Green Supply Chain Management Research Articles

Greening the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain

ABSTRACTThe pharmaceutical sector is critical from a life‐saving perspective. However, it also poses significant environmental challenges due to large consumptions of non‐renewable materials and energy, as also extensive by‐product and waste generation. Addressing these issues is paramount, though surprisingly, research on it has largely been theoretical, fragmented and incomplete. These shortcomings are sought to be addressed in this work where a comprehensive green supply chain management (GSCM) framework for the sector is first developed through a systematic literature review. It is then empirically assessed and validated for UK's pharmaceutical sector through 47 interviews and analyses of 112 corporate environmental reports that covered all key stakeholders. Innovative and Bio‐pharma players were found to be at the forefront of the greening efforts with generic players lagging behind. High levels of solvent recycling, AI‐based drug design, and emphasis on Ecopharmacovigilance were observed for the Innovative players. The key drivers for greening were found to be regulatory pressures (e.g., f‐gas, ERA, IED) and cost saving potential, with their influence being particularly greater for the Innovative players. Similarly, complex marketing authorization process, high investment requirements, lack of green culture and time pressure were revealed as the key barriers to greening. On the downstream side, lack of environment‐related regulatory guidance on prescribing and contradictory regulatory guidance on disposing unused/expired drugs were identified as factors having a significant impact on the environmental loading of drugs. Overall, the study findings can help assess the green readiness of the sector, as also develop stakeholder‐specific policy interventions and support mechanisms to increase green adoption.

Implementing Green Supply Chain Management in Paper Waste Management at Indonesian Higher Education Institutions: A Case Study of the Paper Recycling Ecosystem

This study examines the implementation of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) practices in managing paper waste within Indonesian higher education institutions, focusing on the influence of recycling infrastructure, subjective norms, and recycling awareness on campus sustainability. Employing a quantitative approach with data from 224 students, the study utilized Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to evaluate relationships among key variables: Paper Waste Capacity (PWC), Subjective Norms (SN), Recycling Awareness (RA), and Ecosystem Sustainability (ES). Findings indicate that enhanced paper waste capacity significantly affects subjective norms around recycling, while subjective norms positively influence individual recycling awareness. Both subjective norms and recycling awareness significantly contribute to ecosystem sustainability, suggesting that GSCM practices, supported by accessible recycling infrastructure and normative reinforcement, can foster a culture of sustainability within universities. This study also highlights the importance of creating a recycling-supportive environment through social campaigns and peer initiatives. The results underscore the broader potential of GSCM as a model for promoting environmentally responsible behaviours in educational settings and beyond. While limited by its specific context, the study calls for further research across diverse institutions and regions to expand understanding of GSCM's impact on sustainability practices

The Antecedents Of Organizational Performance With Corporate Carbon Management Strategy As Moderation

In recent years, the rapid growth of civilization and industrialization has had a significant impact on environmental sustainability. The rise of human revolution and technological developments aimed at making people's lives more comfortable have indirectly contributed to environmental degradation, thus causing adverse effects on human health. Excessive exploitation of natural resources has drawn public attention to environmental issues both at national and international levels. This study aims to examine the effect of Green Supply Chain Management, Green Intellectual Capital, and Competitive Business Strategy on organizational performance, and to examine whether Corporate Carbon Management Strategy can strengthen the effect of Green Supply Chain Management, Green Intellectual Capital, and Competitive Business Strategy on organizational performance. The type of data used in this study is primary data in the form of financial reports of companies that are used as samples. The research method used in this study is a quantitative research method. The sample was selected using the purposive sampling method. For hypothesis testing, this study uses multiple linear regression analysis. Based on the results of this study, it shows that Green Supply Chain Management and Competitive Business Strategy have an effect on Organizational Performance, but Green Intellectual Capital, have not effect on Organizational Performance. Carbon Management Strategy strengthens the influence of Green Supply Chain Management and Competitive Business Strategy on Organizational Performance and Carbon Management Strategy does not strengthen the influence of Green Intellectual Capital Strategy on Organizational Performance

Assessing the obstacles to green supply chain management in Bangladesh's footwear industry using SWARA and ISM-MICMAC methods

