Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Green supply chain practices and company performance: the case of 3PLs in Italy
AU - Perotti, Sara
AU - Zorzini, Marta
AU - Cagno, Enrico
AU - Micheli, Guido JL
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - Purpose – The pressure on logistics companies to embrace green processes has increased significantly in the last few years. Within the broad concept of green supply chain management, a review of the existing literature has highlighted a need to understand how green supply chain practices (GSCP) can contribute to improving company performance from an environmental point of view, as well as economic and operational. This paper aims to investigate the GSCP adopted by third party logistics (3PLs) in Italy in terms of specific practices implemented and level of adoption of each practice, and to explore how this adoption can affect the company performance.Design/methodology/approach – Multi-case study research involving 15 3PLs operating in Italy, with data collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews with senior representatives from each company.Findings – Even if findings reveal an overall increasing interest towards environmental issues, the current level of adoption of GSCP is still limited amongst the 3PLs investigated as well as their benefits in terms of company performance. Some players have shown a more proactive attitude and started benefiting substantially from the adoption of GSCP, mainly in terms of environmental and economic performance.Research limitations/implications – The research focuses on 3PLs operating in Italy – findings may differ in other countries and sectors.Practical implications – Findings can be used to support company decisions to either modify the GSCP already in place to achieve a set target or identify the most suitable GSCP to implement.Originality/value – This study contributes to a better understanding of the links between GSCP and company performance. It also provides insights into the GSCP currently in place amongst 3PLs operating in Italy, identifying the type of supply chain to which companies belong (or intend to belong in the future) as a relevant factor.
AB - Purpose – The pressure on logistics companies to embrace green processes has increased significantly in the last few years. Within the broad concept of green supply chain management, a review of the existing literature has highlighted a need to understand how green supply chain practices (GSCP) can contribute to improving company performance from an environmental point of view, as well as economic and operational. This paper aims to investigate the GSCP adopted by third party logistics (3PLs) in Italy in terms of specific practices implemented and level of adoption of each practice, and to explore how this adoption can affect the company performance.Design/methodology/approach – Multi-case study research involving 15 3PLs operating in Italy, with data collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews with senior representatives from each company.Findings – Even if findings reveal an overall increasing interest towards environmental issues, the current level of adoption of GSCP is still limited amongst the 3PLs investigated as well as their benefits in terms of company performance. Some players have shown a more proactive attitude and started benefiting substantially from the adoption of GSCP, mainly in terms of environmental and economic performance.Research limitations/implications – The research focuses on 3PLs operating in Italy – findings may differ in other countries and sectors.Practical implications – Findings can be used to support company decisions to either modify the GSCP already in place to achieve a set target or identify the most suitable GSCP to implement.Originality/value – This study contributes to a better understanding of the links between GSCP and company performance. It also provides insights into the GSCP currently in place amongst 3PLs operating in Italy, identifying the type of supply chain to which companies belong (or intend to belong in the future) as a relevant factor.
KW - Distribution management
KW - Green supply chain management (GSCM)
KW - Green supply chain practices (GSCP)
KW - Italy
KW - Performance
KW - Supply chain management
KW - Third party logistics (3PLs)
U2 - 10.1108/09600031211258138
DO - 10.1108/09600031211258138
M3 - Journal article
VL - 42
SP - 640
EP - 672
JO - International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management
JF - International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management
IS - 7
ER -