How can Contract (lifecycle) Management advance environmentally sustainable development in buyer-supplier relationships in transport logistics?

Abstract

The European Green Deal and its Fit for 55 package seek to decrease the greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030, in comparison to the 1990 levels. Our research question is: can Contract Management aid in achieving this aim, and if so, how? We maintain that it can, and present both theoretical contributions and practical recommendations to facilitate the process towards achieving this goal. We shall consider the matter of environmentally sustainable supply chains from the viewpoint of buyer-supplier relationships, with particular focus on transport logistics. As the transport industry is the third biggest source of emissions in the European Union, any effort to lower them through the use of Contract Management could make a considerable contribution towards promoting sustainable development. Our findings amalgamate Contract Management with sustainable supplier and supply chain practices, offering direction on how to incorporate this combination in pre- and post-award phases during the entire contract lifecycle.