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John Wu, Steve Dunn and Howard Forman
A Study on Green Supply Chain Management Practices among Large Global Corporations
A Study on Green Supply Chain Management Practices

among Large Global Corporations
John Wu*
California State University, San Bernardino, CA, USA
Steve Dunn
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, WI, USA
Howard Forman
California State University, Fullerton, CA, USA
The purpose of this research is to understand the status of sustainable supply chain management
practices among the world’s largest corporations. Reacting to increasingly stringent government
regulations and rising consumer demands for more sustainable products, and trying to create
competitive advantages, many companies have begun implementing sustainability practices in
their strategy and everyday management. Although there are surveys and anecdotes about how
companies are adopting “green” concepts and practices, few studies have been done on what
large companies do and how they do it. This research addresses such issues using content
analysis of sustainability reports published by Fortune Global 500 companies. Because these
large global corporations have enormous economic and environmental impacton society with
their extensive networks of suppliers and customers, understanding their sustainability practices,
especially in the light of global supply chain, will help us spot the trends in corporate
sustainability management and fill the gap between what has been done and what needs to be
done.
*Corresponding Author. E-mail address: jwu@csusb.edu
I. INTRODUCTION search in their reports for a list of relevant

sustainability keywords commonly found in
The purpose of this research is to report literature to assess their evolving practices of
the status of sustainable supply chain sustainability.
management practices among the world’s largest
corporations. Many Fortune Global 500 II. LITERATURE REVIEW AND
companies document their sustainability RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
practices in their annual reports or stand-alone
sustainability reports. This study examines such Green or sustainable supply chain
reports from the 2009 Fortune Global 500 list management is defined as the strategic,
and reports on what these large companies are transparent, integration and achievement of an
doing in the sustainability movement and how organization’s social, environmental, and
much of their sustainability efforts are in the area economic objectives in the systemic coordination
of supply chain management. We aim to of key inter-organizational business processes for
establish a baseline measure of what the current improving the long-term performance of the firm
sustainability practices are and hope to develop and its supply chain partners (Ageron,
practical performance reports in the future for Gunasekaran, and Spalanzani, 2011). This
organizations to use. We use content analysis to implies that specific criteria have to be applied
Journal of Supply Chain and Operations Management, Volume 10, Number 1, February 2012
182
by all supply chain partners. At the same time, motivates company representatives to provide
responsible environmental and social behavior information about their practices (Nawrocka,
must be promoted as well for the good of the Brorson, and Lindhqvist, 2009). Since supply
entire chain (Testa and Iraldo, 2010). Helping chain is the one management function that
other players understand the importance of connects the inside of an organization to the
resolving environmental and social problems, outside, be it suppliers or customers, and
and supporting them in their improvement oftentimes represents the most visible corporate
initiatives is a major issue for each member of activities, various forms of sustainable supply
the supply chain. Environmental and social chain management practices have been adopted
benefits decrease if downstream and upstream as organizations strive to be green. Examining
partners are not integrated into sustainable their own operational processes and monitoring
practices (Ageron, Gunasekaran, and Spalanzani, supplier activities have become important
2011). We will discuss relevant literature in this sustainability tasks for many managers. Studying
section, and how we develop the research sustainable supply chain management at leading
methodology to help understand the status of companies, therefore, will help shed light on the
green supply chain management practices among current state of sustainability practices and point
large global companies. out the future opportunities for improvement.
Green or sustainable supply chain
2.1 Literature Review management has been recognized as a way to
create economic value (Mefford 2011, Winkler
Organizations have been paying attention 2011). It is particularly insightful to learn about
to environmental preservation since the negative supply chain management, a collaborative
impacts of industrialization were made public by process involving many interdisciplinary entities,
reports and books such as the famous “Silent both internal and external and at multiple levels
Spring” in 1962 (Carson, 1962). In the 1990s, of organizational structure (Cavinato, Flynn, and
management scholars researched organizational Kauffman, 2006). In their exhaustive study,
environmental practices and advocated more Carter and Easton (2011) specifically identify
holistic and responsible practices in the supply several trends in implementing sustainable
chain (Wu and Dunn 1995). The now popular supply chain management strategies. Hu and Hsu
concept of “triple bottom line” was cornered by (2010) also provide a framework for
John Elkington (1997) and soon adopted by understanding the important factors necessary for
many organizations in their corporate strategy developing and implementing sustainable supply
and management practices. Most people are now chains. Looking at a supply chain, especially a
familiar with the importance of measuring global one often seen in today’s intertwined
performance in three critical pillars of people, economy, may reveal the many areas that
planet, and profit. Since then, many more sustainable practices can be applied.
scholars have studied and documented the impact From materials used in manufacturing to
of corporate activities on the environment. locations of vendors along the supply chain to
Organizations have also been more open transportation carriers used to the final
about their environmental practices thus consumption of the product, supply chain
providing scholars opportunities to conduct management decisions interact with
research. The tradition of keeping companies´ sustainability in many ways. Previous research
environmental, health, and safety information to focused on the purchasing function in both the
themselves and to regulatory agencies has private sector (Pagell, Zhaohui, and Wasserman,
changed within the last few years. Stakeholder 2010) as well as the public sector (Walker, Di
attention or the risk of negative media attention Sisto, and McBain, 2008) shows the importance
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of material choices and vendor certification. stakeholders as “good citizens.” We include

