Sustainable supply chain management: continuing evolution and future directions

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to update the work of Carter and Easton (2011), by conducting a systematic review of the sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) literature in the primary logistics and supply chain management journals, during the 2010–2018 timeframe. Design/methodology/approach The authors use a systematic literature review (SLR) methodology which follows the methodology employed by Carter and Easton (2011). An evaluation of this methodology, using the Modified AMSTAR criteria, demonstrates a high level of empirical validity. Findings The field of SSCM continues to evolve with changes in substantive focus, theoretical lenses, unit of analysis, methodology and type of analysis. However, there are still abundant future research opportunities, including investigating under-researched topics such as diversity and human rights/working conditions, employing the group as the unit of analysis and better addressing empirical validity and social desirability bias. Research limitations/implications The findings result in prescriptions and a broad agenda to guide future research in the SSCM arena. The final section of the paper provides additional avenues for future research surrounding theory development and decision making. Originality/value This SLR provides a rigorous, methodologically valid review of the continuing evolution of empirical SSCM research over a 28-year time period.

Gender diversity for sustainability management: developing a research agenda from a supply chain perspective

“…However, the lack of research on the social dimension of sustainability in SCM that is often pointed out (e.g. Carter et al 2019;Fritz and Silva 2018;Yawar and Seuring 2017;Seuring and Müller 2008) could be filled by increasing research on GD in SCM. Furthermore, research looking at the impact of GD on SMSC would support the creation of knowledge on the SDGs and their implementation along the SCs, especially SDG no.…”

“…There is hence a need to have a more comprehensive overview of GD impact on SMSC, which includes both the upstream and downstream part of the SC. Indeed, GD is part of social issues in SCM and it is widely acknowleged that research on social issues in SCs is limited compared to the economic or environmental dimensions of sustainability (Carter et al 2019;Fritz and Silva 2018;Yawar and Seuring 2017). GD is an important field of study in other sciences, such as economics (Duflo 2012) and geography (Little and Panelli 2003), which highlights the importance of the topic for transdisciplinary research.…”

Turning German automotive supply chains into sponsors for sustainability

“…Notwithstanding the growing number of SSCM publications (Carter et al 2019), our current knowledge on SSCM implementation as a process of organisational change remains shallow (Touboulic and Walker 2015;Huq, Chowdhury, and Klassen 2016); however, building on Lewin's (1947) change model, one can identify several studies that provided examples for individual CM efforts taken in firms to prepare, execute, and stabilise sustainable supply chain practices (Benn, Edwards, and Williams 2014). Turker and Altuntas (2014), for instance, found that firms often relied on the formulation of a 'Code of Conduct' to specify their sustainability demands as well as on supplier monitoring or auditing activities when accessing their SSCM progress (see also Villena and Gioia [2018] or Zimon, Tyan, and Sroufe [2019]).…”

Impact of Industrial SMEs in the Environment Conservation : A Systematic Mapping Study

“…• Informal: The owners and managers train themselves in environmental care through websites, books, magazines. Finally, for RQ4 Level of environmental knowledge of employees of industrial SMEs, the following under the extraction criteria was considered C6-C7: 6) C6: Phase(s), on which the studies are based: one or more eco-efficient processes through the environmental training of its staff [25]:…”