How are supply chains transforming to integrate sustainability and resilience in the post-COVID era?

Details

Supervisors

Tancrez, Jean-Sébastien

Faculty

Louvain School of Management

Degree label

Master [120] en sciences de gestion, à finalité spécialisée

Abstract

enThis master’s thesis investigates how companies are adaptingtheir supply chains to address rising sustainability and resiliencechallenges in a post-crisis context. The research aims to identifycritical vulnerabilities and structural tensions that limit theintegration of these priorities across procurement, production,and logistics. Focusing on the unidirectional relationship fromsustainability to resilience, exploring how sustainabilityinitiatives may contribute to strengthening supply chainrobustness. The study is structured around three analyticaldimensions: the implementation of sustainable practices, thedevelopment of resilience strategies, and the adoption ofIndustry 4.0 technologies. Findings show that sustainabilityefforts related to energy use, circularity, and supplierengagement often enhance resilience by reducing dependencyand improving adaptability. However, sustainable transportremains a major weak point due to limited flexibility and poorperformance, which affect overall responsiveness. Incentives forsustainability are not solely driven by external pressures such asregulations or stakeholder pressure. Internal drivers like costefficiency, innovation objectives, and organizationalcharacteristics also play a key role, revealing a more complex andstrategic commitment to sustainable transformation. Theseresults contribute to a better understanding of howenvironmental and operational priorities are aligned withinevolving supply chains.