Inside the Buying Firm: Exploring Responses to Paradoxical Tensions in Sustainable Supply Chain Management

In recent years, environmental sustainability has stimulated enterprises worldwide to not only develop green and sustainable innovations but also to move toward green and sustainable supply chain management. This study integrated the ideas of green supply chain management (GSCM) and sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) to define sustainable green supply chain management (SGSCM). Previous studies on GSCM/SSCM have contributed to research and practice, but few have explored the antecedents and consequences of GSCM/SSCM simultaneously. To address this research gap, we linked ecological modernization (EM) theory with SGSCM and sustainability performance to build a comprehensive research model. A total of 300 valid questionnaires were collected from electrical and electronics firms in Taiwan. The empirical results demonstrated that awareness of and pressure to engage in EM significantly positively affected SGSCM. Moreover, SGSCM significantly positively influenced sustainability performance (i.e. environmental, economic, and social performance). These findings should convince enterprises to actively promote SGSCM.

A supply chain view of sustainability management

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to give an up-to-date and structured insight into the literature published during the past decade on sustainable green supply chain management. It also suggests trends for future research based on the research issues identified through systematic and comprehensive analysis of previous studies in the area of green and sustainable supply chain management.Design/methodology/approachA state-of-the-art literature review is carried out by systematically collecting the existing literature over a period of 10 years (2005-2014) and categorizing it on the basis of attributes such as stages in supply chain, methodology and the industries/sectors under consideration. The classification of literature is also done according to the geographic region and year of publication.FindingsThere has been an increased interest among researchers and practitioners in the area of sustainable green supply chain management in the past decade. A need for achieving sustainability through adoption of greener practices has been universally felt, owing to an increasing environmental and ecological complexity. The review reveals that there exists a need to address behavioural issues like human resource management and supply chain partner relationship management. Moreover, reverse logistics, closed-loop supply chain management and waste management are areas that need special focus to achieve environmental sustainability.Research limitations/implicationsThe current review focuses on research trends in the past 10 years only. Moreover, papers from only good quality, peer-reviewed journals are considered in the study.Originality/valueMost of the previous reviews have either focused on specific issues related to sustainable supply chains only or green supply chains. The present study collectively takes into consideration papers both from green supply chain management as well as from sustainable supply chain literature that have a prime focus on environmental sustainability.

This paper discusses the antecedences and consequences of supply chain transparency (SCT) in sustainable agrarian supply chain management using partial least squares regression in an empirical sample with 131 supply chains with lead firms in German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria and Switzerland). We investigated the effect of such structural antecedences as disintermediation, as well as the effect of governance tools similar to intensive communication, the integration of third parties in supply chain governance or the use of formal specifications on SCT. We found that all these antecedences are helpful in increasing SCT, while low developed countries of origin significantly reduced SCT. Then, the effects of SCT on the four main performance dimensions in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM), i.e. social, ecological, and operational performance and long-term relationship success, were verified. Higher SCT improves all four dimensions significantly, while the effect on operational performance is lowest. Supply chain transparency turns out to be a prerequisite or a basic indicator of good management in SSCM in agri-food supply chains.

