The adoption of environmentally sustainable supply chain management: Measuring the relative effectiveness of hard dimensions

Adopting green practices in supply chains contributes towards protecting the environment. For the successful adoption of environmentally sustainable supply chain management (ESSCM), the dimensions related to technology, strategy, policy and so forth, termed as hard dimensions in the scholarly literature, play a significant role. However, the independent influence of these dimensions on ESSCM has not been previously studied. Therefore, the present study aims to fill this gap and to evaluate the effectiveness of these dimensions. To do this, the most significant dimensions are identified through a thorough literature review and experts' inputs. To determine their priority and cause-effect relationship, a hybrid approach of best-worst method (BWM) and decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) is used. The analysis indicates that 'total quality management' and 'technologies for cleaner production' are the most important causal dimensions, and it provides several insights to the decision makers to formulate robust business strategies to the adoption of ESSCM.