Title: Application of sustainability to supply chain and transportation management: company case study and exploratory consumer survey of attitudes towards hybrid vehicles

Authors: Alan D. Smith

Addresses: Department of Marketing, Robert Morris University, 6001 University Blvd., Moon Township, Pittsburgh, PA 15108, USA

Abstract: In recent years, organisations have felt increasing pressure from regulatory agencies and their customers to identify and establish programs that improve sustainability both within the company and throughout their entire supply chain. Customers are doing more research into the organisations that they are purchasing from and are likely to alter their purchasing habits if an organisation does not commit to sustainability at some level. This present research effort was divided into a case study of best business practices of two multinational organisations that operate in and around the Pittsburgh region and compare their approached to sustainability. An empirical study (n = 1,105) was used to gauge a factor-based dependent construct, hybrid-vehicle interest. Significant relationships among fuel characteristics and hybrid vehicle purchase intent/affordability were found. The firms were compared into solutions and managerial implications of the selected transportation, packaging, renewable resource, social and local sustainability strategies.

Keywords: business case study; empirical study; hybrid vehicles; gasoline branding and quality; renewable energy; sustainability; supply chain management; SCM.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPMB.2024.138807

International Journal of Process Management and Benchmarking, 2024 Vol.17 No.3, pp.393 - 422

Received: 02 May 2023
Accepted: 09 May 2023
Published online: 31 May 2024 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article