Resource-efficient supply chains: a research framework, literature review and research agenda

Abstract

If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation.*Related content and download information correct at time of download. J.G.A.J. (Jack) van der VorstOperations Research and Logistics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands Abstract Purpose -The study aims to define a research agenda for creating resource-efficient supply chains (RESCs) by identifying and analysing their key characteristics as well as future research opportunities. Design/methodology/approach -We follow a systematic review method to analyse the literature and to understand RESC, taking a substantive theory approach. Our approach is grounded in a specific domain, the agri-food sector, because it is an intensive user of an extensive range of resources.Findings -The review shows that works of literature has looked at the use of resources primarily from the environmental impact perspective. There is a need to explore whether or not and how logistics/supply chain decisions will affect the overall configuration of future food supply chains in an era of resource scarcity and depletion and what the trade-offs will be.Research limitations/implications -The paper proposes an agenda for future research in the area of RESC. The framework proposed along with the key characteristics identified for RESC can be applied to other sectors. Practical implications -Our research should facilitate further understanding of the implications and trade-offs of supply chain decisions taken on the use of resources by supply chain managers. Originality/value -The paper explores the interaction between supply chains and natural resources and defines the key characteristics of RESC.

Supply chain strategies in an era of natural resource scarcity

“…Managers should gather information and collaborate closely with suppliers in order to find where scarce natural resources appear in their products and operations. This is in line with Matopoulos et al (2015) who suggested the "resource awareness" requirements of supply chains. This study shows that when it comes to resource scarcity implications, suppliers could be playing a more proactive role influencing the smooth functioning of the supply chain.…”

Supply chains under resource pressure

“…Bell et al, 2013;Lapko et al, 2016), these efforts come with shortcomings and gaps. For example, in the research by Bell et al (2012;; Matopoulos et al, (2015); Kalaitzi et al, (2018) the links among supply chain strategies, resource efficiency and competitive advantage lacked empirical validation. In general, research on the impact of supply chain strategies on organisational performance and particularly on resource efficiency and competitive advantage is scant.…”

Climate Change Adaptation Strategy in the Food Industry—Insights from Product Carbon and Water Footprints

“…In addition, increasing awareness about climate change in the community has the potential to alter consumer perceptions about what they value in a food product as well as what new product offerings would be attractive. On this basis, the field of sustainable supply chain management has emerged and has grown in importance over the past decade [31][32][33], adding to the well-established practice of supply chain risk assessment [34], although neither of these fields yet address climate adaptation in any comprehensive way [35].…”

“…Life cycle assessment (LCA) [36,37] is widely used to assess resource use and environmental impacts along supply chains; however its technical complexity can act as an obstacle to implementation in many business contexts, the results are often influenced strongly by modelling choices and parameter settings, and the technique is rarely used in a combinative way with other analytical and decision support tools [32,38]. As such, LCA is relatively underutilized in sustainable supply chain management [31].…”