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(Re)Designing Processes for Improving Supply Chain Sustainability

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 August 2021) | Viewed by 61238

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Prof. Dr. J. Carlos Prado-Prado

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Guest Editor

Industrial Engineering School, University of Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Spain
Interests: supply chain design; logistics; lean manufacturing; employee participation systems

Prof. Dr. Jesús García Arca

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Guest Editor

Industrial Engineering School, University of Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Spain
Interests: supply chain design; logistics; lean manufacturing; sustainable packaging logistics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the context of globalized markets, not only do companies face constant innovation of new products, decreasing life cycles, and product proliferation, they also face the demand for even lower prices and even higher quality and service standards. This is occurring in increasingly turbulent and volatile markets, which has forced many organizations to improve processes along the supply chain as a means to gain competitive advantages. Thus, today’s competition model no longer follows the traditional fight between companies but rather involves a fight between supply chains. This competition occurs in a context of increasing demand for sustainable policies, which may condition the search for alternative improvements in supply chain management.

Thus, redesigning the processes throughout the supply chain contributes to the search for efficiency and sustainability. This search for efficient and sustainable processes (mainly productive and logistic processes) may be based on investment in technology, equipment, and facilities, as well as small improvements, such as the lean manufacturing approach. The main objective of this Special Issue, “(Re)Designing Processes for Improving Supply Chain Sustainability”, is to investigate the development of sustainable supply chains through processes redesign. Papers selected for this Special Issue will be subject to a rigorous peer review procedure with the aim of rapid and wide dissemination of research results, developments and applications.

We will accept a variety of methodologies, such as qualitative and quantitative analyses, case studies, action research, and mathematical modelling and simulation with potential for application in a business context. We welcome papers that address, but are not limited to, the following research topics:

Supply chain redesign for sustainability
Lean manufacturing and sustainability
Sustainable supply chains in the e-commerce era
Sustainable logistics
Emmployee participation for developing sustainable processes
Sustainable packaging logistics

Prof. Dr. J. Carlos Prado-Prado
Prof. Dr. Jesús García Arca
Guest Editors

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Keywords

Supply chain redesign for sustainability
Lean manufacturing and sustainability
Sustainable supply chains in the e-commerce era
Sustainable logistics
Employee participation for developing sustainable processes
Sustainable packaging logistics

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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15 pages, 930 KB

Open AccessArticle

Perception of Agroecological Practices Among Smallholder Farmers: Opportunities, Influencing Factors, and Barriers in Senegal

by Saboury Ndiaye, Landing Diedhiou, Mamadou Ndiaye, Jean-Pierre Sarthou, Philomene Agueno Sambou, Mame Dior Pouye, Dibor Diouf, Mamadou Ndao and Thierno Abdoucadry Diallo

Sustainability 2025, 17(21), 9605; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17219605 - 29 Oct 2025

Viewed by 625

Abstract

Market gardening plays a central role in food security and improving household income in Ziguinchor, Senegal. Faced with growing environmental and socio-economic challenges, agroecology emerges as a sustainable pathway for strengthening this agro-economic activity. This study evaluates the adoption of agroecological practices by urban and peri-urban market gardeners, identifying influencing factors and constraints. A survey of 300 farmers was conducted in Ziguinchor, and data were analyzed using Excel. Relative Importance Index (RII), Weighted Average Index (WAI), and Problem Confrontation Index (PCI) ranked the most used practices, influencing factors, and adoption barriers. Results show that 79.67% of respondents were women, mostly over 45, with secondary education. Most of market gardeners consider this activity main source of income, and have been doing so for more than 10 years. Common agroecological practices include: removing weeds and diseased plants, organic fertilization, watering, crop rotation, and recommended fertilizer application, with relative importance indices of 0.75, 0.75, 0.72, 0.73, and 0.62, respectively. Key constraints include the lack of labor (PCI = 789), lack of information and training (PCI = 597), high cost of improved seeds (PCI = 549), and limited access to organic fertilizer (PCI = 538). Reinforcing extension services, capacity building, and both technical and financial support is essential to promote agroecological practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue (Re)Designing Processes for Improving Supply Chain Sustainability)

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17 pages, 7046 KB

Open AccessArticle

Hydrogeochemical Processes and Sustainability Challenges of Arsenic- and Fluoride-Contaminated Groundwater in Arid Regions: Evidence from the Tarim Basin, China

by Yunfei Chen, Jun Hou, Jinlong Zhou, Jiawen Yu, Jie Zhang and Jiangtao Zhao

Sustainability 2025, 17(17), 7971; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17177971 - 4 Sep 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1068

Abstract

The anomalous enrichment of arsenic (As) and fluoride (F) in groundwater in the oasis area at the southern margin of the Tarim Basin has become a critical environmental and sustainability challenge. It poses not only potential health risks but also profound socio-economic impacts on local communities, threatening the long-term security of water resources in arid regions. Therefore, an in-depth investigation of the hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater and the co-enrichment mechanism of As and F is essential for advancing sustainable groundwater management. In this study, 110 phreatic water samples and 50 confined water samples were collected, and mathematical and statistical methods were applied to analyze the hydrochemical characteristics, sources, and co-enrichment mechanisms of As and F. The results show that (1) the groundwater chemistry types are mainly Cl·SO₄-Na, SO₄·Cl-Na·Mg, Cl·SO₄-Na·Mg, and Cl-Na, and the chemistry is primarily controlled by evaporation and concentration processes, with additional influence from human activities and cation exchange; (2) As and F mainly originate from soils and minerals, and are released through dissolution; (3) As and F enrichment is positively correlated with pH, Na⁺, and HCO₃⁻, but negatively correlated with Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and SO₄²⁻, indicating that a weakly alkaline hydrochemical environment with high HCO₃⁻ and Na⁺, and low Ca²⁺ promotes their enrichment; (4) strong evaporative concentration in retention zones, combined with artificial groundwater extraction, further intensifies As and F accumulation. This study not only provides an innovative theoretical and methodological framework for exploring trace element enrichment mechanisms in groundwater under arid conditions but also delivers critical scientific evidence for developing sustainable water resource management strategies, mitigating water-related health risks, and supporting regional socio-economic resilience under global climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue (Re)Designing Processes for Improving Supply Chain Sustainability)

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28 pages, 1737 KB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Influence of the Knowledge Management Cycle on Job Satisfaction and Organizational Culture Considering the Interplay of Employee Engagement

by Hayford Asare Obeng, Richard Arhinful, Leviticus Mensah and Jerry Seth Owusu-Sarfo

Sustainability 2024, 16(20), 8728; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16208728 - 10 Oct 2024

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 9221

Abstract

This study leveraged the social exchange theory to explore the influence of the knowledge management cycle on employee engagement, job satisfaction, and organizational culture within the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA). The structural equation modeling (SEM) software (AMOS version 23) was employed to analyze data from 300 GHA employees. The study used snowball sampling and a descriptive cross-sectional methodology to collect data through printed and electronic questionnaires. The findings demonstrated a substantial and positive impact of the knowledge management cycle on employee engagement, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment. Employee engagement also exhibited a significant and positive influence on both job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Furthermore, employee engagement partially mediated the relationships between the knowledge management cycle, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment. This study’s findings underscore the practical implications of allocating resources to knowledge management activities. Such allocation can promote organizational culture and employee satisfaction, enabling firms to achieve real gains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue (Re)Designing Processes for Improving Supply Chain Sustainability)

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19 pages, 1001 KB

Open AccessArticle

How Financial Inclusion and Green Innovation Promote Green Economic Growth in Developing Countries

by Sohail Abbas, Ghulam Dastgeer, Samia Nasreen, Shazia Kousar, Urooj Riaz, Saira Arsh and Muhammad Imran

Sustainability 2024, 16(15), 6430; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16156430 - 27 Jul 2024

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 6766

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of financial inclusion on green economic growth in developing countries. For this purpose, 12 developing countries were selected based on the availability of data: Armenia, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Kenya, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Tunisia. Annual data for the period from 2004 to 2023 were used for this study. The focus of this study is on the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 13 (SDG 13), which requires immediate intervention to address the challenges of climate change and its consequences. This study used principal component analysis (PCA) to construct the financial inclusion index. In this study, we conducted a unit root analysis using the second-generation unit root test. For long-run estimates, we used the Fully Modified Least Squares (FMOLS) model. According to the findings of the study, green innovation (β = 0.052 *), foreign direct investment (β = 0.438 *), and trade openness (β = 0.016 **) have positive and significant impacts on green economic growth (GEG). The extent of the positive effect of foreign direct investment (FDI) is greater, compared to green innovation and trade openness (TR). The results also indicate that financial inclusion (β = −0.241) and population (β = −0.291) have significantly detrimental impacts on GEG. However, the population impacts GEG to a greater extent, compared to financial inclusion. Similarly, results indicate that the negative impact of financial inclusion on GEG is greater than the positive impact of green innovation on GEG. On the basis of the findings of this study, policymakers are advised to promote green innovation, foreign direct investment, and trade openness to promote green economic growth. Moreover, this study suggests that green finance or financial inclusion constrained by environmental quality should be promoted to safeguard environmental quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue (Re)Designing Processes for Improving Supply Chain Sustainability)

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19 pages, 8873 KB

Open AccessArticle

Remote Sensing Identification and Stability Change of Alpine Grasslands in Guoluo Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, China

by Xingsheng Xia, Wei Liang, Shenghui Lv, Yaozhong Pan and Qiong Chen

Sustainability 2024, 16(12), 5041; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16125041 - 13 Jun 2024

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2056

Abstract

Alpine grasslands, a crucial component of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, play a vital role in maintaining ecological barriers and facilitating sustainable development, and the exact stability change is also the key to coping with climate change and implementing ecological protection projects. The purpose of this study was to identify the spatial and temporal distribution of multi-stage alpine grassland and explore its inter-annual distribution and growth stability. The Guoluo Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, China (hereinafter referred to as Guoluo), where alpine grassland is widely distributed, was selected as the research area. Long-term stable grassland samples constructed using the Mann–Kendall–Sneyers mutation test method were analyzed alongside random forest classification to identify multi-stage grassland distribution trends from 1990 to 2020. Based on the Fractional Vegetation Cover (FVC) and coefficient of variation (C_v), spatial and temporal changes in grassland quality and their driving factors were discussed. The results show the following: (1) Remote sensing grassland extraction, based on the establishment of long-term stable grassland samples and random forest classification, demonstrated high accuracy and reliability, with OA and Kappa coefficients consistently above 0.89 and 0.77, and PA and UA maintained consistently at approximately 0.9. (2) The distribution of grassland in Guoluo corresponded to the spatial patterns determined by the natural geographical environment, showing a gradual trend from high-cover grassland in the southeast to low-cover grassland in the northwest. The proportion of medium and high-cover grasslands slightly increased, indicating an improvement in grassland quality. However, the encroachment and degradation caused by human activities and climate change resulted in a slight decrease in the proportion of grassland area compared with 1990. (3) Despite the overall grassland ecosystem still having relative stability, local grassland quality changes dramatically, mainly in the north of Maduo County. And significant fluctuations in the area of grassland quality were noted over the last two decades, suggesting potential degradation in ecosystem stability. Climate change and human activities were identified as primary drivers of these changes. Climate change is dominant in the alpine region. The low-warming region is dominated by human activities. These findings offer essential insights for the planning and implementation of alpine grassland ecosystem protection and restoration initiatives and also have important value for exploring the evolution law of alpine grassland ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue (Re)Designing Processes for Improving Supply Chain Sustainability)

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18 pages, 768 KB

Open AccessArticle

Lean Manufacturing Tools Applied to Material Flow and Their Impact on Economic Sustainability

by Jorge Luis García-Alcaraz, José Roberto Díaz Reza, Cuauhtémoc Sánchez Ramírez, Jorge Limón Romero, Emilio Jiménez Macías, Carlos Javierre Lardies and Manuel Arnoldo Rodríguez Medina

Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 10599; https://doi.org/10.3390/su131910599 - 24 Sep 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 6855

Abstract

This paper presents a second-order structural equation model that analyzes three lean manufacturing tools associated with material flow, such as 5S, SMED, and continuous flow related to economic sustainability. The variables relate to each other through six hypotheses, tested with 169 responses to a questionnaire applied to the Mexican maquiladora industry, using the partial least squares technique and 95% confidence to estimate direct, the sum of indirect, and total effects. In addition, an analysis with conditional probabilities appears to determine how low and high implementation levels in independent variables affect the dependent variables’ occurrence. Findings indicate that 5S is a lean manufacturing tool with the most increased direct effects on SMED and continuous flow. Additionally, values indicate that SMED is essential to maintain continuous flow in production lines and is vital for economic sustainability due to the time reduction in setup. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue (Re)Designing Processes for Improving Supply Chain Sustainability)

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29 pages, 3687 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Reference Model of Reverse Logistics Process for Improving Sustainability in the Supply Chain

by Faustino Alarcón, Pascual Cortés-Pellicer, David Pérez-Perales and Ana Mengual-Recuerda

Sustainability 2021, 13(18), 10383; https://doi.org/10.3390/su131810383 - 17 Sep 2021

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 8622

Abstract

The reverse logistics process (RLP) has become a key process for the supply chain (SC) given its importance for treating the increasing quantity of returned or recovered products and its impact on sustainability. However, the RLP is complex and involves a high degree of uncertainty and difficult decisions that affect SC efficiency. One of the aspects that can help the most to reduce this complexity and to improve SC efficiency is to formalize this process. The consulted studies agree on the numerous benefits of RLP formalization, but no tools, methodologies or specific solutions were found that help companies to advance in this matter. This work aims to develop a specific tool for RLP formalization so that its efficiency can be increased, leading to an improvement of SC sustainability. The main results comprise a reference model for RLP (RM-RLP) and an associated methodology so that any company can formalize its RLP by modeling its activities. The proposed tool (RM-RLP and methodology) is applied to a closed loop SC of relaxing chairs as an example of RLP formalization, proving its usefulness and, additionally, the improvements that can be reached in three RLP key indicators: total process duration, customer response time and the perceived autonomy and trust of the workers participating in the process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue (Re)Designing Processes for Improving Supply Chain Sustainability)

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17 pages, 1050 KB

Open AccessArticle

Addressing Sustainable Rural Development with Shared Value: A Peruvian Model from the Cacao Industry

by Armando Borda, Oswaldo Morales, Hildy Teegen, Gareth H. Rees and Maria Alejandra Gonzalez-Perez

Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 8028; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13148028 - 19 Jul 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 6329

Abstract

Here we present a model aimed at contributing to the literature around sustainable supply chains by examining a novel redesign initiative of the chocolate supply chain within the Peruvian cacao (cocoa) industry. Using the Creating Shared Value (CSV) framework, we apply the case study method in examining the Peruvian Cacao Alliance’s experience in redesigning both the stages and relationships within its supply of cacao to the world. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources and analyzed after coding from categories defined in the literature on CSV. The case demonstrates the opportunity to successfully participate in the supply chains of globally recognized, consumer-facing chocolate brands while simultaneously obtaining social, economic and environmental benefits for the rural communities that supply cacao. While addressing both social and business gains remains fairly important for supply chain members, there are several implementation challenges that need to be considered to achieve the goals of CSV strategies in a sustained way. By analyzing the experience of this particular cacao value chain, we are able to offer practical insight on how to more effectively implement the creating shared value approach, thereby illuminating that it is possible for value generated through such supply chains to be more equitably shared. As such, we provide a valuable initial step in better understanding how the CSV concept applies in practice by identifying its boundary conditions for achieving improved cacao supply chain practices and relationships. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue (Re)Designing Processes for Improving Supply Chain Sustainability)

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27 pages, 2864 KB

Open AccessArticle

Reusing Newspaper Kiosks for Last-Mile Delivery in Urban Areas

by José M. González-Varona, Félix Villafáñez, Fernando Acebes, Alfonso Redondo and David Poza

Sustainability 2020, 12(22), 9770; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12229770 - 23 Nov 2020

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 6968

Abstract

The current increase in e-commerce is generating growing problems in urban areas in terms of both traffic flow (increasing traffic, no parking spaces) and environmental issues (noise, atmospheric pollution, etc.). In parallel, an iconic element of historic districts is disappearing: more and more newspaper kiosks are closing their business as their work dwindles. In this scenario, the objective of this paper is to propose a model for last-mile parcel delivery that exploits the current available newspaper kiosk network by using them as parcel lockers. To demonstrate the benefits of this proposal, we map the kiosk network of the city of Valladolid (Spain), and compare the environmental impact of a traditional (door-to-door) delivery and the proposed model which reuses old kiosks as parcel lockers. The necessary steps to carry out simulations are described in detail so that experiments can be replicated in other cities that face the same issues. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue (Re)Designing Processes for Improving Supply Chain Sustainability)

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15 pages, 309 KB

Open AccessArticle

Perceptions of Customers as Sustained Competitive Advantages of Global Marketing Airline Alliances: A Hybrid Text Mining Approach

by Gang-Hoon Seo and Munehiko Itoh

Sustainability 2020, 12(15), 6258; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12156258 - 3 Aug 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5612

Abstract

Over the past several decades, the aviation industry has been reshaped, centering on global alliances, and these have grown exponentially. However, it is still not clear whether they are achieving sustained competitive advantages, and what are the specific competitive advantages of the three alliances (oneworld, SkyTeam, Star Alliance) arising on the customer side. This study aims to examine whether global alliance groups outperform the non-alliance group, how the three alliances differ regarding passengers’ perceptions, and what their competitive advantages are. A hybrid text mining analysis was adopted as this study’s method. Frequency tests, t-tests, one-way analysis of variance tests, and three-step mediated regression analyses were performed using 6393 ordinal and word-of-mouth (WOM) data. We found that the degree of passengers’ perceptions of alliances was low, the non-alliance group outperformed the alliance groups, and there were no significant differences between alliances on service rating and sentiment score. Only oneworld has competitive advantages that link to passengers’ service rating and sentiment score. These findings imply that alliances could not ensure competitive advantages that derive from customers’ perceptions, and although passengers partly perceived several selling points, their differentiation strategies are not successful. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue (Re)Designing Processes for Improving Supply Chain Sustainability)

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29 pages, 3643 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Soil Nutrient Monitoring Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture: A Systematic Review

by Doaa M. Sobhy and Aavudai Anandhi

Sustainability 2025, 17(18), 8477; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17188477 - 22 Sep 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 5295

Abstract

Soil nutrient monitoring plays a vital role in advancing sustainable agriculture by maintaining soil health, optimizing crop productivity, and minimizing environmental impacts. This study addresses gaps in unified definitions and standard methodologies by systematically analyzing 93 articles using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework. The results highlight five major monitoring approaches: traditional methods, Remote Sensing (RS), Internet of Things (IoT) and smart systems, in situ sensors, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based models, each contributing uniquely to nutrient assessment. A noticeable trend toward integrating machine learning and deep learning with sensor technologies underscores the advancement toward real-time, data-driven precision agriculture. The study also explores spatial and temporal publication trends, criteria for site selection, and the validation techniques used to assess monitoring accuracy. A synthesized definition of soil nutrient monitoring is proposed to support future research and standardization. This review highlights the crucial role of soil nutrient monitoring technologies in sustainable agriculture, crop optimization, and environmental management. It provides a comprehensive overview of the techniques employed in monitoring soil nutrients for precision soil management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue (Re)Designing Processes for Improving Supply Chain Sustainability)

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