Building resilient circular supply chains with blockchain: Exploring the impact of relationships and capabilities

Abstract

Blockchain technology has emerged as a transformative force in supply chain management, offering unprecedented transparency and traceability. While existing research primarily focuses on its role in improving efficiency, limited attention has been given to its potential in enhancing the resilience of circular supply chains (CSC), particularly through relational dynamics and capability development. Grounded in the relational view and resource orchestration theory, this study develops a conceptual framework to explore how blockchain technology strengthens CSC resilience by fostering trust, collaboration, and resource optimization. Using survey data from 212 Chinese manufacturing firms, the findings reveal that blockchain adoption significantly enhances relational trust and collaboration among supply chain partners, improving operational efficiency and responsiveness through enhanced data traceability and transparency. Moreover, blockchain facilitates more effective resource allocation, driving sustainable CSC practices and reinforcing market resilience. This study contributes to the growing knowledge on blockchain applications in CSC management and offers practical insights for organizations seeking to leverage blockchain to enhance supply chain resilience and sustainability.