Stanford Database Library of American Journal of Applied Science and Technology

Vol. 5 No. 12 (2025)
Articles

A Framework for Transformative Pharmaceutical Supply Chains: Integrating Sustainability, Resilience, Ethics, and Technology

PDF
  • Dr. Mariana Kovács
Dr. Mariana Kovács
Global Institute for Supply Chain Research, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Published 2025-12-09

Keywords

  • Sustainable supply chain,
  • pharmaceutical logistics,
  • circular economy,
  • blockchain,
  • triple bottom line,
  • collaborative governance,
  • Industry 4.0
    • ...More
    Less

How to Cite

Dr. Mariana Kovács. (2025). A Framework for Transformative Pharmaceutical Supply Chains: Integrating Sustainability, Resilience, Ethics, and Technology. Stanford Database Library of American Journal of Applied Science and Technology, 5(12), 37–42. Retrieved from https://oscarpubhouse.com/index.php/sdlajast/article/view/54

Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Mariana Kovács

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

This article develops an integrated, publication-ready theoretical and practical framework for sustainable pharmaceutical supply chain management that fuses environmental, social, and economic imperatives with emerging technologies and collaborative governance. Building on prior frameworks of sustainable supply chain management (Carter & Rogers, 2008; Closs, Speier & Meacham, 2011), supplier selection and triple bottom line evaluation (Ahi & Searcy, 2015; Govindan, Khodaverdi & Jafarian, 2013), and domain-specific studies in pharmaceuticals and healthcare logistics (Ding, 2018; Chaudhuri, 2015; Chen, Li & Wang, 2020), the article articulates an end-to-end model that emphasizes circularity, digital transparency, stakeholder co-creation, and public-health-aligned profit mechanisms (Dahan et al., 2010; Ding, Wang & Zheng, 2018). The paper synthesizes evidence on technological enablers — blockchain, big data analytics, Industry 4.0 advances — and social governance instruments to propose a coherent approach for measuring, implementing, and scaling sustainable practices across the pharmaceutical supply chain (Cole, Stevenson & Aitken, 2019; Barbosa et al., 2018; Ding, 2018). Methodologically, the work adopts a rigorous conceptual synthesis, comparative literature analysis, and construct-level triangulation of sustainability measurement instruments (Das, 2017; Shou et al., 2019). Results are presented as descriptive analyses and translatable managerial guidelines, showing how supplier evaluation, collaborative profit-allocation mechanisms, and digital tracking reduce waste and improve public health outcomes while maintaining commercial viability (Ding, Wang & Zheng, 2018; Chowdhury, 2025). The discussion interprets limitations, including measurement heterogeneity and governance complexity, and sets an agenda for empirical testing, simulation modeling, and policy experimentation. The conclusion offers concrete priorities for practitioners and policymakers to accelerate the transition to sustainable pharmaceutical supply chains that balance the triple bottom line and public-health imperatives.

