Firm size implications for environmental sustainability of supply chains: evidence from the UAE

Article

Balasubramanian, S., Shukla, V. and Chanchaichujit, J. 2020. Firm size implications for environmental sustainability of supply chains: evidence from the UAE. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal. 31 (5), pp. 1375-1406. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-01-2020-0004
TypeArticle
TitleFirm size implications for environmental sustainability of supply chains: evidence from the UAE
AuthorsBalasubramanian, S., Shukla, V. and Chanchaichujit, J.
Abstract

Purpose
Effective environment and climate change management require supply chain-wide focus (from the initial design to the end-of-life management) as well as universal participation and commitment of firms. However, the environment-related role and contribution of different sized firms in the supply chain are unclear from previous research which this study seeks to clarify using the context of UAE's construction sector.
Design/methodology/approach
Using data collected from a structured survey (455 responses) and semi-structured interviews with 20 key supply chain stakeholders, this study analyses and understands hypothesized differences between small and medium firms (SMEs) and large firms on three key supply chain environmental sustainability aspects: the extent of green supply chain practices (GSCP) implemented, the strengths/influences of drivers and barriers affecting the implementation of GSCP, and the associated environmental, cost-related and organizational performance benefits derived from GSCP.
Findings
Large firms were found to show significantly greater levels of implementation of GSCP, greater internal drive for implementation and lower barriers to implementation than SMEs. SMEs though were found to be not too far behind large firms with regards to the environmental, cost-related and organizational performance benefits from GSCP implementation.
Practical implications
Findings from this study is useful for benchmarking the GSCP implementation of large firms and SMEs, influences of drivers and barriers affecting the implementation of GSCP and associated performance benefits derived from GSCP implementation. Policymakers and practitioners could use the study findings to develop suitable policies/interventions so as to ensure that all firms irrespective of their size can contribute equitably towards improving the environmental sustainability of supply chains.
Originality/value
This study is arguably the first comprehensive attempt to understand how various environmental sustainability aspects in supply chains are perceived and performed by SMEs and large firms.

KeywordsEnvironmental sustainability, firm size, green supply chain practices, drivers, barriers, performance.
PublisherEmerald Publishing Limited
JournalManagement of Environmental Quality: An International Journal
ISSN1477-7835
Publication dates
Online22 Apr 2020
Print30 Jul 2020
Publication process dates
Deposited22 May 2020
Accepted23 Mar 2020
Output statusPublished
Accepted author manuscript
Copyright Statement

This is the accepted version of the manuscript "Balasubramanian, S., Shukla, V. and Chanchaichujit, J. (2020), "Firm size implications for environmental sustainability of supply chains: evidence from the UAE", Management of Environmental Quality, 31 (5) . pp. 1375-1406. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-01-2020-0004", forthcoming/published in the journal "Management of Environmental Quality" available via the journal site at: https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-01-2020-0004
This article is © 2020 Emerald Publishing Limited and permission has been granted for this version to appear here. Emerald does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-01-2020-0004
LanguageEnglish
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