Factors Inhibiting Green Supply Chain Management Initiatives in a South African Pharmaceutical Supply Chain

The Fourth Industrial Revolution and increased environmental awareness is forcing business leaders to adapt to the changing environment in functional areas such as the supply chain. This chapter focuses on the role of green supply chain management in achieving a sustainable competitive advantage, exploring the factors that affect green supply chain management initiatives at a leading pharmaceutical manufacturer in Durban. The study used a descriptive and exploratory case study approach in which in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 participants. Content analysis was used to analyze the collected data. The findings of the study reveal that the main factors affecting green supply chain management initiatives include high costs, lack of government support, and pressure to reduce selling prices. Since a limited number of studies have been conducted on this topic, the findings and recommendations of this work contribute to the existing body of research knowledge.