Sustainable transportation (Varma and Clayton, specific supply chain practices in the keyword
2010) and warehousing (Tan, Daud, and search and also report those identified in previous
Sundaram, 2010) can also help lessen the studies (for example, Walton, Handefield, and
negative impact on the environment. Each Melnyk, 1998; Walker, Di Sisto, and McBain,
seemingly independent supply chain decision 2008).
carries the risk of potentially harming the
environment when it’s magnified multiple times 2.2 Research Framework
through the global supply chain. On the other
hand, a more sustainable supply chain in the Large global corporations account for a
global context may help improve the overall large portion of the world economy and generate
performance of the supply chain thus creating a significant environmental impact. Their
competitive advantage for the members along the involvement in sustainability, therefore, will have
supply chain. similar impact up and down the supply chain.
Organizations that operate in multiple Because sustainability and the business
countries face a daunting challenge because the interpretation (e.g. the triple bottom line) is a
laws and regulations in different countries can complex and evolving field, with fragmented
vary widely. The challenge for companies when approaches the rule (Erol, Sencer, and Sari,
it comes to supply chain management is the 2011), it would be helpful if we start looking into
widely variable regulatory environment from large organizations’ activities from what they
region to region and from country to country. For discuss in their annual reports. Assuming
organizations with facilities in more than one companies report what they do, if not more on
state or country, compliance assurance can be the positive side, we can assess the current status
very difficult if not impossible (Cahill and Kane, of green supply chain activities by systematically
2011). Firms need to understand that government documenting claims made in their annual reports.
involvement can actually facilitate their efforts Using tools such as content analysis, we should
(Sheu 2011). In order to avoid penalties, be able to achieve a quantitative measure of what
management must understand the impact of their sustainable activities large multinational
daily activities. The task of businesses then is to organizations embrace. We should also be able to
pay attention and to assure minimal vulnerability get a sense of what directions these green supply
in compliance-related matters, and to do so in the chain management practices are headed by
most efficient and cost effective way (Cahill and reading reports produced by more sustainability-
Kane, 2011). minded leading companies. With a combination
Similar research has been done to of quantitative and qualitative assessment, we
understand what large companies are doing in should be able to provide a good snapshot of
terms of sustainable transportation. Golicic, what sustainable supply chain management
Boerstler, and Ellram (2010) surveyed a small practices are among large global corporations.
sample of 44 Fortune 500 companies to
understand their sustainable transportation 2.3 Research Methodology
strategies. However, their work is limited to only
American companies who were engaged in one We use the 2009 Fortune Global 500, the
of the three pre-determined green activities. latest available data, as the base year for our
Expanding on their work, we look at how large analysis. This list compiled by Fortune magazine
global corporations (Fortune Global 500) are is a credible and authoritative compilation of the
leveraging sustainability in their publications to largest corporations in the world based on their
position themselves in the minds of their revenues. Other lists such as Financial Times
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Global 100 exist but Fortune has a longer history reports, and sustainability reports. Because of the
of ranking corporations (Fortune 2009). We differences among companies in their fiscal year
searched each of the Global 500 companies’ and when they release their reports, we looked
websites for published reports that may contain for 2009 reports first then 2010 reports. Search
corporate sustainability practices, including criteria included specific sections of their
social responsibility reports, corporate citizenship websites such as About Us, Shareholder
TABLE 1: Sustainable Supply Chain Keywords from Literature
No. Keyword Supply chain Rationale

