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Open research questions in Sustainable Supply Chain Management

978 gap statements mined from Sustainable Supply Chain Management papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 5,279 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

Choosing where to publish on Sustainable Supply Chain Management? See the ranked Economics journals.

What the literature leaves open

  • It highlights the need for corresponding changes in work design, employee engagement, and organizational structures to accompany the adoption of technology such as AI. The paper emphasizes the importance of cross-functional collaboration, systemic thinking, and workforce adaptability in CE contexts.

    Harnessing Artificial Intelligence and Human Resource Management for Circular Economy and Sustainability: A Conceptual Integration · 2025 · DOI

  • As a conceptual paper, the arguments presented are based on theoretical synthesis and secondary data rather than primary empirical investigation. The paper is constrained by the scope of the existing literature, which remains fragmented across various fields. Cultural, regional, and industry-specific nuances are not fully addressed and warrant further exploration.

    Harnessing Artificial Intelligence and Human Resource Management for Circular Economy and Sustainability: A Conceptual Integration · 2025 · DOI

  • There is no existing model that effectively evaluates the feasibility, cost effectiveness, or sustainability of implementing reuse or repurposing in a broad array of applications. The current literature lacks tailored cost assessment tools for circular remanufacturing.

    A Cost–Benefit Model for Sustainable Product Reuse and Repurposing in Circular Remanufacturing · 2025 · DOI

  • The literature has mainly focused on environmental and economic pillars, with no integration of the social pillar. The social aspect is still not heavily integrated into the location-routing problem. The paper aims to fill this gap by integrating the social pillar into the location-routing problem.

    Integrating Social Sustainability into Supply Chain Design: Optimization of a Capacitated Two-Echelon Location-Routing Problem · 2025 · DOI

  • The study notes the need to address the environmental concerns associated with the wood, construction, and forestry sectors.

    Determinants of the Use of Circular Economy Strategies by Stakeholders in the Wood–Forestry Sector in Benin · 2025 · DOI

  • The use of circular economy strategies remains in its infancy, particularly in West Africa. There is a need to understand the factors that influence the adoption of circular economy strategies in the wood and forestry sector. The study aims to address this gap by examining the factors influencing the use of circular economy strategies in Benin.

    Determinants of the Use of Circular Economy Strategies by Stakeholders in the Wood–Forestry Sector in Benin · 2025 · DOI

  • The challenge of achieving net-zero emissions remains particularly acute for small organizations in urban settings. Traditional large-scale emission reduction strategies may be impractical for small organizations. There is a need to evaluate the potential of nature-based solutions to contribute to net-zero emissions at the Asian Institute of Technology campus.

    Integrating Nature-Based Solutions into Circular Economy Practices: A Case Study on Achieving Net-Zero Emissions at the Asian Institute of Technology · 2025 · DOI

  • The study mentions the complexity of the model as a crucial factor in determining the minimum required sample size. The study also mentions the absence of a sampling frame, which led to the use of purposive sampling. The study highlights the need for organizations to optimize production processes and enhance quality.

    Synergizing TQM, JIT, and Green Supply Chain Practices: Strategic Insights for Enhanced Environmental Performance · 2025 · DOI

  • Financial constraints, particularly funding limitations, are a critical barrier to sustainable procurement in SMEs. Systemic linkage barriers, such as minimal government incentives and limited availability of eco-friendly raw materials, create a self-reinforcing cycle that amplifies cost challenges.

    Sustainable Procurement Barriers in Indonesian Food Manufacturing SMEs: An ISM–Fuzzy MICMAC Analysis · 2025 · DOI

  • Limited end-to-end visibility and fragmented internal coordination hinder sustainable transformation initiatives. Insufficient stakeholder alignment is a recurrent barrier to successful implementation.

    A Decision-Oriented Framework for Sustainable Supply Chain Redesign: A DEMATEL-Based Approach · 2025 · DOI

  • Further research could explore the interdependencies among the critical factors in different industrial contexts. Studies could investigate the impact of technological capability on sustainable supply chain transformation in various sectors.

    A Decision-Oriented Framework for Sustainable Supply Chain Redesign: A DEMATEL-Based Approach · 2025 · DOI

  • The study notes that achieving sustainability in supply chain management is a complex and open field to explore. The study identifies the need to adapt to the complexity of sustainable supply chain management. The study highlights the importance of considering the interactions between factors leading to sustainability.

    Factors Impacting the Sustainability of Supply Chain in Industry 5.0: An Exploratory Qualitative Study in Morocco · 2025 · DOI

  • The need to minimize mining activities and maximize environmental benefits in the production of lithium-ion batteries. The complexity of optimizing reverse logistic supply chains for the recycling of lithium-ion batteries to reduce costs and emissions.

    Centralized vs. Decentralized Black-Mass Production: A Comparative Analysis of Lithium Reverse Logistics Supply Chain Networks · 2025 · DOI

  • The need for efficient end-of-life recycling systems to mitigate environmental and health risks associated with traditional mining practices. The lack of optimized reverse logistic supply chains for the recycling of lithium-ion batteries. The potential for decentralized black-mass production to reduce costs and emissions in lithium-ion battery recycling.

