Blockchain Papers

Mengyuan Cheng, Heap‐Yih Chong, Yongshun Xu, Haitao Wu

No abstract is available for this record.

Yu He, Cuiqing Jiang, Junfeng Dong, Yong Ding · 5 authors

This study examines values and adoption conditions of Blockchain Technology (BCT) in horizontal demand forecast sharing among retailer, focusing on the influence mechanism of transparency-restriction approaches and BCT's endogenous effects on firms' sharing incentives. We model a supply chain with one manufacturer and multiple retailers, comparing four BCT-enabled data-sharing regimes: open access (permissionless) versus no-open access (permissioned), with or without encryption. Results show that restricted transparency, combined with selective accessibility, aligns individual and collective incentives by curbing wholesale price inflation and improving forecast accuracy. Contrary to intuition, higher transparency does not universally benefit retailers; supplementary encryption can balance data utility and privacy, enabling Pareto-superior outcomes. We further demonstrate BCT can reduces moral hazards in horizontal sharing (e.g. sharing biased forecast), allowing retailers to leverage aggregated demand signals without inefficiently verification. However, excessive transparency in BCT can accelerates retailers' profit erosion, akin to perfect competition. These findings offer micro-foundations for adopting visibility-restriction technologies (e.g. Zero-Knowledge Proofs) and guide the design of context-specific BCT systems. By reconciling transparency-privacy tensions and demonstrating BCT's endogenous role in forecasting, this study advances strategies for enhancing supply chain resilience through BCT innovation.

Shayan Firouzian-Haji, SeyedEmran Eshghollahi, Matineh Ziari, Reza Tavakkoli‐Moghaddam · 5 authors

No abstract is available for this record.

Atul Kumar Singh, Nishanth Rao Dugyala, Farzad Pour Rahimian, Faris Elghaish · 5 authors

Existing ESG reporting tools in construction organizations often lack transparency and accountability, presenting significant challenges in effectively managing and reporting ESG data. This research addresses the gap in current reporting practices by proposing and validating a hybrid blockchain solution aimed at enhancing ESG reporting in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. The primary objective is to develop a blockchain-based solution that automates ESG reporting, addressing issues such as data fragmentation, lack of verification, and inefficiencies. Adopting a design science approach, the study develops a conceptual framework that combines Ethereum and Hyperledger Fabric to create a hybrid blockchain model for the prototype. The comprehensive literature review highlights key challenges in ESG practices and emphasizes the potential of blockchain technology to overcome these barriers. The findings show that the hybrid blockchain model successfully automates the ESG reporting process, ensuring transparency, immutability, and accountability. The prototype, validated through a case study involving two construction organizations, demonstrates the feasibility of combining Ethereum and Hyperledger Fabric to manage ESG data, reducing errors, preventing manipulation, and enabling real-time reporting. This research enriches the theoretical understanding of blockchain applications in ESG practices. It provides practical implications by offering a tangible, blockchain-based solution that ensures transparent, reliable, and accountable ESG reporting in the construction industry, ultimately contributing to more sustainable practices.

Hakeem Mustapha Attau, Oluwaseun Adeniyi Ojerinde, John Kolo Alhassan, Kabiru Abdullahi

No abstract is available for this record.

Ruba Islayem, Haya R. Hasan, Ahmad Musamih, Khaled Salah · 5 authors

The leather supply chain comprises numerous organizations and stakeholders, particularly when sustainability aspects are taken into account, making it a complex system. The complexity inherent in such systems can lead to inaccurate information, lack of transparency, and limited data provenance. Moreover, there has been a surge in the call for sustainable practices within leather production, propelled by growing environmental consciousness and ethical considerations. In this paper, we address these challenges by proposing a blockchain-based solution designed to ensure trusted and secure traceability and sustainability throughout the entire life cycle of leather products. By harnessing the inherent capabilities of Ethereum smart contracts and blockchain technology, such as decentralization, immutability, data integrity, and transparency, we guarantee the secure and reliable tracing of materials from the farm to the final consumer. Moreover, we provide proof of sustainability by which certification agencies monitor, audit, and approve the sustainable processes and practices carried out by the different stakeholders at all stages of production to ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations. The paper presents the blockchain-based system architecture, implementation, and validation of algorithms and smart contracts. It also evaluates the security measures and cost-effectiveness of the system to offer valuable insights into its robustness and efficiency. We have made the developed smart contracts code publicly available on GitHub.

Robertas Damaševičius, Rytis Maskeliūnas

This study explores the application of Self-Sovereign Digital Identity (SSDI) and blockchain technology in forest supply chain management to improve traceability, sustainability and regulatory compliance. It addresses how these technologies can overcome the limitations of traditional identity management and improve forestry operations’ transparency, efficiency, and environmental accountability. An Ethereum-based blockchain framework was used for this study, focusing on metrics such as transaction throughput and latency. Experimental tests were conducted to analyze the performance of SSDI in forest supply chains, focusing on real-time data management and secure identity control. A framework aligned with the Forest 4.0 initiative was proposed to evaluate the efficacy of SSDI. The results show that the integration of SSDI with blockchain significantly improves traceability and sustainability within forest supply chains, with high transaction rates and reduced latency. The decentralized system improves transparency and trust, promotes efficient identity management among stakeholders, and improves compliance with environmental regulations. Our study is among the first to apply SSDI in forestry, advancing digital transformation in this sector. Demonstrating SSDI’s capacity to streamline data handling and boost traceability, it offers practical recommendations for stakeholders seeking sustainable and digitally secure supply chain management practices. • Improve traceability using blockchain-enabled identity systems in forest supply chains. • Enhance transparency with decentralized records and digital identity verification. • Analyze performance through transaction rates and latency metrics in real-time. • Streamline data handling with efficient credential issuance and verification. • Promote sustainability through intelligent integration of digital and monitoring tools.

Satoshi Ito, Tatsuya Sato, Takayuki Nagai, Shinsuke Hasegawa · 6 authors

Consortium blockchains (e.g., Hyperledger Fabric) have been adopted for inter-organizational supply chain management, while NFTs have gained attention to represent asset uniqueness and ownership on public blockchains (e.g., Ethereum). Applying NFTs to supply chains offers the potential to track individual products and enable seamless lifecycle management, including consumer engagement. Also, standardized smart contract interfaces for NFTs (e.g., ERC721) promote interoperability across blockchain services. However, traditional NFTs are limited to single-asset representation and lack features needed for enterprise use, such as support for composite products, access control, and efficient ledger storage. Recognizing the potential of ERC-7401 (nested NFTs) for enabling hierarchical NFT structures, this study investigates its application to traceability in consortium-based supply chains. We designed a nested NFT framework on Hyperledger Fabric, incorporating attribute-based access control and block size reduction mechanisms through transient arguments and batch processing. We implemented a prototype on Hyperledger Fabric that integrates block size reduction and access control mechanisms into Nested NFTs. Through design and implementation, we demonstrated the feasibility of this approach for complex supply chain management.

Marc Hübschke, Eugen Buss, Elmar Holschbach, Stefan Lier

Abstract Research on blockchain technology in supply chain management has gained significant attention in recent years due to its potential to address critical challenges such as transparency, traceability, and operational efficiency. Despite this interest, the relationship between blockchain implementation and its measurable success has not been thoroughly investigated. This study conducts a systematic literature review of 46 peer-reviewed papers published between 2008 and 2024, synthesizing current research on how blockchain performance is assessed within supply chains. By categorizing the findings across key success factors, research methodologies, and performance indicators, this study provides a structured understanding of blockchain’s role in SCM. Emerging from our review, we develop a dynamic evaluation framework that systematically integrates use cases, objectives, input criteria, research methodologies, and expected outcomes, illustrating their interdependencies. This framework demonstrates blockchain’s capacity to enhance supply chain performance through improved transparency, enhanced traceability, and strengthened sustainability practices. Furthermore, it provides a structured approach to assessing blockchain’s long-term viability, emphasizing its iterative nature, which allows organizations to refine and adapt their implementations in response to evolving business and regulatory landscapes. Our findings underscore the cross-industry applicability of blockchain technology, spanning various sectors and bridging both operational and strategic objectives. However, the analysis reveals significant research gaps, particularly in empirical studies validating blockchain’s long-term impact on supply chain resilience, sustainability, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. Additionally, inconsistencies in performance measurement approaches hinder the comparability of findings across studies. Addressing these gaps through future research will be essential to fully unlocking blockchain’s transformative potential in SCM and ensuring its effective integration into global supply chain ecosystems.

