sustainability-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2020) | Viewed by 74135

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Business, Flensburg University of Applied Sciences, Flensburg, Germany
Interests: sustainable supply chain management; supply chain performance management; production economics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Flensburg University of Applied Sciences, School of Business, Flensburg, Germany
Interests: Sustainable Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Performance Management, Production Economics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Westcoast University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Management, Heide, Germany
Interests: Logistics Social Responsibility, Sustainable Supply Chain Management, Dynamics in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainability has become a key factor in operations and supply chain management (OSCM). Recent studies have shown that in the globalized world failure to manage (multi-tier) supply chains responsibly can negatively affect firm reputation and financial performance. Due to this, the triple bottom line (TBL) of sustainability has to be taken into account when analyzing and improving operations and related managerial decision-making considering environmental and social criteria (Sarkis and Zhu, 2018; Sodhi and Tang, 2018). Thus, the complexity of related tasks has grown considerably such that the implementation of sustainable policies in supply chains is a significant challenge for businesses (Oelze et al., 2016; Oelze, 2017; Gouda and Saranga, 2018).

Stimulated by these circumstances, research on sustainable OSCM has become highly relevant as indicated by a growing number of formal models (Brandenburg et al., 2014), reference frames (Ansari and Kant, 2017) and empirical studies (Meixell and Luoma, 2015; Geng et al., 2017). However, the scientific area still emerges and various directions offer potential for future research. Here, a shift to industry-specific studies and the inclusion of multiple supply chain actors bears the opportunity to refine existing models and frameworks as well as to inform theoretical underpinnings.

This special issue calls for research contributions that elaborate on sustainable OSCM. Theoretical contributions that propose mathematical approaches or conceptual frameworks that model the complex interplay of factors in sustainable OSCM are welcome. Moreover, the call also addresses empirical studies to extend existing / build new theoretical insights on complex and interrelated sustainable demands or to illustrate the application of best practices and routines for sustainable OSCM.

The guest editors invite researchers from academia, but also decision-makers from industry and policy-makers from governmental organizations, to submit theoretical and applied research papers. This call is deliberately kept broad in order to address a wide range of topics and methods. However, authors are highly encouraged to choose a clear focus, e.g. on a specific topic or a particular application context, in their submitted manuscripts rather than handing in general studies. Suitable topics include but are not limited to the following:

  • Supply chain sustainability in presence of risk and uncertainty.
  • Measuring and managing sustainability performance in supply chains.
  • Identification and implementation of best practices, routines and capabilities for sustainable OSCM.
  • The interplay of decision-makers, stakeholders and shareholders in sustainable supply chains.
  • Sustainable OSCM in specific application contexts or industry sectors.

References

Ansari ZN, Kant R (2017): Exploring the framework development status for sustainability in supply chain management: A systematic literature synthesis and future research directions. Business Strategy and the Environment 26: 873-892.

Brandenburg M, Govindan K, Sarkis J, Seuring S (2014): Quantitative models for sustainable supply chain management: Developments and directions. European Journal of Operational Research 233: 299-312.

Geng R, Mansouri SA, Aktas E (2017): The relationship between green supply chain management and performance: A meta-analysis of empirical evidences in Asian emerging economies. International Journal of Production Economics 183: 245-258.

Gouda SK, Saranga H (2018): Sustainable supply chains for supply chain sustainability: impact of sustainability efforts on supply chain risk. International Journal of Production Research, DOI: 10.1080/00207543.2018.1456695.

Meixell MJ, Luoma P (2015): Stakeholder pressure in sustainable supply chain management: A systematic review. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management 45: 69-89.

Oelze N (2017): Sustainable supply chain management implementation – enablers and barriers in the textile industry. Sustainability 9(8): 1435.

Oelze N, Hoejmose SU, Habisch A, Millington A (2016): Sustainable development in supply chain management: The role of organizational learning for policy implementation. Business Strategy and the Environment 25: 241-260.

Sarkis J, Zhu Q (2018): Environmental sustainability and production: taking the road less travelled. International Journal of Production Research 56: 734-759.

Sodhi MS, Tang CS (2018): Corporate social sustainability in supply chains: a thematic analysis of the literature. International Journal of Production Research 56: 882-901.

