Uptake Of Sustainable Manufacturing Practices By Food Manufacturing Firms: A Systematic Review

Abstract

A large number of food manufacturing companies are yet to thoroughly assimilate sustainable practices in their business model. In view of the pivotal impact the food supply chain exerts on food security, this paper consolidates and provides a comprehensive review on the adoption of sustainable practices by food enterprises in both developed and developing countries. This paper systematically reviews the heterogeneity of firm conditions and owner characteristics. It considers countries, type of sustainable practices and underlying adoption theories generally utilized by past literature. In addition, vote counting is employed to map key variables that influence sustainability practice uptake by firm owners. Key findings include economic motivation largely driving adoption decisions, followed by national legal obligations and learning capacity. Results also revealed adoption to be heavily skewed in the direction of developed countries versus developing countries and large food firms versus small-and-medium firms.