This study aims to identify and analyze the barriers to Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) in the footwear industry of Bangladesh, which is essential for improving sustainability and gaining a potential benefit in the global market. Despite the growth of Bangladesh’s footwear industry, environmental challenges and a lack of green practices have hindered its ability to meet international standards. The study employs a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making approach, combining Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) and Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) with MICMAC (Cross-Impact Matrix Multiplication Applied to Classification) analysis. Using literature reviews and expert opinions from industry professionals, 19 barriers were initially identified, which were narrowed down to 12 for further analysis. SWARA was used to rank these barriers, while ISM-MICMAC was applied to assess the interrelationships between them. The findings reveal that the most significant barriers to GSCM implementation are insufficient training and poor supplier commitment, followed by a lack of knowledge and experience. The ISM-MICMAC analysis highlights the interdependencies among these barriers, suggesting that addressing one may impact others. This research is novel in its application of a hybrid SWARA-ISM-MICMAC approach to the footwear industry, a sector in Bangladesh that has not been extensively studied in the context of GSCM. The study provides practical implications for managers and policymakers by offering insights into the most critical barriers and their interrelations, guiding targeted interventions. By addressing these barriers, the footwear industry can enhance its sustainability practices, improve market competitiveness, and meet growing environmental demands.

Circular Economy Strategies for Resource Efficiency and Sustainable Development in Manufacturing Industries

The shift to a CE in manufacturing industries has been deemed as a frontrunner among strategies to deal with resource efficiency and sustainable development concerns. The switch to a superior model of circular economy transits from the erstwhile linear models of ‘take-make-dispose’. Strategies in manufacturing in circular economy embrace principles of sustainable product design, redesign of finished products, and recycling in industrial systems to recover products making raw materials closed loop. IT tools such as digital twin, IoT, and AI enable further sophistication of the techniques the manufacturers can use to track resource flows and improve processes as well as product life cycles. Policy maker-led, industry and community-supported partnership effort in carrying CE message through the enabling policies, green supply chain management and consumer awareness. The prospect of CE goes far beyond environmental protection as it helps to build economic stability, create new working places, and gain competitive advantages in the global economy. Nevertheless, some key barriers remain; poor standardization, technological limitations and cultural issues. It is only possible to fix these problems via innovations for these issues, the multi-stakeholder cooperation, and the sound policies for creating a sustainable industrial revolution.

Organisational culture and institutionalisation of green supply chain management

The international community faces numerous sustainability challenges. In response, firms tackle these difficulties by adopting and implementing Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) techniques. However, there has been minimal discourse in the literature concerning the institutionalisation of GSCM. This study aimed to enhance our understanding of the institutionalisation of Green Supply Chain Management, specifically concerning South African cement businesses. The study specifically examines institutionalisation from the standpoint of organisational culture. In addition to examining existing literature, the researcher intentionally selected 23 supply chain practitioners from six prominent cement companies, environmental law officials, and academics to provide their insights and perspectives on the influence of organisational culture in institutionalising Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) within the cement industry. Thematic analysis was employed to examine primary data. The study findings indicated that the organisational culture obstructing the institutionalisation of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) factors comprised resistance to green policy implementation, insufficient top management support, and misalignment between green strategy and corporate goals. Conversely, the organisational culture promoting GSCM institutionalisation included human development and investment, effective communication, incentives, and a strong green culture as primary drivers. The study will inform supply chain professionals, cement company managers, environmental regulatory agencies, and NGOs about the significant influence of organisational culture on the institutionalisation of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM). The influence of culture on the institutionalisation of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM).

Resolving contradictions in green supply chain management: A combined TRIZ and DEMATEL approach

Companies are increasingly required to adopt green supply chain practices to enhance their ecological footprint and financial viability, driven by global environmental concerns. This research focuses on resolving the contradictions faced in green supply chain management (GSCM) implementation through a combined application of the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) and the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) methods. Five key contradictions were identified: regulatory enhancements vs. resource limitations, technological unreadiness vs. regulatory refinement, profitability vs. customer trust, collaboration vs. competitiveness, and green material prioritization vs. scarcity. The study proposes 18 inventive principles to address these contradictions, including strategies such as flexible technology adoption and market segmentation. DEMATEL is then applied to analyze the interactions between these principles, offering a structured model for strategic decision-making. The DEMATEL analysis revealed that government support plays the most critical role in driving green supply chain adoption, influencing other strategies significantly. This integrated approach provides practical guidance for stakeholders, helping to shape policies and improve GSCM implementation in industries, particularly within the packaging and paper products sector in Indonesia.

