A Theoretical Framework on Sustainable Supply Chains: Barriers to Measuring Performance

The direction for the construction of a sustainable supply chain concept has an evolution and contribution of multiple disciplines that have been elaborated by academic and business bias. From this point on, defining a concept of this subject represents an issue that demands an interpretative effort, since several factors and theoretical approaches influence this category. The objective of this article is to demarcate a theoretical framework on sustainable supply chains and relate it to the barriers present in the measurement of sustainable performance. The method applied in this assessment combines systematic literature review, qualitative analysis of content and bibliometrics, through interconnected steps, which allow a detailing of the dimensions and under dimensions of the sustainability in the supply chain and the identification of the barriers that are associated with the measurement of performance. The material considered is supported through theoretical and empirical studies, which approached the formulation of the concepts and their applicability at different levels of the supply chain. This allows the content analysis to demarcate certain stages of development and the different theoretical approaches that respond and assist the concept. The results contribute to the definition of a roadmap to measure of sustainable performance, an issue that is the basis of future studies over this theme.

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Applying Industry 4.0 technologies in the COVID–19 sustainable chains

International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management ◽

10.1108/ijppm-03-2020-0137 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Carina Acioli ◽

Annibal Scavarda ◽

Augusto Reis

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

Supply Chains ◽

Industry 4.0 ◽

Supply Chain Performance ◽

Chain Process ◽

Sustainable Supply Chain ◽

Content Type ◽

Sustainable Performance ◽

The Social ◽

New Research

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is 1) to investigate the effects on the crucial Industry 4.0 technological innovations that interact between the real and virtual worlds and that are applied in the sustainable supply chain process; 2) to contribute to the identification of the opportunities, the challenges and the gaps that will support the new research study developments and 3) to analyze the impact of the Industry 4.0 technologies as facilitators of the sustainable supply chain performance in the midst of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).Design/methodology/approachThis research is performed through a bibliographic review in the electronic databases of the Emerald Insight, the Scopus and the Web of Science, considering the main scientific publications on the subject.FindingsThe bibliographic search results in 526 articles, followed by two sequential filters for deleting the duplicate articles (resulting in 487 articles) and for selecting the most relevant articles (resulting in 150 articles).Practical implicationsThis article identifies the opportunities and the challenges focused on the emerging Industry 4.0 theme. The opportunities can contribute to the sustainable performance of the supply chains and their territories. The Industry 4.0 can also generate challenges like the social inequalities related to the position of the man in the labor market by replacing the human workforce with the machines. Therefore, the man-machine relationship in the Industry 4.0 era is analyzed as a gap in the literature. Therefore, as a way to fill this gap, the authors of this article suggest the exploration of the research focused on the Society 5.0. Also known as “super-smart society,” this recent theme appeared in Japan in April 2016. According to Fukuda (2020), in addition to the focus on the technological development, the Society 5.0 also aims at the quality of life and the social challenge resolutions.Originality/valueThis article contributes to the analysis of the Industry 4.0 technologies as facilitators in the sustainable supply chain performance. It addresses the impacts of the Industry 4.0 technologies applied to the supply chains in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it analyzes the research gaps and limitations found in the literature. The result of this study can add value and stimulate new research studies related to the application of the Industry 4.0 technologies as facilitators in the supply chain sustainable performance. It can encourage the studies related to the COVID-19 impacts on the sustainable supply chains, and it can promote the research development on the relationship among the man, the machine and the labor in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

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Recent Developments in Green Supply Chain Management

Green Supply Chain Management for Sustainable Business Practice - Advances in Logistics, Operations, and Management Science ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-0635-5.ch007 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 191-217 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jay R. Brown ◽

