Mimicking natural ecosystems to develop sustainable supply chains: A theory of socio-ecological intergradation

Gruner, Richard L.; Power, Damien

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.02.109

Cited by 29 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 111 publications

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“…As a solution Pagell and Shevchenko (2014) proposed changes in norms, measurement, methods, and research questions. Some of this resonates with the current proposals of developing SC in ways that would resemble how natural systems work (Gruner & Power, 2017). We think that since sustainability is largely a social concept (since after all, the natural and especially the economic function of systems is important only for the sake of social benefits (Voinov, 2017), it makes little sense to analyze SSC unless they include the social systems that they interact with.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Extending the supply chain to address sustainability

Taghikhah

Voinov

Shukla

2019

Journal of Cleaner Production

129

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In today's growing economy, overconsumption and overproduction have accelerated environmental deterioration worldwide. Consumers, through unsustainable consumption patterns, and producers, through production based on traditional resource depleting practices, have contributed significantly to the socio-environmental problems. Consumers and producers are linked by supply chains, and as sustainability became seen as a way to reverse socio-environmental degradation, it has also started to be introduced in research on supply chains. We look at the evolution of research on sustainable supply chains and show that it is still largely focused on the processes and networks that take place between the producer and the consumer, hardly taking into account consumer behavior and its influence on the performance of the producer and the supply chain itself. We conclude that we cannot be talking about sustainability, without extending the supply chains to account for consumers' behavior and their influence on the overall system performance. A conceptual framework is proposed to explain how supply chains can become sustainable and improve their economic and socio-environmental performance by motivating consumer behavior toward green consumption patterns, which, in turn, motivate producers and suppliers to change their operations.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Extending the supply chain to address sustainability

Taghikhah

Voinov

Shukla

2019

Journal of Cleaner Production

129

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“…Based on the above definition, the new concept of embracing socio-ecological intergradation along the supply chain has recently emerged [26]. It brought up the possibility of developing continued merging of social and ecological supply systems, stating that this way the focus of the While conducting study in the Lahti area, we realized that, in order to secure electricity provision, companies in Finland use many different value chains and feedstock sources to diversify supply options.…”

Section: Previous Research and Theoretical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on the above definition, the new concept of embracing socio-ecological intergradation along the supply chain has recently emerged [26]. It brought up the possibility of developing continued merging of social and ecological supply systems, stating that this way the focus of the company will shift from global supply chain optimization to focus on more regionally located, socio-ecologically connected supply chains operations and activities.…”

Section: Previous Research and Theoretical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Balancing Socio-Efficiency and Resilience of Energy Provisioning on a Regional Level, Case Oulun Energia in Finland

Fedorova¹,

Calò²,

Pongrácz³

2019

Clean Technol.

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The need to reduce CO2 emissions makes companies find new sustainable solutions for energy production. Diverse multiple sourcing energy production value chains became an important strategical development used at a regional level in Finland. This article presents a social sustainability state data visualization framework that allows us to communicate key social aspects to stakeholders and local communities. Core social aspects are defined through the assessment of multiple sourced electricity supply chains available within one region. This framework was tested on a case study covering regional electricity production supply chains in the Oulu sub-region, Finland. The evaluation of social indicators and their impacts presented along regional electricity production supply chains was performed via the conversion of collected data into visual objects. A cumulative social impact assessment of a local energy supply chain revealed that social sustainability impacts have the tendency to accumulate within the region. The results indicate that multiple sourced electricity supply chains are a socially sustainable solution that improve energy security and provide affordable electricity to local communities. The results indicate how by using multiple-sourcing value chains, companies can improve regional social resilience and balance socio-efficiency through building an effective relation between a company’s value added and its social impact on local communities.

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“…1.5 o C and 2 o C remaining budgets (green) are shown by area based on modelled scenarios from Rogelj et al (2015) and showing the extent of required negative emissions by the end of the century. c) Fossil percentage of total primary energy consumption, adapted from De Sterck et al (2014; Gruner and Power, 2017) and forecasted trajectories that infer a fossil fuel lock-in at an energy infrastructure level (BP, 2017).…”

Section: A Metabolic Framework For Combustion Lock-inmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This 'EBS metabolism' framework uses a systems thinking approach and seeks to contribute to a growing literature and exploration in the intersection of business and transition theory. This intersection studies the role that business models have in both affecting and being affected by wider societal, technological and ecological systemic shifts, or sociotechnical and socioecological transitions for short (Bidmon and Knab, 2018;Gruner and Power, 2017;Williams et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Energy business transformation & Earth system resilience: A metabolic approach

Wainstein

Dangerman

2019

Journal of Cleaner Production

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At present, an energy transition consistent with achieving the goals set out by the Paris climate agreement is not occurring, primarily due to lock-in dynamics at the societal and energy business complex level. To contribute to discussions on how to unlock a major system transformation, we introduce here a new framework that characterises the energy business as a system and traces its metabolism. Drawing analogies with biology and using metabolic maps, we present a systems analysis across-scales; from the Earth system down to the energy business purpose level. Our analysis shows energy directors and managers face unfavourable conditions that inhibit radical business model decisions consistent with safely achieving emission targets. One such condition is how the intensity of the Earth system feedback signal is significantly reduced by the time it arrives at the corporate decision-making level, primarily due to social information filters and corporate law. Secondly, the shareholder profit maximization purpose of companies is found to hold a systemic role in the energy business lock-in and may be incompatible with avoiding dangerous climate change. To achieve an energy transformation that safeguards Earth system resilience, our discussion suggests focusing on the intrinsic purpose and governance of the system, arguing that relying on external economic adjustments alone, such as carbon pricing, may help but could fall short of achieving the necessary shift. Fundamental Earth stewardship is needed from energy business actors. Like with nationally determined contributions (i.e. INDCs), a bottom-up approach to proposing contributions to climate-consistent business model pathways may facilitate the dialogue.

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Mimicking natural ecosystems to develop sustainable supply chains: A theory of socio-ecological intergradation

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Cited by 29 publications

References 111 publications

Extending the supply chain to address sustainability

Extending the supply chain to address sustainability

Balancing Socio-Efficiency and Resilience of Energy Provisioning on a Regional Level, Case Oulun Energia in Finland

Energy business transformation & Earth system resilience: A metabolic approach

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