Abstract:

Integrating sustainability goals into organizations and supply chains has become a key element to respond to the growing pressure from stakeholders, to comply with legal requirements, and/or to improve the performance and competitiveness of organizations. Although a growing number of studies have focused on supply chains` sustainability, the literature has given little attention to the area of warehousing when compared to other areas of activity in the supply chain. This is despite its potential to achieve sustainability goals. Moreover, studies that considerer the infrastructures and the entire warehouse operations, and a Triple Bottom Line perspective, are still limited and needs to be enriched. Based on the analysis of some studies that suggest high level constructs and operational elements (criteria) for a sustainable warehousing, this research paper purposes to systematize these elements and present a framework that helps organizations assessing the level of sustainable warehousing. The case study method was used to refine and validate the framework. The warehousing area of a large Portuguese company providing transport, storage and logistics services was analyzed, allowing the selection and confirmation of the criteria included in the framework. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of how these criteria can contribute to achieving environmental quality, social well-being, and economic value.