Sustainable Food Supply Chain Management and Firm Performance: The Mediating Effect of Food Safety Level

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.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to contribute significantly to the empirical investigations related to the impact of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices on performance in Chinese firms. The paper also aims to theorize and empirically assess a comprehensive SSCM practices and performance model. The model incorporates two aspects of SSCM practices: internal and external management, and analyses the impact on corporate sustainability performance from all dimensions.Design/methodology/approachThis paper develops a conceptual model to investigate the impact of SSCM practices on the firm performance. Based on the data of 172 Chinese firms, this paper analyzes the impact of SSCM practices on firm economic performance, environmental performance, and social performance for each dimension by using PLS structural equation methods.FindingsThe results show that firm’s internal SSCM practices have a positive impact on firm’s environmental performance and social performance. Moreover, environmental performance and social performance are positively related to economic performance.Originality/valueA comprehensive SSCM practices performance model is proposed and empirically assessed for Chinese firms. The results of this investigation support the hypotheses that SSCM practices are environmentally and socially necessary and are favorable for business. A series of approach and implications of SSCM practices is recommended.

Purpose – Most sustainable supply chains are situated in dynamic environments, which leads to the assumption that management of such chains requires the application of dynamic management theories, such as the dynamic capabilities (DC) concept. In spite of this, DCs have only scarcely been taken up in (sustainable) supply chain management (SSCM) research. The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to discuss the complementarities of DCs and SSCM research; and second, to develop a framework which integrates DCs in SSCM practices. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is conceptual in nature and grounded in SSCM and DC theory. Relevant literature from the SCM, SSCM and DC context has been scrutinized. In total, three models from SSCM and DC literature, together with related inputs from other literature sources, have been conjoined. Findings – DC and SSCM are linked through similar environmental and organizational conditions, making the application of DC concepts in the field of SSCM a logical choice. The framework embeds specific DCs into SSCM practices. Research limitations/implications – The presented framework is a step towards building an analytical basis for future empirical research in this area. Discussion on the nature of DCs is still going on, as well as on how to measure supply chain performance. The framework can only give indications and help in the theory building process. Furthermore, the underlying frameworks used for the development of the framework presented here have been derived through different methodologies and not all of them have, as yet, been (fully) empirically tested. Practical implications – Investment in DCs and implementation of SSCM practices improves the agility of the overall supply chain and can lead to higher performance against the three dimensions of sustainability. Originality/value – The paper is the first explicit framework linking SSCM and DC theory. The framework shows that the DC concept can be and indeed should be applied to SSCM research and practice. Furthermore, explicit DCs are put forward. It is a step towards building an analytical basis for future empirical research in this area.

PurposeAchieving sustainability within supply chain operations is widely considered to boost firms’ competitiveness and bottom line. Thus, researchers have examined the implications of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices on firm performance outcomes, albeit with inconclusive results. Also, significant unexplored gaps exist regarding the intervening role of supply chain integration (SCI). Anchored in the political economy theory, this study explored how different forms of SCI mediate the relationship between each of the triple-bottom-line (TBL) pillars of SSCM practices and firm performance.Design/methodology/approachThe research model and associated hypotheses were tested using 455 survey data obtained from a cross-section of Ghanaian firms and the partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique.FindingsThe results indicate that all the TBL dimensions of SSCM practices significantly and positively impact firm performance. Nevertheless, various forms of SCI mediate the link between SSCM practices and firm performance differently. Specifically, the findings reveal that customer integration and internal integration mediate the relationship between SSCM practices and firm performance. Supplier integration mediates the relationships between the economic and environmental aspects of SSCM practices and firm performance but not the relationship between the social dimension and firm performance.Originality/valueThis study fulfills a noteworthy literature gap by providing empirical evidence of the mediating role of SCI in translating SSCM practices into better firm performance, especially in the context of a developing country. Thus, it offers guidance for firms to leverage integration with strategic supply chain partners and implement SSCM practices effectively and, in turn, to ensure better performance.

Amaç- Çalışmanın amacı Sürdürülebilir Tedarik Zinciri Yönetimi (STZY) uygulamalarını benimsemiş işletmelerde, başarı performansını ölçmeye yönelik bir model önerisi sunmaktır. Yöntem- STZY, sürdürülebilirlik ve işletme performansı, sosyal performans ve finansal performans, sürdürülebilir maliyet yönetimi gibi kavramlar baz alınarak literatür taraması yapılmıştır.Bulgular- Literatür incelendiğinde, STZY’nin, genel olarak, işletmenin çevresel etkiyi azaltmaya yönelik uygulamaları olarak değerlendirildiği görülmektedir. Bunun yanında, STZY ve işletme performansı arasındaki ilişkinin incelendiği birçok çalışmada, finansal performans göstergesi olarak maliyet tasarruflarının kullanıldığı görülmektedir. Ancak, sürdürülebilirlik temelli uygulamaların çok sayıda farklı maliyet unsurunu da ortaya çıkaracak olması birçok çalışmada göz ardı edilmiştir. STZY uygulamalarında maliyet yönetimini ve performans ölçümlerini konu alan çalışmalarının sayısının ise oldukça sınırlı kaldığı görülmektedir.Sonuç- İşletme performansını ölçmede sürdürülebilirlik temelli uygulamaların etkilerini de dikkate almak, uzun vadeli başarı göstergelerinin tanımlanması ve performans ölçümlerinin doğru yapılması adına önem taşımaktadır.