Product tracing or component tracing? Blockchain adoption in a two-echelon supply chain management

Consumer awareness of product authenticity and carbon footprint tracing are among the most remarkable reasons for adopting blockchain in the supply chain in today’s world. However, the research literature has not yet examined specific ways to adopt blockchain in the supply chain. This study aims to develop a decision support tool to deal with the adoption of blockchain technology to design a two-echelon supply chain. In this regard, four specific cases for integrating supply chain and blockchain are developed based on types of tracing and block generation authority. In product tracing, green products are investigated throughout the supply chain, while in component tracing, green products are examined between the components of the supply chain. As it is necessary to record and verify the supply chain information by authorities in the blockchain network, in this work, such authorities are taken into account for both links and members of the supply chain. As far as we know, this is the first attempt to classify the various methods of adopting blockchain in Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) and propose mathematical optimization models related to them. In this line, four Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) models with the aim of minimizing the costs related to the physical supply chain and blockchain deployment are developed for the integration of the supply chain with blockchain technology. They are treated by the Branch and Efficiency (B&E) algorithm and Simultaneous Data Envelopment Analysis (SDEA) model considering common (cost and service) and innovative (blockchain) criteria. The results showed that link-based and component tracing models are cost-effective. In addition, the cost objective function of green product tracing is more sensitive to the number of blocks than that of component tracing. Eventually, the study provides great opportunities for decision-makers and managers to understand how to adopt blockchain in terms of supply chain network characteristics, cost, transparency, and service.

Enhancing Sustainability in Logistics with Synch: A Comprehensive Analysis of Green Supply chain Management through Technology Integration

Penelitian ini mengevaluasi penerapan Synch, sebuah solusi digital inovatif yang dirancang untuk meningkatkan keberlanjutan dan efisiensi operasional dalam sistem logistik di PT XYZ. Menggunakan kombinasi tinjauan literatur dan studi kasus, riset ini berfokus pada aplikasi Synch untuk mengoptimalkan proses logistik melalui teknologi Kecerdasan Buatan (AI) dan Blockchain. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Synch secara efektif mengurangi biaya operasional dan emisi karbon dengan mengoptimalkan rute pengiriman dan mendukung praktik pengemasan berkelanjutan. Integrasi AI dan Blockchain tidak hanya meningkatkan efisiensi operasional tetapi juga memperkuat posisi PT XYZ sebagai pemimpin dalam memajukan logistik berkelanjutan, sejalan dengan tujuan keberlanjutan global. Studi ini fokus pada potensi Synch sebagai alat skalabel untuk mengubah industri logistik menjadi lebih berkelanjutan. Kata kunci : Synch, Green Supply chain Management, Green Distribution Logistic, Reverse Logistic, Kecerdasan Buatan (AI)

Research on the Management of Green Supply Chain by the Digital Transformation of Tsingtao Beer

With the increasingly serious global climate change and environmental problems, green supply chain management has become one of the key paths for enterprises to achieve sustainable development. In this context, Tsingtao Brewery, as a leading enterprise in China 's beer industry, actively responds to the wave of digital transformation and integrates the green concept into all aspects of supply chain management. This study aims to explore the impact of Tsingtao Brewery 's digital transformation on green supply chain management and its effectiveness. This paper analyzes the degree and characteristics of the digital transformation of the beer industry, discusses the specific impact of digital transformation on the green supply chain management of Tsingtao Brewery, and proposes corresponding improvement strategies for the problems existing in the digital green supply chain management of Tsingtao Brewery. It aims to provide useful reference and reference for other enterprises in digital transformation and green supply chain management.

