The purpose of this study is to explore the role of knowledge management (KM) in integrating sustainability into business strategy in companies applying the framework for strategic sustainable development (FSSD).Corporations have the potential to be key players in moving society towards sustainability, but they lack clear definitions and guidelines around strategic sustainable development (SSD). The authors focus on the benefits of KM in organisations applying the FSSD, which offers general strategic guidelines, but does not refer to the complexity of managing the new sustainability knowledge.This study first examines the scientific literature around KM and FSSD and compares it with the results of expert interviews to develop a State of the Art Model of KM for SSD. Then the model is compared to current practices of corporations applying the FSSD and the gap is examined.The results of the analysis show that the concept of KM is widely discussed in the literature, yet it does not have much presence in the business world. The value of knowledge is recognised, but KM is not much used and no structured practices were identified. It was concluded that companies would benefit from a strategic KM system when integrating sustainability.

Transportsektorn står för en fjärdedel av Sveriges totala energianvändning och är orsaken till en tredjedel av de nationella utsläppen av växthusgaser. Samtidigt har regeringen satt upp högt ställda mål: fordonsflottan ska vara fossiloberoende år 2030 och Sverige ska inte ha några nettoutsläpp av växthusgaser år 2050. För att nå dit krävs det snabba och kraftfulla förändringar i transportsektorn. Elektrifiering har pekats ut som en nyckelfaktor för framgång. Men för att eldrivna fordon fullt ut ska kunna konkurrera och ersätta det fossildrivna systemet, krävs det satsningar på ny infrastruktur. Snabbladdare har redan börjat byggas på många håll, där eldrivna personbilar kan ladda sitt batteri på kort tid. Elvägar är ett samlingsnamn för innovativa tekniker där fordon, inklusive lastbilar, laddas med el från vägbanan medan de kör. Men vilken eller vilka tekniker är de mest strategiska stegen, språngbrädor, på väg mot en hållbar framtid och vad kännetecknar egentligen en sådan? Det här arbetet utgår ifrån ramverket för strategisk hållbar utveckling som kan användas för att planera mot hållbarhet i komplexa system. Dess kärna består av backcasting utifrån fyra grundläggande principer för hållbarhet. Studien använder en kombination av olika metoder för att undersöka snabbladdningsinfrastrukturens och elvägars miljöpåverkan och kostnader ur ett strategiskt livscykelperspektiv. Den kunskapen används sedan för att bygga modeller för hur utsläppen till miljön förändras per investerad krona, också beroende på hur den använda elen produceras. Resultaten visar på en stor potential för minskad miljöpåverkan för båda tekniker som dock i hög grad är beroende på elmixen. Arbetet har också visat att det är viktigt att inkludera själva infrastrukturens miljöpåverkan i livscykelanalyser då den kan spela en betydande roll. Slutligen kunde förtydligas att det i många fall inte är utsläppen av koldioxidekvivalenter som utgör den största miljöpåverkan. Därför appelleras till att utgå ifrån ett mer holistiskt perspektiv vid miljöpåverkansbedömningar. Det har även identifierats ett antal betydande faktorer som det fortfarande råder stor osäkerhet kring. Det rekommenderas därför att fylla kunskapsluckor och att utöka modellerna med både fler alternativ och fler faktorer för att få en mer detaljerad bild av vilken teknik som kan leda Sverige mot en hållbar framtid. / The transport sector accounts for one fourth of Sweden’s total energy use and causes one third of the national emissions of greenhouse gases. At the same time, the Swedish government has set high goals: the vehicle fleet shall be fossil-independent until 2020 and Sweden shall not have any net emissions of greenhouse gases 2050. Quick and powerful actions are needed in order to reach these goals. Electrification has been pointed out as a key factor for success. In order for electric vehicles to be able to challenge and replace the fossil system, investment in new infrastructure is necessary. Fast chargers, where passenger cars can recharge their battery in short time, are already in place in many parts of Sweden. Electric roads is a term for new and innovative technologies where vehicles are charged from the road while they are driving. But which technique is the most strategic stepping stone on the way to sustainability? This study has its ground in the framework for strategic sustainable development which can be used to plan for sustainability in complex systems. At its core it uses backcasting from four basic sustainability principles. This work uses a combination of different methods to investigate the environmental impact and costs of fast charging infrastructure and electric roads from a strategic life cycle perspective. That information is then used to build models to take a closer look at how emissions to the environment change per invested Swedish crown, also dependent on how the used electricity is produced. The results show a large potential to decrease the environmental impact for both techniques, but it is strongly dependent on the electricity mix. Furthermore, this work shows that is is important to include the environmental impact of the infrastructure itself in life cycle analyses, because it can has a significant share in the total emissions. Finally, it is pointed out that it often not is the case that the emissions of carbon dioxide equivalents are the most important impact. It is therefore crucial to use a more holistic perspective in life cycle impact assessments. This work has identified a number of factors with large relevance but also large uncertainty. It is therefore recommended to fill the identified knowledge gaps and to expand the presented models with more factors and more alternative techniques, to get a more detailed picture of which solution is the best stepping stone on Sweden’s way to a sustainable future. / Greencharge Sydost

