Environmental sustainability in container transport: the attitudes of shippers and forwarders

The transport sector accounts for 25% of the global CO₂ emissions. All firms in the transport industry share a responsibility for this environmental impact. This paper explores, as one of the first, the attitude of both shippers and forwarders, as the main purchasers of transport services, towards environmental sustainability in the sourcing of transport services. Based on a literature review we develop several hypotheses and test those through a survey among shippers and forwarders in the Netherlands. We conclude that shippers focus more on sustainability than forwarders, the size of shippers has a positive influence on the demand for transparency of the environmental performance, explicit sustainability targets have a positive influence on the demand for sustainable solutions and the vast majority of shippers and forwarders expect an increased importance of sustainable purchasing.     

Procurement of logistics services and sustainable development in Europe: Fields of activity and empirical results

This paper strives to answer the general question; how far purchasers of logistics services take into account aspects of sustainable development. Modeled on the German Sustainable Development Strategy, which is based on the EU Sustainable Development plan, five fields of activity are defined: the reduction of transport intensity and emission, the reduction of land use, the choice of carrier under consideration of sustainable aspects, the permanent improvement of working conditions, and the enhancement of qualified employment. Then, propositions for purchasing companies of logistics services are developed, which contribute to safeguard ecological as well as social sustainability. In order to conduct an explorative study, a questionnaire was sent to 750 purchase and logistics managers. It was found that purchasing companies place high value on ecological and social aspects. But the perceived importance is not associated with purchasing companies' own contributions to logistics service providers' sustainable activities. Additionally, it was seen that purchasing companies exert only a minor influence on logistics service providers regarding ecologically and socially sustainable actions. A fundamental precondition for a sustainably oriented procurement of logistics services can be seen in the purchasing companies' awareness of the need for integrating sustainable aspects in economic decisions.     

PURCHASING AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: INTERACTIONS,POLICIES AND OPPORTUNITIES

The mechanisms are examined by which environmentally informed business practices and technologies may diffuse through industry as a result of the ‘greening’ of purchasing and supply. The efforts of official bodies in the UK to raise environmental awareness among industrial purchasers are reviewed. It is then argued that the supply chain model is an important way of interpreting the industrial landscape from a green perspective and that it is in some ways a more hopeful and positive starting point for achieving industrial transformation. The results of an analysis of some UK companies practices in using their purchasing policies to ‘green’ their supply chains are presented and opportunities for further research indicated.     

诚实信用原则在铁路货物保价运输中的适用

诚实信用原则为民法中的基本原则。保价运输是铁路货物运输中的一种特殊的运输方式。诚实信用原则在铁路货物保价运输中广泛适用。同时,实践中一些承运人和托运人存在着失信行为。因此,重塑铁路货物保价运输中的诚实信用原则成为了当务之急。     

Impact of firms׳ policies on Chinese industrial purchasers׳ ethical decision making

This article investigates the impact of firms׳ policies with respect to procurement, sales, and interfirm personal relationship (guanxi) on industrial purchasers׳ inclination to adopt gray procurement (a particular type of unethical behaviors in industrial purchasing) using data from industrial purchaser’s in China. The effect of a firm׳s purchasing policy on purchasers׳ behavioral intention towards gray procurement was, in addition to the direct effect, mediated by the purchasers׳ ethical judgment of the practice. The application of double standards (i.e., a firm forbids gray procurement by its own purchasers but tolerates its salespersons offering inducements to its customers׳ industrial purchasers) had both main effects and moderating effect on the purchasers׳ ethical judgment of the practice, which increases the purchasers׳ behavioral intention towards the practice. The two moderating effects of guanxi policy counteracted each other in direction, so jointly the effect of guanxi policy on the purchasers׳ intention may depend on the relative strength of the two moderating effects.     

