Multi-tier sustainable supply chain management - learning from the minerals case

Book excerpt: Taking a theory elaboration approach, this dissertation is composed of four research papers that aim to drive multi-tier sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) theory forward. The papers encompass first a literature review on the current status of knowledge on SSCM and sustainability in mineral supply chains. Second, a Delphi study on sustainability issues in multi-tier mineral supply chains as well as their management. Third, a document review of sustainability standards for mineral resources showcasing the potential synergies of sustainability standards and sustainable supply chains and finally a generic conceptual study on the selection of multi-tier SSCM approaches considering institutional differences of focal firm and supplier context. In effect, the dissertation offers a number of mainly conceptual and literature based propositions for an alteration of the current multi-tier SSCM theory as well as the approaches to enhance the sustainability in mineral supply chains. Future research can build on these propositions and provide empirical validation in order to further enhance the propositions’ relevance for theory and praxis.