Maxim A. Bushuev ◽

Andrey A. Kretinin ◽

Alfred L. Guiffrida

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

Supply Chain Management ◽

Supply Chains ◽

Decision Models ◽

Sustainable Supply Chain ◽

Sustainable Business ◽

Chain Management ◽

Sustainable Supply Chains ◽

Recent Developments ◽

Day To Day Operations

In today's supply chains, green and sustainable business practices have become an integral part of long-term strategy as well as the day-to-day operations, and sourcing and logistics play fundamental roles in ensuring the success of sustainable supply chains. In this chapter, we review recent research on three classes of decision models that are used in the logistics and sourcing functions of sustainable supply chains. Specifically, we examine and summarize recent developments in sustainable decision models for supplier selection, inventory lot-sizing, and last-mile delivery. Our review of the green and sustainable features found in these three models results in a single-source consolidation of models used in sustainable sourcing and logistics. This review may prove useful to researchers who focus on sustainable supply chain management and to practitioners who seek to expand their toolkit of models for the management and control of their supply chain.

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Product Deletion and Sustainable Supply Chains

Global Perspectives on Green Business Administration and Sustainable Supply Chain Management - Advances in Logistics, Operations, and Management Science ◽

10.4018/978-1-7998-2173-1.ch001 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-15 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Qingyun Zhu ◽

Joseph Sarkis

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

Supply Chain Management ◽

Supply Chains ◽

Portfolio Management ◽

Product Portfolio ◽

Chain Process ◽

Sustainable Supply Chain ◽

Chain Management ◽

Sustainable Supply Chains ◽

Design And Manufacture

Products and their associated material, capital, and information are critical flows within supply chains. Supply chain management needs to facilitate product portfolio management. Some example activities include material sourcing, product design and manufacture, product delivery and transportation, product usage, and service. Closing the supply-chain loop, especially for sustainable supply chains, include end-of-life disposal and repurposing activities. Sustainable supply chain development typically focuses on three major dimensions of organizational competitiveness, economic, social, and environmental. Organizations make product deletion continuously. These decisions can profoundly contribute to sustainability. Alternatively, sustainability performance of various supply chain process and product or material flows may also be strategic product deletion reasons. This chapter will review the integration of product deletion with sustainable supply chain management. It will entail the impact of product deletion on sustainable supply chains.

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Multi-stakeholder initiatives in sustainable supply chains: Putting sustainability performance in context

Elem Sci Anth ◽

10.1525/elementa.262 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Cory Searcy

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

Supply Chains ◽

Conceptual Framework ◽

Future Research ◽

Sustainable Supply Chain ◽

Sustainable Supply Chains ◽

Economic Thresholds ◽

Starting Point ◽

Enforcement Mechanisms ◽

Multi Stakeholder

The purpose of this article is to explore the role of multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs) in sustainable supply chains. I argue that MSIs are needed to help establish and institutionalize the natural and social thresholds in which a sustainable supply chain must operate. While a multitude of MSIs relevant to supply chains already exist, they do not yet adequately address sustainability thresholds. Building on theory and literature, I elaborate on four interrelated roles for MSIs in this area: (1) providing learning platforms, (2) developing standards, (3) developing enforcement mechanisms, and (4) issuing labels and certifications. All four roles emphasize the need for supply chains to operate within the thresholds set by nature and society. Staying within thresholds is what distinguishes between sustainable and unsustainable supply chains. The four roles form part of a broader conceptual framework outlining a way forward for MSIs in sustainable supply chains. Different MSIs could address one or more of these roles. I argue that all MSIs must be developed with special attention to their input and output legitimacy. Stakeholders from both within and beyond the supply chain must be involved in developing and implementing a MSI for it to be viewed as legitimate. I note that the conceptual framework presented here is a starting point. It would benefit from further testing and refinement. For example, future work could add further specificity to the four roles I discuss. Future research could also focus on integrating economic thresholds for sustainable supply chains into the framework.

