Modelling the relationship between green supply chain management practices, dynamic capabilities and supply chain performance in the South African manufacturing sector

Abstract

The quest for sustainability as a result of both resource scarcity and customer environmental conscious attitude has prompted manufacturing companies to start investing in green innovation and technology. The adoption and implementation of green supply chain management (GSCM) is still in its early stage in South Africa. The aim of the study is to contribute to the body of knowledge by providing a research model for the relationships between green supply chain management (GSCM) practices, supply chain dynamic capabilities (SCDCs) and supply chain performance (SCP) in the South African manufacturing sector. Quantitative data were collected from 402 respondents of the South African manufacturing sector in Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga and Limpopo through online survey questionnaires using a cross-sectional design. The collected data were tested using a partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) through Smart-PLS 3 and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for data screening (descriptive statistics). The results of the study suggest that GSCM practices, which include eco-design (ED), green distribution (GD) and green training (GT), exert a positive and significant impact on SCDCs, which in turn positively influence SCP through supply chain agility (SCA), supply chain reliability (SCRELL), supply chain costs (SCCs), supply chain responsiveness (SCR), customer satisfaction (CS) and supply chain balance (SCB) in the South African manufacturing sector. This study contributes to the body of knowledge, innovation, and organisational capability literature of the manufacturing sector by providing a comprehensive model for the relationships between GSCM practices, SCDCs and SCP.