Mitigating Supply Chain Vulnerabilities: A Bibliometric Analysis of Sustainable Logistics for Resilience and Risk Management with Perspectives on the Automotive Industry

In a world increasingly shaped by global disruptions—ranging from pandemics and natural disasters to geopolitical tensions—the integration of sustainable logistics practices and supply chain resilience has become a cornerstone of modern supply chain strategies. This study undertakes a bibliometric analysis of 445 Scopus-indexed documents (2002–2024) using VOSviewer and Biblioshiny, offering a systematic exploration of critical research trends, thematic clusters, and knowledge gaps within this intersection. The analysis identifies several dominant themes, including green logistics, circular economy principles, digital transformation technologies, and adaptive risk management. Findings highlight the transformative role of digital tools—such as blockchain, IoT, and AI—in enhancing supply chain transparency, predictive analytics, and operational agility. The automotive sector emerges as a focal industry, facing unique challenges of resource dependency, regulatory compliance, and the need to align sustainability with resilience frameworks. Additionally, the study underscores the growing prominence of circular economy practices, such as reverse logistics and closed-loop supply chains, in addressing environmental goals while bolstering supply chain adaptability. However, significant gaps persist, particularly in the empirical validation of sustainable logistics practices and their measurable impact on resilience outcomes across diverse regions and sectors. The study calls for the development of integrated frameworks that align environmental sustainability with technological innovation and operational efficiency, supported by longitudinal studies and cross-industry comparisons. This research contributes to academic discourse by offering actionable insights for scholars and practitioners. It establishes a foundational roadmap for integrating sustainability and resilience, emphasizing the pivotal role of digitalization and circular economy principles in shaping robust, adaptable supply chains capable of withstanding the complexities of an increasingly volatile global environment.