainable and green supply chain management, the investigation of the roles of two important sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices - codes of conduct and human resource management practices - in improving a buyer's and a supplier's sustainability performance is almost absent in the sustainability literature. Using multiple theories and drawing from the literature on sustainability, corporate social responsibility, supply chain management, operations management, and human resource management, this study offers a research model and relevant propositions that show how the implementation of these practices can result in sustainability performance for both suppliers and buyers. The paper concludes with further research implications of the study.

Green supply chain management (GSCM) integrates environmental considerations into traditional supply chain management (SCM) to enhance sustainability and reduce environmental impact. By adopting this, firms can improve efficiency, minimise waste, and achieve competitive advantages while addressing economic, social, and environmental goals. At the heart of this transformation lies the digitalisation of supply chains, which involves the consolidation of processes and data onto unified platforms, the automation of key operations, and the utilisation of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT). These technologies empower organisations to analyse vast data, enabling them to identify, predict, and prevent issues that may compromise sustainability objectives. This chapter briefly introduces sustainability in the supply chain, and the digital revolution impacting the supply chain, and further elaborates on the impact of these trends on supply chain performance. The chapter also includes a bibliometric review of the use of digital technology on supply chain performance. The review analyses the publication trends, identifies key research areas, and assesses influential authors, institutions, and core journals about the identified topic. It also examines geographical distribution, citation networks, and collaborative networks while highlighting common methodologies and research gaps. The review reveals a growing number of publications annually, particularly in recent years, indicating increased research activity at the intersection of supply chain sustainability and digital technology. It offers evidence-based insights for policymakers and industry leaders to implement effective sustainability and technology strategies in supply chains and highlights under-researched areas, guiding future research efforts to advance the field.

Wicked problems compel supply chain researchers to consider social, economic, and ecological systems; to consider sustainability. Hence, we review current operationalizations of sustainability with an emphasis on showing why these concepts search for short-term synergies while not addressing tensions between economic performance and social or environmental performance. Next we demonstrate that, for this reason, current research will not lead to creating truly sustainable supply chains. To understand how truly sustainable supply chains can be created, we provide an overview of unsolved salient environmental and social issues. Finally, the chapter argues that supply chain management scholars and managers will have truly embraced sustainability when they accept a long-term perspective. A long-term perspective will still allow synergies to be leveraged, but tensions will also be addressed with an end result of moving closer to truly sustainable supply chains.

This research investigates the determinants of green supply chain management (GSCM) adoption and its impact on organizational performance, while considering the potential moderating factors influencing GSCM adoption. Despite the growing prevalence of GSCM practices among Korean firms, the factors driving their adoption have not received sufficient attention. To bridge this gap, the study uses structural equation modeling, integrating stakeholder theory and resource-based theory to explore how green entrepreneurial orientation (GEO), institutional pressure, and relational capital affect GSCM adoption. Additionally, the study explores the effects of GSCM implementation on competitiveness and economic performance. Drawing data from a sample of 213 Korean manufacturing firms, the PLS-SEM analysis highlights the significant influence of GEO, institutional pressure, and relational capital on GSCM adoption. Additionally, the study emphasizes the positive impact of GSCM implementation on firm competitiveness. These findings provide valuable insights for enhancing sustainability in supply chain management and are applicable to similar context countries such as Taiwan, China, Japan, and the Netherlands.

Sustainability is a timely topic. A sustainable supply chain is one which aims to maximize the system's performance in three dimensions, namely environment, economics, and society. In the fashion industry, with the advance of big data related information technologies, achieving a sustainable supply chain is no longer a dream. In this paper, we first establish that a fashion supply chain is in fact a typical system of systems. Then, we examine several critical big data related technologies and applications which are related to sustainable fashion supply chain management. After that, we develop and present the design principles, from a system of systems perspective, for developing a sustainable fashion supply chain. Based on these principles, we further propose a novel five steps framework for achieving sustainable fashion supply chain management in the big data era. A sustainable fashion supply chain system of systems matrix is also constructed.

Environmental sustainability is a main research topic in supply chain management, including sustainable, green, closed-loop, and circular supply chain management concepts. A distinctive feature in concept evolution is the increase in tiers of a supply chain included in the reuse or recycling loop. However, most research focuses on dyadic or triadic supply chain structures. Where to close the loop, i.e., where to position the recycler, repurposer, remanufacturer, refurbisher, repairer, and/or reuser, in multi-tier supply chains remains largely unanswered. In response, this study assesses cost and revenue sharing by analytically modeling monetary flows in linear and circular multi-tier supply chains using linear and circular supply chain models and cost-profit theory to derive equations describing monetary flows between the supply chain tiers and external entities. Results show that firms upstream of the loop-closer are negatively affected by the reuse of material, which leads to an increasingly negative impact on the total profit of the supply chain the further downstream the loop-closer is positioned. This has important theoretical and practical implications since upstream suppliers may leave circular supply chains for linear ones if no offset mechanism is provided. There is no difference between linear and circular supply chains for tiers downstream of the loop-closer level. This effect is normally not considered in the literature, focusing on shorter supply chain structures where all firms are connected to the loop. The most important findings and implications are: If the loop-closer is positioned near the OEM tier or external customer, the total personnel, assets costs and total profits decrease in the circular supply chain compared to the linear supply chain. If the loop-closer is positioned at the most upstream tier level, the total personnel and assets costs, and total profits increase.

Literature on sustainability governance of supply chains typically maintains that supplying organizations can be treated as a homogenous group, and that sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) entails a unanimous set of practices. In this paper, we expose the diversity of SSCM practices and explore how organizational sustainability identities (OSI) act as their drivers. Through a comparative qualitative inquiry comprising organizations from food and metal products supply chains, we find that OSI of SSCM-practicing organizations affect i) which types of suppliers are perceived as relevant to engage in SSCM, ii) what sustainability criteria are applied to suppliers, and iii) how they are managed in diverse ways to contribute to sustainability transitions. We present a model of OSI co-construction which shows how the diversity of SSCM practices unfolds through three process dimensions, namely OSI balancing, OSI translation, and OSI structuration. This model and the empirical insights obtained document and clarify the previously unexplored link between organizational identity and impacts through SSCM practices.

Green food supply chain management as a solution for the mitigation of food supply chain management risk for improving the environmental health level

Although research on supply chain management has made many valuable contributions, there is a dearth of empirical evidence and theoretical reflection on the characteristics of supply chains that operate mainly in developing and emerging economies. The aim of this paper is to help to fill this gap by exploring how supply chain sustainability can be implemented and managed in these settings. An in-depth case study of the upstream oil and gas industry supply chain in Brazil was used to develop propositions about supply chains that operate in developing settings. Drawing from institutional theory, evolutionary theory, complexity theory, and from the organizational learning, innovation, and strategy literatures, this paper offers four key findings and contributions to the supply chain literature. First, it shows that becoming a sustainable supply chain is not a destination, but a journey, where trajectory and time matter. Given the evolutionary nature of supply chain sustainability trajectories, this paper highlights that supply chains learn and evolve just as organizations do. Second, this research indicates that, although globalization is a trend, natural resource-based supply chains are often more geographically bounded and susceptible to local social demands than other supply chains. Third, this paper extends the supply chain literature by arguing that supply chains face additional barriers to sustainability in developing and emerging economies, which contribute to a higher degree of complexity and uncertainty due to the existence of highly turbulent business environments and institutional voids. These factors in turn hinder supply chain learning and innovation, and reduce the slope of supply chains sustainability trajectories. Finally, this research contributes to the literature by claiming that, due to the highly complex and uncertain business environments, in these settings focal companies play an even more important role in managing the escalating ambiguity, stimulating supply chain learning, and promoting innovation towards supply chains enhanced sustainability performance.