Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the potential of technologies for traceability within the Swedish textile recycling industry. This study further aims to investigate the status of information collection and management in the textile recycling industry and the factors which are affecting the implementation of different traceability technologies, such as blockchain technology.   Design/ Methodology/ Approach: This study followed a qualitative exploratory approach as there is little prior knowledge regarding usage of traceability technologies, such as blockchain technology in the Swedish textile recycling industry. Primary data was collected by semi-structured interviews, and it was analysed through thematic analysis. Purposive sampling was used to collect relevant data. The sample included experts from the academia and industry, who have knowledge in the field of textile recycling and traceability technologies.   Findings: The findings suggest that there is no available information collection and management systems that enable efficient recycling processes. Moreover, there is a lack of infrastructure for collecting and sorting the textile waste, cost and technological challenges hampering the potential of efficient textile recycling and the possibility to create an efficient circular supply chain in Sweden. There are four factors which affect the opportunities and challenges for implementation of traceability technologies, such as blockchain technology, these are: management and decision making, integration and collaboration, rules and regulations and value creation through blockchain in the textile recycling industry.   Implications: This study may contribute to reshaping the traditional view on where traceability technologies can be implemented to create efforts to enhance the circular economy principles, as suggested by literature from the previous stages in a supply chain. This study suggests that blockchain technology may enhance information sharing in a circular supply chain within the textile recycling industry. It further shows that the textile recyclers have the potential to implement blockchain technology from their stage to minimise the information gaps which are currently existing.   Originality/ Value: The academic literature lacks practical cases and exploration regarding the usage of traceability technologies such as blockchain technology at the textile recycling stage and this study tries to explore if it would be beneficial for the textile recycling industry in Sweden.

Society is dependent processes that emit greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The accumulation of these gases in the atmosphere prevents sunlight reflected from earth’s surface to get to space thereby warming the earth and causing climate change. To prevent the effects of adverse climate change, the voluntary carbon market was designed to help buyers, individuals or organizations that cannot avoid emission in their process, purchase carbon credits from sellers, entities whose process prevent or avoid carbon emissions. The voluntary carbon market faces challenges like market fragmentation, opacity of records, and delayed processes due to layers of intermediation and double counting. In an attempt to solve these challenges, blockchain, a ledger technology, has been applied by innovative organizations. This thesis researches the possible roles of trading carbon credits using blockchain based platforms in the voluntary carbon market. Furthermore, this thesis focuses secondarily on how the application could increase supply of carbon credits, influence commitment to net-zero, contribute to production of high-quality carbon credits, and promote fairness in carbon trading. A conceptual framework based upon the Oxford Principles for Carbon Offsetting, Taskforce for Scaling the Voluntary Carbon Market (TSVCM), and the Sustainability Principles was used in this study. Seven organizations were investigated in this study through a first phase of interview and a second phase of survey.The findings suggest that blockchain-enabled carbon trading has the potential to enable market growth, foster systems interactions and transition via information technology, and support opportunities for sustainability in the socio-ecological system. Blockchain also inherits the unsustainability of the overall tech and energy sectors wherein it operates. Weak governance systems off-chain from non-disclosures by market players also risk the market system on-chain to vulnerabilities. The authors conclude that trading carbon credit on blockchain-enabled platforms is a step in the right direction in terms of amplifying the contributions the voluntary carbon markets hold for cutting down carbon emissions. They also acknowledge that the blockchain-carbon credit application does not directly address upstream issues of carbon emission but serves as a mechanism to accelerate decarbonization.

This research examines the implementation process of blockchain technology and aims to identify prerequisites needed for this process. The study has been conducted through a case study at a Fair Trade handloom firm in Sri Lanka. Data has been collected through observations and semi-structured interviews with blockchain experts and employees at the case firm. The result is analysed through the TOE-framework. This research primary findings is divided into two categories, knowledge and willingness. Knowledge refers to usage of technical systems, awareness of how the firm's supply chain is built and knowledge of blockchain technology. Willingness refers to the ambition for constant improvement which is the crucial prerequisite for actually implementing blockchain technology. The firm’s knowledge and willingness to implement blockchain technology are the first stages of moving from Fair Trade certification to blockchain integration.

