Centre for Sustainable Operations and Resilient Supply Chains

Driving sustainable innovation and resilience across global supply chains

The Centre for Sustainable Operations and Resilient Supply Chains (CSORSC) is a research and innovation hub dedicated to transforming Australia’s supply chain for a resilient, sustainable and thriving future, and to position South Australia as a global leader in supply chain management. As part of Adelaide University’s College of Business and Law, the Centre brings together academic experts, industry leaders and policy makers to address the pressing challenges facing global supply chains.

Our work focuses on developing strategies and solutions that promote environmental responsibility, operational excellence and long-term resilience. We engage in cutting-edge research, industry partnerships and knowledge exchange to drive impactful outcomes across sectors including manufacturing, logistics, agriculture and energy.

With a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration, the Centre supports both academic inquiry and real-world application - empowering students, researchers, and professionals to build supply chains that are not only efficient but also sustainable and future-ready.

Explore our research

Explore our cutting-edge research driving innovation, sustainability, and resilience across global operations and supply chain systems for a better future.

Engage with us

Partner with us to advance sustainable practices and build resilient, future-ready supply chains through research, collaboration and innovation. CSORSC is comprised of top researchers across a wide range of research areas to re-imagine how we produce, procure and consume goods for a sustainable transition to a circular economy.

Explore the Centre for Sustainable Operations and Resilient Supply Chains

The Centre for Sustainable Operations and Resilient Supply Chains partners with industry to:

Implement circular‑economy business models to reduce waste and extend product life
Decarbonise supply chains to support net‑zero goals
Harness digital technologies and industry 4.0 and 5.0 (AI, blockchain, big data, process automation, machine learning) for sustainable transformation
Build resilience by diversifying sourcing and lowering supply risks
Sustainability transformation that drives, accelerates, and scales sustainable supply chain initiatives
Improve traceability and transparency across supply chains
Advance zero‑emission last‑mile delivery solutions

At Adelaide University, we turn research into action creating resilient and sustainable supply chains that deliver both global and local impact.

Research capabilities Research capabilities
Research impact Research impact
Our people Our people
Our partners Our partners

The CSORSC combines multidisciplinary expertise in management, engineering, computer science, economics, policy, ethics, and the social sciences to address the complex challenges of supply chain sustainability and resilience.

Research themes and key capability areas

Circular Economy and Business Model Innovation

Designing systems that reduce waste, extend product life and promote resource efficiency.

We support organisations to transition from linear production and consumption models towards circular systems that minimise waste, extend product life and maximise resource value. Our research focuses on circular supply chains, product stewardship, remanufacturing, resource recovery and innovative business models that support long-term sustainability.

Sustainable and Circular Procurement

Advancing responsible sourcing and procurement practices that create environmental, social and economic value.

We help organisations integrate sustainability into procurement decisions through responsible sourcing, supplier assessment, ESG integration and circular procurement strategies. Our work supports organisations in improving transparency, reducing risk and achieving environmental and social objectives.

Sustainability and Digital Transformation

Supporting organisations to accelerate their sustainable transitions through digital innovation and data-driven decision-making.

We support organisations in designing and implementing sustainability-driven transformation programs through data-driven decision making, digital technologies and operational innovation. Our work connects sustainability objectives with measurable business outcomes.

Supply Chain Resilience

Building resilient and adaptable supply chains that can respond to disruption and uncertainty.

We help organisations identify vulnerabilities, manage disruption risks and strengthen supply chain adaptability. Our research addresses resilience challenges associated with climate risks, geopolitical uncertainty, supply shortages and changing market conditions.

Sustainable Packaging

Developing innovative packaging solutions that minimise environmental impacts and support circularity.

We develop sustainable packaging solutions that reduce environmental impacts while maintaining operational effectiveness. Our research examines packaging design, material innovation, reuse systems and end-of-life recovery pathways.

Reverse Logistics and Closed-Loop Supply Chains

Recovering value from products, materials and resources through circular supply chain systems.

We design systems that recover value from products, materials and resources after use. Our expertise includes reverse logistics, recycling systems, product take-back schemes, remanufacturing and closed-loop supply chain design.

Sustainable Leadership and Women's Entrepreneurship

Enabling leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship that support sustainable and inclusive growth.

We investigate leadership practices and entrepreneurial ecosystems that support sustainability transitions. This includes research on inclusive leadership, organisational change, innovation capability and women's entrepreneurship in sustainable industries.

Low-Carbon, Net-Zero and Below-Zero Supply Chains

Identifying emissions hotspots and developing pathways toward net-zero and climate-positive supply chains.