The drive for the adoption of Sustainable Supply Chain Management practices among pharmaceutical companies is on the rise given the global effort to attain net zero of carbon emissions as well as attaining other targets for the sustainable development goals. The pharmaceutical industry plays vital role in the manufacturing and distribution of medications, and therefore sustainability issues are critical for the survival of the industry. However, the adoption of sustainable practices in the upstream pharmaceutical industry is still low, and there is lack of empirical research in this area, particularly in emerging economies like Ghana. This study aims to fill this gap by examining the level of adoption of sustainable supply chain practices, focusing on the role of the policy framework, the influence of these practices on company performance, and the role of top executives in ensuring sustainability. The study utilizes a mixed method approach and leverages the upper echelon theory to explore the role of managers on sustainable supply chain practices. This dissertation explore the state of the upstream pharmaceutical Sustainable Supply Chain Management practices in Ghana, evaluate the role of the upstream pharmaceutical policy framework of Ghana on supply chain sustainability, identify how upstream pharmaceutical Sustainable Supply Chain Management Practices influence the performance of pharmaceutical companies in Ghana, and to examine the role of top management in ensuring upstream pharmaceutical sustainable supply chain management practices in Ghana. By addressing the above objectives, the study promotes academic debate and provides insights for policy directions in the pharmaceutical industry for sustainable growth and development. The research design includes both explanatory and exploratory approaches, with a concurrent/parallel mixed methods design combining quantitative and qualitative data. Specifically, the concurrent triangulation design mixed method was adopted. The target population was employees of locally owned upstream pharmaceutical companies in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. From a finite population of about 2000, stratified and purposive strategies were used to select 18 participants under the qualitative aspect, while random sampling technique was used to select 334 for the quantitative aspect of the study. Therefore, the total sample size for this study was 352 participants. Data collection involved the use of questionnaire and structured interview guide, and data analysis included structural equation modeling for quantitative data and thematic analysis as well as content analysis for qualitative data. Quantitative results indicated that Sustainable Supply Chain Management practices have a positive significant association with Sustainable Supply Chain Management performance for upstream pharmaceutical companies. Results showed that, there was positive impact of Top Management Commitment on Sustainable Supply Chain Management to performance. Furthermore, there was justification for Top Management Commitment as a moderator on the association between Sustainable Supply Chain Management practices and Sustainable Supply Chain Management performance. The study's findings on sustainable supply chain management practices in the upstream pharmaceutical sector in Ghana have significant theoretical, managerial, and policy implications. The interviews revealed the importance of socially inclusive practices, eco-friendly manufacturing, waste management, supplier involvement, and collaborations are important factors to consider in achieving sustainability goals. Theoretical implications include the recognition of responsible sourcing as a crucial component of sustainable supply chain management and the importance of socially responsible human resource management strategies. Managerially, the adoption of green manufacturing practices, waste management, and supplier engagement are highlighted as strategies for enhancing sustainability. Policy implications emphasize the need for supportive policies and regulations that promote responsible sourcing, green manufacturing, waste management, and supplier engagement in the upstream of pharmaceutical industry. The study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence of the positive association between sustainable supply chain management and organizational performance. The role of top management in ensuring the adoption and implementation of sustainable supply chain management practices is crucial, with implications for leadership, resource allocation, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement. Policy-wise, support for sustainable supply chain management practices and capacity-building initiatives are crucial for the adopting and implementations of these practices within the pharmaceutical industry. Overall, the study provides insights for theory, practice, and policy to enhance sustainability in the pharmaceutical supply chain.

Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) has become one of the critical strategies in an organization whereby environmental, social, and operational responsibility have been incorporated in the supply chain processes. Although the importance of SSCM to enhance the efficiency and sustainability performance of an organization is not new, the role it has on the welfare of workers especially work-life balance continues to present an area of concern in research. This paper focuses on sustainable supply chain management and work-life balance in relation to bank employees in Pakistan. The quantitative research design was taken and data was gathered on 300 employees working in different commercial banks using a structured questionnaire. The relationship between the variables was studied using statistical methods such as descriptive analysis, correlation analysis and regression analysis. The results indicated that sustainable supply chain management positively influenced greatly the work-life balance of employees. The findings showed that good sustainable supply chain practices enhance the efficiency of operations, ease unnecessary workloads strains, as well as provide organized and supportive working conditions. The correlation analysis revealed the presence of a strong positive correlation between sustainable supply chain management and work-life balance whereas the regression analysis indicated that sustainable supply chain management is an important predictor of employee work-life balance. These results indicate that sustainability conscious organizational behaviors do not only emerge in the operational performance but also in the wellbeing of the employees. The paper finds that sustainable supply chain management is a critical component of enhancing employee work-life balance through enhancing the work processes in an organization and minimizing the work stress. The results are useful to the bank management and policymakers to incorporate sustainability in the organization strategies to improve the welfare of the employees and organizational performance. The strategic approach of developing efficient, responsible and people-oriented organizations, sustainable supply chain management may be used.

