Will Blockchain Save the World? : A qualitative study of how the implementation of blockchain technology in supply chains enables sustainable practices

Abstract: Today, supply chain is often complex with low transparency and traceability. This is causing environmental and social harm in lower tier levels of supply chains, which the focal firm will be held accountable for. In the light of this, focal firms are aspiring to become more sustainable, which includes sustainable practices in both primary and supportive activities. In order for organizations to achieve this, there is a need for higher transparency and traceability. An issue that can be solved by the implementation of blockchain technology. A blockchain allows transaction to be made without a third party which results in secured and verified information and thus increased transparency and traceability. Moreover, sustainability has moved to become imperative in organizations strategic decisions in recent years where Trippel Bottom Line is a common approach but current literature states that his approach often lack all dimensions in sustainability research. Making it clear that a broader view on sustainability is needed, which the UNs Global Goals has as it takes up different aspects including a more extensive view of the socioeconomic and environmental view of sustainability. The current literature is missing a more practical view of how the implementation of blockchain technology can help focal firms achieve the Global Goals. Thus, our study aims to answer the following research question: How can the application of blockchain technology in supply chain management help focal firms to achieve UNs Global Goals 12 and 13, by enabling transparency and traceability in supply chain networks?The purpose of this is study to understand how blockchain technology enables transparency and traceability in focal firms supply chains and how this can be applied when companies want to reach UNs Global Goals connected to responsible productionand consumption, and taking action against climate change, i.e., Global Goals 12 and 13.To answer our research question and fulfill the purpose, a qualitative study including eightsemi-structured interviews were conducted covering different themes related to the research question. Our findings shows that blockchain has several features that leads to transparency and traceability, namely, decentralized information sharing, secure information, verified information and enables better structures for communication within the supply chain. Thus, enables focal firms to act against climate change and promote sustainable consumption and production in theory supply chain. However, the findings show that to achieve the optimal outcome, this is dependent on the supply chain and its actors meeting certain criteria. These criterions include, the characteristics of the industry, the complexity of the supply chain, the costumers demand, the degree of adoption of the technology in the supply chain, the relationship between actors and supporting activities.This thesis theoretically contributes with further understating and a new logic of the connection between blockchain technology and sustainable supply chain management by showing that the transparency and traceability enabled by blockchain can help focal firms achieve sustainable practices by enabling decentralized, secure, and verified information. This facilitates a better structure for tracing carbon footprint and unethical production and working practices are made transparent. Further, the practical implication of this study is that the focal firms will get a better understanding and knowledge of the supply chain network and their production and consumption and making it easier to act against climate change. Lastly, the social implication of this study is that it facilitates a broader view on sustainability which includes the social dimension to a larger extent.