In an era of rising crises, businesses face multiple challenges and regulatory requirements aimed at enhancing sustainability while remaining resilient despite disruptions and shocks. The role of legislative frameworks varies significantly across regions, particularly between the European Union (EU) and China. Given the interconnectedness of the global economy and supply chains (SCs), legislation in one region can impact others. Against this backdrop, this thesis examines and compares the role of selected European and Chinese legislative frameworks on sustainability and their role on supply chain resilience (SCR). The analysis reveals that while the EU aims to strengthen sustainability through comprehensive, stringent and extraterritorial legislation, it also seeks to reduce critical dependencies to enhance its strategic autonomy, competitiveness and domestic market. Conversely, China’s strive for global leadership and its long-standing focus on resilience and long-term planning integrates sustainability within its economic strategies. Despite significant bilateral trade relations, geopolitical considerations increasingly outweigh purely economic interests in both regions, leading to progressive de-coupling. The study identifies synergies and conflicts between these goals, concluding that integrated, long-term strategies are essential to manage these trade-offs effectively. This research contributes to the current debate by providing insights for businesses and policymakers on developing adaptive strategies that ensure both sustainability and resilience in a globalized economy.
Outline
1 Introduction
2 Literature Review
2.1 Conceptual outlines
2.1.1 Sustainability and supply chain resilience
2.1.2 Legislation in the EU
2.1.2.1 Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive
2.1.2.2 EU Taxonomy Regulation
2.1.2.3 Circular Economy Action Plan
2.1.2.4 Critical Raw Materials Act
2.1.2.5 Sustainability and SCR in the European framework
2.1.3 Legislation in China
2.1.3.1 Environmental Protection Law
2.1.3.2 Green Bond Catalogue
2.1.3.3 Circular Economy Promotion Law
2.1.3.4 14th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development
2.1.3.5 Sustainability and SCR in the Chinese framework
2.2 Comparative analysis of the EU and China
2.2.1 EU’s approach to sustainability and SCR
2.2.2 Legislative impact on sustainability and SCR in the EU
2.2.3 China’s approach to sustainability and SCR
2.2.4 Legislative impact on sustainability and SCR in China
3 Future outlook of bilateral economic relations
3.1 Potential for consensus
3.2 Controversial debates
4 Discussion
4.1 Theoretical implications
4.2 Managerial implications
4.3 Limitations and further research
5 Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
This thesis examines and compares how legislative frameworks in the European Union and China address the intersection of sustainability and supply chain resilience. It explores the motivations behind selected policies, their practical implementations, and the broader economic, strategic, and geopolitical contexts shaping them, ultimately providing insights into how these regulations impact domestic economies and bilateral trade relations.
- Legislative strategies for sustainability and supply chain resilience
- Comparative analysis of EU and Chinese regulatory approaches
- Strategic autonomy and de-risking in globalized supply chains
- Trade-offs between sustainability initiatives and resilience goals
- Geopolitical implications for bilateral economic relations
Excerpt from the Book
2.1.1 Sustainability and supply chain resilience
The concept of sustainability was first introduced in The Ecologist’s 1972 publication, “A Blueprint for Survival” (Basiago, 1995, p. 109). While it is considered to emerge from practical examples within an existing normative framework, sustainability varies across societies and transcends rigid definitions (Brown et al., 1987; Ramsey, 2015). Nevertheless, the World Commission on Environment and Development’s publication, “Our Common Future” defines sustainability as the practice of managing resources in a manner that fulfills current needs without jeopardizing the capacity of future generations to satisfy theirs (Brundtland, 1987, p. 24). This notion of sustainability is acknowledged for its complexity and multifaceted nature, gaining significance in the realms of governance, policy discussions and business (Ahi & Searcy, 2015). In practical terms, sustainability initiatives have been guided by the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) theory, which emphasizes the three pivotal sustainability dimensions: environmental, economic, and societal (Burki et al., 2018). Driven by concerns over reputation, investor and society expectations and particularly by national and international regulations and policies, corporations are increasingly integrating social and environmental responsibility into their strategies and management systems (Werbach, 2009). Thus, sustainability has evolved into a crucial strategic perspective for industries, extending its influence beyond the confines of individual organizations to encompass their entire operations (Engert et al., 2016).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the multifaceted crises and challenges of the 21st century, establishing the importance of balancing sustainability with supply chain resilience.
2 Literature Review: This section defines the core concepts of sustainability and supply chain resilience, reviews the specific legislative frameworks in both the EU and China, and provides a comparative analysis of their respective approaches and legislative impacts.
3 Future outlook of bilateral economic relations: This chapter analyzes the consensus and controversial debates currently shaping the economic relationship between the EU and China.
4 Discussion: This section details the theoretical and managerial implications of the research, acknowledging limitations and suggesting areas for future study.
5 Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes the thesis, highlighting the differing but pivotal roles of legislative frameworks in both regions and the need for adaptive strategies.
Keywords
Sustainability, Supply Chain Resilience (SCR), European Union, China, Legislation, Green Deal, Circular Economy, Dual Circulation, Strategic Autonomy, De-risking, Environmental Protection Law, Critical Raw Materials Act, Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, Geopolitics, Supply Chains
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research examines the relationship between sustainability and supply chain resilience through the lens of legislative frameworks in the EU and China, exploring how these regulations influence strategic decisions in a globalized economy.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Central themes include the comparative analysis of EU and Chinese environmental legislation, the impact of these laws on supply chain resilience, the geopolitical context of bilateral trade, and the strategic shift toward economic autonomy.
What is the primary goal of this dissertation?
The goal is to analyze the role of legislative frameworks in both regions, identifying synergies and conflicts between sustainability and resilience objectives, and providing insights for businesses and policymakers.
Which methodology is employed?
The thesis utilizes a comparative analysis approach based on an extensive literature review, including government documents, legislative texts, case studies, and academic papers.
What is addressed in the main part of the thesis?
The main part provides an in-depth review of EU regulations (such as CSRD and CRMA) and Chinese frameworks (such as the EPL and 14th FYP), followed by an analysis of the consensus and tensions in bilateral economic relations.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include Sustainability, Supply Chain Resilience, European Union, China, Strategic Autonomy, De-risking, and Circular Economy.
How does China's "dual circulation" strategy influence supply chains?
China's "dual circulation" strategy aims to prioritize domestic markets and internal production to reduce dependence on foreign markets, thereby shifting the focus of its economic planning to enhance national supply chain security.
What is the "Brussels effect" mentioned in the research?
The "Brussels effect" refers to the passive extension of EU regulatory standards beyond its borders, as the EU acts as a "global regulatory power" by setting high sustainability standards that non-EU entities must often adopt to remain competitive.
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- Anonymous (Autor:in), 2024, The role of policies and regulations on sustainability and their role towards supply chain resilience, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1683858
