Knowledge challenges for responsible supply chain management of chemicals in textiles – as experienced by procuring organisations

Responsible supply chain management (RSCM) as a growing sub-field of supply chain management (SCM) has gathered increasing consideration from both practitioners and academics for the past two decades. Even though manufacturing firms have implemented RSCM behaviors throughout this period, there exist some concerns as to whether these RSCM behaviors are being applied for the effect they have on social performance outcomes. In recent times, various debates have been opened concerning this RSCM paradox, throwing doubt on whether an investment in the implementation of RSCM behaviors certainly comes with a corresponding social and safety performance outcomes and, therefore, the commercial benefits of responsibility management in the context of SCM remain open for interrogation. This study aims to explore the impact of responsible supply chain management behaviors on social performance among pharmaceutical companies in China. And also, investigate the intervening roles of process innovation (PI) and supply chain integration (SCI) as mediating and moderating constructs, respectively. The research hypothesis was formulated following an extensive study of relevant literature and was based on resource and capability-based theories such as the resource-based view, the natural resource-based view, and the stakeholder theories. The design of the study was descriptive with a confirmatory reach, applied to 123 Chinese pharmaceutical firms selected across Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Guangdong provinces. The proposed theoretical model was tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The empirical findings of the study confirmed that a practical application of RSCM behaviors, process innovation, and supply chain integration initiatives positively and significantly improves social performance outcomes. This confirms the position of existing literature that there is a positive relationship between RSCM behaviors and social performance. It also validated the belief that process innovation and supply chain integration positively mediates and moderates the relationship between RSCM and social performance, respectively. Therefore, the findings herein can be considered as complementary to the existing body of knowledge in the field. The practical implications derived from this study will contribute to sustainable development and expand knowledge both in industry and in academia.

Responsible supply chain management (RSCM) as a growing sub-field of supply chain management (SCM) has gathered increasing consideration from both practitioners and academics for the past two decades. Even though manufacturing firms have implemented RSCM behaviors through this period, there exist, some concerns as to whether these RSCM behaviors are being applied for the effect they have on environmental performance. In recent times, various debates have been opened concerning this RSCM paradox, throwing doubt on whether an investment in the implementation of RSCM behaviors certainly comes with a corresponding environmental performance outcome and, therefore, the commercial benefits of responsibility management in the context of SCM remain open for interrogation. The aim of this study is to explore the impact of responsible supply chain management behaviors on environmental performance among pharmaceutical companies in China. In addition, investigate the intervening roles of process innovation and supply chain integration as mediating and moderating constructs respectively. The research hypothesis were formulated following an extensive study of relevant literature and were based on resource and capability-based theories such as the resource based view, the natural resource based view and the stakeholder theories. The design of the study was explanatory with a confirmatory reach, applied to 123 Chinese pharmaceutical firms selected across, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces. The proposed theoretical model was tested using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The empirical findings of the study confirmed that an effective application of RSCM behaviors, process innovation(PI), and supply chain integration(SCI) initiatives positively and significantly improves environmental performance outcomes. This confirms the position of extant literature that there is a positive relationship between RSCM behaviors’ and environmental performance. It also validated the position that process innovation and supply chain integration positively mediates and moderates respectively the relationship between RSCM and environmental performance. Therefore, the findings herein can be considered as complementary to the existing body of knowledge in the field. The practical implications derived from this study will contribute to sustainable development and expand knowledge both in industry and in academia

PurposeFirms are increasingly resorting to responsible supply chain management as they align their economic success with socially responsible initiatives in their value chain. This contribution aims to suggest that there are opportunities for global corporations who are keen on integrating responsible practices into their business operations. It is in their interest to report about their responsible supply chain management, social performance and sustainable innovations to their stakeholders.Design/methodology/approachThis paper identifies future research avenues in the promising areas of responsible procurement and global supply chain management.FindingsThe corporations’ differentiated strategies as well as their proactive engagement in responsible supply chain management can lead them to achieve a competitive advantage in the long term. The low-cost producers may be neglecting the marketplace stakeholders, including suppliers, distributors among others. Moreover, the smaller businesses’ could not be in a position to follow responsible procurement practices, as they may lack the scarce resources to do so.Originality/valueThis paper raises awareness about the integration of socially responsible behaviours and sustainable practices in business operations. It contends that a responsible supply chain management necessitates an improved relationship with suppliers and distributors in the value chain. This stakeholder engagement with ultimately create value to the businesses themselves.

Minerals originated from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are blamed for financing violent conflict in the area over the past decade and have been called conflict minerals. They vividly demonstrate a key human rights issue facing responsible supply chain management. The conflict minerals issue has led to a significant shift in responsible supply chain management in two ways: extending producer responsibility to respect human rights in the total supply chain through establishing traceability and transparency; and developing legally binding supply chain responsibility.This article examines an emerging effort to source conflict‐free minerals using closed‐pipe supply chain in the DRC as a new strategy to respond to the above paradigm shift. By exploring whether this new strategy can contribute to conflict prevention in the DRC, this article argues that the closed‐pipe supply chain allows building long‐term relationship with various stakeholders and has the potential to transform socio‐economic structures in the producing communities, thereby leading to peacebuilding in the long run.

This article examines the theoretical issues and reasons for the emergence of the concept of supply chain management. The essence and definition of supply chains are disclosed. It is indicated that supply chain management determines the strategy and measures concerning planning, search, production and delivery of goods, logistics is only a part of the supply chain, which focuses on the fact that the right products are in the right place and at the right time. The purpose of the research is to study the principles of supply chain management in modern enterprise logistics, the advantages of this approach and methods to improve it, to show the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on supply chain management and actions taken by enterprises in the new environment. Five main elements of supply chain management (planning, delivery, manufacturing, delivery, return), without which it is impossible to optimize the work of enterprises, are identified. It has been determined that the effective organization of supply chain management is an important direction of increasing the competitiveness and profitability of enterprises. The main advantages of this management approach and assessment methods (financial, non-financial and quantitative parameters) are specified. The concept of responsible supply chain management, the importance of using this approach by enterprises to support the acquired image in modern conditions of existence are defined. Conditions are presented due to which companies can create a responsibly organized supply chain. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on logistics supply and the actions taken by enterprises in the new operating environment are described: improving the flexibility of supply chain strategy, digitalization of the supply chain, building reliable partnerships of supply chain participants. Keywords: logistics, enterprise, supply chain, effective supply chain management, responsible supply chain management.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) paper represents the most elaborate discussion by the SRSG on the issue of responsible supply chain management (RSCM) to date and thus constitutes, together with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), the point of departure of this chapter. It argues that the RSCM approach applied by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) seems to remain within current RSCM paradigms. The points made in the chapter are to a large extent inspired by 15 years of advising international corporations and governments on how to practice corporate social responsibility (CSR) and RSCM. The SRSG, Professor John Ruggie, has without a doubt brought clarity to the field of RSCM and taken a step in the right direction when it comes to sustainability. Keywords:corporate social responsibility (CSR); international corporations; John Ruggie; OECD; responsible supply chain management (RSCM); Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG); UNGPs

Responsible supply chain management (SCM) in the era of expanding global sourcing can play a critical role in diffusing corporate responsible practices throughout the emerging Asian economies. Thus, this paper aims to examine how responsible SCM can contribute to supplier performance, including environmental, social and operational performances through the improvement of relationship commitment in the Asian context. The hypotheses of this study were tested with the data from 187 South Korean suppliers and 193 Vietnamese suppliers. The paper finds that responsible SCM enhances relationship commitment as well as improves the sustainability performance of suppliers in Asian countries. Relationship commitment plays a critical and mediating role in the relationships between responsible SCM and environmental, social and operational performances. This study also finds that there is a contextual difference between South Korea and Vietnam. The findings of this paper provide implications for supply chain members to integrate environmental and social issues into their SCM practices so as to foster stronger sustainability performance in the global supply chain.

PurposeThe aim of this study is to discuss what implications referencing to the past can have on how firms manage their supply chains and communicate about them, drawing on the social memory literature.Design/methodology/approachIn a conceptual manner, the authors connect the field of responsible supply chain management to the growing literature on corporate heritage and social memory in organizations.FindingsThe authors develop seven propositions related to the communication of the past and its connection to responsible supply chain management.Research limitations/implicationsA social memory perspective can inform supply chain management research, by helping to better understand how and with what consequences the past can be used in communication about supply chains. This paper is conceptual in nature and empirical investigations would be needed to support and/or modify the literature-based findings.Practical implicationsManagers should be aware that both opportunities and risks are associated with communicating the past in connection to responsible supply chain management. Deployed in the right way, such communication can be valuable both in marketing and in internal management processes.Originality/valueThis article introduces the social memory perspective to the supply chain management field and shows what implications it can have for research on responsibility in supply chains.

This study examines how Responsible Supply Chain Management (RSCM) influences customer loyalty in China’s fresh food e-commerce platforms, integrating the European Customer Satisfaction Index (ECSI) and trust to address persistent consumer experience issues. Using structural equation modeling via SmartPLS, data from 438 validated questionnaires were analyzed to test hypotheses derived from an extended ECSI framework, incorporating RSCM dimensions (platform image, perceived quality, customer expectations), perceived value, trust, satisfaction, and loyalty. The results showed that customer satisfaction, trust, and platform image directly enhance customer loyalty. Satisfaction is positively driven by perceived value, customer expectations, and perceived quality. RSCM practices indirectly bolster loyalty through trust and satisfaction pathways, while platform image significantly shapes customer expectations and trust. Demographic variables (education, income) also partially moderate loyalty. Corporate social responsibility embedded in RSCM is critical for sustaining loyalty, with big data and AI being essential for optimizing information-sharing ecosystems in fresh produce e-commerce. For future study, platforms should prioritize RSCM transparency, streamline distribution networks, deploy predictive analytics for demand forecasting, and integrate supply chains to compress intermediaries—enhancing perceived value, trust, and consumer convenience for competitive advantage.

