Greening supply chains: compliance and monitoring-oriented practices vs. cooperative-oriented practices

Companies use a set of practices known as Green Supply Chain Practices (GSCPs) to eliminate or reduce environmental impacts and to encourage environmental innovations in their supply chains. These practices include compliance and monitoring-oriented or cooperative -oriented practices. This paper examines the extent to which firms implement GSCPs nd the ways they interact with their suppliers on environmental issues. Given the scarce research in this area, a multiple-case study method consisting of three manufacturing firms was adopted. The paper provides a depth understanding by examining each case individually and then builds an understanding of the similarities and differences using cross-case analysis. The findings suggest that firms use GSCPs with more stress on compliance and monitoring-oriented practices and less on cooperative-oriented practices. Further discussion and implications of the findings are presented.