5d. Sustainable Value Chains and Trade
Who we are?
G. Shainesh
Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, India shaineshg@iimb.ac.in
Cecilia Soler
University of Gothenburg, Sweden cecilia.soler@handels.gu.se
Goals and Objectives
Global trade serves as a catalyst for inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction, playing a vital role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, the pursuit of cost optimization—driven by businesses seeking offshore procurement advantages and consumers demanding affordable products—often generates significant social and environmental externalities through extended, energy-intensive supply chains.
Sustainable value chains offer a pathway for businesses to harmonize economic, social, and environmental objectives. Leading organizations are increasingly transitioning toward sustainable practices to address persistent societal and environmental challenges. Simultaneously, heightened consumer awareness of climate change is driving demand for ethical and sustainable products, creating both market opportunities and imperatives for transformation.
This track seeks to advance scholarly understanding of how sustainable value chains can be designed, implemented, and scaled to achieve meaningful impact while maintaining economic viability.
Topics of Interest
We invite submissions addressing (but not limited to) the following themes:
- Innovations in sustainable value chain design and management
- Digital transformation: Applications of AI, blockchain, IoT, drones, and robotics in enabling sustainability
- Market-based governance mechanisms: Certifications, direct sourcing, corporate brand initiatives, and public-private partnerships for multi-stakeholder engagement
- Environmental commitments: Zero-deforestation pledges, circular economy models, and regenerative practices
- Green supply chain strategies: Carbon footprint reduction, renewable energy integration, and sustainable logistics
- Collaborative ecosystems: Networks and partnerships among NGOs, businesses, and governments
- Consumer behavior: Emerging trends in sustainable consumption and their influence on corporate strategy
- Trade policy and regulation: Impact of sustainability standards on international trade flows
- Measurement and accountability: Frameworks for assessing and reporting value chain sustainability performance
Publication Opportunities
Depending on the quality and thematic coherence of accepted papers, the track chairs will explore opportunities for a journal special issue. Authors of high-quality contributions will be invited to develop their work for publication consideration. For inquiries about publication prospects or track-specific questions, please contact the Track Chairs directly.
State of Art
Still after three UN Conferences on Sustainable Development we are increasingly facing major persistent threats, like poverty, food insecurity, climate change, ecosystems degradation, which despite being known for a few decades are still far away from being solved – or are even still increasing. the level of individual business, this has four major implications [read more].
Recommended Sources
The top useful sources are the following:
1) Full details about the growing number of voluntary sustainability standards can be found on the ITC Sustainability Map
2) ISEAL Alliance maintains a database of publications on impacts of certification.
3) Look at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network on Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems; and on Redefining the Role of Business.
4) Useful courses available at the UN SDG Academy; see for example “Globalization: past and future”.
5) MSI Integrity has created a MSI Database, a searchable, online overview of the landscape of transnational, standard-setting MultiSItakeholder Initiatives.