Study
Resource ManagementHigh ImpactModerate effect

Green Procurement Barriers in FMCG Supply Chains

Limited knowledge sharing and supplier resistance significantly impede the adoption of green procurement practices within the South African fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector.

ResearchSpace (University of KwaZulu-Natal) · 2015

01

Key Findings

  • 01Lack of knowledge and information sharing among supply chain partners is a significant hurdle for green procurement.
  • 02Suppliers often exhibit reluctance to adopt new green supply chain practices.
  • 03Challenges extend to green manufacturing (waste, capacity, pollution) and product recovery.
02

Application

Design takeaway

Proactively address supplier knowledge gaps and resistance to change through targeted training, clear communication, and collaborative goal-setting to enable effective green procurement.

How to apply

When designing new products or supply chains, conduct a thorough assessment of potential supplier capabilities and willingness to adopt sustainable practices. Develop a phased approach to green procurement implementation, starting with education and support for key partners.

Project actions

  • 01When researching GSCM, consider the role of partnerships and communication.
  • 02Investigate how different stakeholders in a supply chain influence the adoption of sustainable practices.
03

Method & Evidence

AimWhat are the primary challenges faced by FMCG companies in South Africa regarding green procurement, and how do these challenges impact their ability to implement sustainable supply chain practices?
MethodCase Study
ProcedureThe study involved semi-structured interviews with managers at a specific Unilever factory and non-participant observation to identify and understand green supply chain management (GSCM) challenges, particularly in green procurement.
ContextFast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry in South Africa

Variables

IV["Level of knowledge sharing among supply chain partners","Supplier willingness to adopt green practices"]
DV["Effectiveness of green procurement implementation","Challenges in GSCM"]
CV["Industry sector (FMCG)","Geographic region (South Africa)","Company size/type (large corporation)"]
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Provides specific insights into GSCM challenges within the FMCG sector in South Africa.
  • +Combines literature review with empirical data from a case study.

Limitations

The findings are specific to one company and region, so they might not apply everywhere. The study is also exploratory, meaning it identifies problems but doesn't deeply analyze solutions.

Reliability & validity

The use of a case study approach with semi-structured interviews and observation provides rich qualitative data, enhancing ecological validity. However, the purposive sampling and single-case focus may limit generalizability and external validity. Reliability could be enhanced through triangulation of data sources.

Think critically

To what extent can technological solutions mitigate the 'lack of knowledge and information sharing' challenge in green procurement, and what are the potential drawbacks of relying solely on technology?

05

Design Principles

"Foster collaborative partnerships and knowledge exchange to overcome supplier inertia in adopting sustainable supply chain practices."

Understanding these barriers is crucial for developing effective strategies to integrate environmental considerations into sourcing and procurement processes. Overcoming these challenges can lead to more sustainable operations and potentially reduce long-term costs associated with resource inefficiency and waste.

06

What This Means for Your Design

It's hard for big food companies to be 'green' in how they buy things because they don't always share information well with their suppliers, and the suppliers don't always want to change.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Use this research to justify the importance of stakeholder engagement in your GSCM design project.
  • 2.Cite this study when discussing barriers to implementing sustainable sourcing strategies.
07

Add to My Project

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Quick Cite

(2015). Green supply chain management challenges in the South African fast-moving consumer goods industry : a case of Unilever.. ResearchSpace (University of KwaZulu-Natal). Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/2b35f89f-175f-4d50-8a6d-131da5d6c66c/green-procurement-barriers-in-fmcg-supply-chains

Paragraph starter

This research highlights significant challenges in green procurement within the FMCG sector, particularly concerning a lack of knowledge sharing among partners and supplier reluctance to adopt sustainable practices. These issues can impede the successful integration of environmental considerations into supply chain operations, necessitating targeted interventions to foster collaboration and drive change.

09

Source

ResearchSpace (University of KwaZulu-Natal)

Green supply chain management challenges in the South African fast-moving consumer goods industry : a case of Unilever.

journal · 2015

View source

Questions about this research

What does the research say about green procurement barriers in fmcg supply chains?
Proactively address supplier knowledge gaps and resistance to change through targeted training, clear communication, and collaborative goal-setting to enable effective green procurement. Evidence: ResearchSpace (University of KwaZulu-Natal) (2015).
Why does "Green Procurement Barriers in FMCG Supply Chains" matter for design?
Understanding these barriers is crucial for developing effective strategies to integrate environmental considerations into sourcing and procurement processes. Overcoming these challenges can lead to more sustainable operations and potentially reduce long-term costs associated with resource inefficiency and waste.
How can designers apply this research?
Proactively address supplier knowledge gaps and resistance to change through targeted training, clear communication, and collaborative goal-setting to enable effective green procurement.
What were the main findings?
Lack of knowledge and information sharing among supply chain partners is a significant hurdle for green procurement.. Suppliers often exhibit reluctance to adopt new green supply chain practices.. Challenges extend to green manufacturing (waste, capacity, pollution) and product recovery.
What research method was used?
Case Study.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2015 journal from ResearchSpace (University of KwaZulu-Natal).
What should I do differently in my next project?
When designing new products or supply chains, conduct a thorough assessment of potential supplier capabilities and willingness to adopt sustainable practices. Develop a phased approach to green procurement implementation, starting with education and support for key partners.
What are the limitations?
The study focused on a single company (Unilever) in South Africa, limiting the generalizability of findings to the broader FMCG industry.
Is there evidence that green procurement affects design outcomes?
The research found that a lack of shared knowledge and a resistance to change among suppliers are major obstacles to implementing green procurement in the FMCG industry. Other issues include waste, capacity, and pollution in manufacturing, and difficulties with product recovery. Understanding these barriers is crucial Source: ResearchSpace (University of KwaZulu-Natal) (2015).
Where does this resistance change research apply?
Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry in South Africa It sits within resource management research on designdex.org.

Related research topics

green procurement design research · evidence on green procurement · does green procurement improve design outcomes · resistance change studies for designers · green procurement and resistance change findings · resource management research evidence