The interface of sustainability and risk in supply chain management: Insights and implications

Almost daily, news indicates that there are environmental and social problems in globally fragmented supply chains. Even though conceptualisations of sustainable supply chain management suggest supplier-related risk management for sustainable products and processes as substantial for companies, research on how risk management for environmental and social issues in supply chains is performed has so far been neglected. This study aims at analysing both why companies in the clothing industry are performing management of social and environmental risks in their supply chain and what kind of action they are taking. Based on the literature on sustainable supply chain management and supply chain risk management as well as 10 expert interviews, a conceptual model for risk management in sustainable supply chains was developed. This model was tested in an empirical study in the clothing industry. The data were analysed by structural equation modelling. Results of the research show high statistical significance for the respective conceptual model. The main driver to perform risk management in environmental and social affairs is pressures and incentives from stakeholders. While companies’ corporate orientation mainly drives social actions, top management drives environmental affairs for differentiating themselves from competitors.

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.

Maintaining an effective risk management procedure can counterbalance a critical effect on supply chains. The Agri-food supply chain has characteristics that are unique and complex if compared with a conventional supply chain. Sustainability risk management in the supply chain is the key to a competitive organisation in the long term. The aim of this paper is to review current research on sustainable risk management in the Agri-food industry chain. These reviews were arranged in steps systematically, ranging from searching related to review of supply chain sustainability risk management (SCSRM), reviewing the general framework of SCSRM and the framework of Agri-food SCSRM. Selection of literature review papers in the period 2010-2019, and obtained 30 papers. Risk aspects were analysed using a multi-dimensional approach (economic, social, environmental, technical, and institutional) that influences the sustainability of the Agri-food industry. The results show that there are few studies focusing on risk management to achieve a sustainable supply chain system. Some studies only focus on Triple Bottom Line elements (economic, social, and environmental). Sometimes, these studies do not consider risks from other elements such as technical and institutional aspects that can be influence the sustainability of the Agri-food industry. Technical aspects such as the reliability of technological systems and institutional aspects as policymakers support sustainability in a business process. The contribution of this paper is to provide an initial theoretical framework to guide researchers in analysing risk through a multi-dimensional approach to sustainability.

Prior studies in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) fail to address collaboration in the supply chain and lean management in conjunction with economic benefits. Collaboration in the supply chain and lean management have to integrate into SSCM, which involves social, economic and environmental aspects. This study aims to establish a framework to understand the seafood industry in Vietnam and to enhance its performance. This framework proposes 5 aspects and 21 criteria, and these aspects involve qualitative information. Fuzzy set theory is applied to deal with the complexity of and uncertainty in the linguistic preferences. The fuzzy Delphi method is employed to test the reliability and validity attributes. A decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory is to assess the interrelationships among the attributes. Sensitivity analysis is adopted to address subjective robustness and objective perceptions. The results show that the aspects of collaboration in the supply chain and lean management drive economic benefits.

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.

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.

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.

PurposeFashion supply chain (FSC) research has identified two important issues of sustainability management and risk management. However, investigation of these issues is relatively sparse and has primarily been independent with little combinatory research, despite their important interrelationships. The purpose of this paper is to address that gap by critically reviewing extant literature to synthesise important sustainability risk issues in FSCs and proposing an empirical research agenda.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses a structured literature review approach and Denyer and Tranfield’s (2009) context, intervention, mechanisms and outcome (CIMO) criteria for critical analysis to enable the development of future empirical research areas.FindingsWhile sustainability and risk are discussed independently in the supply chain literature, combinatory discussions are very limited, despite the interdependence of these concepts. There is little substantial research on sustainability risk in global FSCs and therefore, an empirical research agenda is proposed with the four research directions to address the gap and take forward the notion of supply chain sustainability risk management in FSCs: definition; organisation and management; influence on performance; and development of a conceptual framework.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper provides a critical literature review and thus lacks empirical study.Practical implicationsThis paper highlights important issues in sustainability risk management for FSCs and presents an agenda for future empirical research.Originality/valueThis paper contributes by providing a combinatory synthesis of sustainability and risk management in FSC literature and an agenda for future empirical research.

Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM), Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM), and Sustainable Performance (SP) have largely been conceptualized for large enterprises in developed countries, leaving gaps in implementation for small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the context of developing countries. This study aims to reconstruct and validate the core dimensions of SSCM, SCRM, and SP practices in SMEs Indonesia through exploratory factor analysis. Data was collected through a survey of 205 SMEs in various sectors. The analysis identified four key factors: Sustainable Supply Chain Management Practices, Risk Mitigation, Risk Evaluation and Planning, and Sustainable Performance. Notably, SCRM emerged as a multidimensional construct, separating the tactical and strategic aspects from risk management. These findings highlight the contextual specificity of sustainability frameworks in SMEs, emphasizing the need for simplified and adaptable models that reflect the resource constraints and informal structures typical of emerging markets. This research contributes to theoretical refinement and offers practical guidance for SME managers aiming to improve sustainability outcomes.

PurposeThere is limited knowledge of the sustainable halal food supply management in Brunei Darussalam (Brunei), although it is reputable in the halal economy and advocates the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefore, this paper highlights issues faced in a small, rentier halal market and proposes sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) initiatives for halal-certified food companies in Brunei.Design/methodology/approachThis paper draws data from published academic research and employs a normative and narrative assessment of SSCM and halal supply chain literature.FindingsFour normative SSCM initiatives and propositions that could be implemented by Brunei halal-certified food businesses in achieving the SDGs are highlighted: responsible sourcing, environmental purchasing, sustainable packaging and green transportation.Practical implicationsThis viewpoint paper provides a basis for achieving the “Brunei Vision 2035” through a sustainable supply chain lens that may increase well-being and develop a productive and sustainable economy. It also lays a foundation for realising the SDGs, specifically Goal 12 of Sustainable Consumption and Production.Originality/valueThe dedicated attention to smaller halal markets, such as Brunei, would enrich the literature, reveal unforeseen issues or address gaps in the domains of SSCM and halal food supply chains.

PurposeThe food industry is directly related to the health of humans and society and also that little attention has been paid to the assessment of sustainable supply chain risk management in this area, this will be qualified as an important research area. This study aims to develop a framework for assessing the sustainable supply chain risk management in the realm of the food industry (confectionery and chocolate) with a case study of three generic companies denotes as A1–A3. The proposed risk management was evaluated in three aforementioned manufacturing companies, and these three companies were ranked by the Fuzzy-Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (F-WASPAS) method in EXCEL.Design/methodology/approachThe evaluation was carried out using integrated multi-criteria decision-making methods Best-Worst method (BWM)-WASPAS. Via an extensive literature review in the area of sustainable supply chain, sustainable food supply chain and risks in this, 9 risk criteria and 59 sub-criteria of risk were identified. Using expert opinion in the food industry, 8 risk criteria and 39 risk sub-criteria were identified for final evaluation. The final weight of the main and sub-criteria was obtained using the F-BWM method via LINGO software. Risk management in the sustainable supply chain has the role of identifying, analyzing and providing solutions to control risks.FindingsThe following criteria in each group gained more weight: loss of credibility and brand, dangerous and unhealthy working environment, unproductive use of energy, human error, supplier quality, quality risk, product perishability and security. Among the criteria, the economic risks have the highest weight and among the alternatives, A3 has obtained first ranking.Originality/valueModeling of risk for the food supply chain is the unique contribution of this work.

