Developing Supply Chain Integration Framework Towards Sustainability Performance: The Role of Green Supply Chain Management Practices

This conceptual paper aims to investigate the relationship between supply chain integration (SCI), green supply chain management (GSCM) practices, and sustainability performance among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. Despite the significant contribution of SMEs to national economic development, their sustainability performance remains limited, particularly in the post-pandemic recovery era and amid increasing environmental concerns. Drawing upon the Resource-Based View (RBV) and the Natural Resource-Based View (NRBV) theories, this study proposes a conceptual framework where GSCM practices serve as a mediating mechanism linking SCI dimensions which are supplier integration, internal integration, customer integration, and information integration with economic, environmental, and social performance outcomes. A review of existing literature reveals a research gap in understanding the strategic role of GSCM practices within integrated supply chains in Malaysian SMEs. This paper contributes to the theoretical discourse by integrating SCI and GSCM within a sustainability performance framework and provides practical implications for SME managers and policymakers aiming to enhance competitiveness and environmental responsibility.