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Drivers for the participation of small and medium‐sized suppliers in green supply chain initiatives

Su‐Yol Lee (nBiz Convergence Team, College of Business Administration, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea)

Supply Chain Management

ISSN: 1359-8546

Article publication date: 2 May 2008

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to describe what facilitates small and medium‐sized suppliers in participating in green supply chain initiatives. These initiatives are inter‐organizational initiatives attempting to improve environmental performance throughout the entire supply chain. This paper seeks to examine buyer green supply chain management practices, government involvement, and internal readiness of the suppliers themselves, as possible drivers.

Design/methodology/approach

The research framework and hypotheses were examined by using a mail survey conducted in South Korea in 2005. The empirical analysis used data from 142 small and medium‐sized suppliers. Validity and reliability of the scales for the construct of interest were assessed through a factor analysis and Cronbach‐alpha test. To test the hypotheses for the drivers of suppliers' willingness to participate in green supply chain initiatives, hierarchical linear regression was adopted.

Findings

The study finds that buyer environmental requirements and support were positively linked to their suppliers' willingness to participate in green supply chain initiatives. The government can play an important role in motivating these suppliers. Finally, the paper reveals that the more slack resources and organizational capabilities suppliers had, the more willingly they were to participate in those initiatives.

Originality/value

This research is one of the few studies which explore the drivers of participation in green supply chain initiatives by considering small and medium‐sized suppliers and their most important stakeholders, including buyers and the government.

Keywords

Citation

Lee, S. (2008), "Drivers for the participation of small and medium‐sized suppliers in green supply chain initiatives", Supply Chain Management, Vol. 13 No. 3, pp. 185-198. https://doi.org/10.1108/13598540810871235

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2008, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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