Деятельность любого промышленного предприятия тесно связано с необходимостью транспортировки грузов. На сегодняшний день процесс доставки грузов осложняется: низкой скоростью логистического цикла; долгим документооборотом и наличием в нём ошибок; сохранностью груза. В ходе научного исследования обоснована возможность применения технологии блокчейн в совершенствовании эффективности транспортно-логистической системы. Однако, универсальный метод внедрения этой технологии на промышленных предприятиях отсутствует. Цель магистерской диссертации заключается в обосновании необходимости внедрения технологии блокчейн в систему транспортной логистики промышленного предприятия. Анализ основывался на изучении научно-периодической литературы, изучении существующих методик исследования и зарубежного опыта внедрения технологии блокчейн в практику её применение на предприятиях. В качестве источников информации использовались нормативно-правовые акты, база публикаций Российского индекса научного цитирования, представленная на ресурсе Elibrary и внутренние документы исследуемого предприятия. Выявленные преимущества технологии блокчейн позволяют обеспечить единое информационное поле для логистической цепи. Использование технологии позволяет построить новую упорядоченную систему передачи информации между участниками логистических цепочек. Данная схема передачи информации может быть осуществлена в рамках авторского подхода, особенностью которого является то, что он включает: модель внедрения технологии блокчейн в систему транспортной логистики предприятия; разработанную автором модель взаимодействия факторов снижения трансформационно-трансакционных затрат; комплекс показателей эффективности процессов транспортной и информационной логистики, а также показатели качества транспортно-логистических систем. По результатам апробации эффективность представлена: через изменение общего показателя эффективности процессов информационной и транспортной логистики; в виде экономии на затратах путём совершенствования процессов системы транспортной логистики на основе технологии блокчейн. Таким образом, экономия на затратах в виде: аренды от простоя вагонов, потери от хранения готовой продукции на складе и вне склада. Таким образом, предложен подход к внедрению технологии блокчейн в системе транспортной логистики предприятия, обеспечивающий единое информационное поле, включающий авторскую модель взаимодействия факторов снижения трансформационно-трансакционных затрат и позволяющий повысить эффективность транспортно-логистический услуг. / The activity of any industrial enterprise is closely connected with the need to transport goods. To date, the process of delivery of goods is complicated by: low speed of the logistics cycle; long document flow and the presence of errors in it; safety of cargo. In the course of the research, the possibility of using blockchain technology to improve the efficiency of the transport and logistics system has been substantiated. However, there is no universal method for introducing this technology in industrial enterprises. The purpose of the master's thesis is to justify the introduction of blockchain technology into the transport logistics system of an industrial enterprise. The analysis was based on the study of scientifically-periodical literature, the study of existing research methods and foreign experience in implementing the blockchain technology into practice its application in enterprises. The sources of information were the regulatory legal acts, the base of publications of the Russian Science Citation Index, presented on the Elibrary resource and internal documents of the enterprise under study. The identified advantages of the blockchain technology allow us to provide a single information field for the logistics chain. The use of technology allows you to build a new orderly system of information transfer between participants in the supply chains. This scheme of information transfer can be carried out within the framework of the author's approach, a feature of which is that it includes: a model for the introduction of blockchain technology into the enterprise's logistics system; a model developed by the author for the interaction of factors reducing transformational transaction costs; a set of indicators of efficiency of transport and information logistics processes, as well as indicators of the quality of transport and logistics systems. According to the results of approbation, the efficiency is presented: through a change in the overall indicator of the efficiency of information and transport logistics processes; in the form of cost savings by improving the processes of the transport logistics system based on blockchain technology. Thus, the cost savings in the form of: rent from idle wagons, losses from storage of finished products in the warehouse and outside the warehouse. Thus, the proposed approach to the introduction of the blockchain technology in the company's transportation logistics system provides a unified information field, including the author’s model of interaction of factors reducing the transformational-transactional costs and improving the efficiency of transport and logistics services.

