Circular Value & Supply Chains, Regional Development, and Multi-Level Policy Dynamics

Global Value Chains (GVCs) are fundamental in today’s economy accounting for 50% of global trade and having tremendous social and environmental impacts. However, low cost and regulatory conditions have been the main drivers for GVCs. This project, thus, addresses a critical but hitherto neglected requirement for the Agenda2030, namely the transition from global to circular value chains, the latter being by design restorative and regenerative. We study such transitions from the perspective of i) large companies (IKEA and Tetra Pak) and their existing GVCs, ii) local experimentation in places where these firms are influential, and iii) multi-level policy as mediator for the transformation of GVCs. This project is important because transformative initiatives are often designed and studied from one of these perspectives, thus failing to capture the interactions between various actors within local, regional, national, and global systems, as well as their potential international repercussions. Furthermore, GVCs and large firms may accelerate sustainability transformations with the pitfalls, however, of solutionism and democratic shortcomings. We draw upon our in-depth knowledge of and networks in industry and with policymakers at regional, national and EU levels. Involving key stakeholders, we create strong impact and further strengthen Lund University’s role as knowledge curator.