The organizational structure of Holacracy has been gaining popularity in recent years, but a lack of academic research on Holacracy called for a systematic approach to assessing its merits and shortcomings. The need Holacracy fills, is that of organizations dealing with a complex world and rapidly evolving technology. While Holacracy is not tailored to address sustainability issues, there are many components that made it a candidate for the researchers to examine it through a social sustainability lens. This study examines the effect of specific components of Holacracy with elements of adaptive capacity – a theory from which the research definition of social sustainability was built. With the goal of determining the effect of Holacracy on social sustainability, a questionnaire directed at employees and practitioners of holacratic organizations was utilized. The findings implied that Holacracy does positively influence the experience of the elements of adaptive capacity; with the relationship to the adaptive capacity element of self-organization being a standout. The importance of trust is also identified. The link to the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development can be elucidated through adaptive capacity’s influence to the social sustainability principles. Because of the importance of social sustainability and social capital to organizational performance and longevity, this research is of value to any business using, or considering using Holacracy.

The general awareness of the sustainability challenge and the urgency to act is increasing. However, the actions being taken do not seem to be sufficient, nor the communication about sustainability effective enough, to ensure a sustainable future. For our research, we looked at the work of sustainability practitioners using a scientifically robust framework called the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD). The research focuses on the interaction between the sustainability practitioner and the audience when communicating the FSSD. It is guided by its central inquiry, how the practice of storytelling can support sustainability practitioners in their work context. A literature review and a total of 13 interviews with sustainability and storytelling practitioners comprise the basis for this analysis. Based on our findings we map out the current practices of storytelling used by sustainability practitioners in the field and offer recommendations with the intention of enhancing this practice. Our research showed that sustainability practitioners practice and benefit from storytelling throughout their work in various ways. We consider this research with all its limitations as an awareness raiser and invitation to deepen the conversation and the exchange of experience and knowledge around the topic of storytelling for sustainability.

With the increasing level of complexity that leaders face today, represented in the accelerating pace of technology advancement and globalization, along with the climate change indicators reaching unprecedented levels, the need for good leadership quality has become more crucial than ever. The Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development provides a systems perspective, a principle-based definition and a way to strategically move towards sustainability, however still there is a need to specify what is required for leaders to lead organizations through this process. The aim of the thesis is to explore how corporate leadership development companies can develop the essential leadership competencies to address the sustainability challenge. The study used the Key Competences in Sustainability Framework as a base to interview six leadership development companies from different areas in the world. The findings revealed that there is an essential need for self-development for leaders to handle complexity, as well as the need from leaders to create the proper conditions for their organizations to utilize the competences from the KCSF. Furthermore the results also showcased the need for standard common definition regarding sustainability.