[pt] Em virtude do desenvolvimento do agronegócio no setor econômico, o Brasil é um dos países com o maior consumo de agrotóxicos desde 2008. O risco de problemas de saúde de curto, médio e longo prazo, a depender do componente químico utilizado e do tempo de exposição ao produto, é enorme e segundo a Organização Internacional do Trabalho (OIT), esses produtos químicos causam 70 mil intoxicações agudas e crônicas anualmente, inclusive evoluindo para óbito, em países em desenvolvimento. Ressalta-se, portanto, a importância da aplicação de técnicas e métodos que contribuam para uma modalidade de agricultura sustentável que respeite aspectos sociais, ambientais e econômicos no processo da modernização e desenvolvimento da agricultura. A inovadora tecnologia blockchain, conhecida também como “protocolo de confiança”, resulta em esperança para produtores e consumidores orgânicos, diante de diversos problemas relacionados à demanda por maior clareza e informação sobre o cultivo do alimento, a rastreabilidade do produto, a procedência do selo orgânico, dentre outros desafios. Desta forma, o presente trabalho teve como foco principal o desenvolvimento de um vídeo direcionado aos produtores orgânicos, demonstrandoos benefícios do sistema blockchain para a cadeia de produção de orgânicos, evidenciando a potencialidade dessa tecnologia na agricultura orgânica, a fim de oferecer aos produtores orgânicos e aos consumidores, um nível notável de conhecimento sobre a cadeia de produção e fornecimento do produto, favorecendo a inovação e o bem-estar social e econômico, inclusive em assuntos relacionados ao combate as mudanças climáticas. / [en] Due to the development of agribusiness in the economic sector, Brazil is one of the countries with the highest consumption of pesticides since 2008. The risk of short, medium and long-term health problems, depending on the chemical component used and the time of exposure to the product, is enormous and according to the International Labor Organization (ILO), these chemicals cause 70,000 acute intoxications and chronic diseases annually, including progressing to death, in developing countries. Therefore, the importance of applying techniques and methods that contribute to a sustainable agriculture modality that respects social, environmental and economic aspects in the process of modernization and development of agriculture is highlighted.The innovative blockchain technology, also known as the “trust protocol”, brings hope for organic producers and consumers, in the face of several problems related to the demand for greater clarity and information about food cultivation, product traceability , the origin of the organic seal, among other challenges. In this way, the present work focused on the development of a video aimed at organic producers, demonstrating the benefits of the blockchain system for the organic production chain, highlighting the potential of this technology in organic agriculture, in order to offer organic producers and consumers, a remarkable level of knowledge about the production and supply chain of the product, favoring innovation and social and economic well-being, including in matters related to combating climate change.