Prof. Dr. Marcus Brandenburg
Prof. Dr. Nelly Oelze
Prof. Dr. Tim Gruchmann
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainable operations
  • sustainable supply chains
  • closed-loop supply chain management
  • environmental sustainability
  • social sustainability

Published Papers (13 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

26 pages, 2016 KiB  
Article
When Sustainability Becomes an Order Winner: Linking Supply Uncertainty and Sustainable Supply Chain Strategies
by Federica Ciccullo, Margherita Pero, Jonathan Gosling, Maria Caridi and Laura Purvis
Sustainability 2020, 12(15), 6009; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12156009 - 27 Jul 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4910
Abstract
This study investigates how to implement a sustainable supply chain strategy by choosing a set of sustainable practices while considering the strategic priority assigned to sustainability within a company’s competitive strategy (i.e., an order winner (OW), market qualifier (MQ) or desirable attribute (DA)). [...] Read more.
This study investigates how to implement a sustainable supply chain strategy by choosing a set of sustainable practices while considering the strategic priority assigned to sustainability within a company’s competitive strategy (i.e., an order winner (OW), market qualifier (MQ) or desirable attribute (DA)). Therefore, two research questions arise: RQ1. What are the sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices adopted by companies under the different levels of priority assigned to sustainability (i.e., OW, MQ and DA)? and RQ2. How does supply uncertainty influence the choices regarding the SSCM practices to adopt or vice versa? We addressed these questions through a two-step methodology that includes 10 exploratory case studies in different industries and four explanatory cases in the furniture industry. Six research propositions are developed, and we show how some sustainable practices are common to all companies in the sample, while others are only applicable when sustainability is an MQ or an OW. Moreover, in contrast to the suggestion in the literature, we observed that companies with sustainability as an OW implement sustainability practices despite increasing exposure to supply uncertainty. However, when sustainability is a DA or an MQ, companies might implement sustainable practices with the aim of reducing supply uncertainty rather than for sustainability goals. The cases show that investment in these practices can trigger a transition towards a situation in which sustainability is an OW. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management)
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 312 KiB  
Article
Motivating Factors for Implementing Apparel Certification Schemes—A Sustainable Supply Chain Management Perspective
by Nelly Oelze, Tim Gruchmann and Marcus Brandenburg
Sustainability 2020, 12(12), 4823; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12124823 - 12 Jun 2020
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4877
Abstract
The motivations for clothing companies to implement dedicated certification schemes as sustainability practices has received limited attention in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) research so far. Therefore, it is important to understand how different rationales for the implementation of certification schemes have developed [...] Read more.
The motivations for clothing companies to implement dedicated certification schemes as sustainability practices has received limited attention in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) research so far. Therefore, it is important to understand how different rationales for the implementation of certification schemes have developed in the past because they considerably influence the overall success of sustainability management efforts. This paper picks up on this gap and presents the results of an in-depth comparative case study drawing on interviews conducted with five managers of three companies from the clothing sector in 2018 and abductive content analysis. By applying such a qualitative approach, this study explores motivations and benefits as well as elaborates on the implementation of certification schemes in apparel supply chains. It outlines that certification in the clothing sector is driven by strategic factors, marketing considerations, and information considering sustainability aspects. The study also shows that certification schemes may strengthen the marketing and competitive position of clothing companies as well as sustainability awareness in textile and apparel supply chains in general. Finally, a framework conceptualized from the findings of the interviews presents relevant SSCM practices in the clothing industry. Therefore, the present study contributes to theory building in SSCM by confirming and extending previous research on the implementation of certification schemes for sustainability, as well as to practice by examining reasons to apply certification schemes and potential performance outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management)
Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 1035 KiB  
Article
Social Sustainability Empowering the Economic Sustainability in the Global Apparel Supply Chain
by Jayani Ishara Sudusinghe and Stefan Seuring
Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 2595; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12072595 - 25 Mar 2020
Cited by 35 | Viewed by 6235
Abstract
Scholarly discussion on the amalgamation of sustainability and supply chain management has been growing in the last decade. However, an integrated social and economic sustainability performance measurement in supply chains is an emerging avenue in the Sustainable Supply Chain Management discourse. Hence, the [...] Read more.