Municipalities play an important role in society’s transition towards sustainability. However, as they are subject to forces from both top-down (legislation etc.) and bottom-up (stakeholders’ needs and interests etc.), as well as internal dynamics within the municipal organisation, their planning approaches are usually not strategic. This implies that there is often a gap between long-term plans and short-term actions. This thesis explores enablers and barriers for strategic sustainability planning in municipalities. Focussing in particular on the översiktsplan Swedish municipalities are required to create for their spatial planning, we develop a proposal how the planning process defined by Swedish law can be made more strategic and incorporate sustainability. We suggest to integrate elements of the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD) into the planning process, and to engage experts and the general public from early on. Moreover, we provide a toolkit containing various instruments that facilitate using the strategic planning process proposed. Finally, this thesis shows ways to deal with forces from top-down, bottom-up and within the municipality. The suggestions build on insights from literature as well as interviews conducted in municipalities and with further experts, but have not yet been tested in a real-life context.

Bioplastics (BPs) can be defined as plastics made of biomass such as corn and sugarcane. These substances have been increasingly spotlighted as means to saving fossil fuels, reducing CO2 emission and plastic wastes. Biodegradability of BPs has been widely publicized in society and the demand for packaging is rapidly increasing among retailers and the food industry at large. However, there is little consensus on actual impacts of BPs production. This thesis therefore aims to identify current strengths and weaknesses and future threats and opportunities and leverage points for the bioplastics industry in a move towards sustainability?” The Strategic Life Cycle Management (SLCM) and Templates for Sustainable Product Development (TSPD) approaches were used to reveal current ecological and social impacts in relation to Sustainability Principles from the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development. Various sustainability challenges and opportunities were identified. Most threats were in agricultural production and in the disposal of products. Compelling measures for the BP industry include: having a consensus in BPs applications based on strategic sustainable development, universal labelling and recycling systems for BPs, government strategic policies to encourage research into new technologies in improving biodegradability and energy efficiency in manufacturing.

Inequality is a complex issue and an integral part of the sustainability challenge. This research examines how social entrepreneurs (SE) can be catalysts to increase equality in South Africa. In order to navigate through the complexity of inequality within this context, the authors designed a conceptual model. The Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD), based on Strategic Sustainable Development (SSD) concepts, such as backcasting and systems thinking, was incorporated into the research to ensure a systematic and comprehensive link to sustainability. The FSSD and the conceptual model assisted in exploring how social entrepreneurship could be a strategic approach to increase equality in South Africa, and in turn, help to open the social trap and contribute towards creating a more sustainable society. During the research process, the researchers identified nine high impact areas that could be addressed by SE and other stakeholders. These include: awareness; attitude and mind-set; a shared understanding; government support; education and training; economic environment; financial sustainability; social and physical infrastructure; and collaboration and asset sharing. The aim of these high impact areas is to help foster social entrepreneurial development and guide SE in strategically increasing equality in South Africa.

The sustainability challenge currently poses one of the biggest challenges society has ever faced. With declining natural resources, climate change and a rising human population the need to change humanity’s trajectory towards sustainability has never been more urgent. A greater degree of engagement in sustainability by people in positions of power and influence within society is necessary if this transition is to occur quickly. This thesis explores the dynamics of Outdoor Experiential Learning Processes (OELPs) as applied to individuals from a professional background. The purpose is to assess how the OELP can be designed within society to engage influential professionals in sustainability. The research combines the existing powerful approach of the OELP with the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD). Strategic recommendations are made for how to achieve greater engagement in sustainability amongst OELP participants for a more sustainable future.

Increasing population, finite resources, over-consumption, and unsustainable trends in business contribute to urgent and complex sustainability challenges in society. The intent of this research is to understand the role business can play in moving society toward sustainability, specifically by analyzing the strengths and weaknesses present in the outdoor industry. Evaluation of the outdoor industry using a lens of the FSSD highlights unique opportunities for the outdoor industry in moving society toward sustainability while addressing the complex challenges. Using the advantages of being cooperative and sharing the values of trust and a connection to nature, the outdoor industry has the potential to make a unique shift from the current profit-driven market economy. This thesis examines how the current operations of the industry can be more strategic, efficient, and impactful in moving consumers, business, and society in a transition toward sustainability.