Circular Economy has gained a lot of interest by academia as well as companies and policymakers. Sustainability goals of the European Union has mainly caused this acceleration. However, research argued that the true impact and scale of CE will only be realized when companies deploy Circular Business Models (CBMs) and Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies in a holistic manner to capture new growth opportunities while also strengthening their core business. Especially digital technologies are seen as one of the key enablers for that transition and have become a central topic within the CE research agenda. This research looked at the potential role Blockchain technology can play in the transition towards Circular Economy of the Swedish Furniture Industry based on the identified challenges it currently faces. Based on the combination of literature - and empirical research, there can be concluded that the role of Blockchain technology in the transformation towards CE in the Swedish Furniture Industry is less significant than first anticipated. Based on the empirical findings, there can be concluded that the key driver of Blockchain technology is an environment where there is a systemic lack of trust related to transactions and data between different parties. In such circumstances, Blockchain technology does imply significantly added value due to its inherent features of decentralization, irreversibility, and transparency without the need for intermediary third parties. Circular economy can be seen as an ecosystem that consist of a complex network with different actors that all need certain information to effectively participate. Based on this research, the prominent implication for Blockchain technology in the Swedish Furniture Industry has been found in the current discussed European Union Product Passport in combination with the chemical regulation. Blockchain technology could play a prominent role in the aftermarket by enabling trust, transparency, and irreversibility. In this way all actors in the Circular Economy can use and contribute to the data in a uniform manner. / Cirkulär ekonomi har rönt stort intresse inom den akademiska världen samt bland företag och beslutsfattare. Det är främst Europeiska unionens hållbarhetsmål som har orsakat denna acceleration. Forskningen har dock visat att den verkliga effekten och omfattningen av den cirkulära ekonomin kommer att förverkligas först när företagen använder cirkulära affärsmodeller (CBM) och tekniker från den fjärde industriella revolutionen på ett holistiskt sätt för att ta tillvara nya tillväxtmöjligheter samtidigt som de stärker sin kärnverksamhet. Särskilt den digitala tekniken ses som en av de viktigaste faktorerna för denna övergång och har blivit en central fråga på forskningsagendan för CE. I denna forskning undersöktes vilken potentiell roll blockkedjetekniken kan spela i den svenska möbelindustrins övergång till cirkulär ekonomi utifrån de identifierade utmaningar som den för närvarande står inför. Baserat på kombinationen av litteratur - och empirisk forskning kan man dra slutsatsen att blockkedjeteknologins roll i omställningen till CE i den svenska möbelindustrin är mindre betydande än vad man först trodde. På grundval av de empiriska resultaten kan man dra slutsatsen att den viktigaste drivkraften för blockkedjetekniken är en miljö där det finns en systematisk brist på förtroende i samband med transaktioner och data mellan olika parter. Under sådana omständigheter innebär blockkedjetekniken ett betydande mervärde på grund av dess inneboende egenskaper i form av decentralisering, irreversibilitet och öppenhet utan behov av tredje part som mellanhand. Den cirkulära ekonomin kan ses som ett ekosystem som består av ett komplext nätverk med olika aktörer som alla behöver viss information för att effektivt kunna delta. Baserat på denna forskning har den framträdande implikationen för blockkedjetekniken i den svenska möbelindustrin hittats i det för närvarande diskuterade Europeiska unionens produktpass i kombination med kemikalieförordningen. Blockkedjetekniken skulle kunna spela en betydande roll för att möjliggöra förtroende, transparens och oåterkallelighet. På så sätt kan alla aktörer i den cirkulära ekonomin använda och bidra till data på ett enhetligt sätt.

Circular Economy has gained a lot of interest by academia as well as companies and policymakers. Sustainability goals of the European Union has mainly caused this acceleration. However, research argued that the true impact and scale of CE will only be realized when companies deploy Circular Business Models (CBMs) and Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies in a holistic manner to capture new growth opportunities while also strengthening their core business. Especially digital technologies are seen as one of the key enablers for that transition and have become a central topic within the CE research agenda. This research looked at the potential role Blockchain technology can play in the transition towards Circular Economy of the Swedish Furniture Industry based on the identified challenges it currently faces. Based on the combination of literature - and empirical research, there can be concluded that the role of Blockchain technology in the transformation towards CE in the Swedish Furniture Industry is less significant than first anticipated. Based on the empirical findings, there can be concluded that the key driver of Blockchain technology is an environment where there is a systemic lack of trust related to transactions and data between different parties. In such circumstances, Blockchain technology does imply significantly added value due to its inherent features of decentralization, irreversibility, and transparency without the need for intermediary third parties. Circular