Nexus between Sustainable Supply Chain and Sustainability Performance of the Pharmaceutical Industry: Evidence from Pakistan

Abstract

We examine how sustainable supply chain (SC) practices shape the sustainability performance (SP) of Pakistan's pharmaceutical sector, and whether commitment to sustainability (CS) and management preparedness (MP) carry part of that effect. A structured questionnaire was completed by 298 middle- and senior-level SC managers in pharmaceutical firms across Pakistan, and the data were analyzed with Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Green SC (GSC), reasons for sustainable supply chain management (RSC), managerial approaches (MSS), supplier characteristics (CSS), and performance criteria (PCS) increased CS, while barriers (BRS) and benefits and motivation (BMS) reduced it. For MP, only GSC, BRS and BMS had significant effects, all positive. CS was positively linked to both MP and SP, and MP was positively linked to SP. Through CS, GSC, MSS, CSS and PCS improved SP; through CS, GSC, RSC, MSS, CSS and PCS improved MP; and through MP, GSC, BRS, BMS and CS improved SP. The remaining indirect paths were not significant. The results suggest that managers should build commitment and preparedness through planning, leadership, training, collaboration, and capability development.

     Keywords: Managerial Preparedness, Commitment to Sustainability, Sustainability Performance, Pharmaceutical Industry, Pakistan, PLS-SEM.