The Green Multiplier

Preuss (European business policy, U. of London, UK) investigates the extent to which the purchasing and supply management function in business can contribute to environmental protection. He first reviews the relationship between the natural environment and industry, discusses the role of supply chain management in manufacturing organizations, and hypothesizes a green multiplier effect where the purchase function can initiate environmental improvements along the entire supply chain. Relying for his empirical material on the results of a survey of supply chain managers in UK manufacturing companies, he then reviews actual environmental commitment of manufacturing companies at the organizational level, across the supply chain, and at the level of the individual supply chain manager, finding that the green multiplier effect hypothesis is too optimistic. He concludes with an assessment of what organizational design and supply process changes might bring about a greener supply chain. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR