The thesis deals with the problem of global ecological crisis caused by excessive consumption of material goods, particularly in countries of "The Rich North" (western countries). In the theoretical part I set up individualized man as a consumer in the system of modern society, which indicates the conditions of its existence mainly through the market. I discuss the possible way out of the ecological crisis through ideological changes in the company initiated from the "bottom", based on the internalization of values leading to responsible and moderate consumption. I demonstrate alternative ways of life, environmentally friendly in terms of consumption, and discuss the obstacles and ways of its spread. The research was conducted through interviews with eco-advisers who are dealing with consumption, as potential "opinion leaders" in this case. I tried to look their conception of responsible consumption and their potential impact on society in favor of spreading the idea of an environmentally responsible way of life Key words Ecological crisis, consumption, consumerism, modernity, individualization, values, responsible consumption, modesty, environmentally friendly way of life

Pensions funds represent the collective savings of millions of people and the decisions and actions they take can be greatly beneficial or detrimental to the global economy, society, and the lives of people around the world. The aim of this project is to investigate the possibilities of citizen participation in relation to responsible investment in UK occupational pension funds, and what the barriers and opportunities are for citizens, in this context pension holders, to participate in financial decisions made on their behalf. The research questions focus on the arguments for and against such participation, in general and in relation to using an online voting platform. Qualitative interviews with Responsible Investment Advocates are used to scope ideas around participation, and the study is grounded in a social constructionist theory of meaning. This project sits at the intersection of two fields: Responsible Investment and Participatory Communication for Social Change. The main findings of this project are that RI Advocates disagree over the necessity for such citizen participation, as a process for change and as a goal. The perceived benefits of citizen participation ranged from empowerment, accountability, power redistribution and structural change. Barriers to participation exist based upon the current investment system, with the main barrier perceived as a lack of demand from the investment industry, wider civil society, and significantly citizens. It was stated in interviews that citizen participation is a relatively ignored area within Responsible Investment, and therefore much can be learned from existing C4D research and practice.