We support organisations in reducing emissions and progressing toward net-zero and beyond. Our research includes carbon accounting, decarbonisation pathways, climate adaptation, climate mitigation and low-carbon operational strategies.

Digitalisation and Industry 4.0 / 5.0 Integration

Integration of advanced digital technologies to enhance transparency, traceability and operational performance in supply chains.

We leverage advanced technologies including artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, digital twins, big data analytics and automation to improve decision-making, visibility and operational performance across supply chains.

Sustainable Design and Manufacturing

Designing products and manufacturing systems that improve sustainability, efficiency and long-term competitiveness.

We support sustainable product and process design across manufacturing systems, focusing on resource efficiency, environmental performance, circularity and sustainable production practices.

CSORSC’s research is applied across key sectors including agriculture, food and wine, mining, energy and resources, health and pharmaceuticals, defence, space, renewables, and climate and environmental sustainability.

CSORSC’s research is applied across organisations of all sizes in key sectors, including climate technology; critical minerals and mining; defence and space; food, wine and agribusiness; forestry and tourism; healthcare and pharmaceuticals; manufacturing and construction; transport and logistics; waste and recycling; and water and energy.

First of its kind in Australia

CSORSC is the country’s first research centre dedicated to sustainable operations and resilient supply chains.

Leadership in supply chain research

The Centre is led by world‑renowned experts Prof. Kannan Govindan and Assoc. Prof. Devika Kannan, whose global work has influenced procurement, ESG, transparency, ethics and decarbonisation standards.

Cross‑sector and system‑wide influence

Research and applied work span critical sectors: agriculture, mining, food & wine, defence, space, renewables, pharmaceuticals and more. CSORSC’s reach includes advising governments, industry and communities on policy, trade, procurement and innovation.

Driving sustainability transitions

Impact includes helping organisations transition toward net‑zero emissions, embedding circular economy principles, imposing traceability and visibility in supply chains and identifying climate, continuity, ethical and supply risk challenges.

Economic and competitiveness gains

Work by CSORSC aids firms (including SMEs) in becoming more resilient, efficient and competitive through digitalisation, advanced analytics and improved operational practices. It also supports policy/regulatory alignment for future‑oriented trade and industry standards.

Capacity building & workforce development

The Centre plays a role in training graduate students, upskilling workers and creating a diverse pipeline of researchers, entrepreneurs and practitioners equipped for sustainability‑oriented supply chain challenges.

Leadership team

Professor Kannan Govindan Director of Centre for Sustainable Operations and Resilient Supply Chains (kannan.govindan@adelaide.edu.au)
Associate Professor Devika Kannan Deputy Director of Centre for Sustainable Operations and Resilient Supply Chains (devika.kannan@adelaide.edu.au)
Paulina Gonzalez Centre Manager

CSORSC empowers Australia and its partners to build environmentally sustainable and resilient operations and supply chains through research, advice and education.

The Centre for Sustainable Operations and Resilient Supply Chains (CSORSC) at Adelaide University is a collaborative hub that actively partners with government, industry, communities and organisations at local, national and global levels. These partnerships are central to the Centre’s mission of translating research into real-world impact across supply chains and operational systems.

CSORSC’s research supports a broad range of sectors, including agriculture, mining, food and wine, energy and resources, health and pharmaceuticals, defence, space and renewables. The Centre works closely with organisations across these domains to co-develop solutions that enable circularity, reduce emissions, strengthen resilience and improve supply chain traceability, ethics transparency and sustainability.

Partnering capabilities include applied research and consulting, policy development, supply chain digitalisation (AI, blockchain, data analytics), risk mitigation and ESG integration. The Centre also supports workforce development through graduate training, upskilling and scholarship programs—including joint initiatives such as a PhD partnership with the South Australian Department of State Development.

Adelaide University’s broader innovation ecosystem further strengthens CSORSC’s reach, particularly through initiatives like the Defence Trailblazer - Concept to Sovereign Capability (CSC), which involves over 50 industry partners across defence, advanced manufacturing and adjacent sectors. This environment enables CSORSC to access cross-sector insights, infrastructure and collaborative platforms that benefit all its industry and government partners.

Through these partnerships, CSORSC delivers measurable outcomes that drive sustainable economic growth, build future-ready supply networks and support Australia’s transition to a net-zero, resilient and competitive economy.

Contact us

Centre for Sustainable Operations and Resilient Supply Chains

Location
Centre for Sustainable Operations and Resilient Supply Chains
Adelaide University
Level 13, Nexus 10 Building, Adelaide SA 5001

Phone: +61 8 8313 5983

Email: csorsc@adelaide.edu.au