IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/sustdv/v34y2026is1p936-963.html

A Conceptual Model to Integrate Operations Strategies Into Circular and Sustainable Global Supply Chains

Author

Listed:
  • Darwin Aldás
  • Josefa Mula
  • Manuel Díaz‐Madroñero

Abstract

Rapidly increasing environmental degradation means that society seeks to adapt its activities to sustainable environments that comply with global requirements and regulations. The need arises to investigate what operations strategies companies use to be productive and sustainable. Currently, there is no conceptual model that integrates environmental sustainability strategies and circular economy principles into the entire supply chain. Here, a conceptual model, dubbed as the circular and sustainable‐global supply chain, is proposed. To develop the conceptual proposal, a methodology consisting of the following phases was used: visualisation, analysis, conceptualisation, modelling, validation and proposal. According to the main literature review findings, the strategies of sustainable and circular operations most widely used by companies are defined. Then, the proposed model integrates these strategies at all supply chain levels, which are analysed based on sustainability dimensions by identifying inputs, outputs, drivers, constraints and external factors. Finally, the model is validated in six companies in the bus manufacturing industry in terms of levels of compliance and feasibility of applying the model's elements.

Suggested Citation

  • Darwin Aldás & Josefa Mula & Manuel Díaz‐Madroñero, 2026. "A Conceptual Model to Integrate Operations Strategies Into Circular and Sustainable Global Supply Chains," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(S1), pages 936-963, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:34:y:2026:i:s1:p:936-963
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.70202
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.70202
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/sd.70202?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pavel Castka, 2020. "The Role of Standards in the Development and Delivery of Sustainable Products: A Research Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-18, December.
    2. M. K. Dhillon & P. M. Rafi-Ul-Shan & H. Amar & F. Sher & S. Ahmed, 2023. "Flexible Green Supply Chain Management in Emerging Economies: A Systematic Literature Review," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 24(1), pages 1-28, March.
    3. H. Trollman & J. A. Colwill, 2020. "A Transformational Change Framework for Developing Ecologically Embedded Manufacturing," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 21(4), pages 341-368, December.
    4. Kim Sundtoft Hald & Martin Spring, 2023. "Actor–network theory: A novel approach to supply chain management theory development," Journal of Supply Chain Management, Institute for Supply Management, vol. 59(2), pages 87-105, April.
    5. Anja Marie Bundgaard & Rikke Dorothea Huulgaard, 2019. "Luxury products for the circular economy? A case study of Bang & Olufsen," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(5), pages 699-709, July.
    6. Antonio Zavala-Alcívar & María-José Verdecho & Juan-José Alfaro-Saiz, 2020. "A Conceptual Framework to Manage Resilience and Increase Sustainability in the Supply Chain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-38, August.
    7. Caleb Debrah & Albert Ping Chuen Chan & Amos Darko & Robert J. Ries & Eric Ohene & Mershack Opoku Tetteh, 2024. "Driving factors for the adoption of green finance in green building for sustainable development in developing countries: The case of Ghana," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(6), pages 6286-6307, December.
    8. Jonathan Asher Morashti & Youra An & Hyunmi Jang, 2022. "A Systematic Literature Review of Sustainable Packaging in Supply Chain Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-22, April.
    9. Marcelo Fuentes & Moira Negrete & Sebastián Herrera‐León & Andrzej Kraslawski, 2024. "Links between the actors and mining activities related to the implementation of sustainable development principles," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(6), pages 6763-6787, December.
    10. Mark M. Davis & Euthemia Stavrulaki & Adi Wolfson, 2018. "A Framework for Increasing Sustainability in Services," Service Science, INFORMS, vol. 10(2), pages 139-153, June.
    11. Pedro E. Minaya & Lucía Avella & Juan A. Trespalacios, 2024. "Synthesizing three decades of digital servitization: a systematic literature review and conceptual framework proposal," Service Business, Springer;Pan-Pacific Business Association, vol. 18(2), pages 193-222, June.
    12. Jacob Guinot & Zina Barghouti & Ricardo Chiva, 2022. "Understanding Green Innovation: A Conceptual Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-14, May.
    13. Liu, Yang & Zhu, Qinghua & Seuring, Stefan, 2017. "Linking capabilities to green operations strategies: The moderating role of corporate environmental proactivity," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 182-195.