Gesellschaftliche Verantwortung (CSR) nimmt für Unternehmen bedingt durch steigenden Druck seitens verschiedener Stakeholder sowie veränderte gesellschaftliche Erwartungshaltungen und politische Rahmenbedingungen eine immer bedeutenderer Rolle im gesamten Wertschöpfungsprozess ein. CSR geht über die Unternehmensgrenzen hinaus und umfasst die mit dem eigenen Unternehmen verbundenen Leistungsersteller. Die Einkaufsfunktion übernimmt mit einem hohen Anteil am Wertschöpfungsprozess die wichtige Aufgabe, Leistungserstellung bei dritten Unternehmen (Lieferanten) einzukaufen. Häufig sind dies Lieferanten in Entwicklungs- und Schwellenländern mit teilweise stark abweichenden Produktionsbedingungen. Um fehlende Gesetze und nicht zertifizierbare Standards zu kompensieren, sind insbesondere große Unternehmen dazu angehalten, ihre Lieferantenbasis hinsichtlich CSR-Kriterien zu überprüfen und ein regelkonformes Verhalten sicherzustellen. Die vorliegende Dissertation verfolgt die Idee, die Notwendigkeit einer Integration von CSR als Bewertungskriterium in bestehende Prozesse zu untersuchen, um geeignete Lieferanten für eine strategische Beziehung bewerten zu können. Hierfür wird zunächst anhand von Experteninterviews die praxisorientierte Messmethode „CSR-IndexSA“ auf Basis einer Selbstauskunft entwickelt. Eine Überprüfung auf Reliabilität dieser Messmethode erfolgt mittels einer empirischen Erhebung bei einer hohen Anzahl von Zulieferunternehmen. Eine umfangreiche statistische Analyse bestehender Bewertungskriterien und -prozesse mit der erhobenen CSR-Performance dieser Lieferanten zeigt als Ergebnis eine notwendige eigenständige Integration von CSR als Bewertungskriterium mit einer nur geringen Auswirkung auf bestehende Prozesse. Anhand der empirischen Erhebung konnten desweiteren CSR-Risikofaktoren, wie Unternehmensgröße und Region bestätigt werden. Die Erkenntnisse der Untersuchung zeigen zudem, dass jene Lieferanten mehr Wert auf eine strategische Kunden-/ Lieferantenbeziehung legen, die auch eine hohe CSR-Performance aufweisen. Neben der Überprüfung und Sicherstellung von CSR rückt vermehrt die Information, Schulung und Weiterbildung zu CSR insbesondere von SMEs als Aufgabe für große Unternehmen in den Mittelpunkt. / Based on increased pressure on the part of different stakeholders, changed expectations on social issues as well as political frameworks, corporate social responsibility (CSR) gains more importance within the whole process of value add. Social responsibility extends the limits of the focal enterprise and includes the whole supply chain. The purchasing function is responsible for the important task (within the value add process) to source goods and services from third parties, the suppliers. Often production partners in emerging countries follow different legal and social standards. In order to compensate missing legal requirements and standardized norms, large MNE need to regularly supervise their supply base and secure CSR by themselves. This doctoral thesis aims to investigate the necessity of the integration of CSR as evaluation criterion in existing processes, with the result to be able to evaluate suitable suppliers for strategic relationships. Therefore based on expert interviews the method „CSR-IndexSA“ is being developed. This CSR-IndexSA allows the suppliers’ evaluation with a self assessment. The method is being proved for its reliability and is being adopted in a large scale empirical study involving numerous suppliers. The broad statistical analysis of existing evaluation criteria and processes with the measured suppliers’ CSR performance shows the need of the integration of CSR as independent criterion within the supplier evaluation process. The effects on existing processes are proven to be minor. Those results point to further relations between the “classical” criteria for evaluation and various CSR dimensions (e.g. environmental management) and give advice for an improved supplier evaluation. Furthermore CSR risk factors such as company size or region can be identified through the empirical survey. Long-term partnerships mean an increasingly important success factor in customer supplier relationships. The survey’s results show also that those suppliers who value a strategic relationship as important also have a high rating regarding CSR performance.

Cybercriminals' digital threats to security are increasing, and organisations seek smarter solutions to combat them. Many organisations are using artificial intelligence (AI) to protect their assets. Statistics show that the adoption of AI in cyber security worldwide has grown steadily over the past few years, demonstrating that more and more companies are searching for more effective methods than traditional ones. At the same time, some are cautious about its implementation. Previous research shows this is a topic of discussion in the cyber security branch. Researchers seek to understand further how AI is used, uncovering how it may benefit security and the challenges organisations face. Sweden is a country known for its high level of technological advancement and innovation, and it has seen a particularly significant increase in the integration of AI in cyber security practices. Using semi-structured interviews as the primary research method, a diverse range of companies, were interviewed regarding their viewpoints on the topic, both those implementing AI-based cyber security solutions and those who do not. The research objectives were to examine how companies in Sweden understand and perceive AI in cyber security, identify their perceived risks associated with any potential opportunities with AI adoption, and explore possible future developments in the field. Through in-depth interviews, participants discussed their experiences, concerns, and expectations surrounding the topic, showing anywhere from mixed to negative opinions from companies not utilising AI cyber security. This study shows how more research is needed to advance our understanding of AI cyber security and how it is implemented in companies. The study concludes that when showing interest in strengthening their security with the help of AI, organisations should consider the ethical and legal issues as well as the importance of choosing the right AI solutions. Professionals recommend AI implementation for companies wishing to increase cyber security defences in the rising and ever-changing cyber threats landscape. / Cyberbrottslingarnas digitala hot mot säkerheten ökar, och organisationer söker smartare lösningar för att bekämpa dem. Många organisationer använder artificiell intelligens (AI) för att skydda sina tillgångar. Statistik visar att användningen av AI inom cybersäkerhet världen över har ökat stadigt under de senaste åren, vilket visar att allt fler företag söker efter mer effektiva metoder än de traditionella. Samtidigt är vissa försiktiga vad gäller AI:s implementering. Tidigare forskning visar att detta är ett diskussionsämne inom cybersäkerhetsbranschen. Forskarna vill förstå mer om hur AI används, hur det kan gynna säkerheten och vilka utmaningar organisationerna står inför. Sverige är ett land som är känt för sin höga nivå av teknisk utveckling och innovation och man har sett en särskilt betydande ökning av integrationen av AI i cybersäkerhetspraxis i landet. Med hjälp av semistrukturerade intervjuer som primär forskningsmetod intervjuades en rad olika företag om deras syn på ämnet, både de som implementerar AI-baserade cybersäkerhetslösningar och de som inte gör det. Målet var att undersöka hur företag i Sverige förstår och uppfattar AI inom cybersäkerhet, att identifiera deras upplevda risker i samband med eventuella möjligheter med AI-adoption och utforska möjlig framtida utveckling inom området. Genom djupintervjuer diskuterade deltagarna sina erfarenheter, farhågor och förväntningar i ämnet, som visade allt från blandade till negativa åsikter från företag som inte använder AI i cybersäkerhet. Studien visar att det behövs ytterligare forskning för att öka vår förståelse för AI-cybersäkerhet och hur den ska implementeras i företag. Studien drar slutsatsen att organisationer som visar intresse för att stärka sin säkerhet med hjälp av AI bör ta hänsyn till etiska och juridiska frågor samt vikten av att välja rätt AI-lösningar. Experter rekommenderar att AI implementeras för företag som vill stärka sin cybersäkerhet i det ständigt ökande och föränderliga cyberhotslandskapet.

