The role of policies and regulations on sustainability and their role towards supply chain resilience

Table of Contents

• Outline
• List of abbreviations
• Abstract
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Literature Review
  • 2.1 Conceptual outlines
    • 2.1.1 Sustainability and supply chain resilience
    • 2.1.2 Legislation in the EU
      • 2.1.2.1 Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive
      • 2.1.2.2 EU Taxonomy Regulation
      • 2.1.2.3 Circular Economy Action Plan
      • 2.1.2.4 Critical Raw Materials Act
      • 2.1.2.5 Sustainability and SCR in the European framework
    • 2.1.3 Legislation in China
      • 2.1.3.1 Environmental Protection Law
      • 2.1.3.2 Green Bond Catalogue
      • 2.1.3.3 Circular Economy Promotion Law
      • 2.1.3.4 14th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development
      • 2.1.3.5 Sustainability and SCR in the Chinese framework
  • 2.2 Comparative analysis of the EU and China
    • 2.2.1 EU's approach to sustainability and SCR
    • 2.2.2 Legislative impact on sustainability and SCR in the EU
    • 2.2.3 China's approach to sustainability and SCR
    • 2.2.4 Legislative impact on sustainability and SCR in China
• 3 Future outlook of bilateral economic relations
  • 3.1 Potential for consensus
  • 3.2 Controversial debates
• 4 Discussion
  • 4.1 Theoretical implications
  • 4.2 Managerial implications
  • 4.3 Limitations and further research
• 5 Conclusion
• Bibliography

Objective & Thematic Focus

This thesis fundamentally examines and compares the role of selected European Union and Chinese legislative frameworks on sustainability and their impact on supply chain resilience (SCR). Through a comparative analysis, it explores the motivations, practical implications, and broader economic, strategic, and geopolitical contexts shaping these legislative measures.

• Comparative analysis of EU and Chinese legislative frameworks.
• Impact of policies and regulations on sustainability.
• Impact of policies and regulations on supply chain resilience (SCR).
• Geopolitical and economic contexts shaping these frameworks.
• Identification of synergies and conflicts between sustainability and resilience goals.
• Development of adaptive strategies for businesses and policymakers.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

Introduction: Provides background on 21st-century challenges, the interconnectedness of global supply chains, and the increasing importance of sustainability and supply chain resilience, setting the stage for a comparative analysis of EU and Chinese legislative frameworks.

Literature Review: Defines key concepts of sustainability and supply chain resilience, then thoroughly reviews and outlines specific legislative frameworks in both the EU and China that address these concepts, followed by a comparative analysis of their respective approaches and legislative impacts.

Future outlook of bilateral economic relations: Explores the strong bilateral economic ties between the EU and China, identifying areas of potential consensus such as sustainable finance and circular economy, and discussing controversial debates including differing regulatory approaches and strategic ambitions.

Discussion: Analyzes the theoretical implications of the research findings, highlighting the cultural, political, and economic contexts influencing sustainability and SCR, and discusses managerial implications for companies operating in both regions.

Conclusion: Summarizes the comparative analysis of EU and Chinese legislative frameworks, reiterating their distinct yet interconnected approaches to sustainability and supply chain resilience, and highlights the ongoing de-coupling strategies and their implications for future bilateral relations.

Keywords

Sustainability, Supply Chain Resilience (SCR), European Union (EU), China, Legislative Frameworks, Policies and Regulations, Comparative Analysis, Green Deal, Circular Economy, Critical Raw Materials (CRM), ESG Reporting, Geopolitics, Trade Relations, Strategic Autonomy, Ecological Civilization

Frequently Asked Questions

Worum geht es in dieser Arbeit grundsätzlich?

This work fundamentally examines and compares the role of selected European Union and Chinese legislative frameworks on sustainability and their impact on supply chain resilience.

Was sind die zentralen Themenfelder?

The central thematic areas include the comparative analysis of EU and Chinese legislative frameworks, policies on sustainability, supply chain resilience, and their geopolitical and economic implications.

Was ist das primäre Ziel oder die Forschungsfrage?

The primary goal is to explore how EU and Chinese legislative frameworks address sustainability and supply chain resilience, through a comparative analysis of motivations, practical implications, and broader contexts.

Welche wissenschaftliche Methode wird verwendet?

This master thesis relies on secondary data, primarily a literature review of government documents, peer-reviewed journal papers, research reports, newspaper articles, case studies, and grey literature.

Was wird im Hauptteil behandelt?

The main body covers a literature review defining sustainability and supply chain resilience, an in-depth analysis of specific EU and Chinese legislation, and a comparative examination of their bilateral economic relations, including areas of consensus and controversy.

Welche Schlüsselwörter charakterisieren die Arbeit?

The work is characterized by keywords such as Sustainability, Supply Chain Resilience (SCR), European Union (EU), China, Legislative Frameworks, Policies and Regulations, Comparative Analysis, Green Deal, Circular Economy, Critical Raw Materials (CRM), ESG Reporting, Geopolitics, Trade Relations, Strategic Autonomy, and Ecological Civilization.

How do the EU's and China's approaches to sustainability differ, particularly regarding their scope?

The EU's approach to sustainability, as seen in frameworks like the CSRD, demonstrates a "global perspective" with extraterritorial effects, while China's "ecological civilization" primarily focuses on local action and balancing economic growth with environmental protection.

What is the "dual circulation" strategy in China and how does it relate to supply chain resilience?

China's "dual circulation" strategy, part of the 14th Five-Year Plan, aims to strengthen its domestic market and reduce dependence on foreign markets. This strategy seeks to enhance supply chain resilience by fostering indigenous innovation and domestic consumption.

What are the main implications for multinational companies (MNCs) operating in both the EU and China?

MNCs face complex regulatory environments and must navigate trade-offs between sustainability and resilience goals, manage supply chain diversification, invest in green technologies, and adapt to differing enforcement mechanisms and geopolitical tensions between the EU and China.

How does the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) in the EU contribute to both sustainability and supply chain resilience?

The CRMA aims to strengthen the resilience of critical raw material supply chains and increase EU autonomy by setting benchmarks for domestic extraction, processing, and recycling, while reducing dependency on single external providers, thus linking sustainability with resilience.