Looking back and moving forward: A temporal literature review and comparative analysis of barriers to sustainable supply chain management

Authors: Yu-Hsiu Hung; Wan Zi Lin

Journal: Corporate Management Review. Jun. 2026, 46(1): 43-107

Keywords: Barriers, manufacturing, sustainability, sustainable supply chain management, temporal analysis

Abstract:
Industrial activities increasingly threaten environmental sustainability and human well-being. Addressing these challenges necessitates integrating sustainability into operations and supply chains, primarily through Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM). However, practitioners encounter numerous barriers throughout SSCM adoption and implementation. Overcoming these impediments is a formidable challenge for most organizations, but current understanding of these barriers remains fragmented. This study examines the temporal context of barriers in SSCM, conducting a thorough literature review using temporal analysis. It seeks to identify similarities, differences, trends, and directions of barriers across different time spans. This approach advances existing literature and offers insights for early-stage SSCM practices. Notably, our study uniquely considers the temporal aspect, a dimension previously overlooked in evaluating these barriers. By analyzing barriers across different time frames, our research elucidates their progression, enabling a clearer understanding of similarities and differences. This understanding facilitates the tracking of improvements and the identification of trends in early SSCM implementation. This paper contributes significantly by delineating temporal patterns and trajectories in SSCM-related barriers.