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The Unknown Potential of Blockchain for Sustainable Supply Chains

Author

Listed:
  • Vincenzo Varriale

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy)

  • Antonello Cammarano

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy)

  • Francesca Michelino

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy)

  • Mauro Caputo

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy)

Abstract

The growing attention to emerging technologies has raised several doubts regarding the sustainability aspects. Among the new technologies, blockchain has laid the foundations for a revolution in the financial field but also in the energy, tourism, medical, industrial and supply chains sectors. Through a systematic literature review, 37 documents were analyzed to describe the sustainable aspects generated using blockchain in supply chains. Therefore, the results achieved provide two levels of analysis. The former highlights the impact of the adoption of blockchain in supply chains based on the three dimensions of sustainability: environmental, economic and social. The latter shows the positive and negative impacts of each form of sustainability. The purpose of the work is to summarize the current state of the art in order to propose a future development agenda based on the need to simulate and define a measurability for each dimension of sustainability. Finally, the study provides a broad overview of practical and managerial implications for entrepreneurs and researchers. On the one hand, the work shows how the use of blockchain improves the profits and reputation of companies. On the other hand, it highlights several research gaps to be investigated and considered by researchers.

Suggested Citation

  • Vincenzo Varriale & Antonello Cammarano & Francesca Michelino & Mauro Caputo, 2020. "The Unknown Potential of Blockchain for Sustainable Supply Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-16, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:22:p:9400-:d:443624
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    2. Simon Wong & John-Kun-Woon Yeung & Yui-Yip Lau & Joseph So, 2021. "Technical Sustainability of Cloud-Based Blockchain Integrated with Machine Learning for Supply Chain Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-20, July.
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    11. Antonello Cammarano & Vincenzo Varriale & Francesca Michelino & Mauro Caputo, 2023. "Blockchain as enabling factor for implementing RFID and IoT technologies in VMI: a simulation on the Parmigiano Reggiano supply chain," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 16(2), pages 726-754, June.
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    14. Harshad Sonar & Ayon Mukherjee & Angappa Gunasekaran & Rajesh Kr Singh, 2022. "Sustainable supply chain management of automotive sector in context to the circular economy: A strategic framework," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(7), pages 3635-3648, November.
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    17. Xue Han & Pratibha Rani, 2022. "RETRACTED ARTICLE: Evaluate the barriers of blockchain technology adoption in sustainable supply chain management in the manufacturing sector using a novel Pythagorean fuzzy-CRITIC-CoCoSo approach," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 725-742, December.

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