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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how big-picture sustainability strategies are translated into tangible product development efforts. The authors assert that most sustainable products currently remain confined to niche markets and do not permeate the mainstream. The authors propose that there is a missing link between strategic sustainability goals and operational product development initiatives. The authors establish a path to bridging this gap.Design/methodology/approachThe manuscript is based on a qualitative research design with a sample of 32 companies. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews with product developers as well as secondary data analysis.FindingsThe authors delineate three empirically derived approaches firms from the sample pursue to develop sustainable products. The authors identify a phenomenon that the authors' call the fallacy of trickle-down product sustainability. The authors find that only one of the three approaches – codification – is equipped to successfully turn strategic sustainability targets into authentic sustainable products.Practical implicationsThis study provides an actionable guide to executives and product developers with respect to bridging the gap between often elusive sustainability aspirations and tangible product improvements via the process of rigorous codification.Originality/valueThis study provides a novel and unique perspective into strategy, sustainability and product development. The authors synthesize the extant literature on sustainable product development, juxtapose the emergent structure with primary interview data, and elaborate the resource-based view (RBV) to provide theoretical and practical implications. The authors establish scalability as the missing RBV capability of many attempts toward mass–market compatibility of more sustainable products.

Nachhaltigere Produkte sind ein zentraler Aspekt einer zukunftsfähigen Wirtschaft. In der vorliegenden Dissertation wird untersucht, wie Konsumgüterproduzenten mit der unscharfen Zielvorgabe "nachhaltig" in ihrem Produktentwicklungsprozesses umgehen. Dazu werden die Ergebnisse einer qualitativen Studie basierend auf Interviews mit 32 Produktentwicklungsverantwortlichen sowie einer quantitativen Experimentalstudie zur Untersuchung von Konsumentenreaktionen auf Entwicklungspraktiken zusammengefasst. Es zeigt sich unter anderem, dass viele Firmen keine kohärente Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie verfolgen. Aus den Ergebnissen werden Empfehlungen für eine Optimierung des Produktentwicklungsprozesses abgeleitet.

Blockchain is an emerging technology concept that could be a tool to solve end-to-end integration of material and information flow in supply chain and logistics (SC&L). In this book, you can find three complementary studies on the adoption of Blockchain solutions in SC&L: (1) an analysis of existing use cases in the literature, (2) a 153-response survey outlining expectations for Blockchain in SC&L, and (3) an exploratory, qualitative Grounded Theory study that derives observations on adoption motivations, paths, barriers, and learnings. Blockchain solutions could become a valuable infrastructure tool for SC&L aligning supply chain partners worldwide.

Blockchain is an emerging technology concept that could be a tool to solve end-to-end integration of material and information flow in supply chain and logistics (SC&L). In this book, you can find three complementary studies on the adoption of Blockchain solutions in SC&L: (1) an analysis of existing use cases in the literature, (2) a 153-response survey outlining expectations for Blockchain in SC&L, and (3) an exploratory, qualitative Grounded Theory study that derives observations on adoption motivations, paths, barriers, and learnings. Blockchain solutions could become a valuable infrastructure tool for SC&L aligning supply chain partners worldwide.

Evidence is mounting to suggest that there is a global shortage of people with the right skills to meet the evolving needs of the logistics industry. Especially emerging regions are lagging behind, inhibiting economic growth. Thus, governments should systematically assess and address skills shortages in logistics. Commissioned by the World Bank, we devised a toolkit for assessing the availability of logistics skills within low- and middle-income countries. We built on the maturity model concept and embedded it into an assessment and policy recommendation process. An international panel of logistics training experts provided advice on the toolkit development. The toolkit allows government officials and staff from international organizations to gain a quick but comprehensive overview of the logistics skills and training situation in a particular country. A pilot study done in Togo demonstrated the toolkit's relevance and practicality. The toolkit is the first of its type to help governments undertake a systematic analysis of logistics skills and training at the macro level. Previous research in this area takes a micro-level perspective focusing on the logistics workforce of individual companies.

Nachhaltigere Produkte sind ein zentraler Aspekt einer zukunftsfähigen Wirtschaft. In der vorliegenden Dissertation wird untersucht, wie Konsumgüterproduzenten mit der unscharfen Zielvorgabe "nachhaltig" in ihrem Produktentwicklungsprozesses umgehen. Dazu werden die Ergebnisse einer qualitativen Studie basierend auf Interviews mit 32 Produktentwicklungsverantwortlichen sowie einer quantitativen Experimentalstudie zur Untersuchung von Konsumentenreaktionen auf Entwicklungspraktiken zusammengefasst. Es zeigt sich unter anderem, dass viele Firmen keine kohärente Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie verfolgen. Aus den Ergebnissen werden Empfehlungen für eine Optimierung des Produktentwicklungsprozesses abgeleitet.