Linking strategic logistics change to labor rights

Abstract

PurposeThis paper aims to describe how research literature and logistics practitioners respectively describe the link between logistics and corporate social responsibility, focusing on the link between strategic logistics change (location, capacity and number of facilities as well as the design of supplier and customer network) and labor rights.Design/methodology/approachA literature review on the topics corporate social responsibility, green logistics and sustainable supply chain management was performed. A mail survey (103 respondents) was conducted in order to explore how strategic logistics changes have influenced corporate social responsibility. Step‐wise regression analyses were used to identify relationships between strategic logistics decision making and the influence on labor rights.FindingsThere is a general unanimity in literature that logistics is an important area with regards to corporate social responsibility. Eight significant relations were identified linking strategic logistics changes to changes in the consideration of labor rights.Practical implicationsThe study provides an understanding of how corporate social responsibility, focusing on labor rights, is influenced by strategic logistics changes. This can increase the understanding and the need for taking labor rights aspects into consideration in strategic logistics decision making as well as identification of what aspects of labor rights that are most important to consider in different types of logistics changes.Originality/valueThis study shows the importance of considering social responsible aspects regarding labor rights in strategic logistics decision making. Furthermore, as the empirical data are based on a Swedish sample it is an important complement to current, often American, studies within the field.