To greener pastures: An action research study on the environmental sustainability of humanitarian supply chains
International Journal of Operations & Production Management
ISSN: 0144-3577
Article publication date: 29 October 2019
Issue publication date: 22 November 2019
Abstract
Purpose
While humanitarian supply chains (HSCs) inherently contribute to social sustainability by alleviating the suffering of afflicted communities, their unintended adverse environmental impact has been overlooked hitherto. This paper draws upon contingency theory to synthesize green practices for HSCs, identify the contingency factors that impact on greening HSCs and explore how focal humanitarian organizations (HOs) can cope with such contingency factors.
Design/methodology/approach
Deploying an action research methodology, two-and-a-half cycles of collaboration between researchers and a United Nations agency were completed. The first half-cycle developed a deductive greening framework, synthesizing extant green practices from the literature. In the second and third cycles, green practices were adopted/customized/developed reflecting organizational and contextual contingency factors. Action steps were implemented in the HSC for prophylactics, involving an operational mix of disaster relief and development programs.
Findings
First, the study presents a greening framework that synthesizes extant green practices in a suitable form for HOs. Second, it identifies the contingency factors associated with greening HSCs regarding funding environment, stakeholders, field of activity and organizational management. Third, it outlines the mechanisms for coping with the contingency factors identified, inter alia, improving the visibility of headquarters over field operations, promoting collaboration and resource sharing with other HOs as well as among different implementing partners in each country, and working with suppliers for greener packaging. The study advances a set of actionable propositions for greening HSCs.
Practical implications
Using an action research methodology, the study makes strong practical contributions. Humanitarian practitioners can adopt the greening framework and the lessons learnt from the implementation cycles presented in this study.
Originality/value
This is one of the first empirical studies to integrate environmental sustainability and HSCs using an action research methodology.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper is produced as part of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorates (EMJDs) Programme, European Doctorate in Industrial Management (EDIM), funded by the European Commission, Erasmus MundusAction 1. The authors wish to sincerely thank the following United Nations staff for their kind collaboration: Ingegerd Nordin, Ignacio Sánchez, Amelie Mahler, Mirjana Milic, Dr. Rosemary Kumwenda, Cristina Palau, and Giovanni Masiello. Furthermore, the authors would like to thank Professor Paolo Trucco and Professor Raffaella Cagliano at Politecnico di Milano for their kind reviews and feedbacks throughout the development of the study.
Citation
Zarei, M.H., Carrasco-Gallego, R. and Ronchi, S. (2019), "To greener pastures: An action research study on the environmental sustainability of humanitarian supply chains", International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol. 39 No. 11, pp. 1193-1225. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-12-2018-0703
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited