Volume 13, Issue 4 (April 2026), Pages: 45-53

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 Original Research Paper

The nexus between circular economy practices, TQM, and green supply chain management in firm performance

 Author(s): 

Udomsak Chomsuk ¹, Piyachat Burawat ^1, *, Sungworn Ngudgratoke ²

 Affiliation(s):

¹Faculty of Business Administration, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Pathum Thani 12110, Thailand
²School of Education, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, Nonthaburi 11120, Thailand

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 * Corresponding Author. 

   Corresponding author's ORCID profile:  https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2527-0472

 Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2026.04.005

 Abstract

This qualitative study examines the sustainability dimensions of organizational practices, focusing on total quality management (TQM), green supply chain management (GSCM), and their impact on firm performance (FP), interpreted through the lens of absorptive capacity theory (ACAP). The study includes ten participants from both local and foreign companies in Thailand, representing organizations with and without ISO 14001 certification. Data were analyzed using NVivo 12 through thematic coding and theme development to provide insights into organizational factors influencing sustainability outcomes. The findings show that sustainability-oriented practices strongly influence the adoption of circular economy practices (CEP), TQM, and GSCM, all of which contribute to improved firm performance. Market demands and customer expectations were identified as key drivers encouraging both local and foreign firms to adopt sustainability initiatives. However, limited financial resources and high costs remain major barriers, especially for implementing circular economy practices. ISO 14001 certification emerged as an important differentiating factor. Certified firms demonstrated more structured and formalized practices, particularly in sourcing green materials, conducting supplier audits, and monitoring carbon emissions. These practices reflect a stronger environmental focus and alignment with regulatory and stakeholder requirements. Both Thai and foreign firms indicated that their sustainability strategies are influenced by internal goals as well as external pressures, such as government regulations and community expectations. Overall, the study suggests that while sustainability practices are widely adopted, their effectiveness and consistency depend on ISO 14001 certification, financial capacity, and the broader regulatory environment.

 © 2026 The Authors. Published by IASE.

 This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

 Keywords

Sustainability practices, Total quality management, Green supply chain management, Circular economy practices, Firm performance

 Article history

Received 3 November 2025, Received in revised form 25 March 2026, Accepted 29 March 2026

 Funding

This research was supported by the Graduate Researcher Development Scholarship 2024 from the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT). 

 Acknowledgment

The authors would like to express their sincere appreciation to all interview participants and participating organizations for their valuable time, cooperation, and insights, which greatly contributed to this study. 

 Compliance with ethical standards

 Ethical considerations:

All participants provided informed consent, participation was voluntary, anonymity and confidentiality were ensured, and the study was conducted in accordance with institutional ethical guidelines. 

 Citation:

Chomsuk U, Burawat P, and Ngudgratoke S (2026). The nexus between circular economy practices, TQM, and green supply chain management in firm performance. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 13(4): 45-53

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 Figures

  Fig. 1 Fig. 2

 Tables

  Table 1 Table 2 Table 3

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