Sustainable Initiatives and Due Diligence in the EU Supply Chain

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• INTRODUCTION
• SUSTAINABILITY IN THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT
• SUSTAINABILITY AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
• STUDY SCOPE
• STUDY CONTEXT
• HISTORY OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND DUE DILIGENCE
• A Brief History of International Sustainable Development
• History of Due Diligence
• REGULATORY REVIEW OF DUE DILIGENCE
• Voluntary Due Diligence Reporting
• DUE DILIGENCE TRENDS AND UPCOMING LEGISLATION
• DUE DILIGENCE REPORTING AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL IN EU MEMBER STATES
• LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL BASIS
• SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS
• Panarchy Theory and Adaptive Cycles
• What is Resilience? The difference between Ecological and Socio-Ecological Systems
• ADAPTIVE AND TRANSFORMATIVE GOVERNANCE OF SYSTEMS
• THE INDUSTRY STRUCTURE VIEW, RESOURCE-BASED VIEW, AND RELATIONAL VIEW OF THE FIRM
• AN ANALYSIS OF SUSTAINABILITY AND ITS EFFECT ON FIRM PERFORMANCE
• Sustainability in the Research Environment
• Effects of Sustainability on firm performance
• SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING
• CSR Reporting and Due Diligence
• Greenwashing
• SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT
• PROBLEM ANALYSIS
• RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
• METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH
• Primary data collection
• Triangular approach
• Qualitative Semi-structured Interviews
• Quantitative Survey
• METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION AND TARGET GROUP
• Ethical issues in research - anonymity and privacy
• METHODS OF ANALYSIS
• Qualitative: Thematic analysis
• Quantitative: Descriptive statistics
• Content and keyword analysis
• Case selection
• Designing propositions
• RESULTS
• COMMON Interview THEMES
• Global Concerns: Margins, Logistics, and Asia
• Supplier Relationships: Upgrading, Visibility, and Leverage
• Information Exchange
• A message to the Legal Environment
• SURVEY RESULTS
• MINI-CASES
• DISCUSSION
• SCM AND SUSTAINABILITY PATTERNS (RESEARCH PROPOSITIONS)
• Leverage
• Information Exchange
• Visibility
• Supplier Relationships and Upgrading
• Summary of Propositions and Findings
• SUSTAINABLE SCM WITH AN EYE TOWARDS THE FUTURE
• A message to the legal environment
• Sustainable procurement and supply chain management: application and benefits

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This Master's thesis explores the increasing due diligence requirements on business supply chains as a result of global sustainability initiatives, focusing specifically on the EU's proposed mandatory human rights due diligence (MHRDD) for global value chains. The study aims to investigate how companies approach sustainability initiatives within their supply chains, both in terms of environmental and social responsibility. Key themes explored in the thesis include:

• The evolving legal environment for sustainable supply chain management
• The role of due diligence and corporate social responsibility (CSR)
• The challenges and opportunities for companies in implementing sustainability initiatives
• The importance of information exchange, visibility, and supplier upgrading for sustainable supply chains
• The impact of sustainability on firm performance

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• **Introduction:** This chapter introduces the topic of sustainability and due diligence in the EU supply chain, outlining the study's scope and objectives. It discusses the growing importance of sustainability in the legal environment and the challenges faced by companies in managing sustainable supply chains.
• **Study Context:** This chapter delves into the history of sustainable development and due diligence, exploring the evolution of international regulations and the shift towards mandatory due diligence requirements. It examines the legal framework for due diligence in the EU and analyzes recent trends and upcoming legislation.
• **Literature Review and Theoretical Basis:** This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of relevant theoretical frameworks, exploring concepts such as socio-ecological systems, adaptive governance, and the industry structure, resource-based, and relational views of the firm. It examines existing research on sustainability and its effects on firm performance, including discussions on sustainability reporting, greenwashing, and sustainable procurement.
• **Problem Analysis:** This chapter identifies and analyzes the key challenges and opportunities for companies in managing sustainable supply chains under increasing due diligence requirements. It explores the complexities of balancing sustainability objectives with business profitability.
• **Research Methodology:** This chapter outlines the study's methodological approach, detailing the use of primary data collection through semi-structured interviews and a quantitative survey. It discusses the triangular approach employed to gather insights and explains the methods used for data analysis.
• **Results:** This chapter presents the findings from the data analysis, highlighting key themes and patterns identified in the interviews and survey responses. It includes mini-cases illustrating the sustainability initiatives implemented by different companies.
• **Discussion:** This chapter analyzes the research results and proposes a framework for understanding the relationships between supply chain management and sustainability initiatives. It develops four interconnected propositions: Leverage, Information Exchange, Visibility, and Supplier Relationships and Upgrading.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This thesis focuses on the intersection of sustainability, supply chain management, and due diligence within the context of the EU's legal environment. The study explores key concepts such as mandatory human rights due diligence (MHRDD), corporate social responsibility (CSR), sustainable procurement, greenwashing, supplier upgrading, and firm performance. The research examines how companies manage environmental and social sustainability initiatives in their global value chains, highlighting the challenges and opportunities presented by increasing legal requirements.