economy can be seen as an ecosystem that consist of a complex network with different actors that all need certain information to effectively participate. Based on this research, the prominent implication for Blockchain technology in the Swedish Furniture Industry has been found in the current discussed European Union Product Passport in combination with the chemical regulation. Blockchain technology could play a prominent role in the aftermarket by enabling trust, transparency, and irreversibility. In this way all actors in the Circular Economy can use and contribute to the data in a uniform manner. / Cirkulär ekonomi har rönt stort intresse inom den akademiska världen samt bland företag och beslutsfattare. Det är främst Europeiska unionens hållbarhetsmål som har orsakat denna acceleration. Forskningen har dock visat att den verkliga effekten och omfattningen av den cirkulära ekonomin kommer att förverkligas först när företagen använder cirkulära affärsmodeller (CBM) och tekniker från den fjärde industriella revolutionen på ett holistiskt sätt för att ta tillvara nya tillväxtmöjligheter samtidigt som de stärker sin kärnverksamhet. Särskilt den digitala tekniken ses som en av de viktigaste faktorerna för denna övergång och har blivit en central fråga på forskningsagendan för CE. I denna forskning undersöktes vilken potentiell roll blockkedjetekniken kan spela i den svenska möbelindustrins övergång till cirkulär ekonomi utifrån de identifierade utmaningar som den för närvarande står inför. Baserat på kombinationen av litteratur - och empirisk forskning kan man dra slutsatsen att blockkedjeteknologins roll i omställningen till CE i den svenska möbelindustrin är mindre betydande än vad man först trodde. På grundval av de empiriska resultaten kan man dra slutsatsen att den viktigaste drivkraften för blockkedjetekniken är en miljö där det finns en systematisk brist på förtroende i samband med transaktioner och data mellan olika parter. Under sådana omständigheter innebär blockkedjetekniken ett betydande mervärde på grund av dess inneboende egenskaper i form av decentralisering, irreversibilitet och öppenhet utan behov av tredje part som mellanhand. Den cirkulära ekonomin kan ses som ett ekosystem som består av ett komplext nätverk med olika aktörer som alla behöver viss information för att effektivt kunna delta. Baserat på denna forskning har den framträdande implikationen för blockkedjetekniken i den svenska möbelindustrin hittats i det för närvarande diskuterade Europeiska unionens produktpass i kombination med kemikalieförordningen. Blockkedjetekniken skulle kunna spela en betydande roll för attmöjliggöra förtroende, transparens och oåterkallelighet. På så sätt kan alla aktörer i den cirkulära ekonomin använda och bidra till data på ett enhetligt sätt.

Företag ställs inför ständiga utmaningar när nya teknologier introduceras, vilket kräver strategiska beslut och anpassningar. Historiskt sett har innovationer som olika ERP-system revolutionerat företags verksamhetsstyrning och Supply Chain Management (SCM). Sedan 1990-talet har SCM utvecklats med förbättrad informationsteknologi, vilket har lett till mer integrerade och effektiva processer genom informationsdelning och minskad lagerhållning. Idag handlar det även mycket om säkerhet. Blockkedjetekniken är en av de senaste innovationerna som skapar diskussioner inom SCM. Den erbjuder ett decentraliserat nätverk för säker och transparent hantering av transaktioner utan en tredje part. Trots dess potential står tekniken inför flera hinder, såsom komplexiteten i att integrera blockkedjor med befintliga system och höga initiala kostnader. Tidigare forskning har visat att tekniken inte är prövad av många företag. Syftet med arbetet är att undersöka olika företags inställning gentemot tillämpningen av blockkedjetekniken inom försörjningskedjor, därför har vi applicerat semistrukturerade intervjuer med företag inom olika branscher. Genom datainsamling har djupgående insikter erhållits om företagsperspektiv på blockkedjeteknikens implementering. Utifrån det har det identifierats hinder mot blockkedjetekniken som lagkrav på fysisk dokumentation, brist på kunskap och kompetens, samt ekonomiska överväganden. Forskningen bidrar till informatikämnet genom att utforska varför företag inte implementerat ny teknik, som blockkedjor, i sina försörjningskedjor. / Companies face challenges when new technologies are introduced, requiring strategic decisions and adjustments. Historically, innovations such as various ERP-systems have revolutionized enterprise management and Supply Chain Management (SCM). Since the 1990s, SCM has evolved with improved IT, leading to more integrated and efficient processes. Security is also a significant concern. Blockchain technology is a hot topic in SCM. It offers a decentralized network for secure and transparent transaction management without a third party. Despite its potential, the technology faces several obstacles, such as the complexity of integrating blockchains with existing systems and high initial costs. Previous research has shown that the technology is not widely tested and implemented. The purpose of this study is to examine various attitudes towards the adaptation of blockchain technology in supply chains. Thereby, we have applied semi-structured interviews with companies in various industries. Through data collection, insights have been obtained about companies' perspectives on the implementation of blockchain technology. From this, obstacles to blockchain technology have been identified, such as legal requirements for physical documentation, lack of knowledge, and economic considerations. The research contributes to the field of informatics by exploring why companies have not implemented new technologies, such as blockchains, in their supply chains.

