Conceptualizing a circular framework of supply chain resource sustainability

Purpose: In response to calls for conceptual frameworks and generic theory building towards the advancement of sustainability in supply chain resource utilization and management, this paper advances a circular framework for Supply Chain Resource Sustainability (SCRS), and a decision support methodology for assessing SCRS against the backdrop of five foundational premises deduced from the literature on resource sustainability.

Design/ Approach: Taking a conceptual theory building approach, the paper advances a set of SCRS decision-support criteria for each of the theoretical premises advanced, and applies the Theory of Constraints to illustrate the conceptual and practical applications of the framework in SCRS decision-making.

Findings: This study uses recent conceptualizations of supply chains as ‘complex adaptive systems’ to provide a robust and novel frame and a set of decision rules with which to assess the interconnectedness of environmental, economic, and social capital of supply chain resources from pre-production to post-production.

Research Implications: The paper contributes to theory building in sustainability research, and the SCRS decision framework developed could be applied in tandem with existing quantitative hybrid lifecycle and input-output approaches to facilitate targeted resource sustainability assessments, with implications for research and practice.

Originality/Value: The novel SCRS framework proposed serves as a template for evaluating SCRS and provides a decision support methodology for assessing SCRS against the five theorized foundational premises.