Scholarly discussion on the amalgamation of sustainability and supply chain management has been growing in the last decade. However, an integrated social and economic sustainability performance measurement in supply chains is an emerging avenue in the Sustainable Supply Chain Management discourse. Hence, the purpose of this study is to understand how socially sustainable practices affect economic sustainability performances in supply chains. A survey questionnaire and a conceptual framework were developed to explore this relationship. Survey data collected based on responses from 119 managers in the Sri Lankan apparel-manufacturing sector was analyzed using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling. We observed that the practices conducted by apparel manufacturers ensuring the social sustainability of the human factor inside the company (Internally influencing Social Sustainability Practices-ISSP) and in society (Externally Influencing Social Sustainability Practices-ESSP) create a positive impact on the economic performance. However, the effect produced by ISSP was higher compared to the ESSP. This study is based on a single developing country and, thus, should be extended to other countries considering the different institution environments when studying this interrelation between the social and economic sustainability dimensions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management)
Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 1689 KiB  
Article
Trust, Control, and Value Creation in Strategic Networks of SMEs
by Fabio Antoldi and Daniele Cerrato
Sustainability 2020, 12(5), 1873; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12051873 - 02 Mar 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3217
Abstract
This paper investigates the role of trust and control in networks of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with a focus on both their direct and interaction effects on value creation. To delve into the interplay between trust and control, we unpack control mechanisms [...] Read more.
This paper investigates the role of trust and control in networks of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with a focus on both their direct and interaction effects on value creation. To delve into the interplay between trust and control, we unpack control mechanisms into three different forms: output, process, and social control. Our hypotheses are tested on a sample of 58 Italian SME networks based on formal agreements. Results show that the competitiveness and sustainability of inter-firm networks require trust-based relationships among entrepreneurs. Additionally, the adoption of output control mechanisms reinforces the positive link between trust and value creation, whereas a substitution effect exists between trust and process control and, with limited significance, between trust and social control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management)
Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 2634 KiB  
Article
Transparency for Multi-Tier Sustainable Supply Chain Management: A Case Study of a Multi-tier Transparency Approach for SSCM in the Automotive Industry
by Iain J. Fraser, Martin Müller and Julia Schwarzkopf
Sustainability 2020, 12(5), 1814; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12051814 - 28 Feb 2020
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 12936
Abstract
Sustainability in supply chain management (SSCM) has become established in both academia and increasingly in practice. As stakeholders continue to require focal companies (FCs) to take more responsibility for their entire supply chains (SCs), this has led to the development of multi-tier SSCM [...] Read more.
Sustainability in supply chain management (SSCM) has become established in both academia and increasingly in practice. As stakeholders continue to require focal companies (FCs) to take more responsibility for their entire supply chains (SCs), this has led to the development of multi-tier SSCM (MT-SSCM). Much extant research has focused on simple supply chains from certain industries. Recently, a comprehensive traceability for sustainability (TfS) framework has been proposed, which outlines how companies could achieve MT-SSCM through traceability. Our research builds on this and responds to calls for cases from the automotive industry by abductively analysing a multi-tier supply chain (MT-SC) transparency case study. This research analyses a raw material SC that is particularly renowned for sustainability problems—the cobalt supply chain for electric vehicles—and finds that the extant literature has oversimplified the operationalisation of transparency in MT-SSCM. We compare the supply chain maps of the MT-SC before and after an auditing and mapping project to demonstrate the transparency achieved. Our findings identify challenges to the operationalisation of SC transparency and we outline how FCs might set to increase MT-SC transparency for sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management)
Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 2453 KiB  
Article
Research on the Pricing Strategy of “Internet +” Recycling Platforms in a Two-Sided Network Environment
by Xiaodong Zhu and Wei Li
Sustainability 2020, 12(3), 1001; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12031001 - 30 Jan 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3160
Abstract
“Internet +” platform recycling is an emerging business model with two-sided market characteristics. How to meet the needs of consumers and manufacturers and how to formulate a reasonable two-sided pricing structure have become challenges faced by recycling trading platforms. Based on the theory [...] Read more.
