Naval Green Supply Chain Management and Sustainable Practices: A Systematic Review and Future Research Agenda

Abstract

Purpose - Naval supply chains are affected by strategic, environmental and operational constraints, which are different from those in civilian supply chains. This paper aims to systematically review the existing literature on naval green supply chain management (NGSCM), synthesize current knowledge, highlight gaps in theory and practice, and outline a future research agenda. Methodology - Peers reviewed and retrieved 87 articles from 2000-2024, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) protocol. To highlight the dominant research streams, the theoretical anchors and methodological trends, bibliometric analysis was complemented by thematic content analysis. Findings - The review identifies five main thematic clusters: green procurement; engagement with suppliers in defense settings; alternative fuels and energy efficiency in naval operations; environmental compliance; regulatory governance; and the use of digital technologies to achieve sustainable naval logistics. The most prominent theoretical underpinnings are the Natural Resource-Based View (NRBV), institutional theory and stakeholder theory. The findings show that scholarship in NGSCM remains largely fragmented, conceptual and geographically limited. Originality - The study is the first systematic review specifically on NGSCM, offering a framework of concepts and a prioritized research agenda that extends theories, diversifies methods, and advances empirical studies that are relevant to policy. The paper serves a triple goal in the fields of supply chain management, defense management and sustainability.