Implementation strategy of environmental management systems in supply chains

Abstract

This study explores the implementation strategy of environmental management systems (EMSs) with integration improvement processes in the supply chain. It also explores the change in environmental performance and competitiveness that results when EMSs are strategically implemented. The study uses the taxonomy approach and within-cluster paired-sample t-tests as its primary methodologies. As the test results show, the study identifies an integration improvement process involving four steps, each focussed on improving integration activities. We then analyze the implementation timing, sequences and levels of each EMS and further determine how to strategically implement these EMSs at each stage. When strategically implementing these EMSs, test results show that environmental performance gradually improves, and competitiveness also gradually improves. The present results have great practical implications in helping manufacturers implement suitable EMSs while controlling pollution emissions via integration.

Keywords:

• Supply chain
• integration
• environmental management systems
• taxonomy

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under [Grant no. 71872131], STU Scientific Research Initiation Grant (SRIG) under [Grant no. 20007], Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province of China under [Grant no. Y17G030052 and LY20G010009], Humanities and Social Sciences Foundation of Ministry of Education of China under [Grant no. 17YJC630109], and Natural Science Foundation of China under [Grant no. 71601146].

Notes on contributors

Ping-Kuo Chen

Ping-Kuo Chen received the Ph.D. degree in Industrial Engineering and Management from National Chiao Tung University in Hsinchu, Taiwan in 2008. He is currently the Professor at the Business School of Shantou University. Dr. Chen’s research interests include manufacturing strategy, production and operations management, supply chain management and green supply chain.

Yong Ye

Yong Ye was born in Lishui, Zhejiang, China, in 1984. He received the B.S. degree in applied mathematics from Wenzhou University in 2007, the M.S. degree in system engineering from Southeast University in 2010 and the Ph.D. degree in management science and engineering from Zhejiang University in 2014. He is currently an Associate Professor in Taizhou University. His research interests include humanitarian logistics, public health security management and supply chain management.