Going green? Investigating the relationships between proactive environmental strategy, GSCM practices and performances of third-party logistics providers (TPLs)

Abstract

This study investigates how green supply chain management (GSCM) practices help translate the proactive environmental strategies (PES) of third-party logistics providers (TPLs) into enhanced economic and environmental performances. The survey data from 232 French TPLs suggest that the positive influence of PES orientations on environmental performance depends on the types of GSCM practices that are mobilised. More specifically, the study reveals that environmental performance is positively influenced by both eco-efficiency and eco-branding orientations through three main GSCM practices: distribution and transport, warehousing and green building, and reverse logistics. However, neither of these orientations influence environmental performance through two other GSCM practices: cooperation with customers and eco design and packaging, and only eco-efficiency orientations positively influence environmental performance through green supply. The study further suggests that an improved environmental performance helps TPLs increase their economic performance. Overall, this study offers interesting insights into the role of GSCM practices in managing TPLs’ PES orientations to improve their performances.

Keywords:

• Proactive environmental strategy orientations
• third-party logistics providers
• green supply chain management practices
• environmental performance
• economic performance

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Issam Laguir

Laguir Issam is an Assistant Professor of Accounting and Management Control at Montpellier Business School. His research focuses on social and environmental accounting, taxation, corporate governance and global performance, and financial and environmental performances in banking industry. He has published several papers in various refereed journals such as Journal of Cleaner Production, International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Small Business Economics, Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Industrial Marketing Management, Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, Applied Economics, Journal of Business Ethics, Economics Bulletin, etc.

Rébecca Stekelorum

Stekelorum Rébecca is an Assistant Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship at ICN Business School. Her research focuses on sustainable supply chain management, corporate social responsibility, small-to medium-sized enterprises, and financial and environmental performances in banking industry. She has published in recognised academic journals such as Industrial Marketing Management, Applied Economics, Economics Bulletin, Management Decision, Management International, Supply Chain Forum: An International Journal, and International Journal of Logistics Management, etc.

Jamal El Baz

El Baz Jamal is an Associate Professor of Logistics and Supply Chain Management at ‎University Ibn Zohr. His research focuses on logistics, and green supply chain management. He has published several papers in various refereed journals such as Journal of Cleaner Production, International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Industrial Marketing Management, Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, Applied Economics, Journal of Business Ethics, Economics Bulletin, etc.