Implementing Triple Bottom Line Sustainability into Global Supply Chains

The new publication Implementing Triple Bottom Line Sustainability into Global Supply Chains by Lydia Bals and Wendy Tate is an excellent resource for practitioners, academics and policy makers and brings together some of the brightest minds in supply chain sustainability. This book captures the complexity and importance of managing supply chains in a sustainable manner. With contributions by academics from across the globe, the UN and consultants, this is a significant and compelling book. The chapters guide the reader through the latest research, in-depth analysis, case studies, terminology development and ideas about the shared value chains and the circular economy, in order to guide our future thinking on sustainable supply chains. The book examines triple-bottom line research and thinking and focuses mainly on the social element. This is a particularly relevant and timely development as the volume of work on environmental sustainability can overshadow the social dimension of sustainability, and in particular research relating to the poorest people across the world, sometimes referred to as the bottom of the pyramid. We have many concepts and theories in supply chain management that can be of real help to managing sustainable development and sustainable supply chain management. This book is one of the first to bring together supply chain concepts and sustainable solutions. -- Donna Marshall, PhD, Quinn School of Business, University College Dublin This balanced book provides a unique series of insights into sustainable supply chain management. The book's balance comes from selecting articles that address all elements of the triple bottom line, by acknowledging that win-win is not always possible, and by giving voice to perspectives that are often missing in the sustainability discourse. It is refreshing to see such a wide-ranging discussion on often-overlooked topics such as base of the pyramid stakeholders or the role of social enterprise in creating sustainable supply chains. Finally, the editors' focus on acknowledging all of the flows in a chain while designing in sustainability seems much more likely to lead to the development of truly sustainable supply chains, than much of the profit-focused discourse to date. -- Mark Pagell, PhD, Chair in Global Leadership, Professor of Sustainable Supply Chain Management, University College Dublin Sustainability is a foundation for firms managing their supply chains. Professors Bals and Tate have assembled a relevant, thought-provoking, and much needed collection of current research and practice for better understanding of how organizations can develop sustainable supply chains that provide social, environmental, and economic benefits for firms and society. -- George A. Zsidisin, PhD, CPSM, C.P.M. Professor of Supply Chain Management, Virginia Commonwealth University, Co-Editor Emeritus, Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management

The global sustainability challenge is urgent, tremendous and increasing. From an ecological perspective, the current worldwide resource footprint requires approximately 1.5 planets to sustain existing life, and with current usage would require two planets by 2030. The social impact of ever-growing resource use disproportionately affects the world’s poor – the 3 billion people living on less than $2.50 a day, as they struggle to acquire what is needed to survive. The serious ecological and social challenges we face in trying to establish global sustainable supply chains must not be underestimated, yet so far research has largely ignored the social dimension in favour of the environmental and economic.

So how can we develop business strategies that move away from a primary economic focus and give equal weight to people, planet and profit? How can we create sustainable supply chains that take a true triple-bottom-line approach?Implementing Triple Bottom Line Sustainability into Global Supply Chains features innovative research, highlighting new cases, approaches and concepts in how to successfully implement sustainability – covering economic, ecological and social dimensions – into global supply chains. The four parts cover the rationale for sustainable global supply chains, key enablers, case studies showing clear implementation steps, and directions for future research and development.This book is a must-read for any academic researching in sustainable supply chain management, procurement or business strategy, and for business leaders seeking cases that will inform a critical step forward for CSR programmes.