How and when do purchasers successfully contribute to the implementation of circular purchasing: A comparative case-study

The transition towards a circular economy puts pressure on organizations to purchase in a circular manner. The aim of this research is to investigate the role, behaviors, and characteristics of purchasers in the circular purchasing process, and the contextual factors that influence circular purchasing. To address this aim, we interviewed purchasers, supervisors and policy makers of seven Dutch organizations. The results of the comparative case-study show that the main roles of the purchaser are those of coordinator, facilitator and advisor, and that the successful circular purchaser can best be described as intrapreneurial, sustainability-minded and knowledgeable about the circular economy. Purchasers are successful in implementing circular purchasing when they share responsibility with budget holders and when they are part of organizations that have processes in place to ensure the inclusion of circularity in their purchasing projects. The drivers that influence the success of circular purchasing can be described as creating a sense of direction and grasping the complexity of the circular economy. Furthermore, the market, organizational, legal, conceptual and cultural constraints that limit the success of circular purchasing were identified.     

The impact of environmental information on professional purchasers' choice of products

Professional food purchasers are an important group of people since they influence what alternatives of a food product consumers will have the possibility to choose between. The aim of the present study was to investigate the inclination among professional purchasers to choose food products associated with more benign environmental consequences. Information about product price, total use of energy, emission of greenhouse gases and use of pesticides associated with production and consumption of one kilogram of minced beef and fresh apples was varied systematically in order to study the relative influence on product preference. Product price was found to influence product preference more than any of the three environmentally related factors. Introduction of a labeling system that indicated whether the environmental impacts associated with a food product during its life cycle were ‘better’ or ‘worse’ than an average product partly increased the effect of environmental information. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.     

Sustainability in shipper-logistics service provider relationships: A tentative taxonomy based on agency theory and stimulus-response analysis

The paper contributes to research on sustainability in dyadic buyer–supplier relationships of logistics services. It presents deeper knowledge on why and how suppliers choose to behave sustainably. The research analyzes how shippers stimulate their LSPs and how LSPs respond by conducting sustainability activities. Agency theory and the stimulus–organism–response model are applied as the theoretical foundations for an explorative case study analysis of three large and five small and medium-sized European logistics service providers (LSPs) active in road transport services. Significant differences are found between the sustainability efforts of SMEs and large LSPs and a tentative taxonomy of the sustainability response types of LSPs is derived. The taxonomy contributes to theory-guided research in sustainable supply chain management and procurement. Thereby, mismatches of stimuli and responses are identified and related agency problems in dyadic relationships in terms of sustainability are discussed. From a managerial point of view, the findings may serve as a starting point for purchasers of logistics services to develop adequate sustainability selection criteria and incentives.     

How to achieve cost savings and strategic performance in purchasing simultaneously: A knowledge-based view

The competitive advantage purchasing provides has been debated for decades. For a novel perspective we derive a theoretical framework grounded in the knowledge-based view in order to examine how purchasing knowledge and purchasing integration impact cost and strategic performance. The derived hypotheses are tested based on extensive secondary data from a large European multinational utility company. The 179 studied ‘purchasing-internal client relationships’ contain real contracted savings data and internal client ratings of purchasing knowledge, purchasing integration and strategic purchasing performance. We show that purchasing knowledge is a major antecedent for both savings and strategic purchasing performance. This effect is further amplified by purchasing integration. With this study, we extend the understanding of the purchasing knowledge–performance link. We conclude that purchasing knowledge becomes particularly valuable when combined with other functions' processes through purchasing integration. This causal chain is also supported through general knowledge-based view theory. Moreover, we provide numerical evidence of the value of knowledge creation and integration processes to purchasing professionals in our managerial implications based on results obtained from actual purchasing savings data.     

The performance of logistics service providers and the logistics costs of shippers: a comparative study of Finland and Switzerland

This article analyses the market dynamics between shippers in the manufacturing sector and logistics service providers (LSPs) in Finland and Switzerland, focusing on factors that are characteristic of the demand and supply sides of logistics markets such as performance indicators, financial ratios and relevant macroeconomic indicators. The development of shippers’ logistics costs over a period of ten years is analysed as a proxy for cost savings. This is mirrored against the development of the LSPs’ financial performance. The share of logistics costs in the turnover of Finnish shippers is consistently higher than that of their Swiss peers, whereas Finnish LSPs perform financially better than their Swiss peers. This implies that Finnish and Swiss logistics markets differ in terms of market power and interdependence between shippers and LSPs. The results indicate that the sub-regional interdependence and market power of LSPs, caused by a lack of competition, explain some of the differences in logistics costs.     

Identifying root causes of inefficiencies in road haulage: case studies from Sweden,Switzerland and Germany

ABSTRACT

Road haulage operations in general, and distribution in particular, are inefficient. Given the societal importance of road haulage and the low efficiency of the sector, road hauliers need to improve their operations and systematically tackle inefficiencies. However, the real causes of these inefficiencies, the ‘root causes’, have not been sufficiently examined in previous studies. This paper expands on prior research by adapting existing models that can be used to identify the root causes of inefficiencies, and to enable systematic improvements in road transport operations. Our research is based on a lean approach and an adapted version of Ishikawa’s model. It is shown as a matrix based on transport processes and the Ishikawa categories to identify the root causes of inefficiencies in road haulage that influence performance. The adapted model was tested in three road haulage case studies. Our findings suggest that most efficiency problems appear in the actual transport execution.     

Purchasing strategies in the Kraljic matrix—A power and dependence perspective

Kraljic's purchasing portfolio approach has inspired many academics to undertake further research into purchasing portfolio models. Refined models typically recommend one purchasing strategy for each portfolio quadrant. Yet, it has been shown that purchasers make a clear distinction between alternative purchasing strategies within each quadrant. The fundamental assumption of portfolio models seems to be that differences in power and dependence between buyers and suppliers exist. Still, little is known about how these concepts influence the choice for a specific purchasing strategy. In this paper, ‘relative power’ and ‘total interdependence’ for a number of portfolio-based purchasing strategies have been quantified empirically, using data from a comprehensive survey among Dutch purchasing professionals. The survey data largely confirmed the hypotheses that were deduced from the literature.     

货物周转量与经济发展关系研究

分析了货物周转量的主要影响因素,以6个经济指标作为解释变量,通过相关性分析,得到各指标变量与货物周转量的相关系数;同时运用主成分分析,构造了货物周转量与国内生产总值(GDP)之间的线性回归模型;并对建国以来我国货物周转量同GDP关系的阶段性特征予以分析。数学模型实证检验结果表明:各个经济发展阶段,货物周转量同GDP均呈现线性关系,并且随着经济的发展,单位GDP增长所需的货物周转量呈现出减小的趋势。     

“小产权房”购买信息搜寻研究——以武汉市“小产权房”为例

本文研究目的,总结“小产权房”购买信息搜寻的渠道,揭示影响购房者信息搜寻努力的影响因子,并测度各影响因子对于购房者信息搜寻努力的作用关系和作用程度。研究方法,文献资料法、问卷调查法、实证分析法。研究结论,“小产权房”购买信息搜寻的渠道主要有中介代理信息搜寻、亲戚朋友信息搜寻、广告网络信息搜寻和官方中立信息搜寻四种,其中最重要的渠道是亲戚朋友信息搜寻;影响购房者信息搜寻努力的影响因子有搜寻认知态度、感知持有风险、中介经纪服务、先前房产知识、自我价值认知、购买时间压力;购房者信息搜寻努力与搜寻认知态度、感知持有风险、自我价值认知之间有正关系,与中介经纪服务之间有负关系。     

Shippers’ opportunities to increase load factor: managing imbalances between required and available capacity

Improving load factor is relevant for shippers due to its potential in reducing both transport costs and emissions. The purpose is to structure shippers’ opportunities to increase load factor according to required and available capacity. A framework is developed from literature, and in-depth understanding is provided by three cases, with data mainly collected through semi-structured interviews. Shippers’ opportunities to increase load factor are structured per decreasing, increasing, or reallocating required or available capacity. Required capacity can be changed by adjusting number of items, item characteristics, and how items are combined. Available capacity can be changed by adjusting number and type of units. Changes that improved load factor are described in detail for each case. Load factor is calculated for the packaging and shipping levels. An approach that logistics managers can apply to identify opportunities relevant to their situations is presented. Findings are relevant to researchers within transport efficiency and green logistics.     