A hub-and-spoke model for multi-dimensional integration of green marketing and sustainable supply chain management

This study examines the wide-ranging impact of companies' decisions to adopt Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) practices on their stakeholders and the subsequent diffusion of these practices across the stakeholder network. Drawing on game theory, the research investigates how stakeholder interactions and reciprocal influences contribute to the spread of sustainable practices within and beyond organizational boundaries. Through a qualitative, multiple case study approach involving three major Moroccan companies, the study employs triangulation and cross-case analysis to uncover the complex dynamics underlying SSCM implementation. The findings reveal that stakeholder relationships evolve into iterative, strategic interactions that not only reinforce sustainability adoption within individual firms but also catalyse broader diffusion across the supply chain ecosystem.The study contributes to SSCM literature by: (1) clarifying the mechanisms grounded in gametheoretical principles-that underpin sustainability diffusion, and (2) offering rare empirical insights from an emerging market context. By linking SSCM adoption to strategic stakeholder engagement, the research underscores its transformative potential for sustainable development. These insights are particularly valuable for policymakers, practitioners, and scholars seeking to leverage SSCM for broader societal impact.

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.

Sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) is becoming a strategic necessity for multiple companies. Successful implementation of SSCM is dependent upon inter-firm relationships and inter-organisational coordination instruments. This work aims to explore the role of power in diffusing sustainability along supply chains. A systematic literature review covering 63 publications in peer-reviewed academic journals was conducted. The literature is reviewed according to several perspectives, including methodologies, units of analysis and theories adopted. The core of the literature explores power in the context of SSCM, contextualising findings against the power matrix and the bases of power, which are adopted as theoretical lenses. Findings reveal that: (i) power is predominantly viewed as a dyadic concept, with fewer studies exploring power dynamics in multi-tier sustainable supply chains; (ii) buyer dominance is considered an enabler to SSCM and supplier dominance is considered a barrier to SSCM, as a result of focal company-driven SSCM programs and prevailing commercial logics being applied to the sustainability domain; (iii) power symmetries, particularly independence between supply chain organisations, and related implications for SSCM are under-researched themes; (iv) mediated bases of power, particularly coercive power, are effective to diffuse sustainability under context-specific conditions, but limit long-term sustainability management development; (v) non-mediated bases of power favouring a more relational approach are widely considered as an enabler to the diffusion of SSCM. This work contributes to the sustainable supply chain management literature by providing the first contextualised understanding of the role of power in SSCM, elaborating on the power-related circumstances that enable or impair the diffusion of sustainability in supply chains. The theoretical anchoring of the review allows to elaborate on what power positions and through which mediated and non-mediated bases of power, supply chain sustainability diffusion occurs. • Role of power in diffusing sustainability in supply chains in 63 publications • Power extensively explored in dyads, with fewer studies in multi-tier supply chains • Enabling role of buyer dominance and inhibiting role of supplier dominance to SSCM • Non-mediated power more effective for long-term supply chain sustainability • Focal company-centric perspective and commercial logic dominant in SSCM

Although interest in green and sustainable supply chains has been growing for over a decade in the academic discourse, the textile industry still embraces numerous examples of non-sustainable behavior (i.e., environmental damage, poor working conditions, or modern slavery). While there is a general agreement that stakeholder pressure can lead to more sustainable SCs, a lot remains for a more differentiated stakeholder perspective in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM). Thus, this study aims for theory elaboration by structuring relationships between SSCM and stakeholder constructs through an exploratory single case study design on the Otto Group, a German apparel frontrunner. It enables an in-depth investigation of the complexity of both stakeholder engagement/relationships and SSCM. As key results, sustainability managers and employees are important facilitators to realize win-win situations. Further, most progress is nowadays made in participating in multi-stakeholder-initiatives (MSI) and with standards to tackle sustainability issues in SCs. Furthermore, this study shows the importance of a shift from the perspective of sustainable products toward sustainable values, and it outlines best practices regarding the integration of stakeholders' expectations in SSCM.

