Motivators for and Barriers to Sustainable Supply Chain Practices Implementation

Abstract

Purpose: It is nowadays believed that the effective implementation of the principles of sustainable development in companies requires cooperation in entire supply chains. Companies are guided by various motivators and face various barriers to the implementation of sustainable supply chain practices (SSCPs); however, so far, no attention has been given to examining the relationship between them. Thus, the aim of the paper is to examine such relationships. Design/methodology/approach: The paper presents the results of a survey conducted on a sample of 500 companies. The aim of the paper is achieved by examining Spearman’s correlation coefficient. Findings: In most cases, a positive correlation is observed between the motivators for and barriers to SSCPs implementation. Additionally, such dependence occurs more often for external motivators, compared to internal motivators. Research implications: The activities supporting the implementation of SSCPs should concentrate on strengthening internal motivators in companies (e.g., by propagating relevant knowledge) as well as overcoming internal barriers. The importance of external motivators seems to be reduced by the coexistence of barriers. Originality/value: This paper contributes to supply chain and sustainable development literature by identifying a positive correlation between motivators for and barriers to SSCPs implementation. Such a finding may be important to policymakers, as it suggest that concentrating merely on motivating companies to implement sustainability principles may not be sufficient if it is not accompanied by barrier-breaking mechanisms.