Strategic Antecedents of Sustainable Procurement: The Synergistic Impact of Supplier Relationship Management, Digital Transformation, and Ethical Sourcing

In contemporary global markets, the strategic integration of procurement and logistics is essential for enhancing supply chain efficiency, mitigating operational risks, and ensuring environmental sustainability. Despite its importance, achieving seamless synchronization remains challenging, requiring a nuanced approach to supplier selection, cost control, and green logistics. This conceptual paper addresses these operational hurdles by developing a comprehensive theoretical framework that identifies the primary strategic drivers of sustainable procurement efficacy. Drawing upon a synthesis of existing literature, the study proposes a structural model comprising three critical strategic antecedents: Supplier Relationship Management (SRM), Digital Transformation, and Ethical Sourcing. The paper formulates three testable propositions (P1–P3), positing that cultivating collaborative, long-term supplier partnerships, leveraging advanced digital technologies for data-driven decision-making, and prioritizing stringent ethical and social responsibility standards directly enhance procurement performance and sustainable supply chain outcomes. Theoretically, this research advances the supply chain management discourse by transitioning from generalized best practices to a specific, testable model, providing a clear pathway for future empirical investigation. Managerially, the proposed tri-pillar framework offers a strategic blueprint for organizations to absorb market shocks, optimize overarching logistical expenditures, and meet escalating regulatory and consumer demands for corporate social responsibility. Ultimately, this article establishes that integrating relational capabilities, digital innovation, and ethical commitments is vital for long-term, sustainable procurement success.

Sustainable procurement, supplier relationship management, digital transformation, ethical sourcing, supply chain sustainability.

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