[pt] O objetivo deste trabalho é investigar como o uso da tecnologia blockchain pode ajudar a inovar o Carnaval no Rio de Janeiro. A pesquisa de natureza exploratória foi realizada através de entrevistas com pessoas da área de tecnologia. Foram investigadas as aplicações e possibilidades da tecnologia blockchain para inovar a experiência do Carnaval carioca, com foco nos desfiles das escolas do Grupo Especial e Série Ouro. Dentre os principais resultados pode-se destacar que a tecnologia blockchain pode oferecer uma série de vantagens na venda de ingressos, na verificação de identidade, rastreamento de ativos, gerenciamento de pagamentos, votação e participação do público, compartilhamento de conteúdo, avaliação de desempenho, registro de patrocínios e parcerias, gerenciamento de filas e controle de acesso, tanto para os participantes quanto para os organizadores. De acordo com a pesquisa, os maiores desafios são o custo elevado, a necessidade de infraestrutura adequada, a falta de regulamentação, a falta de programas educacionais, a falta de conhecimento e compreensão sobre seus benefícios e aplicabilidade pode gerar resistência a sua adoção. / [en] The objective of this work is to investigate how blockchain technology can innovate the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Conducted through interviews with technology sector professionals, this exploratory research explored blockchain technology s applications and possibilities for innovating the Rio Carnival experience, with a focus on the parades of the Special Group and Gold Series schools. The main findings highlight that blockchain technology can provide numerous advantages in ticket sales, identity verification, asset tracking, payment management, voting and public engagement, content sharing, performance evaluation, record of sponsorships and partnerships, queue management, and access control for both participants and organizers. The research identifies the major challenges as high costs, the need for proper infrastructure, lack of regulation, absence of educational programs, and insufficient knowledge and understanding of its benefits and applicability, which may create resistance to its adoption.

Creating standardized infrastructures for new technologies has become a frequent event in recent years, forcing competing firms to together collaborate in order to develop and mutually agree on a common standard. This is due to technologies such as blockchain (distributed ledger) technology that need interoperability to reach its full potential, making the collaboration aspect crucial for organizations that want to adapt to the technology. Therefore, this study’s purpose is to identify and analyze the challenges of creating such a standardized infrastructure. A case study was used to analyze these challenges, which involved experts of blockchain technology and three Nordic banks connected to the blockchain consortium R3. First, a pre-study took place with the help of blockchain experts, who helped identify potential problems regarding blockchain (distributed ledger) technology. Secondly, a main study was conducted consisting of four interviews with key persons representing the banks, in addition to collecting secondary data via news articles, and press releases. With the help of co-opetition theory and a technical description of blockchain (distributed ledger) technology, an analytical model was developed to support the analysis of the data collection. The analysis focus on aspects of co-opetition drivers, co-opetition capabilities, co-opetition dynamics and blockchain aspects, which were used to showcase the challenges of collaborating on creating a standardized infrastructure. The result of this study highlights the importance of learning and educational aspects, the size of a cooperation and threats from other competing solutions, which generates challenges. In addition to the identified challenges, this study has also contributed to an understanding of how these aspects can come to affect a collaboration.