Abstract
Over the past decade, operations and supply chain management have shifted from a primary focus on cost efficiency and lean optimisation toward the integration of sustainability objectives across multi-tier global supply networks. Organisations are increasingly required to demonstrate environmental and social accountability embedded within sourcing, production, logistics and reporting systems. However, fragmented data architectures, limited inter-organisational trust and weak end-to-end visibility continue to constrain sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) implementation. In this context, digital integration technologies are being evaluated not only for operational efficiency gains, but also for their capacity to embed transparency, traceability and accountability directly into supply chain design.
This developmental paper examines how blockchain-enabled traceability can support sustainable supply chain integration and enable responsible consumption outcomes. Rather than treating responsible consumption solely as a downstream behavioural issue, the study positions it as structurally dependent on upstream supply chain data integrity and verification mechanisms. Blockchain technology, as a distributed and tamper-resistant ledger system, offers the potential to reduce information asymmetry, strengthen auditability and enhance trust across supply chain actors. By embedding verified transaction records and certification data within shared digital infrastructures, blockchain creates the operational conditions under which sustainability claims can be validated rather than merely communicated.
The study adopts a structured systematic literature review and qualitative meta-synthesis of peer-reviewed research published between 2020 and 2025. Two interconnected streams are integrated: blockchain applications in SSCM and research on responsible or mindful consumption enabled by traceability systems. Through narrative synthesis, three recurring integrative constructs are identified: traceability, trust architecture and accountability. These constructs are mapped across upstream supply chain processes and downstream consumption decisions to develop a conceptual framework positioning blockchain as a coordination technology within sustainable digital supply networks.
The findings suggest that responsible consumption outcomes are contingent upon robust traceability systems embedded within supply chain governance structures. Blockchain strengthens multi-tier visibility, supports circular economy models through improved reverse logistics transparency, and enhances market-facing credibility by linking sustainability claims to verifiable operational data. The paper contributes to SSCM theory by advancing a socio-technical perspective in which digital infrastructure design is central to sustainability performance. Managerially, it highlights blockchain’s role as a strategic integration mechanism rather than merely a logistics optimisation tool. Overall, the study argues that scalable responsible consumption under UN Sustainable Development Goal 12 depends fundamentally on supply chain data governance and digital coordination capabilities.