environmental and social business impacts has led to the introduction of a new
concept called “sustainable development” which addresses economic, social, and
environmental dimensions, simultaneously (Cowell and Parkinson 2003). Sustainable development aims to meet the needs of the present generation without
undermining the needs of the next generation. This concept has gradually entered
the supply chain and has led to the emergence of the concept of sustainable supply
chain. While there are various definitions of sustainability, Seuring and Müller
(2008), in a comprehensive definition, defined sustainable supply chain management, as the management of materials and information flows as well as the collaboration of the organizations across the supply chain with regard to sustainable
development goals, i.e., economic, social, and environmental goals arising from
customers and stakeholders’ needs. Consideration of the three social, environmental,
and economic perspectives has been observed in most definitions of sustainability.
Social Perspective Society’s expectations of the legal, economic, ethical, and
humanitarian activities of organizations indicate their social responsibility (Carroll
and Buchholtz 2002). Social responsibility is a tool for sustaining the organization
and achieving the sustainable development goals to improve the people’s life quality
without damaging the environment and with minimizing the use of resources and
ensuring the economic rights of citizens (Carter and Rogers 2008). Variety of
choices, human rights standards, job creation and creation of self-employment
opportunities, and improvement of community health infrastructures are important
elements of social sustainability and should be considered in supply chain assessment (Bai and Sarkis 2010; Martínez-Blanco et al. 2014). In recent years, the
concept of corporate social responsibility has been considered by researchers and
companies in the manufacturing and service industries as a competitive advantage
(Govindan et al. 2013).
Environmental Perspective In recent decades, changes in environmental elements
have directed the researchers’ interest toward developing environmental management strategies in the supply chain (Fernando and Saththasivam 2017). Environmental issues are among the key elements of sustainable development that refer to
the conservation of natural resources and the protection of the environment from the
dangers of technological progress. Environmental sustainability aims at using the
current generation resources properly (without disrupting future generation’s use of
resources) and considering the environmental requirements at all stages of selection
and supply of raw materials, production, distribution, delivery, and recycling management in order to maximize the energy and resource consumption efficiency with
emphasis on improving performance (Handfield et al. 1997; Vachon and Klassen
2008; Eltayeb et al. 2011). Considering environmental issues has advantages such as
loss reduction and cost savings, creating competitive advantage, increasing environmental performance, and improving synergy and efficiency (Govindan et al. 2013;
Zhu et al. 2008).
Economic Perspective Usually in designing supply chains and businesses, economic aspects such as cost reduction have been emphasized upon (Cowell and
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H. F. Lajimi
concept called “sustainable development” which addresses economic, social, and
environmental dimensions, simultaneously (Cowell and Parkinson 2003). Sustainable development aims to meet the needs of the present generation without
undermining the needs of the next generation. This concept has gradually entered
the supply chain and has led to the emergence of the concept of sustainable supply
chain. While there are various definitions of sustainability, Seuring and Müller
(2008), in a comprehensive definition, defined sustainable supply chain management, as the management of materials and information flows as well as the collaboration of the organizations across the supply chain with regard to sustainable
development goals, i.e., economic, social, and environmental goals arising from
customers and stakeholders’ needs. Consideration of the three social, environmental,
and economic perspectives has been observed in most definitions of sustainability.
Social Perspective Society’s expectations of the legal, economic, ethical, and
humanitarian activities of organizations indicate their social responsibility (Carroll
and Buchholtz 2002). Social responsibility is a tool for sustaining the organization
and achieving the sustainable development goals to improve the people’s life quality
without damaging the environment and with minimizing the use of resources and
ensuring the economic rights of citizens (Carter and Rogers 2008). Variety of
choices, human rights standards, job creation and creation of self-employment
opportunities, and improvement of community health infrastructures are important
elements of social sustainability and should be considered in supply chain assessment (Bai and Sarkis 2010; Martínez-Blanco et al. 2014). In recent years, the
concept of corporate social responsibility has been considered by researchers and
companies in the manufacturing and service industries as a competitive advantage
(Govindan et al. 2013).
Environmental Perspective In recent decades, changes in environmental elements
have directed the researchers’ interest toward developing environmental management strategies in the supply chain (Fernando and Saththasivam 2017). Environmental issues are among the key elements of sustainable development that refer to
the conservation of natural resources and the protection of the environment from the
dangers of technological progress. Environmental sustainability aims at using the
current generation resources properly (without disrupting future generation’s use of
resources) and considering the environmental requirements at all stages of selection
and supply of raw materials, production, distribution, delivery, and recycling management in order to maximize the energy and resource consumption efficiency with
emphasis on improving performance (Handfield et al. 1997; Vachon and Klassen
2008; Eltayeb et al. 2011). Considering environmental issues has advantages such as
loss reduction and cost savings, creating competitive advantage, increasing environmental performance, and improving synergy and efficiency (Govindan et al. 2013;
Zhu et al. 2008).
Economic Perspective Usually in designing supply chains and businesses, economic aspects such as cost reduction have been emphasized upon (Cowell and
120
H. F. Lajimi