探析传统道路货运企业转型的若干问题

为了满足我国社会经济对物流的需求和传统道路货运企业自身发展的要求,传统道路货运企业必须逐步地向现代物流企业转型。因此,从二者区别入手,通过分析传统道路货运企业存在的问题,希冀找到传统道路货运企业向现代物流企业转型的引导模式、指导方法和相关对策与建议。     

Purchasing practices in small- to medium-sized enterprises: An examination of strategic purchasing adoption,supplier evaluation and supplier capabilities

The benefits that can be derived from effective purchasing have long been recognised in the management literature. Despite a growing body of research on purchasing practices in small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), a number of key issues remain under-examined. We investigate SME purchasing practices in terms of (1) the degree to which purchasing is regarded as a ‘strategic’ activity by SMEs, (2) the use of supplier evaluation systems by SMEs and (3) the supplier capabilities emphasised by SME buyers. Through a survey of UK SME managers, we find that purchasing practices varied greatly across SMEs. Purchasing formality is generally low with limited evidence of purchasing being employed strategically and with many firms not undertaking formal supplier evaluations. In terms of supplier capabilities, we find that SMEs differ in the capabilities they prioritise, with three distinct groups evident. These groups are labelled ‘holistic’, ‘process’ and ‘logistics’ based on the supplier capabilities they emphasise. These three groups of firms also differed in terms of the emphasis they placed on strategic purchasing, supplier evaluation, technological focus and how they compete in their main markets, but not in terms of firm size or number of suppliers utilised. The implications of these findings are discussed and areas meriting future research are proposed.     

The reluctance of construction purchasers towards project partnering

While the literature argues that there are several benefits for construction purchasers who join forces to co-develop the project with contractors and to increase cooperation between the various project stakeholders (construction partnering), little research has been done on the reasons for the lack of extensive diffusion of such methods in the construction industry. This paper aims at understanding the rationale behind the reluctance of construction purchasers for this coordination mechanism in France. In particular the paper investigates the impact of the characteristics of the project but also of the characteristics of the purchasing companies in their project procurement behaviour. The findings reveal that the characteristics of the purchasing companies in terms of purchasing strategy, structure and culture seem more explanatory of their procurement behaviour than of the project characteristics. The paper suggests that the lack of diffusion and understanding of construction partnering may be due to the resistance of purchasers who feel threatened by the structural changes it involves in their purchasing habits.     

Inclusive purchasing and supply chain resilience capabilities: Lessons for social sustainability

In the face of unexpected changes in their dynamic business environment, purchasing and supply chain (SC) managers have been challenged to boost SC resilience while maintaining their sustainability concerns. In this changing environment, this paper aims to explore: (1) how (social) sustainability affects SC resilience and (2) what the role of purchasing is for SC resilience. Through a dynamic capability view as the theoretical lens, we investigate whether and how an inclusive purchasing programme could enhance SC resilience capabilities to cope with the Covid-19 outbreak. We developed a Case study with various SC members of a multinational cosmetics company that, despite suffering from a sudden demand disruption during the outbreak, maintained its sustainability actions. The results show that four operational SC resilience capabilities were amplified: ‘visibility’, ‘adaptability’, ‘collaboration’ and ‘financial strength’. In addition, a new capability entitled ‘empowerment’ was mobilised during this period. These factors helped the inclusive purchasing maintenance and were essential to supporting social sustainability. In addition, our results show that sustainable PSM, which is overlooked in the literature, is key for SC resilience. This article contributes to theory and practice because it demonstrates the role and relevance of (inclusive) purchasing in a company's ability to cope with SC disruptions, such as those resulting from the outbreak.