The Role Of Sustainable Innovation In The Supply Chain Of Traditional Manufacturing Firms: A Case Study Of South-East Asia’s Biggest Beverage Producer

Abstract

In recent years, sustainable innovation research has received a lot of attention since it requires organizations and supply chains to create circular business models and strategies to address environmental, financial, and social challenges. Yet, earlier research has fallen short in understanding how traditional manufacturing firms are transforming themselves to become more sustainable and innovative. Furthermore, few scientific studies looked at which sustainable innovation projects big manufacturing companies prioritize, where such initiatives are executed in the company's value chain, what the drivers are, and what the benefits are. This study uses the single-case study method to investigate Thai Beverage Public Company Limited ("ThaiBev"), one of Thailand's largest and most successful food and beverage corporations, in terms of sustainability and sustainable innovation. To gather helpful information and novel insights, the author of this study performed a series of semi-structured interviews (using open-ended questions) with ThaiBev's professionals and specialists and also reviewed public and internal documents. Then, the researcher analyzed the collected data to gain novel insights into the research topic and the related Sustainable Innovation Framework that are presented in the research findings. The concluding suggestions derived from the key findings of this study can guide academics in expanding their knowledge of sustainable innovation and can also serve as a useful resource for practitioners looking to implement sustainable innovation initiatives in their firms.