Sustainable supply chain management practices in Indian automotive industry: A multi-stakeholder view

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to design and validate a reliable and comprehensive instrument to assess the influence of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices on sustainable performance in hospitals.Design/methodology/approachA systematic and mixed-method approach was used to create and validate an instrument for assessing the level of implementation of hospital SSCM practices and the perceived extent of environmental, social and economic performance. This includes the development of preliminary items and the evaluation of content and construct validity. Data from Colombian hospitals was collected. Structural equation modeling was used to test the structural model.FindingsDuring the content validity phase, an initial version of the questionnaire consisting of 88 items was generated. This version was qualitatively and quantitatively reviewed and assessed by six academicians and two hospital practitioners, based on criteria of sufficiency, clarity, relevance and coherence. The computation of both individual and scale content validity indices, along with the qualitative feedback, led to the refinement of the questionnaire. The subsequent phase of construct validity involved the implementation of a pilot test with 55 responses gathered from Colombian hospitals. By considering the metrics of convergent validity and discriminant validity derived from the analysis of structural equation modeling, the final instrument was composed of 59 items. The results reveal that hospital SSCM practices can be conceptualized and measured through two dimensions: environmental and social. The former includes the underlying constructs of internal environmental management, green purchasing and green operations. The latter encompasses the constructs of working conditions and employee well-being, equity management, social purchasing and community development and participation. Sustainable performance is defined by its environmental, social and economic dimensions.Practical implicationsThis study is intended to provide useful insights for hospitals, researchers and policymakers to measure and develop strategies to enhance the implementation of SSCM practices, thereby improving sustainable performance. As a matter of fact, the instrument has already been applied in a recent empirical study conducted in Colombia, aimed at addressing the influence of SSCM practices on sustainable performance in hospitals.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to develop and empirically test an instrument for measuring the influence of SSCM on sustainable performance, both in the hospital setting and in an emerging country.

Purpose: The aim of this research paper is to significantly contribute to empirical research on the impact of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices on sustainable performances of firms, with the moderating effect of process innovation (PI), in the manufacturing sector in Pakistan. This paper also theorizes comprehensive SSCM practices and sustainable performance models of firms and evaluates them empirically. Two aspects of SSCM experiences have been integrated into the model: internal management and external management practices of a firm’s sustainability impact assessment. Research methodology: Using the data from 297 manufacturing firms in Pakistan, this research paper analyzes the influence of sustainable supply chain management practices on sustainable performances of firms with the moderation of process innovation in the said relationship. In this study, we used partial least-squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) for data analysis. Results: The findings demonstrate that both internal management and external management SSCM practices have a positive and significant impact on a firm’s sustainable performance, thus supporting hypotheses (H1–H4). Moreover, process innovation as a moderator has a statistically significant relationship between hypotheses H5 and H5c. Originality: For Pakistani firms, comprehensive performance models of SSCM practices are proposed and empirically evaluated. The results of this study help to support the hypotheses that internal and external SSCM practices are necessary for the service sector. Process innovation plays an important role if managed and implemented properly. A number of internal and external SSCM approaches and implications are recommended, along with firm size as a moderator.

Owing to the relatively small area and the decreasing natural resources of the Kingdom of Bahrain, businesses are searching for supply chains that are both sustainable and Greenly friendly. This study was conducted to determine the level of implementation of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices and the effect of these SSCM activities on the efficiency of supply chain companies in Bahrain. Bahraini companies are adopting two classes of SSCM practices: Renewable Packaging and Green Procurement. Five key components that make up the overall SSCM performance of the respondent firms were identified: Operational Performance, Efficiency, Green Performance; Corporate Social Responsibility; and Socio-economic Performance. The use of recyclable materials as packaging and the option of using only items that are safe at their end-of-life have a direct, positive and more importantly, significant impact on operational efficiency. Sustainable SSCM practices of Bahraini firms have a positive and significant impact on their sustainable supply chain efficiency.

