Finding the nexus between green supply chain practices and sustainable business advantage: an emerging market perspective
Management of Environmental Quality
ISSN: 1477-7835
Article publication date: 8 October 2020
Issue publication date: 5 October 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this conceptual paper is to explore the connection between green supply chain practices (GSCPs) and sustained business advantage from an emerging market perspective. Research on the phenomenon is limited in developing countries where green supply chain (GSC) concepts are now increasingly gaining ground. The study also attempts a general literature review to examine the mediating role of effective environmental benchmarking and leadership factors on the relationship. It further provides insight on the moderating effect of constructs such as people involvement and customer preferences.
Design/methodology/approach
Separate searches were conducted in key academic databases such as Emerald Online Journals, Taylor and Francis Online Journals, JSTOR Online Journals and Elsevier Online Journals. Also, version 7 of the Publish or Perish software was used to search for paper focused on GSCPs and sustainability. In total, 19 articles met the predefined criteria and were used.
Findings
The results from the synthesis of the reviewed literature shows that despite the fact that leadership factors mediates the positive relationship between GSCPs and sustained business advantage, research on supply chain (SC) leadership as a construct is limited and requires further empirical research.
Research limitations/implications
Some limitations must be considered and could provide guidance for future study; this study did not collect data to test the proposed model. Moreover the study hypotheses proposed need to be tested to validate the model proposed.
Practical implications
This research by promoting an understanding of how GSCPs impacts the activities of buying and supply organizations in emerging markets. Findings on the leadership factors and people involvement constructs will assist SC operators in emerging markets to tap the tremendous potential inherent in participatory SC approaches to remain competitive and acquire sustained business advantage.
Originality/value
The study offers opportunity for empirical testing of the mediating (effective environmental benchmarking and leadership factors) and moderating (people involvement and customer preferences) variables in an emerging market context as this could provide fresh insights on the complexity of the relationships.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper forms part of a special section “Green Supply Chains and Environmental Benchmarking – implications for emerging economies”, guest edited by Sachin Kumar Mangla.
Citation
Amoako, G.K., Bonsu, G.A., Caesar, L.D. and Osei-Tete, F. (2021), "Finding the nexus between green supply chain practices and sustainable business advantage: an emerging market perspective", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 32 No. 6, pp. 1133-1149. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-12-2019-0287
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited