Sustainability in supply chains: reappraising business process management

Abstract

In the context of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM), business processes that enable process integration have been explored in a limited way. This paper offers empirical data in response to this gap by evidencing business processes that create sustainability value in the context of the supply chain—and, the role of a phased approach as an enabler. The data are derived from a case study (of 52 organisations) based on a sustainable cocoa supply chain network and the key business processes across that network. Eight business processes were identified as critical to SSCM—strategic planning, design, governance, integration, collaboration, pre-competitive collaboration, stakeholder management, and performance monitoring and evaluation. We demonstrate how business processes become bespoke sustainability processes in relation to SCM through a phased approach of alignment, implementation and maintenance.