Manufacturing supply chains face an ever‐increasing risk of failing to address contentious social issues and achieve financial stability. Regrettably, previous studies highlight resources that provide few leaders in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) with a competitive advantage over many other firms. As a result, it remains unclear how firms across manufacturing supply chains leverage imitable sustainability practices for economic and social benefits, particularly in emerging markets with resource constraints. To address this issue and extend this research stream, we draw on supply chain practice view theory to introduce two imitable SSCM practices—basic SSCM practices and advanced SSCM practices—and propose that they play a crucial role in shaping the social and economic performance of firms across manufacturing supply chains. Using cross‐sectional survey data from 262 managers of firms across manufacturing supply chains in Ghana, our results reveal that basic SSCM practices are a prerequisite for advanced SSCM practices. Additionally, the results demonstrate an indirect impact of advanced SSCM practices on economic performance via community‐focused performance. Unlike hypothesised, our study's results do not identify basic SSCM practices as a boundary condition affecting the relationships between advanced SSCM practices and community‐ and employee‐focused performances. By theorising and revealing a more nuanced understanding of how significantly imitable practices contribute to manufacturing supply chains' social and economic performance, we enhance the existing body of knowledge on the antecedents, boundary conditions and performance implications of SSCM practices.

Next to the oil industry, the apparel industries are strongly criticized for their negative impact on the ecosystem. Due to the current global trend, manufacturing industries are expected to consider sustainability issues beyond conventional business goals. In this regard, the study investigates the Ethiopian apparel and textile manufacturing industries’ sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices. A descriptive research design methodology using a cross‐sectional survey was used. Data were collected through self‐administered questionnaires. A simple random sampling technique to decide sample size and a purposive sampling technique to select respondents were employed. A total of 71 participants provided a valid response. The metrics for the survey were developed from different literature, and structural equation modeling was used for data analysis. The results demonstrated that the state of the implementation of SSCM practices by the fashion manufacturing industry in Ethiopia is still in its promising stages. The hypotheses test results showed that SSCM practices positively impact SSCM performance and competitiveness at p values of 0.05, except environmental practices with economic performance. The study provides additional insight into the growing field of literature that examines the relationships among SSCM practices, performance, and competitiveness. The findings offer insight for industrial policymakers to improve sustainability for global competitiveness. The Ethiopian government is making significant efforts to boost the manufacturing sector through the “Let Ethiopia Produce” campaign, and sustainability is among the significant necessities for the global competitiveness of the Ethiopian manufacturing industry.

PurposeBased on the extended resource-based view (ERBV), this paper aims to investigate the relationship between sustainable supply chain management (SSCM), dynamic capabilities (DCs) and enterprise economic performance (EEP). Both the direct effects of SSCM on economic performance and the mediation effect of DCs are investigated. This empirical study also examines the moderating role of firm size.Design/methodology/approachThis study applies hierarchical regression analyses to test our hypotheses, and then the mediation test was performed using the macro PROCESS. Data were collected from 178 Chinese manufacturing firms.FindingsThe findings show that SSCM practices significantly and positively influence both economic performance and DCs. The results indicate that DCs partially mediate the relationship between SSCM practices and EEP. Moreover, firm size has a moderating effect on external SSCM practices that influence EEP, but the moderating effect was not found to be significant for the effects of internal SSCM practices on economic performance and SSCM practices on DCs.Practical implicationsThis study reveals insights into the potential benefits for large enterprises and SMEs related to the utilization of SSCM practices in China and puts forward differentiated suggestions for SSCM practices in large enterprises and SMEs.Originality/valueDrawing on the ERBV, this study provides a deeper perspective on the relationship between SSCM and EEP by regarding DCs as a mediating variable and firm size as a moderating variable.

Sustainability has profound implications for environmental competitiveness, yet little has been done to study the feasibility of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices as a predictor of organizational performance (operational and environmental performance). By integrating stakeholder theory and dynamic capability theory, this study aims to determine the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on SSCM practices and assess its impact on organizational performance. This research also investigates the role of big data analytical capabilities (BDAC) in mediating the relationship between SSCM practices and organizational performance. The authors collected data online, examined 320 valid responses, and tested research hypotheses. The findings suggest that CSR (both internal and external CSR) positively promotes SSCM practices and contributes to expanding dynamic capacity theory in the context of BDA capabilities. BDAC is also a key mediator between SSCM practices and organizational performance. These results contribute to and improve the research on stakeholder theory and SSCM practice and provide a new perspective for scholars to further study this issue.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices on triple bottom line (TBL) measures from the perspective of organizational theories. This study identified five SSCM practices using a comprehensive literature review and feedback from industry experts. These five practices were prioritized using a fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP). The results from FAHP analysis were further confirmed by conducting semi-structured interviews in five electronics parts/components manufacturing organizations. This study also prioritized theoretical drivers of SSCM adoption based on the consideration of three organizational theory perspectives – Institutional Theory; Resource-Based View, and; Social Network Theory. The results indicate that the economic dimension was the most important measure for implementing SSCM while sustainable design was the most important SSCM practice for achieving the TBL. The study also found that Institutional Theory is the most important theoretical driver for implementing SSCM. The research findings provide insight for management to allocate necessary resources and to develop effective strategic directions for the implementation of SSCM practices.