Evaluating green supply chain management performance in the Indonesian mechanical assembly industry

Evaluating green supply chain management performance in the Indonesian mechanical assembly industry

Linking green supply chain management practices with perceived environmental performance: A mediated moderation model

AbstractThis empirical study intends to identify the relationships between three green supply chain management practices (GSCMPs) [green purchase (GP1), green production (GP2) and employee green orientation (EGO)]; and perceived environmental performance (PEP) based on stakeholder theory. The study also included one mediator, perceived social responsibility (PSR) to test its mediating effects in three direct relationships and one moderator, perceived regulatory pressure (PRP), to test the moderation in the relationship between PSR and PEP. The study used a deductive methodology based on a cross‐sectional survey design. IBM SPSS 29 was used for descriptive analysis and a variance‐based partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS‐SEM) (through PLS 4.0) was used for testing the hypothesised relationships. The study found that, first of all, all the three independent constructs have significant positive relationships with the dependent variable, PEP. Second, GP2 and EGO have significant positive relationships with the mediator, PSR while GP1 has an insignificant relationship with PSR. Third, the mediator (PSR) is positively related to PEP. Fourth, regarding the mediating effects, the study identified that PSR partially mediates the relationships between GP2 and PEP as well as between EGO and PEP while PSR does not mediate the relationship between GP1 and PEP. Finally, the study identified that PRP strengthens the positive relationship between PSR and PEP. It is strongly anticipated that this empirical study will spark further theoretical research and empirical experiments on GSCMP‐oriented environmental performance. The study incorporated two unique variables as mediator and moderator that can open a new avenue for the upcoming research initiatives. Furthermore, the study's findings can serve as a foundation for the policymakers and/or managers working on the formulation and implementation of green supply chain management‐related policies and strategies.

The Impact of Green Supply Chain Management on Green Innovation, Environmental Performance, and Competitive Advantage

Environmental issues are increasing in importance for businesses day by day. Businesses are undergoing an environmentally focused transformation in all their activities within the value chain. Therefore, the necessity of integrating and maintaining the concept of “green” in all processes such as production, technology development, marketing, and supply chains has emerged. Topics such as environmentally sensitive production systems, green supply, and green innovation (GI) are both accepted in practice in various sectors and are examined in the literature. When the impact of green practices on the performance items of businesses is taken into consideration, it is important to examine the issue from this perspective. In this context, the aim of this study is to examine the impact of green supply chain management (GSCM) practices on GI, environmental performance (EP), and competitive advantage (CA). Within the framework of this aim, a survey was conducted on 283 businesses producing plastic, packaging, and textile products in Gaziantep (169) and Konya (114) provinces in Türkiye. In this study, where the quantitative research method was adopted, the hypotheses established were tested by using structural equation modeling (SEM). SPSS 22.0 package program and AMOS 22.0 program were used in the analysis. Within the scope of the analysis, the measurement model (confirmatory factor analysis) was first tested. As a result of the analysis, GSCM practices have a positive impact on GI and CA; GSCM has a positive impact on EP; GI has a positive impact on CA; and EP has not a positive impact on CA. This study is significant as it examines the combined impact of GSCM, GI, EP, and CA. Also, this study is important as it is the first study to examine the impact of GSCM practices on GI, EP, and CA in Türkiye.

An Investigation of the Barriers and Drivers for Implementing Green Supply Chain in Malaysian Food and Beverage SMEs: A Qualitative Perspective

The food and beverage (F&B) sector in Malaysia is experiencing rapid growth, largely driven by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, many Malaysian F&B companies are encountering challenges when it comes to adopting environmentally friendly practices to enhance their environmental performance. This research aims to pinpoint the obstacles that hinder the implementation of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) in the F&B industry and to identify the drivers that influence companies' adoption of GSCM initiatives. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviews with 10 individuals from five different F&B SMEs (Companies A, B, C, D, and E) using a qualitative methodology. The data was analyzed using ATLAS.ti version 10, and themes were identified through coding. The study's findings revealed that a lack of knowledge and information sharing presents the most significant barrier to GSCM implementation, as there is insufficient awareness and dissemination of green concepts and practices among SME employees and consumers. Information sharing is crucial for facilitating green activities and promoting collaboration within the supply chain. Additionally, green manufacturing was identified as the most important driver in encouraging environmentally friendly practices among the top five drivers. SME companies need to find a balance between production performance and meeting sustainability requirements. Understanding the barriers and drivers of Malaysian F&B SMEs will enable practitioners to make well-informed decisions regarding GSCM implementation, ultimately enhancing the performance of the F&B industry and ensuring a sustainable food supply.

