Abstract
This paper reviews the application of lean methods for corporate sustainability and highlights demands for future research. With the help of a systematic literature review, papers at the interface of lean and sustainability were identified and matched to a standardized list of lean methods to assess their frequency in the context of sustainability. In a further step, papers containing actual case studies were analyzed in more detail regarding specific application settings, sustainability dimensions, measurability of sustainability impact, and other criteria. The quantitative analysis of 363 publications shows frequent use of lean methods such as just in time and value stream mapping in the context of sustainability, and a surprisingly low use of other approaches such as karakuri, milk run, or chaku chaku. The in-depth analysis of 81 case studies reveals the primacy of intra-company and ecological assessments in the lean context, while social and inter-company aspects remain rather underexposed. This study complements existing research on lean and sustainability by systematically analyzing specific lean methods in the context of sustainability and by further exploring the sustainability characteristics of such lean applications.
Highlights
Sustainable development is a globally accepted and pursued objective, which is manifested in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals [1]
It is surprising that certain methods are mentioned in detail only very rarely, even though they appear to be clearly related to sustainability
Within a systematic literature review, papers at the interface of lean and sustainability have been identified to analyze the application of lean methods in the context of corporate sustainability
Summary
Sustainable development is a globally accepted and pursued objective, which is manifested in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals [1] These 17 high-level political goals have been integrated into regional, national, and local strategies and policies, but have gained strategic importance in business, see, e.g., [2]. The exact definition and the methodological scope of corporate sustainability are still under discussion to date They range from “a firm’s attempt to respond to environmental and social issues” to “a bundle of activities fully integrated into a firm’s overall strategy that contribute effectively to the welfare of current and future generations through protecting and enhancing the resilience of the biosphere, social equity and cohesion, and economic prosperity” [4] Using natural resources efficiently and reducing waste generation substantially are key targets to achieve the respective aspects of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12 [5]. Sustainability 2021, 13, 12786 excellence, and in this way meet both traditional and contemporary organizational objectives such as profitability, efficiency, responsiveness, quality and customer satisfaction” [8]
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