Sustainable Supply Chain Management in the Herbal Medicine Industry

Supply chain management (SCM) is a strategic approach that orchestrates the movement of goods, products, and services from their origin to where they are utilized or consumed as a linchpin of organizational success, customer satisfaction, and overall business performance. In the herbal medicine industry (HMI) sector, SCM refers to the process of managing the whole range of value chain activities connected to the sourcing, processing, distribution, and use of plants for medicinal purposes. Sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) is the concept of striving to harmonize economic performance with environmental stewardship and sociocultural equity. The chapter proposed a sustainable supply chain system for the HMI that includes: (1) sustainable cultivation and harvesting of herbal resources, (2) sustainable manufacturing of herbal medicine products, (3) the green distribution process for herbal medicine products, (4) eco-friendly wholesalers, retailers, and vendors of herbal medicine products, (5) sustainable herbal medicine utilization, and (6) herbal medicine waste recovery. There is also a need for a supply chain monitoring system for HMI to ensure quality control and improve relationships and experience among and between the different HMI value chain players. In addition to environmental stewardship, social responsibility, economic viability, regulatory compliance, risk management, and innovation and learning. By integrating the principles of SSCM into the HMI, this chapter contributes to the ongoing discourse on sustainability in healthcare and provides insights for practitioners and policymakers within the industry. It is hoped that the chapter will stimulate further research in this area and inform the development of strategies and policies that promote the sustainable growth of the HMI.