Environmental Supply Chain Management Research Articles

Environmental change and supply chain management: a multi‐case study exploration of the impact of Y2000

As businesses worked towards Y2000 compliancy and checked their sources of supply, the mechanisms and nature of relationships in the supply chain were exposed. A multi‐case study methodology of four UK‐based SMEs and one large multinational company was undertaken to exploit this time‐window. Although the Y2000 problem was to some extent unique, it is only one of many potential environmental changes that organisations, particularly businesses, have to respond to in the rapidly changing future. Thus any lessons that can be learned from studying this event could provide useful information for future significant environmental changes; changes to trading and market environments; changes to employment law. Whilst the terms “supply chain” and “supply chain management” are universally adopted, their meaning and actual application is less certain. This paper explores the limited but diverse multidisciplinary literature and the “theory/practice” gap in the area of supply chain management and the impact on the supply chain of preparing for the Year 2000.

The environmental challenge for supply-chain management

Major construction companies typically have many thousands of suppliers and are thus at the forefront of delivering sustainable construction. This paper reports on an environmental supply-chain management initiative in Carillion plc, which has demonstrated that the Government's recommendations in this regard are both achievable and commercially beneficial. However, considering environmental issues alone is not sufficient—broader social and ethical issues need to be addressed before we can deliver truly sustainable construction solutions.

Environmental purchasing: a framework for theory development

This paper examines environmental research in the supply chain management literature in order to establish a framework for current and future development of environmental purchasing theory. As the purchasing function takes on a more strategic role in forming trading partnerships with others in their supply chains, it is in a critical position to influence responses to concerns about the natural environment. Definitions of environmental supply chain management and environmental purchasing are offered and the literature is reviewed. Linkages of environmental purchasing with transaction cost analysis are established and future research is described to enhance the study of purchasing's ability to effect the natural environment.

Supply chain environmental management: Elements for success

As environmental concerns reach the corporate boardrooms and the offices of upper management, firms continue to struggle with improving environmental performance throughout the entire organization. While changing the environmental performance from within is difficult, it is even more difficult to move outside of the organization. This process is especially challenging as firms look to improve environmental performance throughout the entire supply chain. In this article, Steve Lippman, the program manager in the Business and Environmental Program at Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), reports on the latest thingking in supply chain environmental management. The article shares the lessons that BSR has learned from leading firms about the types of activities companies are undertaking to influence their suppliers, the characteristics of effective supply chain environmental management programs, and the key steps for initiating or expanding these activities.