Decoupling carbon dioxide emissions from economic growth across multiregional supply chains within China

Decoupling carbon dioxide emissions from economic growth is crucial for China’s dual carbon targets and sustainable development. Amidst the backdrop of a new development paradigm emphasizing domestic circulation, the decoupling analysis of embodied carbon emissions and embodied value added among Chinese regions is vital for green multiregional supply chain management to reduce carbon emissions while keeping economic growth. This study first comprehensively explores the decoupling status of carbon emissions and economic growth at the provincial level. Moreover, we focus on the embodied carbon emissions and value added across multiregional supply chains within China during 2012-2017 from both demand and supply perspectives. Results illustrate that the decoupling status of 22 provinces (e.g., Beijing, Shandong, and Xinjiang) displays diversity across different perspectives. Furthermore, the different multi-perspective decoupling statuses of critical sectors (e.g., the production and distribution of electric power and heat power sector) underscore the necessity for multi-side measures to reconcile carbon emission reduction with economic growth. Notably, this study identifies the decoupling status of most interregional pairs (i.e., two regions with carbon emissions and value added flows) are undesirable. It highlights the importance of interregional cooperation for decoupling embodied carbon emissions from value added growth along multiregional supply chains. Our findings can provide valuable insights for policymakers in advancing carbon emissions decoupling from economic expansion to achieve national sustainable development.

On cost and revenue in circular supply chains: Where to close the loop?

Environmental sustainability is a main research topic in supply chain management, including sustainable, green, closed-loop, and circular supply chain management concepts. A distinctive feature in concept evolution is the increase in tiers of a supply chain included in the reuse or recycling loop. However, most research focuses on dyadic or triadic supply chain structures. Where to close the loop, i.e., where to position the recycler, repurposer, remanufacturer, refurbisher, repairer, and/or reuser, in multi-tier supply chains remains largely unanswered. In response, this study assesses cost and revenue sharing by analytically modeling monetary flows in linear and circular multi-tier supply chains using linear and circular supply chain models and cost-profit theory to derive equations describing monetary flows between the supply chain tiers and external entities. Results show that firms upstream of the loop-closer are negatively affected by the reuse of material, which leads to an increasingly negative impact on the total profit of the supply chain the further downstream the loop-closer is positioned. This has important theoretical and practical implications since upstream suppliers may leave circular supply chains for linear ones if no offset mechanism is provided. There is no difference between linear and circular supply chains for tiers downstream of the loop-closer level. This effect is normally not considered in the literature, focusing on shorter supply chain structures where all firms are connected to the loop. The most important findings and implications are: If the loop-closer is positioned near the OEM tier or external customer, the total personnel, assets costs and total profits decrease in the circular supply chain compared to the linear supply chain. If the loop-closer is positioned at the most upstream tier level, the total personnel and assets costs, and total profits increase.

Examining the synergy of green supply chain practices, circular economy, and economic growth in mitigating carbon emissions: Evidence from EU countries

Integrating green supply chain strategies and circular economy (CE) practices holds substantial potential for promoting environmental sustainability and reducing CO2 emissions. This study investigates the synergy between green supply chain practices, circular economy, and economic growth (RGDP) impacts on carbon emissions in 13 selected European Union (EU) countries, using a comprehensive panel dataset from 2000 to 2022. We employ both linear and nonlinear panel ARDL models, along with causality tests, to examine how CO2 emissions respond to changes in green supply chain management (GSCM), real GDP (RGDP), and various recycling practices, including bio-waste, municipal waste, and packaging waste. Our findings reveal that GSCM practices significantly reduce carbon emissions in the long run, while economic growth (RGDP) and municipal waste generation correlate positively with increased CO2 emissions. Interestingly, the nonlinear ARDL model highlights that only recycling packaging waste (RWP) exhibits a positive long-run effect on reducing emissions. Additionally, the method of moments quantile regression (MMQR) analysis indicates that the impact of GSCM is more pronounced at higher quantiles of CO2 emissions, whereas the effect of RGDP on emissions remains inconsistent. These results underscore the crucial need to adopt and enhance green supply chain practices within a circular economy framework to achieve substantial carbon emission reductions, holding significant implications for carbon emissions policies in the selected EU countries.

