Emerging trends and challenges in supply chain management and sustainability

Abstract

The global emphasis on sustainability has been reinforced by international strategies, such as the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals proposed in the 2030 Agenda. These strategies have prompted a significant transformation in business management practices, leading to the integration of responsible approaches throughout the supply chain processes. This study seeks to evaluate the evolution of research on sustainability within supply chain management and to determine whether it is treated as an inherent component or a separate issue. To achieve this, the study conducts a bibliometric analysis of 3516 articles published in the Web of Science Core Collection database between 2016 and 2024. The analysis reveals a marked increase in scientific output, reflecting the broad involvement of diverse authors, institutions, journals and countries. Six key thematic clusters are identified, highlighting the diversity of the research in this field. This study concludes by suggesting potential directions for future research in supply chain management and sustainability.