Silvia Meschini, Daniele Accardo, Lavinia Chiara Tagliabue, Stefano Rinaldi · 7 authors

The integration of blockchain and smart contracts in the construction industry has the potential to revolutionize the tender phase and enhance waste management practices. The prototype is designed to enhance transparency, efficiency, and trustworthiness in Italian public procurement. To analyze the national public procurement database with a view to identifying common issues, which are often related to the lack of trust among stakeholders, Large Language Models (LLMs) are exploited. Blockchain technology has the potential to facilitate this process by eliminating discrepancies and disputes, providing a decentralized, immutable ledger to notarize data related to digital models submitted during the tender phase, thereby ensuring transparency and tamper-proof data. The automation of bid evaluations based on predefined criteria such as those pertaining to waste management, is a key feature of smart contracts, which are of particular importance in the context of construction sustainability. Such assessments are enabled, allowing for unbiased and transparent evaluations based on quantifiable data, with the results recorded automatically on the blockchain. This results in a more efficient tender process and the promotion of sustainable practices, as projects with superior waste management are given priority. A tailor-made blockchain protocol is put forth to delineate requirements and facilitate data exchanges. It establishes standards and procedures for data submission, verification, and evaluation, ensuring secure and transparent interactions and enhancing stakeholder confidence in a fair and transparent evaluation process. In summary, the use of blockchain and smart contracts in the construction tender phase improves data integrity, transparency, and efficiency. The focus on waste management indicators allows for objective project evaluations and the promotion of sustainable practices. This innovative approach has the potential to transform public procurement, establishing a new global standard for the construction industry.

Henry Gunawan, Chandra Lukita, Tri Angreni, Muhammad Syarif Hartawan · 7 authors

The persistent financing gap in sustainable infrastructure remains a major barrier to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as traditional financing models often suffer from limited transparency, high entry barriers, and restricted investor access. This study explores the integration of Blockchain technology and tokenization as innovative mechanisms to address these challenges by enhancing transparency, inclusivity, and investment accessibility. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through interviews with financial experts, Blockchain developers, and project managers, alongside surveys involving 100 respondents from the finance and infrastructure sectors across multiple regions. The analysis combined thematic coding using NVivo and statistical assessment of Likert scale responses to evaluate transparency, trust, accessibility, and perceived security risks. Results show that Blockchain significantly improves transparency (mean score 4.2) and trust (4.0), while tokenization facilitates fractional ownership and broadens access to infrastructure investment (4.1). Although moderate concerns about security remain (score 3.3), the strong interest in tokenized investment, especially among developers and investors, reflects a growing readiness for adoption. The novelty of this research lies in its comprehensive examination of the combined application of Blockchain and tokenization for sustainable infrastructure financing a synergy that is rarely addressed in existing literature. By proposing a decentralized, secure, and inclusive financing model, this study offers valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and fintech stakeholders seeking to close the infrastructure financing gap and promote long-term sustainability.

Shilpy, A. Senthil Kumar

This research aims to investigate financing decisions of capital-constrained small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) manufacturers and distributors under a Green Supply Chain (GSC) framework. By evaluating the impact of Supply Chain Finance (SCF) instruments, this study utilizes Stackelberg game model to explore a decentralized decision-making system. To our knowledge, this investigation represents the first exploration of game models that uniquely compares financing through trade credit, where the manufacturer offers zero-interest credit without discounts with reverse factoring, while also considering distributor’s efforts on sustainable marketing under the impact of supportive government policies. Our study suggests that manufacturers should adopt reverse factoring for optimal profits and actively participate in distributors’ financing decisions to address inefficiencies in decentralized systems. Furthermore, the distributor’s demand quantity, profits and sustainable marketing efforts show significant increase under reverse factoring, aided by favorable policies. Finally, the results are validated through Python 3.8.8 simulations in the Anaconda distribution, offering meaningful insights for policymakers and supply chain managers.