specific?
1 Alternative fuels Fuels may be used to power machinery, not
just vehicles
2 Carbon footprint General sustainability practice
3 Certified suppliers Yes Part of supply chain
4 Clean engine Yes Specific to trucks/fleet management
5 Clean truck Yes Specific to trucks/fleet management
6 Corporate social responsibility General sustainability practice
7 Design for disassembly Yes Part of supply chain
8 Design for environment Yes Part of supply chain
9 Energy efficiency General sustainability practice
10 Environmental stewardship General sustainability practice
11 Fuel efficient Yes Specific to trucks/fleet management
12 Fuel saving Yes Specific to trucks/fleet management
13 Green logistics Yes Part of supply chain
14 Green manufacturing Yes Part of supply chain
15 Green procurement Yes Procurement is part of supply chain
16 Green supply chain Yes Supply Chain
17 Greenhouse gas emission General sustainability practice
18 ISO 14000 General sustainability practice
19 Product life cycle analysis General sustainability practice
20 Recycling materials General sustainability practice
21 Reduced packaging Yes Packaging affects supply chain performance
22 Smart way Yes Federal EPA program
23 Supplier audits Yes Part of supply chain
24 Supplier certification Yes Part of supply chain
25 Supply chain Yes Supply chain
26 Sustainability scorecard General sustainability practice
27 Sustainable supply chain Yes Supply chain
28 Sustainable transportation Yes Transportation is part of supply chain
29 Triple bottom line General sustainability practice
30 Vehicle routing Yes Fleet management
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FIGURE 1. Geographical Location of Global 500 Companies
Relations, or other similarly titled tabs. We also used the robust search algorithm to run content
searched the entire site by the keywords analysis for all the reports. The purpose of this
sustainability, citizenship, and social content analysis is to identify leading companies
responsibility to ensure inclusion of any such in sustainable supply chain activities. Once they
reports with different titles. The self-reported were identified, we read their entire sustainability
documents are used, instead of the more standard reports to find and report the common threads of
and required 10K reports, because these are the these activities. Their sustainable supply chain
only places where sustainability practices can be management initiatives and accomplishments
found. Once we obtained the reports (mostly help us paint a picture of the status quo in current
through instant download and few through mail sustainable supply chain management practices.
inquiries), we converted them to digital format in
MS Word or Adobe PDF. III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
We compiled a list of keywords from the
literature. Some keywords are mostly related to 3.1 Sample Demographics
supply chain management (manufacturing,
transportation, logistics, distribution, etc.) or Figures one to three highlight the extent
applicable to supply chain members and they are of sustainability reporting in the Fortune Global
identified as such. This classification allows us to 500 companies. Figure 1 shows the geographical
study companies that are engaged in locations of headquarters. This is important when
sustainability along the supply chain. The discussing sustainability as certain regions
keywords are listed in Table 1 with brief (Europe) and countries (Japan) may have been
explanations. leaders in the movement. It is also important to
We then developed a content analysis help point out any geographical differences in
algorithm to search for the keywords. We tested reporting sustainability activities.
and validated the program with the first 10 Figure 2 shows the percentage breakdown
reports to ensure search accuracy. Finally, we of sustainability reporting. About 2/3 of the
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largest companies produced a sustainability copy and scanning did not yield satisfactory
report of some kind. A small portion of the results or it was published in web format where
reports, 23 or 5%, cannot be used for our content compilation into a usable pdf or Word format
analysis either because it was printed in hard failed.
FIGURE 2. Sustainability Reporting Among Global 500 Companies
FIGURE 3. Types of Sustainability Reports Analyzed
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During the study, we identified several Table 3 highlights the companies with the
varieties of reports that fall under the rubric of highest percent of our 30 select keywords in their