PDF

References

  1. Carter, C., & Rogers, D.S. (2008). A framework of sustainable supply chain management: moving toward new theory. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 38(5), 360-387.
  2. Chaudhuri, A. (2015). Supply chain innovations in healthcare. Innovations in healthcare management: Cost-effective and sustainable solutions, 261-272.
  3. Closs, D.J., Speier, C., & Meacham, N. (2011). Sustainability to support end-to-end value chains: the role of supply chain management. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 39, 101-116.
  4. Cole, R., Stevenson, M., & Aitken, J. (2019). Blockchain technology: implications for operations and supply chain management. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 24(4), 469-483.
  5. Dahan, N.M., Doh, J.P., Oetzel, J., & Yaziji, M. (2010). Corporate-NGO collaboration: Co-creating new business models for developing markets. Long Range Planning, 43(2-3), 326-342.
  6. Das, D. (2017). Development and validation of a scale for measuring Sustainable Supply Chain Management practices and performance. Journal of Cleaner Production, 164, 1344-1362.
  7. Ding, B. (2018). Pharma Industry 4.0: Literature review and research opportunities in sustainable pharmaceutical supply chains. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 119, 115-130.
  8. Ding, H., Wang, L., & Zheng, L. (2018). Collaborative mechanism on profit allotment and public health for a sustainable supply chain. European Journal of Operational Research, 267(2), 478-495.
  9. Shou, Y., Shao, J., Lai, K.-h., Kang, M., & Park, Y. (2019). The impact of sustainability and operations orientations on sustainable supply management and the triple bottom line. Journal of Cleaner Production, 240, 118280.
  10. Padhi, S.S., Pati, R.K., & Rajeev, A. (2018). Framework for selecting sustainable supply chain processes and industries using an integrated approach. Journal of Cleaner Production, 184, 969–984.
  11. Govindan, K., Khodaverdi, R., & Jafarian, A. (2013). A fuzzy multi criteria approach for measuring sustainability performance of a supplier based on triple bottom line approach. Journal of Cleaner Production, 47, 345–354.
  12. Burki, U., Ersoy, P., & Dahlstrom, R. (2018). Achieving triple bottom line performance in manufacturer-customer supply chains: Evidence from an emerging economy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 197, 1307–1316.
  13. Kusi-Sarpong, S., Gupta, H., & Sarkis, J. (2018). A supply chain sustainability innovation framework and evaluation methodology. International Journal of Production Research, 57, 1990–2008.
  14. Sarkis, J., & Dhavale, D.G. (2015). Supplier selection for sustainable operations: A triple-bottom-line approach using a Bayesian framework. International Journal of Production Economics, 166, 177–191.
  15. Ahi, P., & Searcy, C. (2015). Assessing sustainability in the supply chain: A triple bottom line approach. Applied Mathematical Modelling, 39, 2882–2896.
  16. Mani, V., & Gunasekaran, A. (2018). Four forces of supply chain social sustainability adoption in emerging economies. International Journal of Production Economics, 199, 150–161.
  17. Cole, R., & Aitken, J. (2019). Selecting suppliers for socially sustainable supply chain management: post-exchange supplier development activities as pre-selection requirements. Production Planning & Control, 30, 1184–1202.
  18. Chowdhury, W. A. (2025). Blockchain for Sustainable Supply Chain Management: Reducing Waste Through Transparent Resource Tracking. Journal of Procurement and Supply Chain Management, 4(2), 28–34. https://doi.org/10.58425/jpscm.v4i2.435
  19. Bai, C., Kusi-Sarpong, S., Badri Ahmadi, H., & Sarkis, J. (2019). Social sustainable supplier evaluation and selection: A group decision-support approach. International Journal of Production Research, 1–22.
  20. Banik, A., Taqi, H. M. M., Ali, S. M., Ahmed, S., Garshasbi, M., & Kabir, G. (2020). Critical Success Factors for Implementing Green Supply Chain Management in the Electronics Industry: An Emerging Economy Case. International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications. doi:10.1080/13675567.2020.1839029.
  21. Barbosa, M. W., de la Calle Vicente, A., Ladeira, M. B., & Valadares de Oliveira, M. P. (2018). Managing Supply Chain Resources with Big Data Analytics: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications, 21(3), 177–201.
  22. Cabernard, L., Pfister, S., & Hellweg, S. (2019). A New Method for Analyzing Sustainability Performance of Global Supply Chains and Its Application to Material Resources. Science of The Total Environment, 684, 164–177.
  23. Cesur, E., Cesur, M. R., Kayikci, Y., & Mangla, S. K. (2020). Optimal Number of Remanufacturing in a Circular-Economy Platform. International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications. doi:10.1080/13675567.2020.1825656.
  24. Chen, X., Li, S., & Wang, X. (2020). Evaluating the Effects of Quality Regulations on the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain. International Journal of Production Economics, 230, 107770.
  25. Ciulli, F., Kolk, A., & Boe-Lillegraven, S. (2020). Circularity Brokers: Digital Platform Organizations and Waste Recovery in Food Supply Chains. Journal of Business Ethics, 167(2), 299–377.
  26. Gao, L., Wang, J., He, H., & Wang, S. (2021). Do Motives Contribute to Sustainable Supply Chain Management? A Motive–Ability–Opportunity Triangle Research Perspective. International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications. doi:10.1080/13675567.2021.1914565.
  27. Giannakis, M., & Papadopoulos, T. (2016). Supply Chain Sustainability: A Risk Management Approach. International Journal of Production Economics, 171, 455–470.
  28. Heinz, F. X., & Stiasny, K. (2021). Profiles of current COVID-19 vaccines. Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift, pp.1-13.
  29. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LOGISTICS RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS (page reference as provided).
  30. Padhi, S. S.; Pati, R. K.; Rajeev, A. Framework for selecting sustainable supply chain processes and industries using an integrated approach. Journal of Cleaner Production (2018), 184, 969–984.
  31. Dai, D., Wu, X., & Si, F. (2021). Complexity analysis of cold chain transportation in a vaccine supply chain considering activity inspection and time-delay. Advances in Difference Equations.
  32. Burki, U.; Ersoy, P.; Dahlstrom, R. (2018). Achieving triple bottom line performance in manufacturer-customer supply chains: Evidence from an emerging economy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 197, 1307–1316.
  33. Chen, Y.; Wu, Q.; Shao, L. (Year not specified). Urban cold-chain logistics demand predicting model based on improved neural network model. International Journal of Metrology, Quality and Engineering.
  34. Emergentcold. (2023). Cold chain: Trends 2024. https://emergentcoldlatam.com/en/cold-chain-key-trends-in-2024
  35. Heinz, F.X., & Stiasny, K. (2021). Profiles of current COVID-19 vaccines. Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift, pp. 1–13.
  36. Dai, D.; Wu, X.; Si, F. (2021). Complexity analysis of cold chain transportation in a vaccine supply chain considering activity inspection and time-delay. Advances in Difference Equations.