Title: Ranking the obstacles of green supply chain management using fuzzy approaches of TOPSIS and DEMATEL with a case study in a pharmaceutical industry

Authors: Arash Shahin; Behzad Masoomi; Mohammad Ali Shafiei

Addresses: Department of Management, University of Isfahan, Hezarjarib St., 81746-73441, Isfahan, Iran ' Department of Management, Ayatollah Amoli Branch, Islamic Azad University, Amol, Iran ' Department of Management, University of Isfahan, Hezarjarib St., 81746-73441, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract: The aim of this study is to analyse and prioritise the obstacles of green supply chain management (GSCM) in the pharmaceutical industry. For this purpose, the obstacles of achieving GSCM have been identified and ranked via fuzzy TOPSIS and DEMATEL approaches. Statistical population consisted of 155 managers, employees and customers of Vetaque Pharmacy Company. Fuzzy DEMATEL technique has been employed for prioritising the obstacles and identifying their causalities. Findings indicate the first to third priorities as the lack of environmental knowledge; unbelief about environmental advantages and green production; and lack of government support in policy making consistent with the environment. The applied fuzzy DEMATEL approach resulted in segmenting obstacles into some meaningful portions in order to effectively facilitate decision making on prioritising obstacles for improvement.

Keywords: green supply chain management; GSCM; pharmaceutical industry; obstacles; fuzzy TOPSIS; fuzzy DEMATEL.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLSM.2019.101163

International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, 2019 Vol.33 No.3, pp.404 - 419

Received: 01 Jul 2017
Accepted: 04 Dec 2017
Published online: 26 Jul 2019 *

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