The objective is to describe an extended approach to supply chain management (SCM), termed ‘sustainable chain management’. The paper provides a conceptual discussion of current definitions and approaches to SCM. The concept of sustainable chain management is described and illustrated. The approach connects the upstream and downstream elements of the supply chain, as well as re-connecting the ‘before’ and ‘after’ elements (or ‘extremity elements’) of supply chains. A comprehensive and logical model of sustainable chain management can be formulated and illustrated. This model, which represents a supply chain as a ‘loop chain’ without loose ends, overcomes the deficiencies of existing models of SCM by introducing vertical integration of the elements and interfaces of SCM. The proposed model has practical implications for best practice and sustainable management of supply chains. The paper presents an innovative model for SCM. The model has also implications for research in this area.