*2.1. Sustainable Industrial Consumption*

Within the literature review, publications were selected from the SCOPUS database using the keywords "sustainable consumption", with a particular focus on the business to business (B2B) or the industrial relationship. In total, 1238 publications were selected from the SCOPUS database using the following keywords: TITLE-ABS-KEY ("sustainable consumption") AND ("B2B" OR "Industrial"). A chronological analysis of the most common words was performed using VOSviewer grouping these keywords within clusters of interrelated keywords (Figure 2). At the beginning of the last decade, the research paid more attention to ensuring environmentally-friendly manufacturing [12,40–42], material flow [43–45], and resource efficiency [46–48] with its impact on the environment and climate change. The energy and natural resources were of particular interest [47,48]. The most common empirical research methods applied by the academic community are the input–output analysis [49], life cycle analysis [50], and statistical modeling of scenarios related to the footprint [51,52].

While in the previous decade, there was a significant interest in this field among environmental and engineering researchers, the scientific debate within the social sciences has been intensifying in the last 5 years in such disciplines as entrepreneurship, innovation, management, and marketing [53–55]. The academic community has widened investigation subjects to the adoption of practical tools and methods encouraging sustainable industrial consumption within organizations [56–58]. More importantly than before, researchers explore waste management from the perspectives of its recycling or use as a valuable resource for creating new products and the added value for the customer, shareholders of ventures, other stakeholders, and wider society [59–61]. Recently introduced research topics cover the sustainable value chain, new sustainable business models, the creation and delivery of sustainable value, and changes in the consumption patterns to more sustainable consumer behavior [54,62–64].

The most important trends within the scientific literature show that the term "sustainable consumption" appeared at the end of the last century, and its popularity has grown moderately over time. The dynamics can be linked to different political and historical events. In a broader sense, researchers link sustainable consumption with more specific patterns and habits for purchasing and consuming goods [65,66] or an introduction of the product service systems [67] or the sharing [68,69]. Armstrong [70] exploits the term "mindful consumption" where mindfulness strongly reflects the spiritual consciousness

and higher moral values of consumers that lead to sustainable and pro-environmental purchase decisions.

**Figure 2.** The overlay visualization of co-occurrence of keywords "sustainable consumption", "B2B", or "Industrial" based on the SCOPUS articles, which was created by the authors using VOSviewer (version 1.6.17).

Researchers consider that consumer behavior has a strong impact on the environment through consumer choices of products and services [71]. The scientific debate shows a consensus that sustainable consumption positively impacts the environment, reduces footprints, and contributes to the transition from a linear to a circular economy [72]. Researchers mostly analyze sustainable consumption within specific sectors or product groups, such as food, textiles, clothing, plastics, and energy [72–75].

Studies more often associate sustainable consumption with the consumption of individuals or households [65,66,76] but less with the industrial supplies into the businessto-business (B2B) segment, proving the existing gap within this scientific domain. The research on the consumption of industrial customers often leads to a discussion about the sustainable value chain or the sustainable supply chain. The term "value chain", which entered the colloquial language in the 1980s, experienced a surprisingly rapid rise in the mid-1990s and a real breakthrough at the turn of the century.

Scholars highlight the importance of industrial symbioses in the promotion of sustainable consumption to industrial customers [77]. Researchers are also seeking new business models and forms of collaboration that promote greener consumption, such as the sharing of resources or assets [78], product–service systems [67,79], online shopping, and digital services and platforms [80].

In total, 580 articles were selected within the SCOPUS database using keywords "sustainable supply chain" and "value chain" (TITLE-ABS-KEY ("sustainable supply chain") AND ("value chain")). The chronological frequency and interconnection of keywords were analyzed by VOSviewer, and the visualization of results highlights the main clusters of keywords (Figure 3). Porter [81] has laid an important foundation in the study of the value chain, explaining the stages of the value chain and their role in the development of the competitiveness and other economic factors of companies. While Porter describes the value chain within the firm or an industry level, Koval et al. [82] emphasize the economic relationships between the companies on the global scale of the value chain. The global and cross-sectoral economic relationships within the value chain are important factors in addressing the climate change and environmental threats [82]. The technological feasibility and economic interests of stakeholders are predominant factors to increase the value and achieve the competitive advantage. In a sustainable value chain, these factors must be

balanced with environmental values. Accordingly, these factors often prevail as constraints for companies to develop a sustainable value chain, but they should be major within the sustainability policies [83].

**Figure 3.** The overlay visualization of co-occurrence of keywords "sustainable supply chain" and "value chain" based on the SCOPUS articles, which was created by the authors using VOSviewer (version 1.6.17).

The chronological application of keywords reveals that in the middle of the last decade on sustainability issues in the context of supply chains, academic discussions were focused on environmental requirements as well as the footprint and the environmental performance of the manufacturers [37,84–86]. The food industry has been of large interest to researchers [85,87]. Moreover, geographically, the issues of India and China are most often discussed and reflected in the research. In recent years, sustainability issues have become increasingly important and analyzed in a much broader context [85,88].

Seuring and Müller [37] emphasized that the sustainable value chain envisages the integration of environmental and social principles in addition to the economically rational purchase and supply decisions; although often, the motivation to integrate environmental and social principles is derived from specific standards (e.g., ISO, TEQM) or government regulations. These researchers proposed the necessity of more transparent collaboration between the sustainable supply chain actors, allowing for the possibility to track and evaluate the performance, risks, and the clean, green, and lean aspects of production of raw materials [37].

Researchers Ahi and Searcy [89] argue that the sustainable supply chain means having a greater focus and coordination over the materials or product flows, encountering the involved stakeholders in a closer relationship, as well as keeping a strong streamline on the value, efficiency, and performance. Thus, the sustainable supply chain requires the management of the flows of materials, resources, finances, and information, paying specific attention to engagement with collaborative networks as well as the economic value and also the creation of environment and social values, thus leading to more satisfied customers. Ahi and Searcy [89] highlight that the sustainable value chain incorporates the economic, environmental, social, stakeholder, volunteer, resilience, and long-term strategies or business directions. These are not just declarative statements but important issues that should be observed and adopted in any organization belonging to the sustainable supply chain [89].
