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Evaluating barriers to implementing green supply chain management: an example from an emerging economy

Evaluating barriers to implementing green supply chain management: an example from an emerging economy
Evaluating barriers to implementing green supply chain management: an example from an emerging economy
This study proposes a fuzzy-based VIKOR (VIseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje) framework for evaluating barriers to implementing green supply chain management (GSCM) in the context of an emerging economy. The methodology uses a mix method approach combining literature review and opinions of some selected managers from the plastic industry of Bangladesh to identify four main-barriers and twenty-five sub-barriers relevant to GSCM implementation. Fuzzy-VIKOR approach was applied to aid in the analysis of the barriers in the plastic industry of Bangladesh. The findings of the study show the order/rank of intensity and severity of the main-barriers to implementing GSCM practices in the plastic industry of Bangladesh as follows: “inadequate knowledge and support”, “insufficient technology and infrastructure”, “financial constraints and unsupportive organizational”, and “operational policies”. The results also show the rankings of the sub-barriers under each main barriers. This research contributes to the literature in a number of ways. First, it identifies multi-levels of barriers to GSCM implementation. Secondly, it identifies and proposes alternative action plans (strategies) to help mitigate and implement GSCM practices. Though this study has significant contributions, a number of limitations do exist. The barriers in this study were identified using the extant literature review and industrial managers’ opinions. A more scientific approach and empirical validation is required, especially in the plastic manufacturing industry of Bangladesh to identify more new challenging barriers. However, this study can provide managers with a better understanding of the barriers to implementing GSCM practices and motivate the researchers to further extend the investigation on the insights for developing strategic plans for implementing GSCM practices in the plastic industry of Bangladesh.
Green supply chain, VIKOR, barriers, emerging economy, fuzzy theory, plastic processing
0953-7287
673-698
Rahman, Towfique
2453beaa-d762-4ece-9a5a-b5d9528337dd
Ali, Syed Mithun
4d51b764-df27-444a-98f9-cd1e57d0e9fb
Moktadir, Md. Abdul
5d5467a3-dba0-430f-b86b-2c5336c0c815
Kusi-Sarpong, Simonov
a7e68240-2b34-456e-9849-c01bd10c68f7
Rahman, Towfique
2453beaa-d762-4ece-9a5a-b5d9528337dd
Ali, Syed Mithun
4d51b764-df27-444a-98f9-cd1e57d0e9fb
Moktadir, Md. Abdul
5d5467a3-dba0-430f-b86b-2c5336c0c815
Kusi-Sarpong, Simonov
a7e68240-2b34-456e-9849-c01bd10c68f7

Rahman, Towfique, Ali, Syed Mithun, Moktadir, Md. Abdul and Kusi-Sarpong, Simonov (2020) Evaluating barriers to implementing green supply chain management: an example from an emerging economy. Production Planning & Control, 31 (8), 673-698. (doi:10.1080/09537287.2019.1674939).

Record type: Article

Abstract

This study proposes a fuzzy-based VIKOR (VIseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje) framework for evaluating barriers to implementing green supply chain management (GSCM) in the context of an emerging economy. The methodology uses a mix method approach combining literature review and opinions of some selected managers from the plastic industry of Bangladesh to identify four main-barriers and twenty-five sub-barriers relevant to GSCM implementation. Fuzzy-VIKOR approach was applied to aid in the analysis of the barriers in the plastic industry of Bangladesh. The findings of the study show the order/rank of intensity and severity of the main-barriers to implementing GSCM practices in the plastic industry of Bangladesh as follows: “inadequate knowledge and support”, “insufficient technology and infrastructure”, “financial constraints and unsupportive organizational”, and “operational policies”. The results also show the rankings of the sub-barriers under each main barriers. This research contributes to the literature in a number of ways. First, it identifies multi-levels of barriers to GSCM implementation. Secondly, it identifies and proposes alternative action plans (strategies) to help mitigate and implement GSCM practices. Though this study has significant contributions, a number of limitations do exist. The barriers in this study were identified using the extant literature review and industrial managers’ opinions. A more scientific approach and empirical validation is required, especially in the plastic manufacturing industry of Bangladesh to identify more new challenging barriers. However, this study can provide managers with a better understanding of the barriers to implementing GSCM practices and motivate the researchers to further extend the investigation on the insights for developing strategic plans for implementing GSCM practices in the plastic industry of Bangladesh.

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Accepted/In Press date: 21 September 2019
e-pub ahead of print date: 17 October 2019
Published date: 10 June 2020
Additional Information: Publisher Copyright: © 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Keywords: Green supply chain, VIKOR, barriers, emerging economy, fuzzy theory, plastic processing

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 434493
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/434493
ISSN: 0953-7287
PURE UUID: c541f967-0be5-44ac-acba-abc195f5f837

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Date deposited: 25 Sep 2019 16:30
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 08:13

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Contributors

Author: Towfique Rahman
Author: Syed Mithun Ali
Author: Md. Abdul Moktadir

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