Green Supply Chains. Management Research Paper Assignment

Green Supply Chains
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Green Supply Chains
Introduction
Green supply chains or green chain supply management is a concept which seeks to integrate environmental-friendly aspects into supply chain management. As a result, green supply chains ensure that conventional supply chain management practices integrate eco-friendly aspects (Fortes, 2009). Nowadays, consumers are concerned about several issues, such as companies' green processing and supply chain processes and the recycling processes. Over the years, organizations have made significant progress in their bid to establish environmental and social sustainability in their operations and supply chain activities. According to Gajendrum (2017), green supply chain management is a concept whereby individuals and organizations incorporate environmental thinking into supply chain management activities. In this regard, most organizations have been compelled to review their green and environmental policies by including practices such as conducting audits related to environmental viability and acting in line with certifications such as ISO 14001 (Fortes, 2009). Therefore, the concept of green supply chains has been an essential component in the operations of organizations as it seeks to ensure that their supply chain management practices uphold environmental sustainability.
Scope of Green Supply Chains
The scope of green supply chains entails several processes that seek to ensure that environmentally conducive practices are maintained during organizations’ day to day activities. According to Gajendrum (2017), the scope involves guaranteeing the implementation and monitoring of environmentally friendly approaches. More so, the range consists of the creation of control practices through reducing, reusing, reworking, re-furbishing, re-claiming, recycling, and re-manufacturing. In most cases, these control practices aim to reduce and minimize waste resulting in different types of pollution. Gajendrum (2017) states that waste is one of the factors that are perceived as a barrier to environmental protection during various manufacturing/ production activities and operations carried out in organizations. This is because most manufacturing and production processes are described as being catalysts of destroying the environment by generating waste and depleting natural resources. To avert this, organizations have adopted control practices that enhance greenhouse supply chains by ensuring their operations reduce or eliminate the prevalence of waste generation and destruction of natural resources.
Green supply chains have been extended to ensure that organizations incorporate reactive measures that seek to achieve environmental management programs as well as proactive practices implemented through the various R's methods (Dube & Gawand, 2011). In this sense, green supply chains are a combination of both managerial approaches and organizational operations. In essence, the process aims to satisfy consumers by providing them with environment-friendly products and services produced through green practices/approaches. As a result, organizations have to enhance their processes by integrating innovative practices that take environmental conservation and protection (Dube & Gawand, 2011). Nowadays, the success of organizations is also determined by their ability to inculcate environmental consciousness in their decision-making processes as well as their day to day activities.
Major Factors that Drive Green Supply Chains
Nowadays, organizations have integrated green supply chains in either a proactive or reactive manner or both. Notably, Dube and Gawand (2011), states that integrating green supply chains is induced by both internal and external forces. As a result, these driving forces towards then concept can be attributed to either internal factors with the organization or external factors that are outside the organization. Some of the major forces that drive organizations into integrating green processes in their supply chain practices include:
* Supply chain efficiency
Organizations have resulted in green supply chains to reduce operational-related costs and improve their customer services. In most cases, organizations rarely alter their supply chains and business processes. As a result, organizations that seek to integrate green supply chains tend to find an opportunity to review their entire supply chain process and business processes. The organizations are able to review areas that will be improved through integrating a greener approach in their day to day activities (Malviya & Kant, 2015). For example, the process helps organizations identify where there was wastage of resources or over-utilization of energy. Therefore, green supply chains will help organizations integrate environmental consciousness and improve their business processes and results.
* Financial Return on Investment (ROI)
Most organizational leaders have realized that integrating green supply chains may be an approach to maximize their ROI and enhance their profitability positions. Nowadays, the success and future of organizations tend to depend on their ability to practice green processes in supply chains. Besides, organizations are planning for their future as they are aware that trading partnerships will depend on organizations' environmental consciousness (Jabbour & Sousa, 2016). In the coming years, apart from consumers, trading partners and investors will prefer to associate and deal with organizations that have implemented green supply chains. As a result, this will significantly impact on their profitability and success.
* Government Compliance
In recent years, climate change is an aspect that is being witnessed in all regions across the world. Climate change is happening at a rate that is likely to result in adverse and fast impacts than anticipated. In this sense, governments have established several environmental regulations that organizations have to follow in their supply chain practices (Sabri & Nadarajah, 2016). For example, governments are making a lot of effort to ensure that there is cleaner water for consumption and alternative clean energy and that supply chains are environmentally friendly. Nevertheless, whether the drive for organizations is to comply with government regulation or meet customers' expectations does not matter as long as uphold green processes in their supply chains.
* Corporate Responsibility
The concept of green supply chains is significantly related to the issue of corporate social responsibility (CSR). CSR entails that organizations are obliged to the welfare of investors and other stakeholders, society, and the environment. Most organizations have been forced by pressures from numerous stakeholders to comply with environmental-related ISOs (Fortes, 2009). Companies are more concerned with environmental practices in their operations have to ensure that their suppliers and vendors uphold green processes. Organizations are being judged by consumers and other stakeholders based on how all their ...