Sustainable development considerations in supply chains: Firms' relationships with stakeholders in their business sustainability practices—A triangular comparison

• Published in: Business strategy and the environment 2023-05, Vol.32 (4), p.1885-1899
• Main Authors: Andersson, Svante, Svensson, Göran, Otero‐Neira, Carmen, Laurell, Hélène, Lindgren, John, Karlsson, Niklas P. E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: business sustainability; Companies; Networks; Questionnaires; stakeholder engagement; Stakeholders; Supply; supply chain; supply chain management; Supply chains; Sustainability; Sustainable development; Sustainable practices; Sweden
• ISSN: 0964-4733; 1099-0836; 1099-0836
• DOI: 10.1002/bse.3225

This study aims to investigate focal firms' business sustainability relationships in connection with their stakeholders in supply chain networks. A questionnaire survey was sent to a sample consisting of large Swedish firms, with 107 usable questionnaires returned. The results reveal which stakeholders are of interest for firms in sustainability efforts. The results are compared with earlier findings from Norway and Spain in a triangular approach. The former is a similar country, while the latter is different to Sweden in several ways. In addition, the study uncovers which stakeholders in the supply chain network should be considered. The study also demonstrates how firms can implement business sustainability in their supply chain networks and shows the extent to which different stakeholders are considered in sustainability efforts. The study contributes to sustainability research and stakeholder theory in supply chain networks. Opposite to earlier findings, this study showed only minor influences from national culture and institutions on firms' sustainable business practices in supply chain networks.