Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present a case for research in environmental and social (or sustainable) supply chain management and sustainability accounting. Design/methodology/approach: The paper provides an analysis of the extent of management research in the field of sustainable supply chain management and sustainability accounting. It draws on the fields of management, supply chain management, management accounting to present a case for further research. Findings: The paper finds that the extant literature in the field of sustainable supply chain management and sustainability accounting, in contrast to the field of management and management accounting, has largely ignored practice within organizations. The paper argues that further research is needed in order to identify how management accounting and supply chain management might reduce their negative sustainability impacts. The paper argues that such research can benefit from the methodological and theoretical insights of other disciplines. Research limitations/implications: The paper suggests where further contributions might be made by future research endeavours engaging with different industry sectors. Practical implications: Management research in sustainable supply chain management and sustainability accounting has the pontential to improve theorizing, practice and the sustainability performance of organizations. Originalty/value: The paper presents a way forward for researchers practicing management for sustainable supply chain management and sustainability accounting.