Comparative carbon auditing of conventional and online retail supply chains: a review of methodological issues
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to examine the various stages in online and conventional retail supply chains in order to assess their relative environmental impacts. With reference to boundary issues, utilisation factors and carbon allocation, it seeks to highlight some of the difficulties in establishing a robust carbon auditing methodology.
Design/methodology/approach
Auditing issues are considered from the point of divergence in the respective supply chains (downstream of this point a product is destined either for conventional or online retailing channels, and will receive different treatment accordingly).
Findings
The paper explores methodological issues associated with carbon auditing conventional and online retail channels. Having highlighted the problems, it suggests resolutions to these issues.
Research limitations/implications
The paper is mostly conceptual in nature.
Practical implications
The approach outlined in this paper, once applied, allows the identification of inefficiencies in the respective retail supply chains.
Originality/value
The paper is the first to discuss carbon auditing in relation to upstream supply chain analysis for both conventional and online retail channels. Previous work has tended to focus on the last mile delivery.
Keywords
Citation
Edwards, J., McKinnon, A. and Cullinane, S. (2011), "Comparative carbon auditing of conventional and online retail supply chains: a review of methodological issues", Supply Chain Management, Vol. 16 No. 1, pp. 57-63. https://doi.org/10.1108/13598541111103502
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited