Abstract:The comprehensive coverage of sustainability issues in a supply chain incurs goal conflicts-i.e., sustainability tensions-and is often limited by market characteristics, such as the availability of sustainable materials and services. While the mainstream business is prioritizing economic goals, a number of entrepreneurs are trying to move forward to more sustainable business practices for their own company and their supply chain. Fairphone represents such a case in the electronics industry, which is openly communicating its sustainability efforts and shortcomings. This communication is content-analyzed in this study by applying the theoretical lenses of paradox sustainability tensions and sustainable supply chain management. Findings of this analysis reveal the limitation of sustainability efforts by supply side characteristics, while Fairphone is innovatively using the demand side of its supply chain to drive sustainability. The resulting tensions among both sides are addressed via pro-active and direct supplier and stakeholder engagement by Fairphone at their suppliers' mines and factories. The systematic identification of tensions and practices by which they are addressed is adding to our understanding of sustainability practices and goal conflicts in supply chains.

PurposeManaging supply chains (SCs) for sustainability often results in conflicting demands, which can be conceptualized as sustainability tensions. This paper studies sustainability tensions in electronics SC contexts and the related management responses by applying a paradox perspective.Design/methodology/approachA single case study on the electronics SC is conducted with companies and third-party organizations as embedded units of analysis, using semi-structured interviews that are triangulated with publicly available data.FindingsThe study identifies tension elements (learning, belonging, organizing and economic performing) conflicting with general social–ecological objectives in the electronics SC. The results indicate a hierarchal structure among the sustainability tensions in SC contexts. The management responses of contextualization and resolution are assigned to the identified tensions.Practical implicationsFraming social–ecological objectives with their conflicting elements as paradoxical tensions enables organizations and SCs to develop better strategies for responding to complex sustainability issues in SC contexts.Originality/valueThe study contributes toward filling the gap on paradoxical sustainability tensions in SCs. Empirical insights are gained from different actors in the electronics SC. The level of emergence and interconnectedness of sustainability tensions in a larger SC context is explored through an outside-in perspective.

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Effizienzmaßnahmen sind in Unternehmen ein wichtiges Instrument, um ökologische und ökonomische Ziele erreichen zu können. In vielen Fällen entfalten die Maßnahmen aber nicht ihre volle ökologische Einsparwirkung. Gründe dafür können Rebound-Effekte sein.

Die Entwicklung von Zukunftsbildern unterstützt uns, wünschenswerte Lösungsansätze im Umgang mit den Herausforderungen einer wachsenden Stadt und den Folgen des Klimawandels aufzuzeigen. In der Diskussion von verschiedenen Zukunftsperspektiven grüner, lebenswerter Quartiere können zudem Zielkonflikte und Synergien zwischen Grünmaßnahmen und anderen Nutzungen thematisiert werden.