Title: The contribution of a supplier of the food and beverage industry to the sustainability of the overall supply chain

Authors: Marcella Giacomarra; Maria Crescimanno; Georgia Sakka; Antonino Galati

Addresses: Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Building 4, 90128, Palermo, Italy ' Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Building 4, 90128, Palermo, Italy ' School of Business, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus; UNICAF University, Larnaca, 7130, Cyprus ' Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Building 4, 90128, Palermo, Italy

Abstract: Achieving sustainable scopes in a supply chain context entails structural changes at all tiers. Recently, scholars investigated different models able to achieve a sustainable supply chain management. With the aim to explain which factors, at the single supplier level, could reassure a focal firm as regards the compliance of sub-suppliers toward sustainability principles, a case study was performed on a company of the food and beverage packaging industry, based on the natural resources-based view of the firm. Results show the leading role that, a major supplier, can play in promoting sub-suppliers' compliance towards sustainable principles. Reputation, legitimacy and concerns about future positioning in the market, are guiding factors able to influence the strategies adopted towards sub-suppliers. Implications for focal firms' managers suggest to invest more in relationships with those suppliers able to demonstrate reliable sustainable management systems, with proven commitments to product stewardship and greener technologies.

Keywords: sustainable business models; environmental sustainability; natural resource-based view; chain liability effect; CLE; sustainable supply chain; supply chain management; case study; key resources.

DOI: 10.1504/GBER.2021.118701

Global Business and Economics Review, 2021 Vol.25 No.3/4, pp.231 - 250

Received: 22 Apr 2020
Accepted: 10 Aug 2020
Published online: 03 Nov 2021 *

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