Utilizing Internal Resources for Sustainable Supply Chain Management: A Study on Reducing Waste and Enhancing Efficiency
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47941/ijscl.3817Keywords:
Sustainable Supply Chain Management, Internal Resources, Circular Economy, Waste Reduction, Resource Efficiency, Reverse Logistics, Digital TechnologiesAbstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine how organizations can use internal resources to advance sustainable supply chain management, with specific attention to reducing waste and improving operational efficiency.
Methodology: The study adopts a conceptual review design. Relevant peer-reviewed literature and selected case-based evidence on sustainable supply chain management, internal resource optimization, circular economy, reverse logistics, digital technologies, and the Triple Bottom Line were reviewed and synthesized. The analysis used thematic synthesis to identify conceptual relationships among human capital, technology, organizational processes, waste reduction, and supply chain efficiency.
Findings: The review shows that human capital, leadership commitment, employee engagement, digital tools, and process integration are central to sustainable supply chain management. Technologies such as blockchain, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence can improve traceability, transparency, and resource allocation. Reverse logistics, lean processes, and circular economy practices support waste reduction and recovery of material value. However, implementation may be constrained by resistance to change, weak digital infrastructure, and limited cross-functional coordination.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: The study contributes by integrating internal resource theory, the Triple Bottom Line, and circular economy principles into a single conceptual explanation of how internal capabilities can support sustainable supply chain management. It offers policy guidance on incentives, digital infrastructure, and collaborative standards, while providing practical direction for firms seeking to convert internal capabilities into measurable sustainability outcomes.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Samuel Elvis Addo, Peter Agyekum Boateng, Racheal Amoah, Jeanette Owusu
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