“Internet +” platform recycling is an emerging business model with two-sided market characteristics. How to meet the needs of consumers and manufacturers and how to formulate a reasonable two-sided pricing structure have become challenges faced by recycling trading platforms. Based on the theory of a two-sided market, the pricing mechanism of a monopoly platform and a model of competing platforms are studied. Consequently, a sensitivity analysis and comparison analysis are conducted, giving a pricing decision and the optimal profit of closed-loop supply chain systems. Finally, through a numerical simulation analysis, the impacts of the inter-group network externalities, service differentiation, and the matching efficiency on e-waste recycling prices and profits are obtained. The result indicates that the influences of inter-group network externalities on monopoly platforms and competing platforms are different; thus, platforms should choose pricing strategies according to their own market position. The pricing of the two types of platform is inversely proportional to the time-sensitive coefficient of the two platforms, while it is directly proportional to the matching efficiency. The improvement of the differentiation of service will increase the pricing of the platform for single-homing manufacturers without affecting the multi-homing consumers, and profits will increase accordingly. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management)
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1255 KiB  
Article
Optimal Decisions and Coordination in a Socially Responsible Supply Chain with Irresponsibility Risk
by Qian Wang, Yongguang Zhong and Guangye Xu
Sustainability 2019, 11(24), 7252; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11247252 - 17 Dec 2019
Viewed by 2405
Abstract
Many companies make some stakeholders pleased but others cannot. To help understand why, it is very important to study the coexistence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate social irresponsibility (CSI). This paper considers a manufacturer with irresponsibility risk in a centralized and [...] Read more.
Many companies make some stakeholders pleased but others cannot. To help understand why, it is very important to study the coexistence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate social irresponsibility (CSI). This paper considers a manufacturer with irresponsibility risk in a centralized and decentralized socially responsible supply chain, and uses a Stackelberg game to investigate the optimal policies on price and CSR investment level. This paper also examines the influence of consumer responsibility awareness and CSR investment efficiency on the decision behaviors of the manufacturer and retailer. Moreover, we developed a new mechanism to coordinate the decentralized supply chain system, which consists of the retailer participating in CSR and revenue sharing. Our results indicate that the manufacturer’s and retailer’s optimal decisions may not be significantly influenced by consumer responsibility awareness, but the effect of CSR investment efficiency is significant. Our results also show that if the degree of retailer participation and the proportion of revenue sharing are of moderate size, then not only can the contract mechanism coordinate the decentralized socially responsible supply chain, but it can ensure that a win–win situation can be achieved by the supply chain members. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management)
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 523 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Supply Chain Management—A Conceptual Framework and Future Research Perspectives
by Marcus Brandenburg, Tim Gruchmann and Nelly Oelze
Sustainability 2019, 11(24), 7239; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11247239 - 17 Dec 2019
Cited by 35 | Viewed by 11996
Abstract
Sustainable operations and sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) have become a highly relevant topic for scientific research and management, as well as policy-making practice. Despite surging growth in extant research, the need for theoretical and conceptual substantiation persists, and large opportunities for further [...] Read more.
Sustainable operations and sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) have become a highly relevant topic for scientific research and management, as well as policy-making practice. Despite surging growth in extant research, the need for theoretical and conceptual substantiation persists, and large opportunities for further research remain unexploited. This paper responds to the need for a conceptual foundation and, therefore, aims at providing a structured agenda for future research areas in SSCM. Based on an abductive reasoning approach, SSCM constructs and concepts are gathered from existing literature and recombined into a comprehensive conceptual SSCM framework. Areas and directions for future SSCM research, as suggested in earlier studies, are summarized, positioned in the framework, and outlined to stimulate further SSCM research activities. To overcome the lack of holistic research in the field, sophisticated techniques and integrated systems to support decision-making are required to tackle related issues’ complexity. Therefore, this paper’s contribution lies in the synthesis of state-of-the-art literature to provide a more comprehensive view of SSCM. Researchers may find promising recommendations and a suitable foundation for future studies, while practitioners may find helpful orientation and guidance for decision- and policy-making. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management)
Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 1353 KiB  
Article
A Multi-Objective Optimization Model for Green Supply Chain Considering Environmental Benefits
by Jie Jian, Yu Guo, Lin Jiang, Yanyan An and Jiafu Su
Sustainability 2019, 11(21), 5911; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11215911 - 24 Oct 2019
Cited by 48 | Viewed by 4279
Abstract
Whether the upstream and downstream members in a supply chain (considering environmental objectives) simultaneously stabilize economic benefits has become an important problem in the process of green development. However, few quantitative studies on green supply chains have considered environmental and economic benefits to [...] Read more.
