Blockchain and Environmental Trust in Green Value Chains in the Middle East and North Africa

Abstract

Environmental claims in green value chains depend on information that buyers, investors and regulators may find difficult to verify. This article examines how blockchain could support the recording and review of that information in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It uses a conceptual narrative synthesis of research on organisational trust, supply chain governance and blockchain, together with selected policy material and published studies concerning the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. The proposed framework connects five trust-related problems with possible ledger functions and the conditions needed for their use. Shared records may improve access to evidence, provenance tracking and the detection of later changes. They do not establish the accuracy of physical measurements or environmental claims at the point of entry. Smart contracts can execute coded rules, while certification, data assurance and institutional responsibility remain necessary. The regional survey studies describe associations within particular samples; a separate supply chain model illustrates how incentives may differ among actors. These sources do not constitute a validation of the framework or proof of environmental improvement. The article proposes that organisations evaluate data quality, access rights, governance, interoperability and total costs before adopting blockchain for environmental purposes.