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This study aims to investigate how Lean Six Sigma (LSS), a widely used paradigm that promotes competitive advantage of different organisations in a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way, affects operational performance in different organisational contexts. Although LSS is widely used to improve operational performance, the impact of LSS on operational performance appears to be different in different organisational contexts, prompting the attention of researchers and managers to shift from lean philosophy to the impact of contextual variables on the effectiveness of LSS implementation.

This study uses a quantitative research design and conducts an empirical study in Pakistan. The sample consists of 339 management employees with an effective response rate of 67.8% in various sectors. In this study, partial least square structural equation modelling is used to examine the relationships among the variables using the resource-based view (RBV) and dynamic capability theory (DCT) to support the model of this study.

This study reveals that the relationship between LSS and operational performance is partially mediated by green human resource management (GHRM) and internal environmental management (IEM). The moderating effect of the organisational developmental culture between LSS and operational performance is not identified, implying that the effect of developmental culture could vary under different cultures.

There is a lack of empirical studies investigating the role of GHRM, IEM and developmental culture in developing countries. This study extends the literature on the RBV and DCT in operational performance. The study’s outcome provides theoretical and practical implications for enhancing the effect of LSS implementation on operational performance in focal small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through human and environmental management factors.

A global industrial revolution driven by carbon neutrality and digital technologies (DTs) is fast gaining momentum. However, the present understanding of how firms should leverage digitalization for sustainability is underdeveloped. This paper aims to explore how digital orientation can improve environmental performance from the natural resource-based view.

Using a sample set of 132 Chinese firms, the authors adopt the hierarchical regression analysis and bootstrap approach to examine the hypotheses.

The empirical results show that green DT usage, green DT disposal and green practices-DT fit are three factors that mediate the positive relationship between digital orientation and environmental performance. In addition, of the five possible mediational paths, only the serial mediation of green DT usage and green practices-DT fit, as well as the serial mediation of green DT disposal and green practices-DT fit, show significant effects.

The authors contribute to the current digitalization and sustainability literature by demonstrating the processes through which digital orientation influences environmental performance. The study also provides managerial implications for firms to adjust their operations.

Innovation capabilities, changes in customer expectations and continuous supply chain (SC) network disruptions bring complexity and challenges to manufacturing firms (MFs). This study examines the influence of uncertainty, supplier innovation, cost reduction and integration of third-party logistics (3PLs) and fourth-party logistics (4PLs) on logistics outsourcing adoption.

Based on data collected from 180 managers in MFs in Jordan, our proposed research model was tested using partial least squares-SEM (PLS-SEM).

The findings suggest that supplier innovation and integration with 3PLs and 4PLs are key enablers of adopting logistics outsourcing in the manufacturing sector. Further, the findings indicate no significant impact of uncertainty and cost reduction as logistics outsourcing enablers. The results also suggest that integration with 3PLs and 4PLs mediate fully and positively the path between supplier innovation and logistics outsourcing adoption.

This study contributes to the manufacturing literature by providing a better understanding of the main enablers of logistics outsourcing in the manufacturing sector, simultaneously tackling dependence and enhancing adoption performance in the innovation and disruptions SC era. Further, it expands the understanding of the integration between SC partners in these twofold roles.

This paper investigates the role of institutional pressures (IPs) and supply chain integration (SCI) in driving the adoption of circular economy (CE) practices. It is hypothesised that, responding to IPs, firms might adopt higher levels of SCI in the attempt to implement CE practices.

A research model is developed and tested on a cross-sectional sample of 150 multi-national enterprises (MNEs). Textual content from corporate sustainability reports is used to measure the constructs of interest through an advanced coding approach.

Findings show that IPs are driving the adoption of CE practices primarily through the mediation of SCI; the prominent roles of coercive regulatory pressures (CRPs) and normative pressures (NPs) are also highlighted. CRPs influence on CE practices is partially mediated by SCI, with NPs influence being fully mediated by it.

The study shows that SCI is a key mechanism that lies in between IPs and CE practices; as such, organisations interested in implementing CE practices need to be aware of requirements for achieving higher levels of SCI.

