Assessing supplier environmental performance: applying analytical hierarchical process in the United Arab Emirates healthcare chain

Abstract

Green sourcing in a supply chain refers to activities that improve the environmental performance of the purchased input enabling businesses to meet the regulatory requirements which helps improve business image but it also has the potential to cut business costs and boost the revenues. This is particularly valid for healthcare organizations with substantial investment in equipment and supplies underscoring the potential for a ‘greener’ collaboration with the suppliers. This study aims to apply a decision support tool to evaluate the environmental performance of healthcare suppliers in the United Arab Emirates by transforming the qualitative judgments of supply chain professional into a quantitative framework. The use of Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) for a consensus decision on supplier’s environmental performance ensures a systematic investigation and assessment of the capabilities of suppliers by the industry experts and helps establish a benchmark of environmental considerations relevant to the UAE healthcare setting