Kaiying Cao, Suqin Sun

No abstract is available for this record.

Shuangting Zhou, Sainan Zhang, Tong Jin, Yiting Zhong · 5 authors

Against the backdrop of integrating the dual carbon strategy with the digital economy, retail enterprises' green supply chains face challenges such as difficult-to-trace carbon emission data, low efficiency in low-carbon collaboration, and imperfect green supplier certification mechanisms. This study leverages blockchain technology to empower retail enterprises, advancing their supply chains toward low-carbon and green development pathways. By utilizing distributed ledgers, it enables real-time sharing and traceability of carbon data across the entire chain, addressing issues of chaotic and distorted data collection. leveraging smart contracts to predefine emission reduction rules and allocate benefits, thereby balancing divergent objectives among supply chain participants to enhance collaborative efficiency; utilizing consensus mechanisms and immutability to establish a transparent, traceable green supplier certification and dynamic oversight system, tackling certification fraud and regulatory loopholes. This provides a feasible solution for the green and low-carbon transformation of retail enterprises, supporting their journey toward sustainable development.

Hanbing Xia, Jiahong Li, Qian Li, Jelena Milisavljevic-Syed · 5 authors

• First comprehensive review of ML models for end-of-life product return predictions. • Integration of PRISMA systematic review with network and meta -analysis methods. • Key factors influencing ML prediction accuracy in reverse supply chains. • Six future research directions for AI-enhanced circular-economy logistics. The evolution of the circular economy has led to the adoption of circular supply chains, where efficient management of the reverse supply chain enhances resource utilization, minimizes waste, and fosters a circular supply chain. However, managing reverse supply chains presents numerous challenges including a lack of information transparency and traceability, inconsistent cooperation among stakeholders, and uncertainty in recycling process, such as variations in quantity, quality, and timing. To address these challenges, an information sharing framework that integrates blockchain technology with digital product passports (DPPs) is designed to manage reverse supply chain information. Subsequently, a system dynamics model is applied to evaluate the potential impacts and feasibility of this framework within the reverse supply chain and its implications for the forward supply chain. The results indicate that the application of the proposed framework enhance the legal recycling market, reduces the negative environmental impact of illegal recycling activities, mitigates the bullwhip effect within the forward supply chain, and improves market fulfillment rate. The proposed information sharing framework can be employed to enhance the information efficiency of the reverse supply chain, aid in the recovery of end-of-life products and critical resources utilization, thereby supporting the transition to a circular economy.

Jennifer Davies

This chapter explores the transformative nature of blockchain technology (BCT) on luxury fashion supply chain operations. It maps its evolution from a niche technology underpinning the Bitcoin cryptocurrency to one now seen as a strategic imperative across many industries. The chapter provides an overview of the novel characteristics of BCT and explores its role in supporting supply chain transparency, a vital aspect of sustainable supply chain management. Recent case studies illustrate practical BCT applications and explain the present barriers to widespread adoption in luxury fashion. Looking to the future, BCT’s envisaged role in the next phase of the internet (Web3) and the metaverse is discussed, emphasising key concepts such as tokenisation. It investigates how BCT innovations, such as non-fungible tokens, are enabling the sale of phygital products, offering customers dual value propositions through the combination of physical items and their digital twins for use within virtual spaces. These developments are already revolutionising luxury fashion supply chain operations, blurring the lines between physical and digital domains. The chapter touches upon recently introduced European Union Ecodesign legislation that includes provisions for the introduction of ‘Digital Product Passports’, assessing how these regulations could increase BCT adoption and help shape sustainable value creation and redefine competitive advantage in luxury fashion.

Manar Y. Oqbi, Dhabia M. Al-Mohannadi

Sustainable industrial development depends on optimizing resource and energy integration within Eco-industrial parks (EIPs), combined with stringent carbon emissions reduction policies. The main challenge is ensuring transparency, accountability, and data privacy while optimizing the conversion of raw materials and energy into valuable products and controlling emissions within EIPs. This research introduces an innovative framework to design optimized EIPs and deploy a blockchain-enabled trading platform for resources and emissions management, tackling these key issues. The proposed framework integrates EIPs with emission control policies, supported by two distinct smart contracts: one dedicated to blockchain-based resource trading and another handling financial transactions related to emission control policies, including other regulations such as income tax. The resource trading platform fosters transparency, enabling accurate tracking of material and energy flows. Furthermore, the framework integrates an off-chain Mixed-Integer linear Programming model (MILP) to optimize EIP design and operations, which is seamlessly integrated with smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain (BC) to ensure data privacy and traceability among processes to meet environmental targets. The model also determines emission reductions and investments in carbon capture technology, promoting operational efficiency. By incorporating identity verification and external entities for compliance, the framework ensures secure and regulated operations. Offering a powerful tool to decision-makers and authorities, this framework enhances comprehension of resource and emissions tracking, paving the way for the development of innovative policies and fostering regulatory compliance. This development promotes sustainable industrial activities and supports environmental goals.

Robertas Damaševičius, Rytis Maskeliūnas

ABSTRACT The timber industry, characterized by its vast supply chains and complex trade networks, faces challenges such as inefficiency, vulnerability to fraud, lack of transparency, and fairness in trading practices. Addressing these challenges, we propose a distributed timber trading mechanism based on blockchain technology and smart contracts. The mechanism introduces a strategy to match timber trading orders and a model to manage trader credibility. Our study also developed a credit management model that uses the entropy weight method to assess the credibility of traders based on their transaction history and their commitment to sustainable practices. The key findings and results of this study underscore the potential of blockchain technology and smart contracts to revolutionize the timber industry by addressing its long‐standing challenges. The distributed timber trading mechanism that we propose sets the foundation for a more sustainable, transparent, and efficient marketplace.

Mohammad Akbarzadeh Sarabi, Ata Allah Taleizadeh, Arijit Bhattacharya

With the increasing emphasis on environmental sustainability, both governments and consumers are more concerned than ever about the greenness of products. In this complex landscape, Supply Chains (SCs) face challenges in building trust and avoiding greenwashing accusations. Blockchain technology offers a promising solution by ensuring transparency and circularity within SCs, particularly in identifying customers for product recycling. This study pioneers the exploration of consumers' distrust in pricing and product greenness, alongside the impact of carbon policies (taxes and subsidies) within a closed-loop supply chain (CLSC). Using classical Stackelberg game theory, we develop two models that identify equilibrium decisions for SC members, focusing on pricing, green production investment, circularity, and blockchain adoption. Additionally, we propose an evolutionary game theory model to find the optimal government policies and identify the long-term behaviour of the CLSC and government in two heterogeneous populations. Our findings reveal that if the retailer's share of blockchain costs falls below a certain threshold, blockchain adoption becomes less profitable than exclusive investment in green production. A higher (lower) subsidy rate benefits (harms) the retailer but disadvantages (benefits) the collector. Blockchain adoption is generally more profitable for manufacturers and retailers, though less so for collectors, and it also drives greater investment in green production. While subsidies encourage blockchain adoption, they are not a sustainable long-term strategy for governments. Ultimately, the evolutionarily stable strategy for SCs involves a balanced investment in both green production and blockchain or green production alone, depending on market characteristics and cost-sharing structures.