This empirical study is the first large scale analysis that conceptualises how MNE-driven supply chains adopt CE practices. The study empirically validates the model and identifies research avenues in supply chain management (SCM) research to support the adoption of CE practices.

To analyze the integration of the circular economy and Industry 4.0 in agtechs through lean integration and people.

Following in-depth interviews with key informants, data tabulation was performed via families of viewpoints supported by the primary elements mapped in the investigated context.

The integration of the circular economy with Industry 4.0, and integrated into lean production, aiming to eliminate waste and maximize customer value, and the valorization of people are fundamental in the context of recycling, reuse and reutilization of materials not only in the agricultural sector but also, since it is the object of study of this research. The use of I4.0 technologies and solutions, such as applications, sensors, artificial intelligence and digital platforms, allows for the collection and analysis of real-time data, facilitating decision-making and monitoring of agricultural operations.

The research limitations may include the limited sample of Agtechs analyzed, which might not cover all innovations and trends existing in the sector; data and information available up to the study date (April 2023), which might not reflect more recent developments in the field of Agtechs and the circular economy.

The circular economy seeks to minimize waste and maximize resource use, promoting recycling, reusing and repurposing of materials. In contrast, Industry 4.0 refers to the application of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, the internet of things and automation to optimize productive processes and make them more efficient. Lean integration, which aims to eliminate waste and maximize customer value, and the appreciation of people are fundamental in this context.

The use of technologies and solutions from Industry 4.0, like apps, sensors, artificial intelligence and digital platforms, allows real-time data collection and analysis, facilitating decision-making and monitoring of agricultural operations. In addition, the provision of online consulting and technical assistance services contributes to producer training and the maximization of results.

Significant benefits for the agricultural sector, such as greater efficiency, sustainability, product quality, traceability, cost reduction and productivity increase. The use of advanced technologies and the valorization of people are key elements to drive this integration and promote digital transformation in the field. The integration of the circular economy and Industry 4.0 in agtechs, integrating lean production and people.

This study aims to analyze how the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) guidelines and the Circular Economy (CE) are being internalized in the companies that are part of the Corporate Sustainability Index – ISE B3, from the perspective of the stakeholder theory.

Using a qualitative approach, the research was developed with data analysis collected from multiple sources: documentary research in sustainability reports and websites, application of a survey, and conducting in-depth interviews with managers of ISE organizations.

ESG practices are internalized in the companies surveyed, highlighting aspects of waste management, relationship with communities and anti-corruption. CE practices are still at an early or intermediate stage of adoption. It was identified that in the ESG and circular dynamics, suppliers, customers and employees are primary stakeholders, which have a direct influence on the sustainability context of organizations. Integrating ESG with CE principles provides a systemic view of sustainability, going beyond fragmented approaches that treat ESG and CE as isolated initiatives.

The contribution of the study is associated with managerial support for decision-making. The practical examples presented can be used as a benchmarking parameter, contributing to the planning of organizations that are in the process of transition to CE. The focus on the Brazilian Stock Exchange’s Corporate Sustainability Index (ISE B3) is an original contribution, given that most studies on CE and ESG focus on developed economies or specific sectors. The study offers valuable insights into how Brazilian companies – which operate in the context of regulatory challenges.

The aim of this study is to evaluate Big Data Analytics (BDA) drivers in the context of food supply chains (FSC) for transition to a Circular Economy (CE) and Sustainable Operations Management (SOM).

Ten different BDA drivers in FSC are examined for transition to CE; these are Supply Chains (SC) Visibility, Operations Efficiency, Information Management and Technology, Collaborations between SC partners, Data-driven innovation, Demand management and Production Planning, Talent Management, Organizational Commitment, Management Team Capability and Governmental Incentive. An interpretive structural modelling (ISM) methodology is used to indicate the relationships between identified drivers to stimulate transition to CE and SOM. Drivers and pair-wise interactions between these drivers are developed by semi-structured interviews with a number of experts from industry and academia.

