Towards Sustainable Practices: a literature review on SMEs in the Supply Chain

Abstract

This paper conducts a bibliometric and systematic literature review of 173 papers on SMEs, supply chains (SCs) and sustainability to understand how SMEs strategies and practices can contribute to more sustainable SCs. Key findings suggest that innovative technologies and stakeholder engagement can enhance the sustainability and resilience of SMEs and SCs. In addition, SMEs could benefit from participating in networks or partnering with MNEs to access resources, adopt sustainable practices and unleash entrepreneurial sustainable innovation. Integrating sustainability into the SC of SMEs can improve their performance, in addition to the benefits of sustainability for the overall economic system. However, these topics are not fully integrated, leaving room for further research. Moreover, many circumstances are context-specific and show significant differences between developed and developing countries, making it unrealistic to propose a universal strategy. Clarifying these issues would improve understanding of the enabling factors and consequences of SME sustainability in SC.