Comparative assessment of green supply chain management (GSCM) in drinking water service industry in Lao PDR, Thailand, and South Korea

The industrial manufacturing of a commodity as well as service sectors, such as drinking water supply systems, is responsible for environmental impacts across its supply chain. Lowering these impacts at each stage of the supply chain is often termed green supply chain management (GSCM). This study assesses energy use, waste generation, chemical use, consumptive water use, and GHG emissions in typical drinking water treatment plant (WTP) operations in Lao PDR, Thailand, and South Korea and consolidates these supply chain impacts broadly into water footprint (WF) and carbon footprint (CF). The respective CFs were found to be 9.4, 375.4, and 359.5 g CO₂-eq, while the respective WFs were 335.4, 501.4, and 300.4 L/m³. Among the three countries of the study, only South Korea has implemented various greening activities, such as energy management systems, sludge reuse, GHG target management, and renewable energy development, for meeting its strict government policy and regulations. WTPs in Lao PDR and Thailand, however, have yet to implement GSCM strategies and policies. This study instigates best practices for “greening” the drinking water supply chain in the region.