The results show that Information Management and Technology, Governmental Incentive and Management Team Capability drivers are classified as independent factors; Organizational Commitment and Operations Efficiency are categorized as dependent factors. SC Visibility, Data-driven innovation, Demand management and Production Planning, Talent Management and Collaborations between SC partners can be classified as linkage factors. It can be concluded that Governmental Incentive is the most fundamental driver to achieve BDA applications in FSC transition from linearity to CE and SOM. In addition, Operations Efficiency, Collaborations between SC partners and Organizational Commitment are key BDA drivers in FSC for transition to CE and SOM.

The interactions between these drivers will provide benefits to both industry and academia in prioritizing and understanding these drivers more thoroughly when implementing BDA based on a range of factors. This study will provide valuable insights. The results from this study will help in drawing up regulations to prevent food fraud, implementing laws concerning government incentives, reducing food loss and waste, increasing tracing and traceability, providing training activities to improve knowledge about BDA and focusing more on data analytics.

The main contribution of the study is to analyze BDA drivers in the context of FSC for transition to CE and SOM. This study is unique in examining these BDA drivers based on FSC. We hope to find sustainable solutions to minimize losses or other negative impacts on these SC.

Short food supply chains (SFSCs) have been extensively researched for their environmental and economic implications. However, these are now confronted with shortcomings such as supply chain resilience (SLR) and societal livelihood (SL) hindering growth. The purpose of this study is to revisit and critically analyze existing SFSC literature, with a focus on SLR, SL, sustainability and human-centricity elements, to propose redesigning attributes for SFSCs in the era of Industry 5.0.

The systematic review scope is confined to the SFSC domain with an analysis of contemporary articles published in the British Food Journal (BFJ). The meta-data and research papers are sourced from the Scopus database and the VOSviewer software is used for the analysis. The thematic, diversified geographies and method-wise investigation bring theoretical insights toward building sustainable and resilient SFSCs.

The study findings could serve as a fitting theoretical framework to redesign the SFSCs for resiliency, sustainability and societal aspects of the economy, environment and human livelihood, respectively. The results also discuss the prior accomplishments and elaborate on avenues for future research.

Emphasizing recent trends, challenges, policy design, conceptual framework and future research directions for the SFSC domain, considering SLR and SL, has extended the literature in line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

This study offers comprehensive guidelines to the concerned stakeholders for redesigning the SFSCs by linking sustainability, resilience and societal livelihood dimensions.

The study derives comprehensive insights into how redesigning SFSCs has contributed to more sustainable and resilient food systems worldwide over 2 decades. It extends the BFJ’s literature body by establishing the linkages between SLR and SL concerning human-centric SFSC.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was growing concern about the health status of vulnerable groups living in camps. This study aims to investigate differences in the perception and concerns of pregnant women about the pandemic between two populations, i.e. internally displaced people (IDPs) and refugees. In fact, although the two categories are often conflated, the analysis of their respective profiles requires more careful attention. Particularly in Iraqi Kurdistan, these groups of migrants have specific characteristics that this study aims to highlight.

A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 4,736 pregnant women living in camps in Iraqi Kurdistan. Participants were asked questions about the pandemic and self-perceived disadvantages of COVID-19.

IDP women were more concerned about COVID-19 infection [odds ratio (OR) = 2.59; CI: 2.29–2.92] and more afraid to visit health centers (OR = 3.79; CI: 3.36–4.28), with a reduction of health visits (OR = 0.76; CI: 0.68–0.86). The main self-perceived disadvantages were psychological pressure and concerns about changes in the services available in the camps. On the contrary, refugee women reported the lockdown as one of the most negative effects, together with their economic situation and unemployment.

Studies investigating the health status of vulnerable groups living in camps are generally underrepresented in global research. This study shows that the needs of IDPs and refugees are different, specific and contextual, even when the two groups appear to have similar backgrounds. Tailored interventions, according to the type of migrants hosted in camps, are needed, especially during a pandemic. Community volunteers can play a paramount role in supporting the continuity of health care for these vulnerable populations.