Aligning Halal Supply Chain Management Improvements with Global Sustainability Standards: A DEMATEL-Based Analysis

Halal Supply Chain Management (HSCM) significantly contributes to global sustainability by ensuring ethical sourcing, transparency, and responsible environmental practices, closely aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Despite its potential, several challenges—including regulatory inconsistencies, traceability issues, and environmental impacts—hinder optimal sustainability integration. Addressing this gap, this research uniquely applies the DEMATEL method to systematically analyse causal relationships among critical sustainability factors within HSCM based on expert insights from 25 diverse industry specialists. Results reveal Sustainable Procurement (SP) as the primary driving factor influencing Green Logistics (GL), Halal Certification (HC), Supply Chain Transparency (SCT), and Waste Management (WM). The study highlights HC and SCT as significantly dependent on procurement and logistical strategies, while emphasising early integration of waste reduction practices into supply chain decisions. This novel integration of HSCM, SDGs, and DEMATEL offers actionable insights for policymakers, businesses, and scholars aiming to enhance sustainable procurement, logistical efficiency, and regulatory standardisation. Future research is recommended to explore AI-driven optimisation, blockchain-based Halal verification, and circular economy approaches for further sustainability improvements.