Responsible sourcing and sustainable production
Our studies focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including climate action, responsible sourcing, consumption and production. We focus on the interfaces between operations management and environmental impact. This research theme has become increasingly important as global supply chain stakeholders have shifted their attention to the environmental effects and social implications of operations.
Leveraging advanced research methodologies, such as mathematical optimisation, game theory and empirical research, our researchers investigate sustainable strategic decisions, including responsible sourcing, sustainable production, and the effects of environmental legislation. They place these within the context of multiple stakeholders across global supply chains, striving for sustainability in a broader sense.
Our research outputs provide valuable managerial insights and implications for stakeholders to improve their sustainable and operational decisions. Thus far, our team has published a series of high-quality journal articles in this field.
Our researchers
Our partners
Our team collaborates with various organisations to provide rich insights into matters relating to the circular economy and future sustainability. We have worked with many universities, local councils, local businesses and funding bodies to collectively understand the problems and challenges of striving towards a circular economy.
Featured publications
- Durach, C. F., Simpson, D., Wiengarten, F. & Wu, Z. (2025). Beyond the Yield: Enhancing Agricultural Sustainability Through Operations Management, Journal of Operations Management, 71, 4, p. 516-528 13.
- Lo, C. K., Tang, C. S., and Zhou, Y. (2022). Do polluting firms suffer long term? Can government use data‐driven inspection policies to catch polluters? Production and Operations Management, 31(12), 4351-4363.
- Ma, X., Talluri, S., Ferguson, M., and Tiwari, S. (2022). Strategic production and responsible sourcing decisions under an emissions trading scheme. European Journal of Operational Research, 303(3), 1429-1443.
- Wang, J., Zhou, Y., & Cooke, F. L. (2022). Low-carbon economy and policy implications: a systematic review and bibliometric analysis. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29(43), 65432-65451.
- Ma, X., Fan, D., Zhou, Y., and Yang, C. H. (2021). The impact of inspection on the sustainable production strategy: Environmental violation and abatement in emerging markets. Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, 150, 102294.
- Fan, D., Lo, C. K., & Zhou, Y. (2021). Sustainability risk in supply bases: The role of complexity and coupling. Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, 145, 102175.
- Lo, C., Tang, C. S., Zhou, P., Yeung, A., & Fan, D. (2021). Don’t Turn a Blind Eye to Environmental Violations. Management and Business Review, 1(1). pp. 111-114.
- Chen, L., Yao, S., & Zhu, K. (2020). Responsible sourcing under supplier-auditor collusion. Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, 22(6), 1234-1250.
- Simpson, D., Power, D., Riach, K. & Tsarenko, Y. (2019). Consumer motivation for product disposal and its role in acquiring products for reuse, Journal of Operations Management, 65, 7, p. 612-635.
- Yang, C. H., Ma, X., & Talluri, S. (2019). Optimal acquisition decision in a remanufacturing system with partial random yield information. International Journal of Production Research, 57(6), 1624-1644.
- Yang, C. H., Ma, X., Talluri, S., & Ho, W. (2018). Optimal robust ordering quantity for a new product under environmental constraints. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 66(2), 240-251.
- Ma, X., Ho, W., Ji, P., & Talluri, S. (2018). Contract design with information asymmetry in a supply chain under an emissions trading mechanism. Decision Sciences, 49(1), 121-153.
- Ma, X., Ho, W., Ji, P., & Talluri, S. (2018). Coordinated pricing analysis with the carbon tax scheme in a supply chain. Decision Sciences, 49(5), 863-900.