Adopting Circular Economy Principles: How Do Conflict Management Strategies Help Adopt Smart Technology in Jordanian SMEs?

Smart technology is essential for integrating circular economy principles. This research investigates how conflict management strategies (collaboration, accommodation, avoidance, compromise, and competition) impact the adoption of smart technology, particularly blockchain, in Jordanian SMEs. Additionally, the study explores the moderating role of customer-centric green supply chain management in the relationship between blockchain adoption and circular economy principles. This research addresses a gap in the literature by focusing on Jordanian SMEs, an under-explored context. Data were collected from 421 senior managers, department heads, and executives of Jordanian SMEs, and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), to test the hypotheses and analyze complex relationships. The findings reveal that conflict management strategies are critical in blockchain adoption, with collaboration and compromise emerging as the most influential. Moreover, blockchain adoption positively impacts the implementation of circular economy principles. The moderating effect of customer-centric green supply chain management enhances the sustainability and competitiveness of SMEs through blockchain technology. This research contributes to theory and practice by providing valuable insights into the strategic role of conflict management in driving technological innovation and sustainability within the circular economy framework, particularly in the context of Jordanian SMEs.

Assessment of supply chain efficiency through a sustainable supply chain management strategy in the textile sector

The textile industry processes fiber into yarn or fabric. Problems often faced by textile companies are delays in raw materials, which result in the production and distribution of fabrics not reaching the target, so consumers are unsatisfied and switch to competing companies. In addition, solid waste from the production process is still disposed of, potentially polluting the environment. This study uses the Green Supply Chain Operation Reference (Green SCOR) approach to evaluate the performance of green supply chain management (GSCM) in textile companies located in Yogyakarta. The findings of this study could significantly impact the textile industry as they provide a comprehensive evaluation of GSCM performance. Twenty-two performance indicators have been validated using the Item-Content Validity Index (I-CVI) method and weighted using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. Based on the calculation results, the GSCM performance value is 60.208. Improvement recommendations are given for three indicators that need to be prioritized based on Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) matrix mapping and the actual condition of the company. Improvements can be made by using the Vacuum Flash Evaporation method so that recycled PVA can be reused, using natural materials or alternative auxiliary materials that are more environmentally friendly, increasing cooperation with companies engaged in processing weaving waste or textile waste appropriately and effectively, checking the concentration of starch solution not only when changing construction but every beam change, and forming a checklist form that is filled in for monitoring after machine settings and preparation of the production process.

The Role of Green Risk Management Approaches in Promoting Green and Sustainable Supply Chain Management

This study assesses how advanced technologies like AI, blockchain, and big data facilitate green risk management in the automotive and electronics industries in the EU. When applied to environmental risk assessment, green purchasing, and eco-design activities, these technologies will optimize Economies of Scale (EoS) and contribute to advancing GSSCM in companies. This review uses systematic literature review and thematic analysis and focuses on using various peer-reviewed sources to understand how these technologies support GSSCM and also reveal gaps and challenges such as the integration of innovative waste disposal technologies and sustainable partnership schemes. Research proves that actual assessment of environmental risk is possible through the implementation of AI in risk assessment; On the other hand, blockchain makes sustainable procurement and reverse logistics more transparent. Thus, some problems like high costs, limited time, and problems with the alignment of stakeholder goals remain. It is recommended that these gaps be overcome by innovating, partnering with industries, and implementing policies that can further improve the position of information systems as the foundation of GSSCM. Thus, policymakers have been urged to explore options like grants or subsidies in an attempt to promote the adoption of these technologies as a way of creating a circular economy. Consequently, this research offers insights that may be beneficial for industry managers and policymakers seeking to improve sustainability within the EU automotive and electronics sectors.