WMG researchers win Best Paper Award at ISA International Conference 2026
Tuesday 13 October 2026
WMG researchers win Best Paper at ISA International Conference 2026
Research by the Supply Chain Research GroupLink opens in a new window at Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), University of Warwick, has been recognised for its excellence at the Industry Studies Association (ISA) International Conference 2026Link opens in a new window.
Dr Sotiris BlanasLink opens in a new window, Assistant Professor in International Trade, and Professor Alok ChoudharyLink opens in a new window, Head of the Supply Chain Research Group at WMG, won the Best Paper Award across all paper categories at the inaugural conference, which took place at the prestigious University of Oxford Saïd Business School in September.
The winning paper, “Counting Carbon, Losing Productivity: The Unintended Operational Costs of Mandatory Carbon Disclosure,” addresses a challenging yet timely question: when governments mandate carbon disclosure for manufacturing firms in the name of transparency, what does compliance cost on the inside?
Dr Blanas and Professor Choudhary’s research provides the first causal evidence that mandatory carbon disclosure can create significant, wide-ranging productivity costs for manufacturers — not by limiting technology or output — but by diverting management attention and organisational resources from core operations.
Based on 14 years' worth of data from over 300 UK and European manufacturers, the paper finds that, while disclosure improves environmental transparency, it can also leave businesses facing short to medium-term declines in operational efficiency, labour productivity, inventory performance, and total factor productivity.
As sustainability disclosure expands globally, Dr Blanas and Professor Choudhary's research sends a clear message: how regulation is designed, phased, and supported is just as important as the ambition behind it.
Implementing smarter policies that balance sustainability objectives with operational realities, alongside targeted transition support to help manufacturers adapt, will be critical in creating a sustainable future for both manufacturers and our planet.
"Winning the Best Paper Award at ISA 2026 is a tremendous honour for me and my co-author Dr Sotiris Blanas", said Professor Choudhary. "It provides valuable international recognition for WMG's world-leading research at the intersection of sustainability, operations, productivity and policy to address the real challenges facing industry today."
The ISA International Conference 2026 brought together academics, policymakers, and industry experts from leading universities and institutions around the world to exchange research and perspectives on some of the most pressing challenges facing global industry. Topics included industrial policy, supply chain resilience, sustainable operations, and AI and other emerging technologies.
Find out more about WMG's supply chain research: Supply Chains Research Group | WMGLink opens in a new window