Drivers and barriers to environmental supply chain management practices: Lessons from the public and private sectors

Published Date
March 2008, Vol.14(1):69–85, doi:10.1016/j.pursup.2008.01.007
Practice Makes Perfect: Special Issue of Best Papers of the 16th Annual IPSERA Conference 2007

Author 

Helen Walker ^a,,

Lucio Di Sisto ^b,1,

Darian McBain ^c,2,

aCentre for Research in Strategic Purchasing and Supply, School of Management, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK

bUBS, 100 Liverpool Street, London EC2M 2RH, UK

cNHS PASA, Premier House, 60 Caversham Road, Reading RG1 7EB, UK

Received 25 July 2007. Revised 21 January 2008. Accepted 23 January 2008. Available online 22 February 2008.

Abstract

This study explores the factors that drive or hinder organisations to implement green supply chain management initiatives. A literature review identifies the main categories of internal and external drivers of green supply chain management practices, including organisational factors, regulation, customers, competitors and society, but there is little indication of suppliers as drivers for green supply chain management. Internal barriers include cost and lack of legitimacy, whereas external barriers include regulation, poor supplier commitment and industry specific barriers. An explorative study is conducted based on interviews from seven different private and public sector organisations. Encouragingly, across the organisations, more drivers than barriers to environmental supply chain management are identified. Organisations seem to be more influenced by external rather than internal drivers. The barriers to environmental supply chain management experienced by organisations tend to be both internal and external.

Keywords

Sustainable

Environmental

Green

Supply chain

Public

Private

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