EVALUATION OF THE GREEN SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT OF A STEELMAKER BASED ON ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS

Abstract

Purpose: Given the environmental impacts revolving around energy consumption and CO2 emissions generated by the steel industry, the main goal of this study, which was based on environmental quality indicators, was to evaluate the bases of green supply chain management in the steel sector. Theoretical Framework: Environmental indicators have been designed to measure the degree of a company's involvement in sustainable practices. Such diagnosis enables the company to focus on reducing environmental impacts through the planning and development of monitoring measures and tools. Method: We conducted a case study focused on a steel company by applying a 39-question questionnaire scored on the Likert scale to 30 of the company's employees. Results and Conclusions: The employees' responses revealed the current degree of involvement of the company in environmental issues and the ecological practices most widely used and valued by the respondents. According to these results, the target company stands out positively on sustainability-focused internal management. Research Implications: The topics addressed in this study about management practices, environmental policies, environmental performance, ecodesign, and external pressures can provide insight to steel industry managers in analyzing the current stage of involvement of their organizations in green supply chain management. Originality/Value: The questionnaire, containing 39 questions divided into five categories, can be applied in future studies to shed more light on the topic of sustainability in the steel industry and similar industries.