The area of sustainability is interdisciplinary as it interacts with the physical and social sciences domain making the research significant challenging given combination with the complex nature of supply chain management. It is noted that focus of the academics on the need of sustainable applications due to significant results has led to developing systematic perspectives regarding the supply chain management and dimensions of sustainability. A wide range of research is already done by the academics on sustainable supply chains where they define the concept of sustainability in relation to the supply chain emphasizing the benefits and importance of the same.
However, there is lacking in the integrated perspective as the studies are more limited in context because of consideration to an environmental dimension at the individual level. Increasing concern over the subject matter has disclosed the need of a systematic and integrated point of view.
Also, insufficient studies have been noted in social aspects such as corporate social responsibility. Thus, the need arises to determine the shortcomings in existing as well as future possible research areas, with a focus on overall frameworks, literature review, methodologies, models, approaches and effects on competitiveness, strategies, economic performance, standardization, key performance measures and eco-efficiency.
Sustainability
Sustainable development is defined as development that meets present needs without compromising the ability to meet future needs. Objectives for sustainable development are to maintain economic growth and employment, protect the environment, and progress socially through the recognition of the needs of all individuals.
Supply chains have become the major sources of serious environmental problems as they cause waste and emissions leading to acid rain and global warming. This has led to pressure on the organizations by the internal and external stakeholders.
Well-established companies such as Hewlett-Packard, Xerox, and IBM are integrating sustainability as an essential element in their supply chains. For the same purpose, they are now designing reusable products based on necessary environmental concerns.
Supply Chain
Sustainability is attracting interests of not only corporate managers but also the academics who are increasingly integrating environmental issues in the supply chains.
Based on the literature, the sustainable supply chain is defined as the process of managing raw material and services from suppliers to manufacturing and delivering to customers considering the social and environmental impacts at all the stages.
Supply chain managers are thus understood as the management of information, material and capital flow along the supply chain in consideration of the three dimensions necessary for sustainable development, including environmental, social and economic ones derived from the requirements of customers and stakeholders.
