Antecedents and Evolution of the Green Supply Chain

Abstract

Supply chains have been developing over time since the inception of commercial trade and barter. The purpose of this paper is to describe the emergence of the Green Supply Chain, the newest entry in supply chain evolution. As a foundation for this, historical perspectives of manufacturing chronology, along with supply chain modifications resulting from changing market conditions are discussed. Managerial implications are offered reflecting pathways towards sustainability.As production power shifted from manual operation to steam, technology became the main driver for supply chain development leading to a variety of types seen in industry today. Today's supply chain types emerged due to increasing market complexity and competitive pressure. More recently, an additional driver occurred catalyzing the Green Supply Chain - the Environmental Movement. This chain is positioned as the next step in today's supply chain evolution, balancing environmental, economic, and societal needs with customer growth.