    Centralized vs. Decentralized Black-Mass Production: A Comparative Analysis of Lithium Reverse Logistics Supply Chain Networks · 2025 · DOI

  • The lack of understanding of the challenges of GSCM in developing countries. The need for actionable insights for policymakers and businesses to address these challenges. The gap in the literature on the application of ISM to GSCM in Thailand.

    Unboxing: Exploring the Challenges of Green Supply Chain Initiatives in Thailand · 2025 · DOI

  • Economic viability is the main bottleneck in applying more reuse. The quality of returned products is a challenge for reuse. The paper identifies the need for greater consistency in asset management and refurbishment operations as a challenge.

    Should Recovery Strategies Be Reuse or Recycling Based? A Case Study on Discarded Electronics in Melbourne, Australia · 2025 · DOI

  • The high investment costs required to implement circular practices. The complexity of restructuring supply chains to align with circular processes. The absence of infrastructure, particularly in regions with underdeveloped recycling and waste management systems.

    The Circular Economy and the Role of Technology in the Fashion Industry: A Comparison of Empirical Evidence · 2025 · DOI

  • Tracking how these barriers and their influence-dependence dynamics evolve over time, particularly in response to specific policy implementations, economic shifts, or supply chain disruptions, to offer dynamic insights into the resilience and adaptability of this system.

    Sustainable Procurement Barriers in Indonesian Food Manufacturing SMEs: An ISM–Fuzzy MICMAC Analysis · 2025 · DOI

  • The models can be adapted for specific industrial applications and enhanced with real-world validation - Providing companies with actionable insights to further refine cost-saving and environmental impact…

    A Cost–Benefit Model for Sustainable Product Reuse and Repurposing in Circular Remanufacturing · 2025 · DOI

  • Investigating the challenges and opportunities associated with the adoption of circular economy practices in the fashion industry - Examining the role of technology in supporting the circular economy in the fashion…

    The Circular Economy and the Role of Technology in the Fashion Industry: A Comparison of Empirical Evidence · 2025 · DOI

  • Further research could be done to integrate the social pillar in other supply chain decisions - Research could be conducted to compare the performance of different optimization methods - The study could be extended to consider other types of location-routing…

    Integrating Social Sustainability into Supply Chain Design: Optimization of a Capacitated Two-Echelon Location-Routing Problem · 2025 · DOI

  • The time required to develop and implement specific strategies congruent with those outlined by the UN Agenda - The unification of the related terminology - The need to apply design principles for recyclability and durability while studying the feasibility of adopting novel…

    Sustainability-Oriented Innovation in the Textile Manufacturing Industry: Pre-Consumer Waste Recovery and Circular Patterns · 2025 · DOI

  • Investigating the feasibility of adopting novel materials - Studying the application of design principles for recyclability and durability - Examining the implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goals in the textile manufacturing…

    Sustainability-Oriented Innovation in the Textile Manufacturing Industry: Pre-Consumer Waste Recovery and Circular Patterns · 2025 · DOI

  • This study represents an initial pathway for future research that may subsequently highlight the interactions between factors leading…

    Factors Impacting the Sustainability of Supply Chain in Industry 5.0: An Exploratory Qualitative Study in Morocco · 2025 · DOI

  • Study perspectives from customers, suppliers, or relevant government agencies to make future studies comprehensive and useful for implementing green supply chains in business operations effectively - Expand the scope of experts to cover industry roles to gain more insights and ensure statistical validation with a larger sample - Apply multiple regression or structural equation modeling (SEM) to draw precise…

    Unboxing: Exploring the Challenges of Green Supply Chain Initiatives in Thailand · 2025 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Sustainable Supply Chain Management

Most recent work

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) There is no existing model that effectively evaluates the feasibility, cost effectiveness, or sustainability of implementing reuse or repurposing in a broad array of applications (“A Cost–Benefit Model for Sustainable Product Reuse and Repurposing in Circular…”, 2025); (2) There is a need to understand the factors that influence the adoption of circular economy strategies in the wood and forestry sector (“Determinants of the Use of Circular Economy Strategies by Stakeholders in the…”, 2025); (3) There is a need to evaluate the potential of nature-based solutions to contribute to net-zero emissions at the Asian Institute of Technology campus (“Integrating Nature-Based Solutions into Circular Economy Practices: A Case…”, 2025); (4) Further research could explore the interdependencies among the critical factors in different industrial contexts (“A Decision-Oriented Framework for Sustainable Supply Chain Redesign: A…”, 2025); (5) The lack of optimized reverse logistic supply chains for the recycling of lithium-ion batteries (“Centralized vs. Decentralized Black-Mass Production: A Comparative Analysis of…”, 2025). 978 gap statements have been mined from Sustainable Supply Chain Management papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 5,279 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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