Title: Environmental practices in the Romanian banking sector: an exploratory study

Authors: Panayiotis H. Ketikidis; Cristina Bulata; Lambros Lazuras

Addresses: CITY College – International Faculty of the University of Sheffield, 13, Tsimiski Street, 54624 Thessaloniki, Greece; South East European Research Centre, 24, Proxenou Koromila Street, 54622 Thessaloniki, Greece ' CITY College – International Faculty of the University of Sheffield, 13, Tsimiski Street, 54624 Thessaloniki, Greece ' CITY College – International Faculty of the University of Sheffield, 13, Tsimiski Street, 54624 Thessaloniki, Greece; South East European Research Centre, 24, Proxenou Koromila Street, 54622 Thessaloniki, Greece

Abstract: Green supply chain management (GSCM) incorporates environmental concerns in the design and operation of the supply chains. This concept has been studied largely in the manufacturing industry, but related research in the service sector is scarce. The aim of the present study was to assess the implementation of GSCM practices in the Romanian banking sector, and the relationship of GSCM practices with progress in the utilisation of environmental management systems (EMSs). A cross-sectional, survey-based design was used. The results showed that Romanian banks are more likely to endorse practices with a direct environmental impact, than practices in the commercial in the immaterial and commercial flows. Most importantly, a novel finding is that GSCM practices are not predicted by the same set of predictor variables. Finally, in accordance with previous research in the manufacturing industry, it appears that GSCM practices and EMS utilisation complement each other in promoting a 'greener' outlook.

Keywords: green supply chains; supply chain management; GSCM; green SCM; banking sector; environmental management systems; EMS; enterprise management; South East Europe; Romania; environmental practices; environmental impact; banks.

DOI: 10.1504/IJENM.2012.051283

International Journal of Enterprise Network Management, 2012 Vol.5 No.3, pp.239 - 253

Published online: 16 Aug 2014 *

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