Although interest in green and sustainable supply chains has been growing for over a decade in the academic discourse, the textile industry still embraces numerous examples of non-sustainable behaviour (i.e., environmental damage, poor working conditions, or modern slavery. While there is a general agreement that stakeholder pressure can lead to more sustainable SCs, a lot remains for a more differentiated stakeholder perspective in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM). Thus, this study aims for theory elaboration by structuring relationships between SSCM and stakeholder constructs through an exploratory single case study design on the Otto Group, a German apparel frontrunner. It enables an in-depth investigation of the complexity of both stakeholder engagement and SSCM. As key results, sustainability managers and employees are important facilitators to realize win-win situations. Further, most progress is nowadays made in participating in multi-stakeholder-initiatives (MSI) and with standards to tackle sustainability issues in SCs. Furthermore, this study shows the importance of a shift from the perspective of sustainable products towards sustainable values, and it outlines best practices regarding the integration of stakeholders’ expectations in SSCM.

Purpose This paper seeks to contribute to the understanding of the impact of Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) practices on sustainable performance and the further impact of sustainable performance on food safety assurance in Chinese food firms. The paper also aims to provide a new way to avoid the occurrence of food safety problems from the perspective of SSCM and so help food firms to achieve sustainable development. Design/methodology/approach This paper developed a conceptual model to investigate the impact of food firms SSCM practices on the firm performances while firm performances on food safety assurance. The primary data were collected from 162 Chinese food firms. The research models were tested using structural equation modeling on PLS smart 3.0. Findings The results show that SSCM practices have a positive impact on firm environmental performance and social performances. The environmental and social performance positively related to financial performance. Moreover, the sustainable performance positively affects the food safety assurance. Research limitations/implications Our results suggest that SSCM practices have a positive impact on a firm’s environmental and social performance, which in turn improves financial performance. Moreover, sustainable performance positively affects food safety assurance. Originality/value An SSCM practices model is proposed to empirically evaluate Chinese food firms. The results of this investigation support the hypotheses that SSCM practices are environmentally and socially friendly and are good to business, and the food safety assurance can be promoted by a food firm’s sustainability performance. We carried out a survey and research of SSCM in food industry and gave insights to food safety management.

At present, scholars have thought little of the drivers for sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) in developing countries. Drawing upon the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and Competing Value Framework (CVF) of organisational culture, this study investigates how the drivers for SSCM motivate Chinese firms to adopt SSCM practices and how such effects are moderated by organisational culture. The results of a survey of 209 firms in China suggest that the eight driving factors for SSCM have significantly impact on SSCM adoption. In addition, organisational culture plays different roles in the relationships between these three dimensions of the driving force and SSCM adoption. Team-based culture and hierarchy culture do not moderate the relationship between SSCM drivers and practices. Market-oriented culture positively moderates the relationship between subjective norm and SSCM practices and negatively moderates the relationship between perceived behavioural control (PBC) and SSCM practices. Active culture has positive moderating effect on the relationship between attitude and SSCM practices, as well as between subjective norm and SSCM practices, but has negatively moderating effect on the relationship between PBC and SSCM practices. The study provides meanings insights into the implementation of SSCM in the context of developing countries.

Motivated by the low sustainability index and pressure to meet the global demand for eco-friendly crude palm oil (CPO) in the pandemic-ridden environment, this research aims to investigate the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic to assess the drivers of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) of the Indonesian CPO sector to tackle supply chain disruptions. To achieve this aim, the study seeks to determine the sustainability drivers to accommodate the pandemic-ridden environment and if sustainability indicators can help improve the supply chain management of the CPO sector. A methodology is divided into two interrelated parts: first, based on a careful review of extant literature of the CPO sector and sustainable supply chain in the light of pandemic. The proposed methodology is then tested using the response data of 108 oil mills' representatives collected through survey questionnaires and analyzed using statistical tools of reliability, distribution, Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and diagnostic tests of CFA. The findings designate the environmental costs, rapidity, and adaptability as core economic indicators; the social and workforce development, health, and safety workforce development and consumer issues as crucial social indicators; while energy and material efficiency, management of waste and emissions, and sustainable suppliers as the best environmental indicators. This study provides a holistic platform on the implications of the pandemic to assess the SSCM of the CPO sector. These findings are expected to aid the industrial managers in employee skills and health protocols, customer service, and environmental management. The study is also anticipated to guide the supply-chain partners and government policymakers to take initiatives on SSCM in the context of the pandemic.