Green Transformation of Manufacturing Supply Chains: A Case Study of Huawei

Abstract

With the advancement of modern society and the growing urgency of environmental protection issues, numerous countries are actively promoting sustainable and green development. As a country with a large population and relatively limited per capita resources, China has adopted green supply chain management (GSCM) to address resource constraints and environmental challenges. This approach transcends the limitations of traditional supply chain management, which primarily focuses on economic indicators like cost and quality. However, the implementation pathways for such transformation in leading manufacturing enterprises remain underexplored. To address this gap, this paper conducts a case study of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Instead, it systematically optimizes processes such as design, procurement, processing, and transportation within the supply chain, achieving a dual enhancement of economic benefits and environmental protection. Eco-design requires optimizing resource allocation while minimizing environmental pollution impacts, embedding environmental principles throughout supply chain processes to achieve conservation and foster coordinated economic and environmental development. This paper analyzes Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. as a case study, examining its entire supplier management model and development trends within the economic era of clean energy and low-carbon development. The study reveals that Huawei’s transformation is driven by integrating carbon reduction throughout its supply chain, leveraging digital technologies for transparency, and fostering collaborative partnerships with suppliers. These practices have resulted in significant carbon emission reductions and enhanced brand reputation.