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Leveraging Digital Approaches for Transparency in Sustainable Supply Chains: A Conceptual Paper

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12156129 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (15) ◽

pp. 6129

Author(s):

Frank Ebinger ◽

Bramwel Omondi

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

Supply Chains ◽

Data Driven ◽

Sustainable Supply Chain ◽

Current Application ◽

Chain Management ◽

Sustainable Supply Chains ◽

Conceptual Paper ◽

And Control ◽

Trial Phase

With the growing global interdependence of companies, their scope of responsibility for the environmental, social, and human rights impacts associated with their activities is also growing. In this context, companies are increasingly held accountable for social and ecological issues that lie within the sphere of action of their suppliers and sub-suppliers. They are thus faced with the challenge of meeting these demands for transparency, traceability, and compliance with standards in their Supply Chains (SCs). Based on the theoretical framework of Sustainable Supply Chain Transparency (SSCT) in Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM), this conceptual article aims at initiating the discussion on digitalization in SSCM. Therefore, a heuristical research framework, based on relevant fields in the management of sustainability oriented transparency (governance, cooperation and partner selection, traceability/tracking, and strategic and operational risk assessment) is developed. In relation to these fields, consequently, data-driven digital approaches are identified to which potentials for SSCT and control can be attributed. This initial analysis of existing digital approaches already shows that the market is developing dynamically, but is driven more by individual initiatives. In many cases, the approaches used so far are still in the trial phase or offer only limited solutions. Therefore, this paper contributes by giving an overview of the current application of the digitalization approaches in SSCM pinning our discussion on SSCT dimensions.

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Accounting Perspective for Sustainable Supply Chain Management

Advances in Logistics, Operations, and Management Science - Ethical and Sustainable Supply Chain Management in a Global Context ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-8970-9.ch009 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 130-151

Author(s):

Mehpare Karahan Gokmen

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

Supply Chains ◽

Stakeholder Engagement ◽

Sustainability Assessment ◽

Raw Material ◽

Sustainable Supply Chain ◽

Sustainable Supply Chains ◽

External Stakeholders ◽

Sustainability Reports ◽

Sustainability Practices

Growing interest in sustainability has gained momentum due to increased globalization. Especially the proliferation of international trade has reinforced the importance of sustainability in supply chains. Internal and external stakeholders are also willing to be informed about these sustainability practices. Accounting provides a proper communication media with sustainability reports. Hence, accounting ensures its relevance in preparation of reports with the inclusion of required information. Additionally, uniformity is brought among sustainability reports that increase comparability and understandability of them. The aim of this chapter is to reveal how companies represent their sustainable supply chain practices in sustainability reports. At the result of the research on companies in Borsa Istanbul it is found that preference for local suppliers, sustainability assessment for suppliers, raw material sustainability, product safety and quality and stakeholder engagement are commonly represented practices that are related with sustainable supply chains.

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Framing sustainability performance of supply chains with multidimensional indicators

Supply Chain Management An International Journal ◽

10.1108/scm-12-2013-0436 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 242-257 ◽

Cited By ~ 157

Author(s):