Whether the upstream and downstream members in a supply chain (considering environmental objectives) simultaneously stabilize economic benefits has become an important problem in the process of green development. However, few quantitative studies on green supply chains have considered environmental and economic benefits to realize multi-objective optimization. To study operation and cooperation strategies with a consideration of the different objective on the level of supply chain, we first establish a green supply chain game model with profit and environment objectives simultaneously considered by the manufacturer. Then, we analyze the multi-objective decisions of the supply chain members under centralized control using a manufacturer-led Stackelberg game and revenue-sharing contract. Using the manufacturer’s environmental preference as a variable, the effects of environmental benefits on the supply chain are also investigated. Finally, this study determines that the manufacturer’s profit will be reduced after considering the objective of environmental benefits, while the retailer’s profit, product greenness, and environmental benefits will be improved. Meanwhile, the total profit of the green supply chain will first increase and then decrease. In particular, a revenue-sharing contract can facilitate the coordination of multiple objectives; in this way, both the manufacturer and the retailer achieve higher profits and environmental benefits compared to a decentralized control condition, which is of great significance in achieving a win–win situation for the economy and the environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management)
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1625 KiB  
Article
How Supply Chain Integration Affects Innovation in a Digital Age: Moderating Effects of Sustainable Policy
by Qiang Xu, Qianqian Hu, Tachia Chin, Chen Chen, Yi Shi and Jianxin Xu
Sustainability 2019, 11(19), 5460; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11195460 - 01 Oct 2019
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3444
Abstract
With the rapid development of digital technologies and increasing public attention on environmental problems, it has become a new challenge for global enterprises to manage supply chains responsibly, so as to improve their innovation performance for sustainability. Prior works have identified the effects [...] Read more.
With the rapid development of digital technologies and increasing public attention on environmental problems, it has become a new challenge for global enterprises to manage supply chains responsibly, so as to improve their innovation performance for sustainability. Prior works have identified the effects of supply chain integration on firm innovation in advanced economies; however, so far, there has been limited research on the relationships between supply chain integration and firm innovation in emerging and developing countries. Hence, building upon transaction cost and resource dependence theories, this study used China’s manufacturing industry as the research setting, probing the dynamic mechanisms between supply chain integration and firm innovation. The results show that the degree of supply chain integration positively relates to firms’ patent output but negatively relates to their innovation efficiency, and that a sustainable policy moderates the foregoing associations. Our study enriches the body of knowledge regarding responsible supply chain integration in a new digital age with growing ecological concerns and thereby offers insightful practical implications for practitioners and policy makers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management)
Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 1589 KiB  
Article
A Bibliometric Analysis of Green Supply Chain Management Based on the Web of Science (WOS) Platform
by Ruifeng Gong, Jian Xue, Laijun Zhao, Oleksandra Zolotova, Xiaoqing Ji and Yan Xu
Sustainability 2019, 11(12), 3459; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11123459 - 24 Jun 2019
Cited by 72 | Viewed by 7678
Abstract
To analyse the research progress and frontier dynamics of green supply chain management, this paper uses Web of Science’s citation database to search and filter related documents from 2007–2018. A total of 1391 articles were obtained. On this basis, a bibliometric analysis method [...] Read more.
To analyse the research progress and frontier dynamics of green supply chain management, this paper uses Web of Science’s citation database to search and filter related documents from 2007–2018. A total of 1391 articles were obtained. On this basis, a bibliometric analysis method was utilized to study the literature characteristics and research hotspots of green supply chain management research. Our results show the following: (1) The current amount of published literature on the field of green supply chain management is exponentially increasing. Research on green supply chain management tended to develop after 2013. (2) The current research on green supply chain management has not formed a core author group and among the literatures on green supply chain management, only a few authors reported some influential literatures. (3) It can be seen from the comprehensive average citation frequency and the number of publications that Hong Kong Polytechnic University, University of Southern Denmark and others have a strong research capability and a large field influence in the field of green supply chain management research. (4) There are 13 core journals publishing the research of green supply chain management, covering 10 fields including engineering, mathematics and social issues. (5) At present, the research hotspots of green supply chain management mainly include the following: Green production and innovation, green supply chain management theory and method, and sustainable supply chain environment and performance. Finally, this paper analyses the shortcomings of previous research and proposes a future direction for research development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management)
Show Figures

