The role of the purchasing function in the diffusion of sustainability in supply networks

This research aims at understanding which is the role for the purchasing function in the diffusion of sustainability in supply networks. Sustainability has become a success factor for companies as they are currently challenged by customers, media and stakeholders. Since the sustainability performance of companies downstream depends on the sustainability behaviour of its extended supply base, focal firms need to diffuse sustainability in their supply networks. Therefore, they need to build sustainability sourcing strategies and practices for sustainability diffusion and implement them. The purchasing function as primary interface of suppliers can have a relevant role in the diffusion process, for which it can engage with external stakeholders. The methodology adopted is an in-depth case study taking the supply network level of analysis. It involves a sample supply network made of eleven actors: a major coffee roaster as focal company, two supply chains of its network, i.e. coffee and packaging, and one NGO with which it cooperates. In the packaging supply chain both first and second tiers were analysed. The academic literature review led to a preliminary framework of sustainability sourcing strategies and practices that was enhanced through the analysis of the case study. It was used as primary tool to compare companies, understand how they diffuse sustainability, and which is the role of their purchasing function, also in relation to external stakeholders. The case study uncovered new practices that were not considered by literature and pointed out the relation between the type of supply chain and the sustainability sourcing strategy adopted. This research aims at understanding which is the role for the purchasing function in the diffusion of sustainability in supply networks. Sustainability has become a success factor for companies as they are currently challenged by customers, media and stakeholders. Since the sustainability performance of companies downstream depends on the sustainability behaviour of its extended supply base, focal firms need to diffuse sustainability in their supply networks. Therefore, they need to build sustainability sourcing strategies and practices for sustainability diffusion and implement them. The purchasing function as primary interface of suppliers can have a relevant role in the diffusion process, for which it can engage with external stakeholders. The methodology adopted is an in-depth case study taking the supply network level of analysis. It involves a sample supply network made of eleven actors: a major coffee roaster as focal company, two supply chains of its network, i.e. coffee and packaging, and one NGO with which it cooperates. In the packaging supply chain both first and second tiers were analysed. The academic literature review led to a preliminary framework of sustainability sourcing strategies and practices that was enhanced through the analysis of the case study. It was used as primary tool to compare companies, understand how they diffuse sustainability, and which is the role of their purchasing function, also in relation to external stakeholders. The case study uncovered new practices that were not considered by literature and pointed out the relation between the type of supply chain and the sustainability sourcing strategy adopted.

L’obiettivo di questo lavoro di ricerca è capire quale sia il ruolo della funzione acquisti nella diffusione della sostenibilità nella filiera estesa. La sostenibilità sta diventando un fattore determinante per il successo delle aziende in quanto il loro operato è ora messo in discussione da clienti, media e dalle possibili parti interessate. Affinché le aziende a valle siano sostenibili, è necessario che gli attori della filiera estesa a monte portino avanti le loro attività in modo sostenibile; per questo è necessario che le aziende brand owner diffondano la sostenibilità nelle loro filiere. A tal fine, queste devono elaborare ed implementare delle strategie per un approvvigionamento tali da diffondere la sostenibilità. La funzione acquisti in quanto interfaccia primaria dei fornitori può avere un ruolo fondamentale nel processo di diffusione, per il quale può anche coinvolgere attori esterni alla filiera. La metodologia adottata è quella del caso di studio approfondito e considera come livello di analisi la filiera estesa o supply network. Il caso analizza un network campione, costituito da undici attori: un importante produttore di caffè in qualità di azienda focale, due filiere del suo network, cioè quella del caffè e quella del confezionamento, e un’associazione non governativa con la quale coopera. Nella filiera del confezionamento sono stati analizzati sia fornitori di primo che di secondo livello. La revisione della letteratura accademica ha condotto ad un modello preliminare che include strategie e pratiche di approvvigionamento sostenibile che è stato arricchito grazie all’analisi del caso di studio. Questo modello è stato utilizzato come strumento primario per confrontare le aziende, capire come diffondono la sostenibilità e quale sia il ruolo della loro funzione acquisti, anche in relazione ad attori esterni. Lo studio di questo caso ha portato all’individuazione di nuove pratiche non considerate dalla letteratura e ha evidenziato la relazione tra la tipologia di filiera e la strategia di approvvigionamento sostenibile adottata.