Sustainability and innovation in the Brazilian supply chain of green plastic

Climate change has intensified the demand for better social and environmental conservation efforts, motivating organisations to become more engaged in the development of sustainable technologies. This study analyses the innovation process in the production of green plastic, a process which replaces a non-renewable resource (naphtha) for a renewable one (ethanol from sugarcane), through the lens of sustainable supply-chain management (SSCM). An in-depth case study was conducted with a Brazilian petrochemical company, including interviews with agents of the supply chain. The results show that collaborations between the focal organisation and other agents of the supply chain are important for product development. The focal organisation has created many industry-wide initiatives, such as certification programmes and seal of quality/approval, to support the production of green plastic and reduce the social and environmental impact along the supply chain.