Green and Sustainable Supply Chain Management models in agri-food supply chains: a literature review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7433/s129.2026.09Keywords:
Sustainable Supply Chain Management, agri-food, Systematic Literature Review, Triple Bottom LineAbstract
Purpose of the paper: The purpose of the present study is to explore and review the wide and interdisciplinary literature published on Green and Sustainable Supply Chain Management models from 2010 to 2022, with a major focus on agri-food supply chains. This paper discusses the evolution of both models and identifies avenues for further research.
Methodology: Papers were retrieved on Scopus and Web of Science databases and were subjected to a longitudinal analysis based on descriptive characteristics (i.e. methodologies, TBL pillars addressed, geographical context in which the studies were developed, etc.), and a bibliometric thematic mapping analysis.
Findings: The study offers a comprehensive investigation of extant studies on Sustainable SCM, as opposed to the Green SCM approach, and sheds light on their implementation in agri-food. First, a comparison between the agri-food sector and other industries is provided according to the descriptive characteristics identified. Second, current motor themes, niche and emerging ones in agri-food, are identified and discussed. Finally, major issues characterizing sustainable supply chain research in agri-food are addressed, with a focus on social sustainability.
Research limits: The main limitation of the study may concern the selection criteria at the basis of the literature review, that determined the analyzed corpus.
Practical implications: The study identifies future research directions that may be beneficial for encouraging the adoption of sustainable practices in this industry.
Originality of the paper: The paper analyses the link between sustainability and food supply chain management by comparing Green and Sustainable models’ adoption and discussing peculiarities unique to the agri-food industry, by combining a content analysis approach with bibliometric techniques.
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