Introduction

This chapter introduces the research goal, the methodology, and the book structure. Moreover, it positions the study in the research field of sustainable supply chain management, providing a brief introduction to the sustainability concept. According to Elkington’s (Cannibals with folks: the triple bottom line of twenty-first century business. New Society Publishers, 1998) conceptualization, sustainability encompasses three dimensions—economic, environmental, and social (triple bottom line—TBL). The economic dimension refers to practices designed with a view to the long-term economic development of a company or another entity; the environmental dimension is aimed at preserving and protecting the natural environment over time; and the social dimension focuses on the well-being of people and communities. The TBL perspective is the point of reference for comprehensive approaches to corporate sustainability and to supply chain sustainability.