Mohsen Varsei ◽

Claudine Soosay ◽

Behnam Fahimnia ◽

Joseph Sarkis

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

Supply Chain Management ◽

Supply Chains ◽

Social Performance ◽

Sustainable Supply Chain ◽

Chain Management ◽

Content Type ◽

Sustainable Supply Chain Management ◽

Sustainable Supply Chains ◽

Trade Offs

Purpose – This paper aims to provide a framework which can assist focal companies in the development of sustainable supply chains. Sustainable development from an industrial perspective has extended beyond organisational boundaries to incorporate a supply chain approach. Design/methodology/approach – The literature related to sustainable supply chain management is reviewed by incorporating concepts from four organisational theories, including the resource-based, institutional, stakeholder and social network perspectives, to illustrate key drivers and enablers of sustainability initiatives in the supply chain. A conceptual multidimensional framework is then developed that can be used for the initial assessment of supply chain sustainability. Findings – Development and assessment of sustainability in supply chains are being increasingly incorporated as part of supply chain management today. This paper presents a multidimensional framework which can serve as a tool for research scholars and supply chain practitioners in identifying and assessing various economic, environmental and social performance indicators. Research limitations/implications – The framework and approach presented are conceptual, and require additional and broader validation. Additional theories, at differing levels, such as individual behaviour theory, should be utilised to further enhance and evaluate the framework. Developing and integrating analytical models for prescriptive and practical supply chain solutions can enhance the applicability of the framework. Practical implications – The framework adopts a multidimensional approach to assessing and designing sustainable supply chains, as it not only incorporates economic and environmental dimensions but also provides a practical approach to quantifying and embedding the social dimension into decision-making. The framework helps industry practitioners in initial exploration of trade-offs among economic, environmental and social performance of supply chains, which, in turn, could assist them in creating a business case for sustainability. Originality/value – The paper is one of few studies that incorporates some of the key aspects of all three dimensions of sustainability in a single overarching framework for supply chains and offers significant theoretical contribution and implications for sustainable supply chain management.

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Impact of Implementing ISO 14001 Standard Requirements for Sustainable Supply Chain Management in the Textile Industry

Fibres and Textiles in Eastern Europe ◽

10.5604/01.3001.0013.4462 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 27 (6(138)) ◽

pp. 8-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Dominik Zimon ◽

Peter Madzik

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

Supply Chains ◽

Textile Industry ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Research Process ◽

Iso 14001 ◽

Extensive Literature ◽

Sustainable Supply Chain ◽

Sustainable Supply Chains ◽

Iso 14001 Standard

The main objective of the study was to determine the effect of the implementation of the requirements of the ISO 14001 standard on creating sustainable supply chains in the textile industry. The research process was conducted in 2018. It was preceded by an extensive literature review of sustainable development and quality management as well as the supply chain. The research tool was a questionnaire sent to top management representatives of organisations operating in south-eastern Poland and Slovakia who possess a certified system according to ISO 14001. However, analysis of the results does not allow to give clear answers to the research questions. Although the majority of respondents noted a positive impact of the implementation of ISO 14001 on improving environmental actions in the supply chain, its impact on the creation of sustainable supply chains is not so obvious. Based on our research, organisations will be able to more consciously decide on the implementation of the ISO 14001 standard requirements.

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Recent Developments in Green Supply Chain Management

Supply Chain and Logistics Management ◽

10.4018/978-1-7998-0945-6.ch052 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1115-1135

Author(s):

Jay R. Brown ◽

Maxim A. Bushuev ◽

Andrey A. Kretinin ◽

Alfred L. Guiffrida

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

Supply Chain Management ◽

Supply Chains ◽

Decision Models ◽

Sustainable Supply Chain ◽

Sustainable Business ◽

Chain Management ◽

Sustainable Supply Chains ◽

Recent Developments ◽

Day To Day Operations

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Creating a Sustainable Supply Chain in Response to Unstable Market Expectations

Sustainable Logistics and Strategic Transportation Planning - Advances in Logistics, Operations, and Management Science ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-0001-8.ch008 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 165-189

Author(s):

Halina Maria Brdulak ◽

Anna Janina Brdulak

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

Supply Chains ◽

Generation X ◽

Generation Y ◽

Creative Thinking ◽

Management Model ◽

Sustainable Supply Chain ◽

Sustainable Supply Chains ◽

Development Direction ◽

The World

This paper aims to indicate a possible development direction for enterprises and sustainable supply chains under circumstances of uncertain economic situation in the world. On the basis of their own research and descriptions of specific examples, the authors think that future strategies will be more oriented on the use of “soft” competences of employees. This direction is confirmed by the quoted research conducted by independent companies. For the purposes of building the strategy of sustainable supply chains it is necessary to engage appropriate leaders who, to a larger degree than previously, will be able to motivate and encourage employees to creative thinking. An additional challenge is presented by generation Y and Z entering the labour market and their co-operation with generation X or even Baby Boomer. The challenged is met, in the authors' opinion, by consistent implementation of the CSR concept providing the basis for creating Lean Management model.

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