Supply chain sustainability and performance of firms: A meta-analysis of the literature

In recent years, many studies link supply chain sustainability practices to firm performance, since more and more firms are implementing sustainable practices in their manufacturing/services supply chains. This study uses a psychometric meta-analysis to synthesize the results from 167 effect sizes, collected from 129 articles, to understand the impact of various types of sustainability practices (i.e., environmental, social, and combined) on firm performance (Financial and Operational). A sub-group analysis, using industry (manufacturing/service) and economy (developed/developing), was also performed to study the relative strength of sustainability-firm performance relationships in respective categories. The study confirms a positive association between the various aspects of sustainability and firm performance and finds that the strength of sustainability-firm performance relationships grows over time. Findings also suggest a stronger relationship between sustainability-firm performances in manufacturing industries than in service industries. This study provides interesting insights for policymakers and companies in various economies, and it augments the understanding of the impact of sustainable supply chain practices on firm performance.