Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 22
A Conceptual Model for
Greening a Supply Chain
through Greening of Suppliers
and Green Innovation
H. K. Chan
University of East Anglia, UK
T.-Y. Chiou
University of East Anglia, UK
F. Lettice
University of East Anglia, UK
ABSTRACT
Nowadays, more organisations are focusing on how to improve their environmental performance, partly
driven by recent regulations in this area. This means that green supply chain management plays an im-
portant role over traditional supply chain management. Companies could gain competitive advantage
through the proper management of their supply chain activities, for example, purchasing management. In
fact, organisations can now generate more business opportunities than their competitors by addressing
environmental management successfully. More specifically, it has been identified that implementation of
green innovation can become a company's order winner. However, not many studies have investigated
the relationships between the greening of suppliers, green innovation, environmental performance and
competitive advantage. The objective of this article is to propose a conceptual model, developed from
a review of relevant literature and performance indicators, and to identify how future research can ad-
dress these issues.
INTRODUCTION
ingly shorter product life cycles. Consequently,
as products are replaced and disposed of more
frequently, there are negative impacts on the
environment, such as more waste. One of the
most effective ways to tackle such environmental
Rapid technological advancement has made life
more convenient, but has also resulted in increas-