Figure 1

30 pages, 4553 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Carbon Emission Reduction Modes: Impacts of Capital Constraint and Risk Aversion
by Weisheng Deng and Lu Liu
Sustainability 2019, 11(6), 1661; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11061661 - 19 Mar 2019
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2988
Abstract
The need for low-carbon development has become a social consensus. Increasing numbers of enterprises implement carbon emission reduction by using carbon cap-and-trade mechanisms to cater to consumers and practice social responsibility. From the manufacturer’s perspective, they can implement carbon emission reduction investment by [...] Read more.
The need for low-carbon development has become a social consensus. Increasing numbers of enterprises implement carbon emission reduction by using carbon cap-and-trade mechanisms to cater to consumers and practice social responsibility. From the manufacturer’s perspective, they can implement carbon emission reduction investment by themselves or outsource it to the retailer or energy service company (referred as ESCO). To explore the best carbon emission reduction mode selection strategy, we built and compared three carbon emission reduction modes—manufacturer emission reduction, retailer emission reduction, and ESCO emission reduction—by using Stackelberg game models. The joint decisions of operation, finance, and environment were obtained by using the backward induction approach. The impacts of key parameters were analyzed, such as the retailer’s initial capital amount and the decision-makers’ risk aversion degree on the low carbon supply chain operation. Our results show that the optimal carbon emission reduction mode for the manufacturer is changed as the retailer’s initial capital amount changes. Carbon emission reduction by the ESCO (retailer) becomes the dominant strategy for both the economy and environment when the cost advantage (cash investment ratio) of the ESCO (retailer) carbon emission reduction mode is sufficiently high (low). Overall, decision-makers’ risk aversion is detrimental to both the economic and environmental developments of the supply chain. We also designed contracts to realize the coordination of risk-neutral, risk-averse, capital-adequate, and capital-constrained low-carbon supply chains. These results give guidance for decision-makers to better manage the low-carbon supply chain in the context of fully considering the influential factors of risk aversion and capital constraint. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management)
Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 1051 KiB  
Article
Decisions of Supply Chain Considering Chain-to-Chain Competition and Service Negative Spillover Effect
by Yucai Wu, Jiguang Wang and Changhong Li
Sustainability 2019, 11(6), 1612; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11061612 - 17 Mar 2019
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3279
Abstract
In today’s complex market competition environment, a high quality and high level of service plays a critical role in obtaining and maintaining long-term sustainable competitive advantage for enterprises and supply chains. Considering the service negative spillover effect, this paper investigates the horizontal Stackelberg [...] Read more.
In today’s complex market competition environment, a high quality and high level of service plays a critical role in obtaining and maintaining long-term sustainable competitive advantage for enterprises and supply chains. Considering the service negative spillover effect, this paper investigates the horizontal Stackelberg competition and optimal service decision in two competing manufacturer-led supply chains. Four competitive structure models are constructed and the corresponding equilibrium solutions are obtained. By comparing the equilibrium results of four different structures, it is found that the service negative spillover effect and competition between supply chains have negative incentive effect on service providers and their supply chains. However, the chain-to-chain competition will benefit the supply chain that does not provide services from free-riding effect, which will be intensified with the intensification of competition. In addition, from the perspective of supply chain network and externality, we find that when the structure of one supply chain remains fixed and the other changes from centralized to decentralized, there will be a “double marginalization” effect. At the same time, the structural change from centralized to decentralized has certain “altruism”, that is, positive network externality, so as to improve the rival’s performance significantly. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop