Integrating sustainability performance measurement into logistics and supply networks: A multi-methodological approach

Abstract

This paper seeks to address the way in which economic and environmental performance can be measured simultaneously, taking a multi-methodological approach to the logistics and supply chain management field in order to address sustainability challenges. The multimethodological approach relies on the merits of different methodologies, provides more flexibility in tackling problems under investigation, and tolerates inaccurate estimation of parameters during the process. An illustrative case study (Westgate Ports) is undertaken in Australia in order to examine the ways in which the multi-methodological approach is applied, and how it assists during the decision making process in the adoption of green practices for freight transport logistics. The case validates the applicability and usefulness of the approach and highlights comparative outputs of costs and carbon emissions in freight transport logistics. Rail transport is identified as giving the opportunity to study the short-2-distance container and freight distribution network, although initially this does not appear to be the most cost-effective option. This study finds that it is better to simultaneously consider performance indicators from different perspectives and to integrate them into one model of system measurement in order for corporations to improve their sustainability performance.

The impacts of carbon (CO2) emissions and environmental research and development (R&D) investment on firm performance

“…This entails the complex task of providing better outcomes in the short-term while seeking to minimize and maintain the natural resources required in the present and for the future. Accordingly, corporate environmental management measures the extent to which a firm embraces economic and environmental factors in its operations, and ultimately the impact they exert on the firm and on the environment (Lee and Wu, 2014;Wood, 2010).…”

“…Traditionally, business leaders believe that an additional financial burden and added costs for firms are constraints in the reduction of Contents lists available at ScienceDirect journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ijpe carbon emissions, and this perception seems to dominate in many business sectors (Pinkse and Kolk, 2010;Weinhofer and Hoffmann, 2010;Lee and Wu, 2014). However, some corporations, including leading firms such as Panasonic, have begun to focus on green and sustainability management.…”

Technical, environmental and eco-efficiency measurement for supplier selection: An extension and application of data envelopment analysis

“…The successful implementation of sustainable or green supply chain management depends significantly on the selection of the 'right' suppliers from the perspective of sustainability (Seuring and Müller, 2008;Lee and Wu, 2014). Supplier selection is the process of selecting the 'right' strategic suppliers to the focal company to increase competitive advantage (Baskaran et al, 2012;Bai and Sarkis, 2010;Lee and Kim, 2011).…”

What Makes Management Control Information Useful in Buyer–Supplier Relationships?

“…Globalization and outsourcing have provided the means for companies to create vast networks of suppliers, distributors, logistics and transportation providers as they search for the efficiency promised by supply chains (Lee and Wu 2014). The combination of collaboration among firms with management control systems is considered a source of creation value in relationships and alignment strategies (Kruis and Widener 2016;Ramon et al 2017).…”