The apparel industry is one of the first industries being criticized and publicly shamed for not taking enough social responsibility for the workers in their supply chain. Today, most of the apparel production takes place in developing countries such as Bangladesh, China, Cambodia and Vietnam. Social issues in the apparel supply chain are often related to health and safety, minimum wages, overtime, child labor and the lack of freedom of association. Controlling these social issues is difficult since the apparel companies and their suppliers are geographically and culturally separated. Furthermore, the production of apparel takes place in countries with weaker legal frameworks not being strict enough to protect the workers' rights. Hence, the apparel companies face major challenges in controlling the fulfillment of international standards from the International Labor Organization and United Nations. There is a lack of research on the topic related to social sustainability practices in the supply chain and researchers state that it requires more attention, by focusing on how companies' code of conducts (CoC) and international standards can be used more effectively in the context of sourcing and social responsibility. To address the research gap, the purpose of the study is to understand how brand-owning apparel companies in Scandinavia control social sustainability in their supplier networks. Based on those findings, we will compare the relation between the empirical data and what theories and international standards illustrate as critical aspects for controlling social sustainability. In the study, we have conducted semi-structured interviews with seven Scandinavian apparel companies. Since social sustainability can be a sensitive topic for companies to share information on, we have also conducted an interview with Nina Wertholz, working at the non-profit organization Fair Action, providing a different perspective. By using a thematic analysis, two main themes have been identified that together answer the research question, namely control measures and factors affecting control. Firstly, control measures relate to what the companies' control consists of and our findings demonstrate risk assessments, code of conduct, audits, and measurement as the main tools. Still, we conclude that these control measures are not sufficient to control social sustainability in the supplier network. Secondly, factors affecting control can explain the outcome of controlling social sustainability. Findings advocate that a good collaboration, providing support and a shared interest can facilitate a higher degree of control. Additionally, our findings shows that companies with smaller order quantities have less influence and control over their supplier's social sustainability practices. We also infer that the number of suppliers and which countries the companies choose to source from will affect the obtained level of control. Furthermore, decisions regarding the supplier base and the sourcing country are active choices made by the companies. Lastly, we conclude that the companies' purchasing behavior can affect the level of control related to wages, incomes, and overtime for the workers in the apparel supply chain.

