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Sustainability Adoption Across Supply Chain Network Designs: A Comparative Analysis of Centralized, Decentralized, and Distributed Structures

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  • Afrooz Moatari‐Kazerouni
  • Yvonne Lederer Antonucci
  • Mathias Kirchmer

Abstract

Assessing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) indicators in supply chains (SCs) is key to sustainability and operational performance, yet their integration into SC decision‐making remains limited. Supply chain network design (SCND) plays a critical role in this gap. This study empirically examines ESG adoption across centralized, decentralized, and distributed SCNDs, addressing the lack of comparative analysis in this area. Based on a survey of 733 SC professionals, this study statistically analyzes differences in the adoption of 21 ESG indicators across SCNDs. Results reveal that distributed SCNDs exhibit the highest adoption levels of ESG indicators, outperforming centralized SCNDs across all indicators and exceeding decentralized SCNDs, particularly in governance‐related indicators. This study contributes to the limited empirical research on the relationship between SCNDs and ESG adoption, offering actionable insights for decision‐makers to align SC structures with sustainability goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Afrooz Moatari‐Kazerouni & Yvonne Lederer Antonucci & Mathias Kirchmer, 2025. "Sustainability Adoption Across Supply Chain Network Designs: A Comparative Analysis of Centralized, Decentralized, and Distributed Structures," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(6), pages 8414-8430, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:33:y:2025:i:6:p:8414-8430
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.70102
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