shared.value.chain: Profitable Growth Through Sustainable Value Creation

Abstract

The question, how companies can integrate sustainability into their core business, is gaining more and more traction in the public debate. In order to answer the question, one should consider that sustainability can only be real, if it coming from inside an organisation. A companies strategy is manifested in their value chain, ie. in the products that are created and the global supply chains, that are operated. The value chain is therefore the biggest lever for change towards a sustainable future. Sustainable value chain management syndicates the areas of CSR, product development and supply chain management into a coherent concept, that is able to create economic, ecologic and societal value. This article describes the conception and buidling blocks of sustainable value chain management. A framework of reference is created which serves as a base for strategic goal setting, implementation and measuring sustainable value creation in companies, NGOs and public institutions.