Greening the supply chain towards sustainability : a holistic approach for mitigating industrial environmental impacts with sustainable improvements on firms’ environmental, economic, and social performances in the automotive industry

Abstract

This study is aimed at examining the process of greening the supply chain as a holistic and pragmatic approach for mitigating industrial environmental impacts in the automotive industry. The research addresses the fundamental requirements, and also attempt to unbundle the complications and barriers firms encounter in the process of greening their supply chains in addition to providing a clear path to sustainability by devising a workable framework, and practical steps that will guide firms to achieving a green and sustainable supply chains.

The study is conducted using a qualitative content analysis (QCA) research method mainly to analyse sustainability reports of leading car manufacturers in the automobile industry. Empirical evidence shows that greening the supply chain towards sustainability appeared to be a holistic approach for mitigating environmental impacts in the automotive industry as it proved to be an effective and efficient mechanism that shows zero tolerance for negative environmental impacts. Besides, it leaves no room for companies to condone any negative, or insignificant environmental impacts that could result to compromising sustainability paving the way for impending consequences of climate change and global warming that must be prevented at all costs.

Throughout the study, greening the supply chain proved to be the way forward as far as the issues of climate change, global warming, environmental management, and sustainability are concerned with the fact that it mitigates negative environmental impacts effectively, improves environmental conditions, and also guarantees economic rewards on investments for firms in addition to improving societal social conditions as all the selected car manufacturers in the study performed well environmentally, economically, and socially.