Environmental alignment between logistics service providers and shippers – a supply chain perspective

Abstract

PurposeVarious suggested paths for greening logistics and supply chains often address the specific perspectives of single supply chain actors. Drawing on stakeholder theory, the purpose of this paper is to develop a deeper understanding of the alignment between logistics service providers (LSPs) and shippers in the context of adopting more environmentally sustainable logistics practices.Design/methodology/approachWith a case study approach, a dual perspective is taken in which both LSPs and shippers were researched. The cases comprise eight LSPs and six shipper companies in Sweden, Italy and Ireland. Information was first analysed in relation to levels of environmental awareness, customer requirements and provider offerings and critical success factors (CSFs) and inhibitors. In a second step, the findings were analysed using stakeholder theory.FindingsLSPs demonstrate higher ambition levels and more concrete offerings compared to shippers' requirements for green logistics services. Paradoxically, customers are an important CSF and also an inhibitor for both LSPs and shippers. Both LSPs and shippers perceive financial factors and senior management priorities as important CSFs. The application of stakeholder theory helps to illuminate the importance of the many secondary stakeholders vs that of one or a relatively small number of primary stakeholders.Originality/valueThe three-dimensional analysis of environmental alignment between LSPs and shippers reinforces existing knowledge and provides new insights. A novel use of stakeholder theory in a supply chain context underlines its usefulness in research of this kind.

Unravelling collaboration mechanisms for green logistics: the perspectives of shippers and logistics service providers

“…Another gap should be stressed. Shippers and LSPs represent entirely different actors, as they operate in different industries and political climates (Selviaridis and Spring, 2007) and apply GLPs for different strategic reasons (Huge-Brodin et al, 2020). LSPs, for instance, possess the competencies for developing GLPs (Colicchia et al, 2013), and apply them to attract environmentally conscious shippers (Salln€ as, 2016).…”

“…green modal shifts, alternative fuels, green warehousing) is to a large extent dependent on the relationships formed with, and the actions made by, shippers (i.e. logistics buyers) (Huge-Brodin et al , 2020). Consequently, a substantial share of responsibility lies with shippers as well, since they are the ones deciding which LSP to operate and setting the demands for the GLPs to be deployed (Jazairy, 2020; Wolf and Seuring, 2010).…”

Sustainable closed-loop supply chain network under uncertainty: a response to the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Sustainable supply chain network design (SSCND) is defined as simultaneous considerations of economic, environmental, and social impacts for the operations of supply chains and logistics with regard to information management (Ghadami et al 2021 ), facility location planning, flow of products, and inventory management (Seuring and Müller 2008 ). Together with all dimensions of sustainability, establishing a return flow for the reproduction of waste products is an issue that needs to be addressed (Huge-Brodin et al 2020 ). So, an interesting and valuable research that has hardly been addressed in the recent studies is the modeling of sustainability dimensions in an integrated forward and reverse logistic.…”

Green Closed-Loop Supply Chain Network under the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Supply chain network design (SCND) [1][2][3][4][5] is defined as providing a conceptual network for the operations of supply chains and logistics [6][7][8][9][10] with regards to information management [11][12][13][14][15], facility location planning [16][17][18][19][20], flow of products and inventory management [21][22][23][24][25]. A common method for modeling the SCND is to consider the forward logistics in which the flow of products is simulated from suppliers to the customers [26][27][28].…”

“…An efficient design for the SCND model indirectly affects the profitability of companies by reducing risks [7], improving public images [15,18], persuading nongovernmental groups and media, satisfying activists' requirements [13,34] and maintaining customer loyalty [27]. Although there are many studies in the area of SCND, the ventilator production which has a key factor in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic has not been studied [17]. In addition, recent studies in the area of COVID-19 response confirm that different health strategies have been used by different countries to battle COVID-19 (e.g., social distancing, wearing masks, working remotely, reduction of certain activities, etc.)…”