Adding value to measuring sustainability supply chain performance

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Introduction

In 2014 Supply Chain Management: an International Journal published a Special Issue consisting of papers related to the theme of Measuring and Managing Sustainability Performance of Supply Chains. Ten years have passed, and the supply chain milieu has changed considerably as multiple developments in various spheres influencing the business environment have been influencing supply chain management and measuring.  

The co-editors of the previous Special Issue highlighted the need for principles of elimination, substitution, redesign and efficiency improvement to be applied to the design of supply chains. In particular, the following possibilities were canvassed for future research studies: the elimination of supply chains, substitution of existing with new supply chains, introducing shorter supply chains with fewer steps and geographical spread, dematerializing supply chains, and more efficiently organized supply chains. The extent to which these suggestions have worked their way into research literature and management and measurement practice in the last decade has yet to be assessed. But key conditions for supply chain management and measurement have changed and a new set of circumstances faces the next ten years for organizations managing supply chains. 

This Special Issue on “Adding value to measuring sustainability supply chain performance” looks for conceptual and empirical contributions from authors with an eye on the future in the light of these developments and possible surprises emerging from current uncertainties, risks and opportunities. 

Identifiable spheres of influence on sustainability measurement and management of supply chains include, amongst others, the – ecological, socio-cultural, scientific, technological, economic, political, and legal business environment. Papers are welcomed from authors addressing any of these either singly or in combination. 

Different sectors are at different stages of transition which may require different supply chain measurement and management approaches, including collaborations in and beyond the sector. The multiple developments for the last decade have changed the business environment with regard to measuring and managing sustainability issues of supply chains. This raises questions of how companies prepare themselves to become resilient and how they develop core business and business models that contribute to sustainable value chains.  

What information needs and approaches exist and are proposed to include social and environmental measurement with regard to sustainable business development that adds value to all stakeholders involved? 

The special issue is dedicated to both evidence based and empirical papers (statistical empirical papers, qualitative empirical papers as well as explorative case studies and grounded research), and thought provoking theory-developing and conceptual papers. Pure modelling without empirical content, systematic literature reviews, and simulations will not be considered. 

List of Topic Areas

A selection of possible issues and their impacts follows. The list is not exhaustive. The Special Issue will consider any relevant topics or perspectives on adding value to sustainability measurement and management of supply chains: 

• Natural ecological changes – climate change, environmental degradation, deforestation, water scarcity, extreme weather, regeneration. 
• Socio-cultural - supply chain disasters and disruptions, workforce and supply restrictions, migration and refugees, collaborations, cultural challenges, mental health, building resilience. 
• Technological developments – digitalisation, AI and automation, semi-conductors, blockchain, supply side innovation and transformation, dependence on fossil energies, net zero and renewable energy supplies. 
• Economic – impact of business model innovations and demand side management (e.g. product-service-systems) on supply chains, circular economy, emerging markets, demand side, decline of markets, Global South, access to key materials (e.g., rare earth), inflation, dynamism in performance (time), different sectors at different stages of transition, regenerative dynamics. 
• Political – regulations, geopolitical upheaval, decline of globalism, supply chains as a tool of conflict 

Submissions Information

Submissions are made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. Registration and access are available here.
Author guidelines must be strictly followed. Please see here.
Authors should select (from the drop-down menu) the special issue title at the appropriate step in the submission process, i.e. in response to ““Please select the issue you are submitting to”. 
Submitted articles must not have been previously published, nor should they be under consideration for publication anywhere else, while under review for this journal.

Key Deadlines

Submission Deadline: 02 May 2025