Unveiling the impact of sustainable manufacturing on triple bottom line sustainability performance: a Bangladesh perspective

Purpose This study aims to measure the impact of sustainable production and distribution processes on the sustainability performance in the pharmaceutical sector of Bangladesh based on triple bottom line (TBL) approach. Design/methodology/approach It measures sustainable manufacturing and distribution practices with three dimensions namely: sustainable production process, sustainable supply chain management and sustainable end-life management, whereas sustainability performance is measured with three important aspects of performance measurement of TBL, namely social, environmental and financial performance. A survey questionnaire has been designed to collect data relating to sustainability practices and sustainability performance of listed pharmaceutical companies in Bangladesh. The data have been analyzed with the partial least square structural equation model (PLS-SEM) to investigate the relationship between sustainable production and distribution practices and economic, environmental and social performances. Findings The findings show that a sustainable production process has a positive impact on environmental and economic performance, but sustainable supply chain management has a significant impact only on economic performance. Whereas sustainable end-life management has a significant impact on both environmental and social performance but not on the financial performance of the industry. Although the current findings contradict some of the previous outcomes, the results can still be robust in the context of Bangladesh. Practical implications It is expected that the findings of the study might provide new insights into the sustainability initiatives of the manufacturing companies of Bangladesh. The study findings can help policymakers in implementing the sustainability agenda of the United Nations. Originality/value The pharmaceutical industry of Bangladesh has a significant contribution to the foreign earnings of the country. But the introduction of sustainable development goals (SDGs) criteria has forced the industry to redesign its production and operation systems. While numerous studies have investigated the individual components of the TBL in the developed country context, the dynamics of an emerging economy like Bangladesh have been overlooked. By focusing specifically on Bangladesh, a country with a promising pharmaceutical sector handling unique socioeconomic and environmental challenges, the current study fills a considerable gap in the existing sustainability literature.