Supply Chain ESG Transparency: Emerging Trends, Research Gaps, and Opportunities in Operations Management

Abstract

Since its introduction by the United Nations in 2004, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) has rapidly evolved, attracting attention from business leaders, governments, and scholars. Yet, measuring and verifying ESG performance across supply chains remains challenging, with transparency hindered by limited visibility and inconsistent disclosure. Motivated by these challenges, we examine ESG transparency through the lens of Operations Management (OM). Specifically, we synthesize insights from 142 quantitative studies published between 2004 and 2025 in OM and related fields (accounting, finance, marketing, and economics) to identify research gaps and propose future directions. Our review traces the evolution of ESG transparency and categorizes studies by methodology (analytical, empirical, experimental) and intent (visibility versus disclosure) within the supply chain context. Findings reveal a strong reliance on analytical and empirical approaches, with emphasis on social issues and internal disclosure. In contrast, environmental and governance dimensions, external supply chain disclosure, regulatory impacts, and societal outcomes remain underexplored. Multi-method and multi-perspective research is also scarce. These gaps present opportunities for OM scholars to advance understanding of supply chain ESG transparency strategies and their broader implications for firms and stakeholders.

Keywords: ESG, supply chain transparency, visibility, disclosure, OM research