Green Supply Chain Practices: Toward A Sustainable Industry Development

¹ UNIDEMI, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
² Laboratório Associado de Sistemas Inteligentes, LASI, 4800-058 Guimara˜es, Portugal

^* e-mail: scd@fct.unl.pt

Abstract

As environmental consciousness is growing, organizations are required to implement environmental-friendly practices, and to develop sustainable strategies not just for the health of the environment but also for sustaining the industry for the future. Today consumers value organizations that go green and are willing to pay a price premium for sustainable goods. Then, it is an incumbent need for the industry to integrate sustain ability concepts into its traditional supply chain management. The industry is a driving force behind sustainable development, where industry 4.0 is set to be a critical enabler. Nevertheless, to foster sustainable development of the industry, there is a need for applying uniform standards in environmental management to reduce the consumption of renewable resources and develop productive ways of reusing and recycling the used/waste resources. This paper, theoretical by nature, explores the impact of Green Supply Chain Practices (GSCP) on accelerating industry-related targets of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9 on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation. Based on the literature review, conceptual interlinkages between the targets of SDG 9 and those SDGs that address issues of social, economic, and environmental goals, are studied in the context of GSCP. This work provides an understanding of the impact of green practices on the achievement of the SDGs.