Rock climbing has become a popular adventure activity, yet it poses a threat to the environment, particularly to the rare species that inhabit the lower vegetation density of rock faces. To address this concern, effective evironmental communication is necessary to provoke environmentally responsible behavior among climbers. This study explores what the most effective form of environmental communication is, that elicits a positive response from rock climbers. Regulatory Focus Theory as well as the nature values distinction (intrinsic, instrumental, and relational) are employed to assess the effect of value-based messages on rock climbers' environmental behavior. Moreover, this research investigates how personal values of rock climbers (biospheric, altruistic, and egoistic) impact their response to messages that highlight different nature values. Environmental messaging that resonates with the personal values of rock climbers can influence their response positively. Thus, crafting messages that are aligned with the target audience's environmental dispositions is essential for effective environmental communication. While the findings did not yield definitive results, the study indicates that messages emphasizing the instrinsic value of nature coupled with prevention-oriented foucus may be more effective for rock climbers. Moreover, altruistic and biospheric values significantly moderated climbers' response to environmental messages framed with nature values. Regulatory focus was not found to significantly influence rock climbers' environmental behavior. The study also shows that demographic characteristics such as age and gender can influence the environmental behavior of rock climbers. The study's insights provide a baseline for future research in persuasive messaging for adventure tourists. The research opens up new directions in tourism studies and identifies environmental values most relevant to the rock climbing community, providing guidance to climbing area managers and other stakeholders invested in safeguarding natural habitats. By shedding light on possible environmental communication strategies for the promotion of pro-environmental behavior among rock climbers, this research offers an important contribution to the protection of vulnerable ecosystems and the preservation of natural habitats.

The study shows that the primary factors that underpin responsible decisions in the steel industry are legitimacy and resource dependency. The study also indicates that profitability and business aspects serve as tools for rationalizing decision alternatives, communication means to persuade other actors, and create legitimacy among stakeholders. Profitability is also a tool for managing risks and uncertainties in the decision-making situation, as it can be calculated unlike several social values. The results also show that other organizations in the industry and suppliers serve as inspiration and collaboration in the decisions. / Studien visar på att de primära faktorer som grundar ansvarsfulla beslut istålindustrin är legitimitet och resursberoende. Studien indikerar även att lönsamhet ochaffärsaspekter utgör verktyg för att rationalisera beslutsalternativ, kommunikationsmedel föratt övertyga andra aktörer samt skapa legitimitet hos intressenter. Lönsamheten utgör också verktyg för att hantera risker och osäkerheter i beslutssituationen eftersom det är möjligt attkalkylera till skillnad från flera hållbarhetsvärden. Resultatet visar också att andraorganisationer i branschen och leverantörer utgör inspiration och samarbete i besluten.

While there is a concern that Sustainable Tourism has not been entirely adopted in practice (Graci, 2008), this thesis shows that Sustainable Tourism has been implemented by South Korean Tour Operators under the name of Fair Tourism. Fair Tourism is a rising trend as Sustainable Tourism in South Korea, and discussion on this new sector of the industry has increased in recent years (S. Gil Lee, 2016). This thesis adds to that discourse with three research objectives: 1) Define the concept of Fair Tourism. 2) What activities constitute Fair Tourism from practitioners’ viewpoint? 3) Examine how Fair Tour operators manage their sustainable supply chain based on the SCOR model.<div><br></div><div>To understand practitioners’ perception of Fair Tourism, this study has applied social constructionism, which recognized that human beings construct meanings through individual interaction (Walker, 2015). Semi-structured interviews with fifteen Fair Travel operators and thematic analysis have been applied for methodology (Elo & Kyngäs, 2008; McIntosh & Morse, 2015). This study has two significant findings. First, the findings have revealed a generally accepted definition of Fair Tourism by both researchers and operators. The definition includes Ensuring Economic Contribution to The Destination, Environmental and Social Sustainability, and Mutually Respectful Relationship. This generally acknowledged definition has helped Fair Tour operators develop the sector. Second, this thesis found that operators genuinely respect their suppliers. Operators regard their suppliers as partners who share responsibilities and benefits, leading to satisfactory outcomes for all partners (Macaulay et al., 1999). Their relationship with partners is long-term and deep rather than transactional.</div><div><br></div><div>Theoretically, this thesis contributed to the finding that Sustainable Tourism can be practicable under the name of Fair Tourism, demonstrating practitioners’ replies that are 100 percent consistent. This study applied a novel approach, focusing on the operators’ point of view, while previous studies on Fair Tourism focused on defining the term and the industry's demand (Byun, 2016; M.-K. Kim & Cho, 2019; Shin et al., 2018). Given that Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model has been developed for the analysis of the manufacturing industry, this study has advanced this manufacturing performance measurement framework and applied it to the tourism industry.</div>

