Assessing the Environmental Sustainability of Fast-Moving Consumer Goods Supply Chains in Zambia

Abstract

Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) supply chains contribute to economic activity and consumer welfare, but procurement, production and distribution can create environmental pressures through resource consumption, waste generation, energy use and transport emissions. This study assessed the environmental sustainability of FMCG supply chains in Zambia, focusing on green procurement, production and waste management, transportation, and environmental awareness. A mixed-methods design was employed among ten FMCG firms in Lusaka. Quantitative data were collected from 60 respondents drawn equally from procurement, production and logistics departments. Firms were purposively identified, grouped into food and beverages and hygiene products, and selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires and a key-informant interview schedule and analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square procedures in SPSS and Microsoft Excel. The findings indicate that 70% of procurement respondents reported a green procurement policy, but only 60% reported considering environmentally responsible firms in contract awards and only 40% reported environmental clauses binding contractors. Among respondents reporting green contracting, 58.3% indicated that only 1–5 contracts had been awarded on green grounds during the previous five years. In production, 80% reported the national grid as the preferred energy source, while fuel-powered generators were the most common alternative. Solid waste was the dominant reported waste stream, 85% relied on local-authority collection, and 80% reported no alternative use for production waste. Logistics were dominated by road transport, reported by all logistics respondents, while 95% reported diesel as the principal fuel. Environmental advocacy was reported by 86.7%, while 71.7% reported an environmental-protection policy; 28.3% reported no specific intervention to reduce environmental impact. The study concludes that environmental awareness and policy adoption have advanced faster than operational implementation. It contributes Zambia-specific evidence showing that FMCG environmental sustainability requires integrated procurement controls, cleaner energy, circular waste practices, greener logistics, measurable targets and stronger monitoring.