Blockchain-based governance implications for ecologically sustainable supply chain management
Journal of Enterprise Information Management
ISSN: 1741-0398
Article publication date: 15 December 2023
Issue publication date: 21 February 2024
Abstract
Purpose
The authors explore the impact of an emerging technology, blockchain technology, on diverse governance mechanisms and sustainable supply chain practices and how its relationships with the linkage of these elements.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology incorporates a literature review and a qualitative empirical analysis of the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) standards. Expert opinions from various firms and organizations within the electronics sector are assessed. Through a thematic analysis, the relationships are identified and examined.
Findings
Data immutability, transparency and traceability capabilities of blockchain technology enhance the relationship between environmental standards and ecological supply chain sustainability practices. Although immature, the blockchain can influence the governance of supply chain sustainability practices. Immaturity of technology, lack of expertise, sharing information and trust have delayed adoption.
Originality/value
There is limited empirical evidence regarding blockchain's impact on governance mechanisms, specifically hybrid public-private mechanisms and sustainable supply chain practices. The study further evaluates how particular blockchain features may exert varying influences on these aspects and different sustainable supply chain traits. As an exploratory study, it proposes new areas for further research, including how blockchain's traceability function can improve sustainability standard adoption. Additionally, there is a call for integrating blockchain with technologies like IoT and sensors which may influence supply chain governance mechanisms, standards and sustainability practices.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Association of Supply Chain Management under Grant #227940 and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the Environmental Law Institute under Grant #19020005. The authors greatly appreciate their support.
Since submission of this article, the following author(s) have updated their affiliations: Luis Jimenez-Castillo is at the Driehaus College of Business, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Citation
Jimenez-Castillo, L., Sarkis, J., Saberi, S. and Yao, T. (2024), "Blockchain-based governance implications for ecologically sustainable supply chain management", Journal of Enterprise Information Management, Vol. 37 No. 1, pp. 76-99. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEIM-02-2022-0055
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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