    14. Maiara Marcon & Taís Provensi & Simone Sehnem & Lucila M. S. Campos & Adriane Angelica Farias Santos Lopes Queiroz, 2023. "The internalisation of the circular economy and ESG in Brazilian B Corps from the perspective of the Stakeholder Theory," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(5), pages 3513-3527, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ananna Paul & Suvash C. Saha, 2025. "A Systematic Literature Review on Flexible Strategies and Performance Indicators for Supply Chain Resilience," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 26(1), pages 207-231, March.
    2. Muhammad Sadiq & Mei Kei Leong & Ansa Savad Salim & Zhou Jiayao, 2025. "Fostering entrepreneurial success through the predictive role of knowledge management, green creativity, green social behavior, dynamic capabilities, business environment and green service innovation," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 1-27, December.
    3. Boyu Liu & Xiameng Si & Haiyan Kang, 2022. "A Literature Review of Blockchain-Based Applications in Supply Chain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-24, November.
    4. Borut Jereb & Maja Rosi & Bojan Rosi & Milena Kajba, 2022. "The Usage Of Indicators For City Services And Quality Of Life Defined By Iso 37120 In Supply Chains," Business Logistics in Modern Management, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Economics, Croatia, vol. 22, pages 191-207.
    5. Jing, Peng & Li, Shuohan & Wang, Minglu, 2025. "Digital empowerment, industry chain integration and corporate energy efficiency," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    6. Jingsi Zhang & Liangqun Qi, 2021. "Crisis Preparedness of Healthcare Manufacturing Firms during the COVID-19 Outbreak: Digitalization and Servitization," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-23, May.
    7. Md Maruf Hossan Chowdhury & Sanjoy Kumar Paul & Eijaz Ahmed Khan & A. K. M. Shakil Mahmud, 2024. "A Decision Support Model for Barriers and Optimal Strategy Design in Sustainable Humanitarian Supply Chain Management," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 25(3), pages 467-486, September.
    8. Fangzhong Qi & Leilei Zhang & Kexiang Zhuo & Xiuyan Ma, 2022. "Early Warning for Manufacturing Supply Chain Resilience Based on Improved Grey Prediction Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-16, October.
    9. Arpan Kumar Kar & P. S. Varsha & Shivakami Rajan, 2023. "Unravelling the Impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) in Industrial Applications: A Review of Scientific and Grey Literature," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 24(4), pages 659-689, December.
    10. Rupak Rauniar & Ray Cao, 2025. "An Empirical Study on the Role of Authentic Leadership in Strategic Agile Operations, Organizational Sustainability, and Business Performance," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 26(2), pages 311-330, June.
    11. S. Maryam Masoumi & Nima Kazemi & Salwa Hanim Abdul-Rashid, 2019. "Sustainable Supply Chain Management in the Automotive Industry: A Process-Oriented Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-30, July.
    12. Hung M. Nguyen & George Onofrei & Dothang Truong & Simon Lockrey, 2020. "Customer green orientation and process innovation alignment: A configuration approach in the global manufacturing industry," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(6), pages 2498-2513, September.
    13. Morgan Alamandi, 2025. "Sustainable Innovation Management: Balancing Economic Growth and Environmental Responsibility," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-31, May.
    14. Jianglai Dai & Yingying Li & Xuetao Li, 2025. "Spatial Spillover Effect of Green Industrial Agglomeration on Carbon Productivity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-25, October.
    15. Marta Wincewicz-Bosy & Adam Sadowski & Katarzyna Wąsowska & Zbigniew Galar & Małgorzata Dymyt, 2022. "Military Food Supply Chain during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-22, February.
    16. Maria Ghufran & Khurram Iqbal Ahmad Khan & Fahim Ullah & Wesam Salah Alaloul & Muhammad Ali Musarat, 2022. "Key Enablers of Resilient and Sustainable Construction Supply Chains: A Systems Thinking Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-19, September.
    17. Zhiyong Zheng & Yongbin Xu, 2022. "Environmental Regulation, Family Involvement and Green Innovation Efficiency—Based on Sew Theory Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-21, October.
    18. Clavijo-Buritica, Nicolás & Triana-Sanchez, Laura & Escobar, John Willmer, 2023. "A hybrid modeling approach for resilient agri-supply network design in emerging countries: Colombian coffee supply chain," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    19. Sunny Kareem & Julia A. Fehrer & Timofey Shalpegin & Christina Stringer, 2025. "Navigating tensions of sustainable supply chains in times of multiple crises: A systematic literature review," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(1), pages 316-337, January.
    20. Sharma, Nagendra Kumar & Kumar, Vimal & Verma, Pratima & Sharma, Mahak & Al Khalil, Ashwaq & Daim, Tugrul, 2024. "Industry 4.0 factors affecting SMEs towards sustainable manufacturing," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:34:y:2026:i:s1:p:936-963. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-1719 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.