Green logistics in a South African retailer : a case study

Abstract

The negative environmental effects being caused by logistical operational activities have raised concern about the needs of the future generations. Retailers are among those organisations whose operational activities are causing environmental damage. To find solutions towards minimising negative environmental impacts, green logistics concept under the umbrella term green supply chain management (GSCM) was developed. Green logistics developed to be a topic of interest across the globe. Green logistics implementation is now at an advanced stage in developed countries such as the United States compared to countries in Africa. In developing nations such as South Africa, GL is still minimal but quite noticeable compared to the rest of the African countries. Retailers, among other organisations, are facing immense pressure to minimise environmental damage and implement processes that promote environmental protection. This study explored the implementation of GL practices in a large retail organisation of South Africa. The study followed a qualitative research design and implemented semi-structured interviews to collect the data. A thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The evidence from the study showed that there has been ongoing emphasis and implementation of GL in the retail industry of South Africa. The study concluded that retailers need to invest more in the adoption of technology to enhance the implementation of GL.

Die negatiewe omgewingseffekte wat deur logistiese operasionele aktiwiteite veroorsaak word, het kommer laat ontstaan oor die behoeftes van die toekomstige generasies. Kleinhandelaars is van die organisasies wie se operasionele aktiwiteite omgewingskade aanrig. Om oplossings vir die minimalisering van die omgewingsimpak te vind, is die konsep groen logistiek (GL) onder die oorkoepelende term groen voorsieningskettingbestuur ontwikkel. Groen logistiek het in ʼn onderwerp van belangstelling oor die wêreld ontwikkel. Die implementering van groen logistiek is reeds in ʼn gevorderde stadium in ontwikkelde lande soos die Verenigde State, vergeleke met lande in Afrika. In ontwikkelende lande soos Suid-Afrika, is groen logistiek steeds minimaal, maar tog merkwaardig vergeleke met die res van die Afrika-lande. Benewens ander organisasies, staar kleinhandelaars groot druk in die gesig om omgewingskade te minimaliseer en prosesse te implementeer wat omgewingsbeskerming bevorder. Hierdie studie het die implementering van GL-praktyke in ʼn groot kleinhandelsorganisasie in Suid-Afrika ondersoek. Die studie het ʼn kwalitatiewe navorsingsontwerp gevolg, en semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is gebruik om data te versamel. ʼn Tematiese analise is gebruik om die data te analiseer. Die uitslae van die studie het getoon dat daar voortdurende klem op en implementering van GL in die kleinhandelbedryf in Suid-Afrika is. Die studie het tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat kleinhandelaars meer moet belê in die aanvaarding van tegnologie om die implementering van GL te verbeter.