Lawrence Martin Mankata, Prince Antwi-Afari, S. Thomas Ng

The construction industry's shift to a circular economy has been hindered by multiple challenges. The emergence of blockchain has however demonstrated promising potential in overcoming these barriers. Nonetheless, there is limited research regarding the system implementation dynamics of blockchain-based circular economy applications within the construction supply chain. This paper proposes a blockchain-based construction supply chain framework for advancing circular economy in the construction industry . Systematic Evidence Synthesis (SES), prototyping, and case study triangulation approaches are adopted to review, experiment, and validate the findings. Relevant exploratory and experimental cases are identifed from Scopus and Web of Science databases for the SES process . The initial findings highlighted the main implementation domains, to include material passports, waste trading, and reverse logistics. Hyperledger and Ethereum are further identifed as the leading implementation platforms for developing prototypes. The key challenges identified from prototype development included, limited simulation samples, limited performance scalability, and uncertainty with return on investment . To address the challenges and gaps identified, a blockchain-based circular construction supply chain (BCCSC) framework is proposed. Modules from the proposed framework are experimented through a proof-of-concept prototype to demonstrate feasibility. Finally, selected cross-industry cases were triangulated to draw conceptual parallels and potential drawbacks in implementation. Through a blockchain-based web marketplace, stakeholder interactions in the construction supply chain can be deepened to support circular business models. Furthermore, the framework's modularization allows for easy scalability and practical implementation. Recommendations are made towards research in cost reduction and enhanced collaboration strategies, as well as developing full-scale modules to demonstrate end-to-end functionality.

Arjun Rachana Harish, Xinlai Liu, Xin Wang, Shenle Pan · 7 authors

No abstract is available for this record.

Tianjiao Wang, Abdullah Al Mamun, Mohammad Masukujjaman, Qing Yang

The growing complexity and vulnerability of global supply chains underscore the need for robust frameworks to enhance resilience and sustainability. This quantitative study investigates the enablers of supply chain resilience and examines its dual role as both a direct contributor to sustainability performance and a mediator in the relationship between blockchain technology and sustainability outcomes. A cross-sectional approach was used to collect 387 valid responses from medium- and large-scale logistics firms operating in four major logistics hub cities in China. The data were analyzed using a structural equation modeling approach by applying partial least squares structural equation modeling. The results show that the proposed model explains 37.4% of the variance in SCR (R² = 0.374), 25.2% in economic performance (R² = 0.252), and 30.3% in environmental performance (R² = 0.303). Among the blockchain capabilities, transparency (β = 0.264, p = 0.001) and transaction cost efficiency (β = 0.212, p = 0.000) had the strongest direct effects on SCR, while value co-creation (β = 0.371, p = 0.000) significantly mediated the path between SCR and sustainability outcomes. Furthermore, multi-group analysis revealed significant differences based on firm size and operational tenure, such as a stronger effect of value chain integration on SCR among firms operating for eight years or less (β = 0.421, p = 0.022). Theoretically, this study integrates the multidimensional dynamic capabilities perspective with transaction cost economics, providing a nuanced understanding of blockchain’s role in enhancing supply chain resilience and sustainability, and enriching dynamic capability theory. Practically, it offers actionable insights for practitioners and policymakers by identifying enablers and barriers to blockchain adoption and emphasizing the need for standardized frameworks and supportive policies. This study advances the understanding of blockchain’s transformative potential for building resilient, adaptive, and sustainable supply chains amid global volatility.

Ben Chester Cheong

Abstract The adoption of blockchain technology in supply chain management has gained significant attention due to its potential to enhance transparency, traceability, and accountability. However, successful blockchain implementation requires careful consideration of governance, regulatory, and ethical dimensions. Through a narrative literature review, this paper examines how blockchain can be effectively leveraged in sustainable supply chains, focussing on governance challenges and policy considerations. The review reveals significant gaps in current understanding of blockchain governance, including a lack of standardisation, limited integration between technical and institutional aspects, and insufficient attention to ethical implications. The analysis provides a comprehensive examination of the regulatory landscape, identifying critical areas requiring policy attention and suggesting pathways for implementation. The paper contributes to the literature by synthesising the current understanding of governance challenges and proposing policy directions for addressing these gaps. As blockchain technology continues to evolve, the paper emphasises the need for balanced governance approaches that promote innovation while ensuring responsible implementation across supply chain ecosystems.

Abhinay Mishra, Tanmoy Kundu, Rohit Kapoor, Mark Goh

No abstract is available for this record.