Developing a tailored sustainable supply chain framework for dairy SMEs in Lithuania using Best-Worst Method

Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) plays a vital role in addressing environmental, economic, and social challenges within resource-intensive industries such as dairy production. Despite growing global interest in sustainability, the Baltic region—particularly Lithuania—remains underexplored in terms of localized SSCM frameworks. This study aims to fill this gap by identifying and prioritizing sustainability indicators relevant to Lithuanian dairy companies, using the Best-Worst Method (BWM), a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach. A total of 15 experts from top-level management positions in the Lithuanian dairy sector were engaged to assess key indicators across three dimensions: environmental, economic, and social. The results reveal that GHG Emissions, Cost Efficiency, and Labor Rights & Fair Conditions are the most critical indicators in their respective dimensions, reflecting both global sustainability priorities and local industry needs. The model also emphasizes the importance of renewable energy, return on investment, and health and safety standards. A sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the BWM results by illustrating how small changes in the top-ranked indicators affect the prioritization of other factors. The study offers a practical decision-support tool for managers and policymakers, providing a clear framework for targeted sustainability strategies in the Lithuanian dairy sector. It also contributes to the academic literature by demonstrating the effectiveness of BWM in regional agri-food supply chains. Recommendations are provided for government support, and future research directions are suggested to expand stakeholder involvement and apply hybrid MCDM models.