A new report reveals that a lack of leadership support is a major barrier to achieving supply chain sustainability.

A survey conducted by PwC and the APICS Foundation shows there is a disconnect between mid-level management and supply chain executives. While 30 per cent of operations executives surveyed said their company has a documented supply chain sustainability strategy, only 17 per cent of managers and below agreed.

Mid-level management is thus not able to take the steps needed to drive meaningful change in the supply chain, the report says.

The Sustainable Supply Chains: Making Value the Priority study says opportunities exist for those wishing to take a "deliberate and focused approach".

Some 43 per cent of respondents said sustainable supply chain initiatives are driving cost reductions, while 35 per cent said their company's environmental impact had been mitigated as a result of their implementation.

In addition, 76 per cent of operations professionals said their organisation's focus on creating more sustainable supply chains would increase over the next three years.