The pursuit of Transparency within Supply Chains : A study of how Transparency influences Sustainability within the Swedish Dairy Supply Chain

Abstract: The unrevealing scandals in the Swedish dairy industry demonstrate severe deficits in terms of animal keeping. Given the advanced code of conduct and sustainability standards presented by Swedish dairy corporations, confusion has arisen, and the demand for transparency within the supply chain has increased. Here is where the concept of transparency becomes relevant and vital. This thesis aims to examine the linkage between transparency and sustainability within dairy supply chains. Further, the aim is to investigate transparency within the supply chain and if and how it influences sustainability within the Swedish dairy industry. This study follows an interpretive research paradigm based on multiple case studies. The approach follows a deductive approach and qualitative method, conducted by semi-structured interviews with different actors along the Swedish dairy supply chain. The main findings of this study show that transparency and sustainability appear to be interrelated. However, as transparency seems to be time and money-consuming, it might emerge in added barriers and complexity in the implementation. Despite this, transparency occurs to prevent any disclosure of information that displays a relation between visibility and trustworthiness.