This chapter is based on the author’s extensive literature review about empathetic leadership, 10 years of field work in China (2006–2016), and personal reflections. She interviewed 30 Chinese executives from 20 different foreign multinational enterprises. Only two foreign multinational enterprises understand the need and fear of their Chinese workers and suppliers and consequently develop better incentives for the Chinese workers and suppliers to perform higher standards. These two foreign multinational enterprises exemplify empathy, not sympathy, when they pursue responsible supply chain management. The affective and trusting relations among members defines the code of conduct and standards in the supply chain management. The empathetic leadership, embedded in a culture of justice and care, establishes norms and expectations that serve as guidelines for responsible supply chain management with justice. As a result, the standards in the responsible supply chain can be robust and act as voluntary regulations. The author advocates empathetic leadership as an acceptable alternative paradigm for responsible supply chain management and encourages corporations to affirm the importance of empathy with the principles of justice and care in the leadership development.

The globalised supply chain Responsible Supply Chain Responsible Supply Chain Management Stakeholder Engagement supply chain is strongly shaping both the production and the consumption of products in different markets as the international markets have been (or are being) liberalised and deregulated. In this light, very often businesses source their materials or products from developing and/or transitioning countries in order to reduce their production and distribution costs. Consequentially, there may be perceived shortcomings in the companies' procurement of materials and products as well as their supply chain's regulatory capacity. At the same time, many stakeholders including consumers are increasingly inquiring on the regulation of unwanted economic, social and environmentalEnvironment side-effects of low-cost production. This is a globalisationGlobalisation phenomenon that has triggered new views on the firms' responsible supply chain managementresponsible supply chain management and genuine stakeholder engagementstakeholder engagement.

Is doing more doing better? The relationship between responsible supply chain management and corporate reputation

Our study investigates the benefits of adopting responsible practices across the supply chain. In particular, here we examine the relationship between responsible supply chain practices, operational outcomes and the factors that impact that relationship by examining the influence of a strategic sustainability orientation in the execution and outcome of responsible supply chain management (RSCM) practices and policies. This paper builds on earlier discussions of the development of a measurement instrument for RSCM (Marshall, McCarthy, Heavey, & McGrath, 2014). Here we focus on analysis of data from US-based respondents and address the research question “what are the moderating and mediating effects of a sustainability orientation of supply chain practices upon operational performance?” We found that the impact of innovation, strategic, and long-term orientations towards RSCM has a significant impact on operational outcomes. Our study is an empirical survey-based analysis and contributes to the literature o...

Modern industrial society has transformed the textile sector. Brand‐owning companies today seldom own the production process but instead rely on global supply chains consisting of a myriad of suppliers and sub‐suppliers. The global scope of this sector, along with the complex and uncertain health and environmental risks associated with textile production, create extensive challenges for companies striving for sustainability. This paper explores the possibilities for responsible management of high‐risk chemicals in textiles and focuses on a case study of a Swedish outdoor company. The concept of reflexive responsibility is used to understand and discuss potential possibilities and challenges. The paper describes the process and illuminates the complexity, balancing acts and avenues for upstream responsibility faced by a brand‐owning company. It contributes to an understanding of how important steps towards responsibility can be taken. It also addresses the limits of responsible supply chain management of one organization, albeit a highly committed one. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment

This dissertation focuses on developing a generic framework for using additive manufacturing as an appropriate production method to address the management of complexity in supply chains. While several drivers such as changing customer demand patterns and intensifying global competition increase product complexity, the available number of product variants and related processes within the supply chain itself increase costs and dilute scale effects. Several concepts and tools like mass customization, modularization, and product platforms have been developed in the past decades, but most of them focus on the product structure. Currently, there is no comprehensive tool set developed in the field of complexity management that incorporates all aspects of supply chain performance (costs, service, quality, and lead time) and evaluates the impacts of additive manufacturing to manage the complexity in the supply chain. This dissertation was developed primarily to address this research gap. The literature review in this dissertation provides in-depth reviews on specific topics in the field of additive manufacturing production technology, supply chain management, complexity management, and complexity management in supply chains through additive manufacturing. The dissertation presents the development of a framework for supply chain performance and complexity measurement with a focus on costs and performance depending on production technology. This framework will be the basis for measuring the impacts of additive manufacturing on supply chain performance and level of complexity, by using modeling and reconfiguring supply chain models, and applying complexity management tools in conjunction with additive manufacturing. Based on the findings, a generic framework is developed to identify when and how to apply additive manufacturing to enhance complexity management capabilities in supply chains. Two case studies will be used to show an application field, where additive manufacturing would require additional time, while another case study suggests the usage of additive manufacturing in the context of supply chain complexity: A case study of a control panel supply chain will provide an overview of the implications of substituting an injection molding production technology with an additive manufacturing technology on the supply chain and its complexity. Another case study of teeth aligners shows how additive manufacturing helps to improve supply chain complexity by substituting plaster tools with an additive manufacturing technology.