IMPLICAÇÕES DA SUSTENTABILIDADE NA CADEIA DE SUPRIMENTOS: UM ESTUDO DE CASO EM UMA EMPRESA ATACADISTA IMPLICATIONS OF SUSTAINABILITY IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN: A CASE STUDY IN A WHOLESALE COMPANY

The management of sustainable supply chains consists of the application of sustainable activities, considering the Triple Botton Line (environmental, social, and economic), in supply chain management. Organizations tend to expand practices that lead to sustainability under pressure from stakeholders, and for the sake of survival in the market. Therefore, this research aims to describe and analyze the sustainable practices of a focal company, as well as its relationship with the supply chain, in order to identify whether the sustainable practices of suppliers affect its sustainability. As a methodology, a case study was used in a reference wholesale company in the country, located in the city of Uberlândia. The results showed that the sustainability of the focal company is directly related to the sustainability of the members of its supply chain. It was also found that the sustainable supply chains, in addition to minimizing the negative impacts of organizational activities on the environment and society, allow for cost reduction, improvement of the company’s image, promote innovation and lead to stronger and more lasting relationships with members of the supply chain. The research contributes to the literature by presenting in a practical way the sustainability in a supply chain of a Brazilian wholesale company, being a theme still little explored in this sector, so that the expansion of sustainable practices can provide strategic benefits