Green supply chains: Efforts and potential applications for the Turkish market

This study aims to explore the suitability and significance of waste management as the first step to creating green supply chains in general, and as an extension of this exploration we address the following research questions: (1) What should be the starting point both for individual companies and supply chains for becoming green? Can it be waste management? (2) What is the level of environmental consciousness of firms and how is it possible to assess the potential level of participation if a waste management system was to be implemented in their supply chains? (3) Which sector would be the most appropriate for implementing a green policy in terms of attracting the attention of other sectors and customers simultaneously? (4) What are the dynamics of interdependency and interaction within the upstream and downstream partners in the chain in terms of green consciousness? In discussing green issues, the importance of the mentioned "attracting attention" underlies the importance of consciousness. Addressing this issue requires a general understanding of the current situation in the Turkish market in the first place, and then to extending this understanding to be able to evaluate more effectively the potential of waste management to help companies and consumers gain consciousness at the same time. Based on the literature and personal experience, it was decided to select the electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) sector for research. The focus group method was selected to collect opinions of managers from the EEE sector in Izmir. The focus group study was implemented in two sessions. Results showed that the waste management implementation could provide a good starting point for introducing green supply chains, and that the EEE sector could serve as a model for other sectors and consumers, as this sector's products directly affect electricity consumption. Also, we propose a conceptual model regarding dynamics of interdependency and interaction within the upstream and downstream partners in the chain in terms of green consciousness. The key contribution of this study is an analysis of the dynamics between upstream and downstream members in the supply chain, in terms of adopting a more environmentally aware attitude. The analysis of these dynamics is visualized with a proposed conceptual model. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.