Adoption of green supply chain management practices in multi-tier supply chains: examining the differences between higher and lower tier firms
Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: Customer pressure has been widely discussed as the primary driver of green supply chain management (GSCM) practices. However, relatively little is known about supplier capabilities as a key mediator for GSCM practice adoption. Drawing from the resource dependence theory (RDT), we investigate how the interplay between customer pressure and supplier capabilities affects GSCM practice adoption along multi-tier supply chains. We test our hypotheses using multiple regression analysis based on a sample of 284 manufacturing firms operating at different tiers of a supply chain. Our results indicate that the supplier capabilities mediate the direct effect of customer pressure on the adoption of GSCM practices for focal firms. Specifically, we find a full mediation effect of supplier capabilities for higher-tier (i.e. OEM and system supplier) firms and a partial mediation effect for lower-tier (i.e. component and raw material) firms. Our findings provide support for the RDT perspective regarding GSCM. The focal firm’s adoption of GSCM practices as a response to customer pressure is dependent on the level of green resources and capabilities available from their suppliers. The level of such resource dependence varies between focal firms at higher- and lower-tier positions in a multi-tier supply chain.
Institutions: Aalto University, EBS University of Business and Law, ETH Zurich
Language: English
Subfield: Strategy and Management
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3211141124