Sustainable Paths in Digital Supply Chains: Navigating Environmental Challenges and Technological Frontiers

CALL FOR PAPERS

Journal: Benchmarking: An International Journal

Publisher: Emerald Publishing

Submission Opens: 15 March 2026

Submission Deadline: 30 September 2026

Introduction

The contemporary business landscape is undergoing profound transformation as organizations respond to rapid technological advancements, intensifying environmental pressures, and recurring global disruptions. Digitalization has emerged as a critical enabler of supply chain adaptation, yet its integration with sustainability objectives remains uneven and fragmented.

This special issue explores the mutually reinforcing relationship between emerging technologies — such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and advanced data analytics — and sustainable supply chain practices. As organizations confront escalating climate risks, regulatory scrutiny, and operational volatility, digital tools offer opportunities to enhance transparency, efficiency, emissions monitoring, and resilience. However, technological adoption alone is insufficient. Sustainable digital transitions require supportive leadership, continuous training, and organizational culture transformation.

Drawing on theoretical lenses including the Practice-Based View, Resource-Based View (RBV), Knowledge-Based View (KBV), Evolutionary Theory, and Organizational Information Processing Theory (OIPT), the issue provides a multi-level perspective on sustainability-driven digitalization.

The topic is especially timely given increasing climate urgency, geopolitical instability, and post-pandemic supply chain restructuring. By bridging theory and practice, this special issue invites empirical, conceptual, and methodological contributions offering actionable insights for organizations navigating environmental challenges while leveraging technological frontiers.

Scope & Significance

In today's globalized environment, sustainable digital supply chains represent more than operational optimization — they embody a strategic commitment to long-term environmental stewardship and responsible growth. Firms, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), face mounting pressure to reduce carbon footprints, ensure ethical sourcing, and improve supply network transparency.

Digital transformation enables traceability, real-time performance monitoring, predictive analytics, and collaborative platforms that strengthen both sustainability and resilience. Yet empirical synthesis remains limited, and conceptual fragmentation persists regarding how human and organizational factors influence successful digital sustainability transitions.

Beyond academic advancement, this special issue addresses pressing societal challenges including climate change mitigation, responsible production, energy efficiency, and ethical governance.

UN Sustainable Development Goals Alignment

This special issue aligns with the following United Nations SDGs:

🏭 SDG 8 — Decent Work & Economic Growth ⚙️ SDG 9 — Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure ♻️ SDG 12 — Responsible Consumption & Production 🌍 SDG 13 — Climate Action

List of Topic Areas

Manuscripts are invited on themes including, but not limited to:

Strategic leadership and governance for sustainable digital supply chains
Digital transformation strategies for environmental sustainability in supply chains
AI and machine learning applications for green supply chain planning and optimization
Blockchain-enabled transparency, traceability, and ethical sourcing
Benchmarking sustainability performance metrics and ESG KPIs in digital supply chains
Sustainable logistics and smart transportation
Digital circular supply chains and circular economy implementation models
Green procurement, supplier collaboration, and sustainable sourcing practices
Sustainability–resilience integration through digital capabilities
Sustainable supply chain innovation in SMEs and emerging economies
Cyber risks, data governance, and trust in sustainable digital supply chains
Policy, institutional pressures, and regulatory compliance for digital sustainability
Benchmarking best practices in AI-driven sustainable supply chain decision-making
Cross-industry and cross-country benchmarking of digital sustainability maturity models
Benchmarking circular economy adoption and reverse logistics performance across sectors

Guest Editors

Dr. Harshad Sonar Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Sambalpur, India 📧 harshad@iimsambalpur.ac.in

Dr. Bishal Dey Sarkar Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bodhgaya, India 📧 bishal.s@iimbg.ac.in

Dr. Sandeep Jagtap Lund University, Sweden 📧 sandeep.jagtap@tlog.lth.se

Dr. Hana Trollman University of Leicester, UK 📧 ht203@leicester.ac.uk

Key Deadlines

📅 Manuscript Submission Opens: 15 March 2026 ⏰ Manuscript Submission Deadline: 30 September 2026

Submission Guidelines

Submissions are made through ScholarOne Manuscripts, the official submission platform of Emerald Publishing. Authors must strictly follow the journal's author guidelines.

When submitting, select "Sustainable Paths in Digital Supply Chains" from the special issue drop-down menu at the appropriate step in the submission process.

⚠️ Submitted articles must not have been previously published, nor should they be under consideration for publication elsewhere while under review for this journal.

For author guidelines and to submit your manuscript, visit the official journal page on the Emerald Publishing website and access via ScholarOne Manuscripts.

About the Journal

Benchmarking: An International Journal, published by Emerald Publishing, is a leading peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing scholarly and practical knowledge in benchmarking methodologies, performance measurement, and best practices across industries and disciplines. It provides a forum for interdisciplinary dialogue among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers worldwide.

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