Sustainability has become a critical focus in global supply chain strategies, yet small and medium enterprises (SMEs), especially in South Africa, face significant barriers in adopting green supply chain management (GSCM) practices. This study aims to investigate the drivers, barriers, and sustainability impacts of GSCM adoption among South African SMEs, with a focus on entrepreneurial contexts. Using a systematic literature review (SLR) guided by PRISMA, 45 peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2025 were analysed. The study is theoretically grounded in the triple bottom line (TBL) framework and the diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory. Results indicate that GSCM adoption can significantly improve environmental, economic, and social sustainability. However, its implementation among South African SMEs is constrained by financial limitations, lack of awareness, technological gaps, and weak supply chain collaboration. Based on these findings, a theoretical framework was developed to explain the relationship between GSCM drivers, adoption barriers, and sustainability outcomes. The proposed framework is conceptual and was not empirically tested in this study. Therefore, future research should apply quantitative or mixed method approaches to validate and refine the model. This research contributes to sustainable entrepreneurship literature by offering a structured foundation for understanding GSCM integration in resource-constrained SME environments.

Smallholder farming contributes significantly to rural livelihoods and the national economy, yet farmers face challenges, such as limited market access, inadequate farming inputs, and fragmented stakeholder coordination that hinder their operational performance. These barriers prevent smallholder farmers from achieving optimal productivity and profitability. The purpose of the study was to examine the impact of value networks on the operational performance in smallholder farming, using a systematic literature review and drawing on stakeholder and network theories. The study explored how well-structured value networks could enhance the efficiency, resource flows, and market responsiveness of smallholder farmers. Eight-eight documents were extracted from academic databases and analysed using systematic literature review. The results of the study indicate that well-structured value networks can enhance operational performance of smallholder farmers by improving their coordination, resource exchanges, and market responsiveness. The study found that strong relationships within value networks enhance communication and reduce delays, thus providing smallholder farmers with better access to resources. It was further noted that timely access to inputs like seeds and fertilisers reduces bottlenecks and enhances productivity among smallholder farmers. This research contributes theoretically by proposing a value network framework applicable to smallholder farming. The framework emphasizes strategies for addressing the challenges faced by smallholder farmers, such as fragmented markets and limited access to technology. This study does not rely on specific data from smallholder farming but generalizes findings to smallholder farming contexts across similar agricultural settings. Therefore, future research should validate the framework in real-world settings and explore the role of social and environmental factors in enhancing the effectiveness of value networks.

Governments worldwide leverage their purchasing power to advance social, economic, and environmental agendas. Public procurement can be employed as a strategic instrument to support small and medium-sized enterprises. Many countries are showing a rising interest in leveraging public procurement to foster the integration of small and medium-sized enterprises into markets. However, access to public procurement contracts is a challenge for small and medium-sized enterprises. There are challenges posed by government policies that are frequently overlooked. Public procurement regulations cover procedures, methods, standards, and terms for inviting bids, evaluation, selection, negotiation, awarding, and payment of suppliers of goods and services. However, many small businesses fail to meet these procedures, methods, standards, and terms because of capacities and resource constraints. There are public procurement initiatives that are currently being implemented throughout the world to help small businesses gain access to markets. Nevertheless, these initiatives are still relatively new and unstructured. There continues to be a dearth of peer-reviewed research. This chapter delineates small and medium-sized enterprises from various viewpoints, underlines their importance, explains the frameworks for public procurement, and proposes government-led initiatives that could facilitate the integration of small and medium-sized enterprises into the market. It is concluded that governments should implement strategies aimed at assisting small businesses. These strategies may include noncompetitive practices, subcontracting initiatives, qualification criteria, preferential schemes, and award criteria. By doing so, governments can create a fairer playing field, promote the competitiveness of small businesses, and encourage their engagement in public procurement processes. This, in turn, will foster SME growth, spur economic development, and facilitate job creation.