International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

Insanic, Igor ; Gadde, Lars-Erik

2014 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/IJPDLM-02-2014-0047

Purpose – Increasing attention to sustainability has made product recovery issues increasingly significant. Although several studies portray product recovery arrangements as networks, these constellations have not been analyzed with network models. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the organizing of product recovery networks. Design/methodology/approach – Previous research highlighted the need for a holistic perspective on product recovery. Industrial network theory provides such a framework, based on three dimensions of business reality: activities, resources and actors. The research method applied is a qualitative case study approach of product recovery in the PC industry. Findings – The most significant issues in the organizing of product recovery concern the coordination of interdependent activities and the combining of physical and organizational resources. Effective organizing is contingent on interaction and information exchange among firms. Furthermore, the sorting rules applied in the product recovery process are crucial for the performance in the activity chain from disposer to end-user. Research limitations/implications – The study deals with product recovery of PCs, and needs to be supplemented with research in other empirical contexts. Practical implications – The study offers companies broader perspective on their product recovery operations by illustrating how they are related to a wider network. Originality/value – The study applies a novel perspective on product recovery. The analytical framework and the qualitative approach complement mainstream approaches.

Pålsson, Henrik ; Kovács, Gyöngyi

2014 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/IJPDLM-09-2012-0293

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate why companies reduce transportation emissions by examining the relative importance of external drivers vs internal motives for companies in considering CO 2 emissions in freight transportation. Design/methodology/approach – A framework is suggested that captures internal, competitiveness-driven motives and external, stakeholder-driven drivers for companies seeking to reduce CO 2 in freight transportation. These factors are tested in a large industry survey in Sweden. The survey resulted in 172 responses from corporate heads of logistics, a response rate of 40.3 per cent. Findings – Variations in responding to stakeholder pressure vs company strategy for reducing transportation emissions are identified. Company strategy outweighs stakeholder pressure in determining whether a company intends to green its transportation. The strategy leads to company-internal motives for reducing transportation emissions which differ from company to company. These differences, in turn, lead to different levels of intended reductions. Stakeholder pressure sets the minimal levels that elevate the performance of a group of companies in an industry or a country, but the differentiation effect across companies is lost. The intention to reduce emissions is greatest if a company has both economic and image motives. The logistics resource configuration does not seem to impact drivers and motives. Research limitations/implications – The research is based on companies in Sweden. Studies across several countries are needed to investigate the impact of national requirements. Originality/value – The paper shows that the combination of the resource-based view and stakeholder theory presents a better explanation as to why companies reduce transportation emissions than either of them do separately. By combining the two theories this research differentiates between how stakeholder pressure and company strategy influence intents to green transportation.

De Giovanni, Pietro ; Esposito Vinzi, Vincenzo

2014 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/IJPDLM-06-2012-0188

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to test the impact of internal and external environmental management (EM) on performance to verify the emission trading (ET) mechanism ' s effectiveness. It aims to investigate whether EM that is carried out by ET firms has a higher influence on performance than EM that is carried out by no-ET firms. Design/methodology/approach – A conceptual model is drawn up based on the existing literature in green supply chain management (GSCM) and is tested on a large sample of Italian firms. A multi-group analysis in structural equation modeling allows for the estimation of the impact of internal and external EM on economic and environmental performance over the two groups. Findings – Firms under ET regime do not perform better than no-ET firms environmentally or economically; moreover, environmental collaboration is significantly less effective for ET firms. Research limitations/implications – Although the ET mechanism has been introduced by the European Union to combat and reduce the emissions, research has shown its marginal effectiveness. Data comprises only data about Italian firms. Items in the questionnaire allow for a two-year lag period. Interviewed firms have been selected according to EM criteria only. Practical implications – Firms subjected to the ET mechanism should find more effective and efficient practices to improve their environmental performance because the ET is marginally beneficial. Originality/value – The findings supply insights to managers about the real effectiveness of ET as well as to decision planners for the development of future sustainable mechanisms.

García-Arca, Jesús ; Prado-Prado, J. Carlos ; Gonzalez-Portela Garrido, A. Trinidad

2014 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/IJPDLM-05-2013-0112

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the aspects of internal and external transformation that take place in each company along the supply chain when a “sustainable packaging logistics” approach is implemented. Before this can be achieved, it is necessary to identify and characterise the principal cornerstones and stages associated with this implementation. Design/methodology/approach – In the paper the combination of “case study” and “action research” techniques have been chosen. It has been analysed the implementation of “sustainable packaging logistics” in the supply chain of Mercadona (one of the largest retailers in Spain), paying special attention to the implementation and evolution in one of its main food suppliers. Findings – To adopt a “Sustainable Packaging Logistics” approach allows for a proactive integration of the efficiency and sustainability in supply chains. The proposal to implement “sustainable packaging logistics”, based on four cornerstones and three stages of evolution is particularly significant, while contributing to improved competitiveness. This implementation constitutes an evolutionary process which is conditioned by how each area, department or company along the supply chain interpret and assess different packaging features over time. Research limitations/implications – The model is based on a single supply chain analysis. Originality/value – This paper may be of interest both for researchers and professionals, because the model can aid companies in improving their global vision of product and packaging design in order to jointly increase sustainability and efficiency in the supply chain.