A framework for assessing collaboration between buyers and suppliers on sustainability goals

In any dynamic relationship, the success of a sustainable collaboration depends on the ability of each stakeholder to understand the perspectives of the various members of the value chain. The findings of a qualitative investigation conducted in the Delhi National Capital Region in India led to the formation of a framework that identifies the needs and expectations of buyers, their suppliers, and their customers regarding sustainability issues. With such information in hand, organizational managers charged with implementing corporate social responsibility policies will be better able to encourage suppliers' compliance with key social and environmental practices while ensuring customers' satisfaction with the quality and sustainability of the goods and services they offer.