Background: For South African small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to gain and maintain competitive advantages and succeed, they have to change their practices and adapt their strategies to the dynamic environment of today. A better understanding and application of green supply chain management practices by SMEs could enable such enterprises to improve their performance and succeed in their operations. Objectives: This study aimed to analyse the relationship between green supply chain management, environmental performance and supply chain performance in South African SMEs. Method: A conceptual model was proposed and subjected to empirical verification using data collected from SMEs based in Gauteng province. The structural equation modelling procedure was used to test hypotheses in the proposed relationships in SMEs within different industries. Results: The results of the study indicated mixed outcomes. No relationships were found between environmental performance and two green supply chain dimensions, namely green purchasing and eco-design. However, the remaining dimensions of green supply chain management, namely reverse logistics and legislation and regulation, positively and significantly predicted environmental performance. In turn, environmental performance positively and significantly predicted supply chain performance. Conclusion: Integrating green supply chain management practices, especially reverse logistics and adherence to legislation and regulation into the SME business strategy, leads to the improvement of environmental and overall supply chain performance.

中文翻译：

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中小企业的绿色供应链管理：来自南非的进一步经验性思考

背景：南非中小企业（SME）要获得并保持竞争优势并取得成功，就必须改变其做法，并使其战略适应当今的动态环境。中小企业对绿色供应链管理实践的更好理解和应用可以使此类企业提高绩效并成功运营。目的：本研究旨在分析南非中小企业的绿色供应链管理，环境绩效和供应链绩效之间的关系。方法：提出了一个概念模型，并使用从豪登省的中小企业收集的数据进行了实证验证。使用结构方程建模程序来检验不同行业中的中小企业的拟议关系中的假设。结果：研究结果表明结果不一。在环境绩效和两个绿色供应链维度（即绿色采购和生态设计）之间未发现任何关系。但是，绿色供应链管理的其余方面，即逆向物流和法律法规，可以积极，显着地预测环境绩效。反过来，环境绩效则积极且显着地预测了供应链绩效。结论：将绿色供应链管理实践（尤其是逆向物流以及对法律和法规的遵守）纳入中小企业业务战略，可以改善环境和整体供应链绩效。在环境绩效和两个绿色供应链维度（即绿色采购和生态设计）之间未发现任何关系。但是，绿色供应链管理的其余方面，即逆向物流和法律法规，可以积极，显着地预测环境绩效。反过来，环境绩效则积极且显着地预测了供应链绩效。结论：将绿色供应链管理实践（尤其是逆向物流以及对法律和法规的遵守）纳入中小企业业务战略，可以改善环境和整体供应链绩效。在环境绩效和两个绿色供应链维度（即绿色采购和生态设计）之间未发现任何关系。但是，绿色供应链管理的其余方面，即逆向物流和法律法规，可以积极，显着地预测环境绩效。反过来，环境绩效则积极且显着地预测了供应链绩效。结论：将绿色供应链管理实践（尤其是逆向物流以及对法律和法规的遵守）纳入中小企业业务战略，可以改善环境和整体供应链绩效。即逆向物流和法律法规，可以积极有效地预测环境绩效。反过来，环境绩效则积极且显着地预测了供应链绩效。结论：将绿色供应链管理实践（尤其是逆向物流以及对法律和法规的遵守）纳入中小企业业务战略，可以改善环境和整体供应链绩效。即逆向物流和法律法规，可以积极有效地预测环境绩效。反过来，环境绩效则积极且显着地预测了供应链绩效。结论：将绿色供应链管理实践（尤其是逆向物流以及对法律和法规的遵守）纳入中小企业业务战略，可以改善环境和整体供应链绩效。