Managing Environmental Pollution of Sugar Companies in Western Kenya: A Supply Chain Integration Approach

Abstract

The sugar processing industry has a considerable impact on society, the environment, and the economy, offering chances for individuals to contribute to sustainability efforts. However, a lack of coordination and cooperation among supply chain players can hinder these efforts. In western Kenya, the establishment of sugar factories provides opportunities, but the locals cannot take full advantage due to ongoing conflicts arising from the firms' industrial processes leading to soil and water pollution. Despite the sugar firms' efforts to reduce pollution, the results have not been satisfactory. Research has however revealed that environmental degradation cannot be reduced effectively without supply chain integration, which involves coordination, cooperation, and collaboration among supply chain players. The purpose of the study was to analyse the effect of SCI on environmental performance of sugar firms in Western Kenya. The study used explanatory research design and was grounded in Stakeholder theory. The reliability of the instrument was assessed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and the results showed that all the coefficients for SCI constructs were 0.747, which exceeded the standard threshold of 0.7. The R2 for SCI was found to be 0.211, which was significant and indicated that SCI could explain 21.1% of the sugar companies' environmental performance. The study concluded that if the supply chain of sugar firms worked collaboratively, it could significantly contribute to positive environmental outcomes of the processing activities.