sustainability report. Only a very small documents. The top companies mentioned only
percentage of companies (1%) incorporate 6-10 of the 30 keywords, which is a concern
sustainability reporting in the organization’s because these 4% of the Fortune Global 500
annual report. Others choose various names to companies have only up to one third of the
separate from annual reports: Sustainability commonly utilized supply chain sustainability
Report (44%), Corporate Social Responsibility keywords present in any of their reports. The
Report (25%), Corporate Responsibility Report implication is that supply chain is not yet at the
(18%), Corporate Citizenship Report (6%) and same level as the rest of the environmental
Environmental Report (6%) as shown in Figure 3. measures that companies have undertaken. The
geographical spread by region is largely North
Quantitative Discussions America and Europe and the industry types are
mostly manufacturing and retailing.
Content analysis yields some interesting The findings in Table 4 continue the
results in Tables two through four on the total of earlier findings in that very few companies even
312 reports analyzed. Among the top 10 discuss the concept of sustainability in
keywords found in the search as shown in Table conjunction with the supply chain. Hewlett
2, one can conclude that environmental concerns Packard, the highest scoring firm in both Table 2
are still on top of companies’ sustainability and Table 3 mentioned only 26% of the 19
priorities. Cost and energy efficiency related supply chain keywords and 33% of the overall
measures, including fuel saving, fuel efficiency, sustainability keywords. Most companies that
greenhouse gas emission, and carbon footprint mentioned sustainable supply chain keywords are
are among the most mentioned keywords. Supply in manufacturing, transportation, and retailing.
chain, on the other hand, is gaining more
3.3 Qualitative Discussions
attention as companies look into opportunities
from procurement, suppliers, and other supply With quantitative analysis done, we then
chain members. studied the sustainability reports produced by the
top companies in Table 4 to learn about their
TABLE 2. Top 10 Keywords Discussed in sustainable management practices, including the
Reports ones in green supply chain. The following are our
Mentioned findings.
in % of Reported Major Activities:
Ranking Keyword
reports
analyzed
 Education, training, and awareness
1 energy efficiency 78.8% programs: Consistent with Lueneburger and
2 greenhouse gas emission 76.6% Goleman (2010), many companies have
3 supply chain 71.8% sustainability training programs for
4 carbon footprint 50.3% employees and suppliers. FIAT, for
5 fuel efficient 18.9% example, reports the amount of time spent
environmental on employee training in bringing up the
16.3%
6 stewardship sustainability awareness. Quanta and Hon
7 green procurement 13.1% Hai also report on their supplier education
8 fuel saving 11.9% initiatives to ensuresustainability in their
9 supplier audits 8.7% supply chain members.
10 sustainable supply chain 6.7%
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TABLE 3. Top Companies with Most Keywords Discussed
Global % of Sales,
Rank-
Rank- keywords Company Million Region Business Type
ing
ing mentioned USD
North Computers, Office
1 32 33.3% Hewlett-Packard 118,364
America Equipment
2 151 30.0% Deutsche Bahn 48,963 Europe Railroads
3 106 26.7% A.P. Møller-Mæ rsk 62,637 Europe Shipping
North
4 167 26.7% Best Buy 45,015 Specialty Retailers
America
North Aerospace and
5 468 26.7% Bombardier 19,721
America Defense
Network and
North
6 191 26.7% Cisco 39,540 Communications
America
Equipment
Motor Vehicles and
7 64 26.7% Fiat 86,914 Europe
Parts
Motor Vehicles and
8 352 26.7% Mazda 25,242 Asia
Parts
Food and Drug
9 50 26.7% Metro 101,217 Europe
Stores
Motor Vehicles and
10 376 26.7% Michelin 24,016 Europe
Parts
North Mail, Package and
11 143 26.7% UPS 51,486
America Freight Delivery
North Construction and
12 144 23.3% Caterpillar 51,324
America Farm Machinery
Telecommunica-
13 61 23.3% Deutsche Telekom 90,260 Europe
tions
Computers, Office
14 161 23.3% Fujitsu 46,714 Asia
Equipment
Electronics,
15 52 23.3% Hitachi 99,544 Asia Electrical
Equipment
Electronics,
Hon Hai Precision
16 109 23.3% 61,861 Asia Electrical
Industry
Equipment
17 208 23.3% Iberdrola 36,879 Europe Utilities
18 244 23.3% Idemitsu 33,522 Asia Petroleum Refining
19 495 23.3% Samsung C&T 18,635 Asia Trading
North General
20 3 23.3% Walmart 405,607
America Merchandisers
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TABLE 4: TOP COMPANIES WITH MOST SUPPLY CHAIN KEYWORDS DISCUSSED
Global % of supply Sales,

Rankin Rankin chain Company Million Region Business Type
g g keywords USD
mentioned
1 32 26.3% Hewlett-Packard 118,364 North
America
Computers, Office
Equipment
2 151 26.3% Deutsche Bahn 48,963 Europe Railroads
3 64 21.1% Fiat 86,914 Europe Motor Vehicles and
Parts
4 106 21.1% A.P. Møller- 62,637 Europe Shipping
Mæ rsk
5 167 21.1% Best Buy 45,015 North Specialty Retailers
America
6 468 21.1% Bombardier 19,721 North Aerospace and
America Defense
North Network and Other
7 191 21.1% Cisco 39,540 America Communications
Equipment
8 352 21.1% Mazda 25,242 Asia Motor Vehicles and
Parts
9 52 21.1% Hitachi 99,544 Asia Electronics, Electrical
Equipment
10 342 15.8% Quanta 25,967 Asia Computers, Office
Equipment
11 50 15.8% Metro 101,217 Europe Food and Drug Stores
12 376 15.8% Michelin 24,016 Europe Motor Vehicles and
Parts
13 143 15.8% UPS 51,486 North Mail, Package and
America Freight Delivery
14 144 15.8% Caterpillar 51,324 North Construction and Farm

America Machinery
15 61 15.8% Deutsche 90,260 Europe Telecommunications
Telekom
16 161 15.8% Fujitsu 46,714 Asia Computers, Office
Equipment
17 109 15.8% Hon Hai Electronics, Electrical
Precision Industry 61,861 Asia Equipment
18 495 15.8% Samsung C&T 18,635 Asia Trading
19 387 15.8% Anheuser-Busch 23,568 Europe Beverages
InBev
20 115 15.8% Dell 61,101 North Computers, Office
America Equipment
 Supplier risks assessment, auditing, Fortune 500 companies and also in the
certification: Sustainability certification biofuels/bioenergy (Scarlat, Dallemand,
requirements are becoming increasingly more 2011), coffee (Raynolds, Murray, and Heller,
important for sustainable conscience 2007), and wine (Berghoef and Dodds, 2011)
organizations. Examples can be found among industries.
190
 Sustainability KPIs for logistical sustainability or environmental preservation.

