Green Supply Chain Management Practices and Sustainability of Pharmaceutical Firms: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

The pharmaceutical industry plays a critical role in providing essential healthcare products to people globally. However, the industry's operations and supply chains have significant environmental impacts, including the consumption of resources, generation of waste, and emission of greenhouse gases. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of green supply chain management (GSCM) practices on the sustainability of pharmaceutical firms. This was a desk review. It followed a systematic approach, conducting a comprehensive search across academic databases such as Google Scholar, Research Gate, JSTOR, Emerald Insight and ProQuest, including journals and conference proceedings. The paper outlined the findings of past studies done on the relationship between GSCM practices and organizational sustainability especially in pharmaceutical firms. The researcher sourced studies online under the criteria that they focused on GSCM and organizational sustainability and were carried out from the year 2010 to 2023. The findings showed that GSCM has a positive impact on firm sustainability. Additionally, firms that embraced GSCM demonstrated a heightened commitment to employee welfare and community engagement further enhancing social sustainability. The research also highlighted the positive relationship between green procurement and firm performance, particularly in energy consumption reduction and waste management. Green manufacturing practices led to improved environmental performance, emphasizing optimized production processes and reduced hazardous substances. The conclusion was that the adoption of GSCM practices holds immense promise for enhancing the sustainability of pharmaceutical firms. The evidence suggests that proactive integration of GSCM practices leads to significant reductions in resource consumption, lower emissions, and heightened operational efficiency. It was concluded that pharmaceutical firms in Kenya should develop and implement holistic GSCM strategies that encompass eco-friendly sourcing, efficient transportation, waste reduction, and responsible disposal practices to minimize environmental impact. Pharmaceutical firms should also build strong partnerships with suppliers to encourage the adoption of sustainable practices throughout the supply chain, ensuring compliance with environmental standards and driving collective efforts towards sustainability goals.