Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the environment and socioeconomic viability: a sustainable production chain alternative

• Published in: Foresight (Cambridge) Vol. 24; no. 3/4; pp. 456 - 475
• Main Authors: Begum, Halima, Abbas, Kashif, Alam, A.S.A. Ferdous, Song, Huaming, Chowdhury, Mohammad Tayub, Abdul Ghani, Ahmad Bashawir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bradford Emerald Publishing Limited 29-04-2022; Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Subjects: Agribusiness; Consumption; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Digitization; Disease control; Economic conditions; Economics; Environmentalists; Industrial applications; Infectious diseases; Inventory management; Management systems; Manufacturing; Manufacturing industry; Mass production; Mechanization; Outbreaks; Pandemics; Public health; Raw materials; Social sustainability; Supply & demand; Supply chains; Sustainability; Sustainable consumption; Sustainable development; Sustainable production; Sustainable use; Viability; Viral diseases; Workplaces; China; COVID-19; Environment; Sustainable production chain; Socio-economy; Worldwide health; World health
• ISSN: 1463-6689; 1465-9832
• DOI: 10.1108/FS-02-2021-0053

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to address the global COVID-19 pandemic related to its sustainability, such as environmental, economic and social concerns. The short study also examined how various innovative approaches can help promote sustainable production.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology examines hypothetical scenarios of the current pandemic and tries to describe the quality of evidence to facilitate careful, critical engagement by readers. Secondary data is used to identify sustainability challenges, such as environmental, social and economic viability challenges. The information in this report was gathered from numerous media outlets, research agencies, policy papers, newspapers and other sources to gain a better knowledge of the issue.
Findings
As a result, most industry executives and policymakers are looking for appropriate strategies and policies to improve their practices and meet consumer demand. The outcomes explore that the COVID-19 pandemic is a central factor in changes in people’s behavior, reflecting sustainability such as environmental, social and economic responsibility. The COVID-19 outbreak, surprisingly, had a bigger effect on sustainable consumption, accompanied by environmental sustainability, and, to a lesser extent, social and economic viability.
Research limitations/implications
Limited secondary evidence and data could not scrutinize the study’s actual problem statements. Hence, it is recommended that the gap in research be fulfilled by conducting a primary survey among various groups of economists, environmentalists and industrialists using the cluster sampling technique by validating the questionnaire of the total sustainable production system. Proposing frameworks for improving the resilience of production and a systematic possible upgraded manufacturing system by using the Industry 4.0 technology during operational processes could advance market demand.
Practical implications
The COVID-19 scenario has compelled manufacturing firms to put their production systems on hold for an extended period while they seek long-term solutions to assure simple delivery and cooperation from both business and consumer standpoints. Various aspects of supply and demand are discussed in the referendum, as well as production and consumption challenges during the COVID-19 era. There is a need to restore the production system and find the right source of raw materials. This work focuses on commodity inventory management systems due to mass production, but due to pandemics, it is not in demand and vice versa. The researcher made comprehensible remarks on the use of digitization in the pandemic, which improves social distancing and social well-being and promotes the production system as well. Besides, manufacturing plants should switch to digital manufacturing to reduce the number of workplaces and hence the risk of an outbreak. Therefore, a better supply chain network is needed to supply more manufacturing units.
Social implications
There is a bright side of coronavirus that the public health crisis raised worldwide has brought many opportunities for governments and society to make eternal reforms in the public health sector door. During restricted movements for fulfilling market demand, the Industry 4.0 technologies for automation, mechanization and digitalization can help significantly advance a company. This technological advancement and computer digitization for the perspective people may improve the environment, economic and social sustainability also increase social media adoption, which can be crucial for agri-businesses to evaluate customers’ behavior and consumption trends.
Originality/value
The paper also instructed to identify critical success factors, barriers and drivers for dealing with the pandemic situation and to develop a strategic policy framework to improve production and process flexibility through the remarkable introduction of digital manufacturing. Before it is too late to stop the spread, producers and consumers must grasp the limits to which suppliers might drive nature.