The Unknown Potential of Blockchain for Sustainable Supply Chains

Vincenzo Varriale, Antonello Cammarano, Francesca Michelino and Mauro Caputo
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Vincenzo Varriale: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
Antonello Cammarano: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
Francesca Michelino: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
Mauro Caputo: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 22, 1-16

Abstract: The growing attention to emerging technologies has raised several doubts regarding the sustainability aspects. Among the new technologies, blockchain has laid the foundations for a revolution in the financial field but also in the energy, tourism, medical, industrial and supply chains sectors. Through a systematic literature review, 37 documents were analyzed to describe the sustainable aspects generated using blockchain in supply chains. Therefore, the results achieved provide two levels of analysis. The former highlights the impact of the adoption of blockchain in supply chains based on the three dimensions of sustainability: environmental, economic and social. The latter shows the positive and negative impacts of each form of sustainability. The purpose of the work is to summarize the current state of the art in order to propose a future development agenda based on the need to simulate and define a measurability for each dimension of sustainability. Finally, the study provides a broad overview of practical and managerial implications for entrepreneurs and researchers. On the one hand, the work shows how the use of blockchain improves the profits and reputation of companies. On the other hand, it highlights several research gaps to be investigated and considered by researchers.

Keywords: blockchain; supply chain; environmental sustainability; economic sustainability; social sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (20)

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