In the face of climate change (CC), “business as usual” is futile. The increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events (e.g., hurricanes, floods, droughts, and heatwaves) have hurt lives, displaced communities, destroyed logistics networks, disrupted the flow of goods and services, and caused delays, capacity failures, and immense costs. This study presents a strategic approach we term “Climate-Change Resilient, Sustainable Supply Chain Risk Management” (CCR-SSCRM) to address CC risks in supply chain management (SCM) pervading today’s business world. This approach ensures supply chain sustainability by balancing the quadruple bottom line pillars of economy, environment, society, and culture. A sustainable supply chain analytics perspective was employed to support these goals, along with a systematic literature network analysis of 699 publications (2003–2022) from the SCOPUS database. The analysis revealed a growing interest in CC and supply chain risk management, emphasizing the need for CCR-SSCRM as a theoretical guiding framework. The findings and recommendations may help to guide researchers, policymakers, and businesses. We provide insights on constructing and managing sustainable SCs that account for the accelerating impacts of CC, emphasizing the importance of a proactive and comprehensive approach to supply chain risk management in the face of CC. We then offer directions for future research on CCR-SSCRM and conclude by underlining the urgency of interdisciplinary collaboration and integration of climate considerations into SCM for enhanced resilience and sustainability.

The semiconductor industry, foundational to modern technology, faces critical sustainability and risk challenges arising from resource‐intensive operations, concentrated production geographies, and recurrent disruptions. Fabrication plants consume extraordinary volumes of water and energy, while geopolitical tensions, material shortages, and demand volatility continue to destabilize global supply networks. These vulnerabilities underscore the need for integrated approaches to sustainable supply chain risk management (SSCRM). This study conducts the first integrative review at the intersection of sustainable supply chain management and supply chain risk management (SCRM) in the semiconductor context. Drawing on over 1500 studies screened from UTD24 (University of Texas at Dallas) and SCM (Supply Chain Management) journal lists (2010–2024), we identify 46 seminal works and analyze them through four frameworks: ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance), Triple Bottom Line (TBL), Triple A (Agility, Adaptability, Alignment), and Triple A&R (adding Robustness, Resilience, Realignment). Our synthesis highlights six interconnected research imperatives: AI‐enabled transparency and predictive analytics, power asymmetries in buyer–supplier relationships, geopolitical sustainability trade‐offs, collaborative governance models, the bullwhip effect's impact on resilience and sustainability, and the application of Triple A&R principles to semiconductor operations. By synthesizing insights across these themes, we propose targeted research questions that bridge theoretical constructs with semiconductor‐specific operational challenges. Our findings underscore the urgency of adopting integrated SSCRM approaches to fortify the industry's resilience, innovation, and long‐term sustainability against escalating global disruptions.

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the triangular interconnections among supply chain finance (SCF), supply chain risk management (SCRM) and supply chain sustainability (SCS) within the context of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) under the theoretical foundation of dynamic capabilities view.Design/methodology/approachA total of 319 valid data sets were gathered from SMEs in China to evaluate the research model. This study uses partial least square structural equation modelling and necessary condition analysis as the two statistical methodologies for the assessment.FindingsThe findings indicate that SCF positively impacts on both SCRM and SCS, whereas SCRM also positively influences SCS. Furthermore, it has been observed that SCRM partially mediates the connection between SCF and SCS.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings contribute to the literature of SCS by empirically validating the direct and mediating impacts of SCRM on SCS.Practical implicationsThe results provide valuable insights that can assist SME stakeholders, owners and managers in developing strategies to effectively incorporate SCF and SCRM practices, thereby enhancing SCS performance.Originality/valueThis study expands the existing research on SCF and SCRM in the context of promoting SCS, specifically from the viewpoint of an Asian developing country.

Supply chain management (SCM) increasingly needs to address both climate change mitigation and adaptation issues. While mitigation aims at sustainability by reducing the environmental impact of supply chains (SCs), adaptation entails improving resilience by increasing the ability to cope with climate-induced disruptions. Although sustainable SCM (SSCM) and resilient SCM (RSCM) are of increasing importance, there has been little effort to conceptually connect SSCM and RSCM. Our study explores the interconnections between both concepts by outlining theoretical elements and conducting a case study of four companies in the automotive SC based on company documents and interviews. Results show that SSCM is prioritised over RSCM. We furthermore highlight trade-offs and overlaps between the elements of SSCM and RSCM, which can be valuable for decision-makers, and introduce two enabling factors: transparency and diversity. We present a novel theoretical SCM framework that integrates both resilience and sustainability perspectives and make propositions for future research.