activities/projects: One of the popular areas It seems that joining such organizations helps
for sustainability development is to develop a keep companies up to date in sustainability
series of key performance indicators or KPIs. front. Some industry leaders, such as HP, are
KPIs need to be consistent with partnering up with professional associations
organizational goals and objectives (Bai, to develop industry standards.
Sarkis, and Wei, 2010). The results of the
present study suggest that many managers Supply chain coverage:
believe what is measured gets done. Thus,
measuring activities geared to meeting Most companies report a series of
objectives will carry significant weight. activities along the global supply chain. They
Results of our study bear this out where report having initiatives in the areas of
companies have developed auditing and purchasing/procurement, transportation &
certification tools to assess supply chain logistics, product development,
risks. For example, in the computer industry, production/processes, sales and service,
HP and Dell audit their suppliers periodically packaging, and even end of life recycling.
then certify them for their sustainability Manufacturers seem to lead the way in supply
levels. Retailers like Wal-mart also have chain activities as many of them report
stringent requirements and processes for their monitoring such activities in their own supply
suppliers. chain and for their supply chain partners
including carriers and first and second-tier
 Environmental Management System: In the suppliers.
past, organizations have been developing
methodologies to measure the environmental Non-supply chain coverage:
impact of company activities (Veleva, et al,
2004; Bjorklund, 2010). Companies are Companies report activities that reflect
developing even more comprehensive the organization’s commitment to sustainability,
systems to manage Environment-related including corporate governance, customer
matters the same way they manage relations and customer education, community
production or logistics resources. Deutsche- relations, and human (workers) rights issues.
Bahn, for example, has a system that Many are regulatory and compliance activities
monitors all of its maintenance activities for but more are marketing and PR-related measures.
environmental issues. Specific Initiatives:
All companies in Table 4 report specific
initiatives as examples that support their
 Membership in NGOs and professional sustainability claims. Reducing energy
organizations: Increasingly, social consumption tops the list of such initiatives. It is
movements’ scrutiny is focused on good for the environment and also good from the
multinational companies. As these cost perspective. Companies also report efforts to
movements continue to gain global cut GHG emission, including the selection of
recognition, it becomes more important that shipping modes and the use of cleaner fuels or
they are considered as part organizations’ alternative energy sources. Some companies,
strategic environmental calculus (Perez- such as Mazda and Michelin report developing
Aleman, and Sandilands, 2008). The study newer and cleaner products that help reduce
results show most companies belong to one negative environmental impacts. Most companies
or more non-profit organizations dedicated to
191
also report how they reduce, reuse, and recycle is small, it’s a beginning. This is probably a
packaging materials and production wastes. reflection of the interest in uncovering the
potential sustainability benefits along the
IV. CONCLUSIONS stretched global supply chain.
Among the more supply chain minded
4.1 Conclusions organizations, many are building a management
system where sustainability performance can be
Our research provides some insights as to measured. Developing an environmental
what extent do large companies engage in management system, installing a few
sustainable supply chain practices and what sustainability KPIs, requiring suppliers to meet
specific activities they are doing. As customers specific sustainability requirements, and joining
expect a firm to assure socially and ecologically NGOs or professional organizations all help
sound production, more companies are likely to companies quantify their efforts and begin to
initiate more sustainability efforts. While current actively manage sustainability activities in a
green supply chain management practices still more systematic way. Education and training, for
focus on cost reduction and pollution prevention, both employees and suppliers, helps disseminate
we see positive changes in organizations the information and knowledge about the
evolving and incorporating more proactive company’s sustainability determination. The
sustainable measures into their strategy and coalition around a standard set of measurements,
everyday practice. combined with a thorough commitment to third
Our study shows over two-thirds of the party audit procedures will do much to legitimize
firms are producing some type of sustainability company claims. Along with supply chain
report. This is an indication of the level of specific initiatives, these broad-based
importance and commitment from large sustainability efforts will form the foundation of
companies. While many are reporting their more sustainable supply chain management
mostly positive sustainability involvement, few practices.
discuss in depth about their green supply chain
practices. It appears that companies are slowly 4.2 Limitations and Future Research
and gradually turning their attention to potential The present research represents the first
environmental benefits in the global supply attempt to summarize how some of the largest
chain. global companies are approaching sustainability
Energy efficiency, fuel efficient, and fuel and leveraging it as part of an overall business
saving are among the most mentioned keywords strategy. Using content analysis of corporate
in our study. This means that companies are reports, we understand that the research is limited
paying attention to the low hanging fruits of both to companies’ self-reported activities that have
environmentally responsible and cost saving no priorities or quantitative measures. Unlike
measures. Greenhouse gas emission, carbon financial reports that have standard format and
footprint, and environmental stewardship were are mandated by regulatory agencies,
also mentioned in a large majority of the reports. sustainability reports range widely and include
This may indicate a compliance issue or media- many different activities. It would be useful to
generated hot topic among managers. We are develop a validation mechanism or a quantitative
pleased to find out that a few supply chain- measure that can be used to ensure what the
related keywords such as green procurement, reports say is consistent with what actually
sustainable supply chain, and supplier audit are happens. This research also represents a static,
mentioned by some companies. Even though the positive perspective of what is happening now.
number of companies mentioning these keywords To develop a better understanding of
192
sustainability trends, one would want to engage Physical Distribution & Logistics
in a longer term longitudinal study. There is also Management, 41(1), 2011, 46-62.
need for a comparative study between Cavinato, J., Flynn, A. and Kauffman, R., The
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activities. Sustainability Performance of a Supply
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V. ACKNOWLEDGMENT 1088-1100.
Fortune, Global 500 List, 2009
The authors wish to thank the Leonard http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/glo
Transportation Center at Cal State San bal500/2009/full_list/ accessed 2/3/2011)
Bernardino for its generous financial support for Golicic, S., Courtney N. and Ellram, L.,
this research. “Greening Transportation in the Supply
Chain,” MIT Sloan Management Review,
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John Wu, Steve Dunn and Howard Forman

A Study on Green Supply Chain Management Practices

I. INTRODUCTION search in their reports for a list of relevant

of material choices and vendor certification. stakeholders as “good citizens.” We include

TABLE 1: Sustainable Supply Chain Keywords from Literature

No. Keyword Supply chain Rationale

FIGURE 1. Geographical Location of Global 500 Companies

FIGURE 2. Sustainability Reporting Among Global 500 Companies

FIGURE 3. Types of Sustainability Reports Analyzed

TABLE 3. Top Companies with Most Keywords Discussed

TABLE 4: TOP COMPANIES WITH MOST SUPPLY CHAIN KEYWORDS DISCUSSED

Global % of supply Sales,

14 144 15.8% Caterpillar 51,324 North Construction and Farm

 Sustainability KPIs for logistical sustainability or environmental preservation.

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