Sustainability Practices and Performance Outcomes in Supply Chains: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Sustainability Practices and Performance Outcomes in Supply Chains: A Systematic Review of the LiteratureThe growing global focus on sustainability has led to increased academic interest in integrating sustainable practices within supply chains, recognizing their importance in addressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing literature on how sustainable practices impact supply chain performance across these dimensions. The primary objective is to clarify the diverse and often fragmented understanding of the relationship between sustainable supply chain (SSC) practices and their performance outcomes, addressing a notable gap in the literature. To achieve this, a systematic literature review was conducted, analysing 78 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2014 and 2021. The methodology included detailed content analysis, categorization, and descriptive analytics, employing tools such as contingency tables, frequency tables, various charts, word clouds, and cluster analysis. This approach facilitated a broad exploration of the relationships between SSC practices and their impacts as reported in the literature. The review reveals a significant academic interest in SSC practices, particularly in their environmental and social dimensions. While most studies report a positive influence of sustainable practices on supply chain performance, instances of no significant impact or mixed outcomes are also noted. The study categorizes the findings into three distinct clusters: 'Environmental Practices with No Impact on Economic Performance', 'Social Practices Positively Impacting Economic Performance', and 'Environmental Practices Positively Impacting Environmental Performance'. These categorizations highlight the nuanced impact of sustainable practices on supply chains. This review not only synthesizes the existing literature to provide a comprehensive overview of the relationship between SSC practices and performance outcomes but also serves as a valuable resource for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers, and guides efforts in enhancing supply chain sustainability.