Sustainable development is an emerging concept based on three pillars: economic, ecological and sustainable. Indeed, more and more consumers around the world are concerned about including this concept in their way of consumption. Then, on the one hand, sustainable development is an integral part of companies from a legal point of view. On the other hand, there is a strong consumer demand for eco-friendly consumption. So, we find it interesting to discuss how companies use sustainability in their marketing strategy to attract the consumer?

Syftet i studien är att finna likheter och skillnader i casino- och spelföretagens redovisade sociala ansvarstagande. Urvalet är svenska spelföretag som är noterade på Stockholmsbörsen. De studerade företagen är LeoVegas, Evolution AB, Betsson AB och Kindred Group PLC. Metoden grundar sig i en innehållsanalys med komparativ och longitudinell design. Studien har undersökt kategorierna “Kontroll”, “Åtgärd”, “Ansvarsfullt spelande” och “Spelproblem” i företagens hållbarhetsredovisningar för åren 2017-2021. Antalet meningar som innehåller kategorierna har studerats för att finna likheter och skillnader. Resultatet visar att kategorin “Ansvarsfullt spelande” tillämpats mest samt att “Spelproblem” tillämpats minst bland företagen. Resultatet visar även att Kindred Group PLC använt kategorierna mest i sin hållbarhetsredovisning och att Evolution AB har nämnt kategorierna minst. Resultatet kopplas bland annat till teorier om ansvarstagande, användning av ramverk och “greenwashing”. Slutsatserna som dras är att det är svårt att definiera konkreta likheter och skillnader, att företagen generellt har utvecklat sina hållbarhetsrapporter samt att det finns skillnader i användandet av icke-obligatoriska verktyg. Jämförbarheten mellan hållbarhetsredovisningarna är låg, däremot har företagen olika grad av transparens. Studien visar en tendens att hållbarhetsrapportering kopplat till spelproblem har ändrats under Covid-19 pandemin. Utöver detta kan vi konstatera att företagen använder sig av “greenwashing” i sin hållbarhetsrapportering och att det är en fördel för företag att följa GRI:s ramverk vid upprättandet av en hållbarhetsrapport. / The purpose of the study is to find similarities and differences in the reported social responsibility of casino and gambling companies'. The selection of companies is Swedish gambling companies that are listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. The companies studied are LeoVegas, Evolution AB, Betsson AB and Kindred Group PLC. The method is based on a content analysis with comparative and longitudinal design. The study has examined the categories “Control”, “Action”, “Responsible Gambling” and “Gambling Problems” in the companies' sustainability reports for the years 2017-2021. The number of sentences that use these categories and the content of the sentences that contain these categories have been studied to find similarities and differences. The results show that the category “responsible gambling” is the most used category among the companies, while the category “gambling problems” is the least used. The results also show that Kindred Group PLC uses the categories the most in its sustainability report and that Evolution AB mentions the categories the least. The results had relevance to the theories about responsibility, the use of frameworks and "greenwashing". The conclusions drawn are that it is difficult to define concrete similarities and differences, that companies have a general method to develop their sustainability reports, and that there are differences in the use of non-mandatory tools. Comparability between the sustainability reports are low, but the companies have different degrees of transparency. The study shows a change of tendency regarding the sustainability reports connected to gamble addiction during the covid-19 pandemic. In addition, we can state that companies use “greenwashing” in their sustainability reporting and that it is an advantage for companies to follow GRI's guidelines when preparing a sustainability report.