Barbara Ehbauer

What sparked your interest in researching sustainability in global value chains?

A considerable number of the most pressing challenges associated with corporate sustainability are rooted in global supply chains, which are often invisible on our doorsteps. For me, the supply chain is therefore a key issue when it comes to corporate sustainability and spending time abroad has also made me more aware of this issue.

What is the focus of your current research, and what impact do you hope it will have?

Given my academic background in sustainability management, I am particularly interested in corporate best-practice approaches to take on more sustainability responsibility of their own supply chain. This also includes shedding light on the potential benefits of this topic for companies.

What do you see as the biggest knowledge gaps in sustainable global value chains?

The corporate knowledge gaps are enormous and diverse. They range from a lack of overview of the supply chain beyond direct suppliers up to the concrete assessment of the sustainability performance of supply chains.

How do you hope to collaborate with others in this research network?

The research project facilitates interdisciplinary exchange and offers valuable insights into various perspectives from different research disciplines. This is of paramount importance for a comprehensive understanding of the complex topic of sustainable global value chains. It is my intention to continue this exchange, and I hope that new joint research projects will arise during the research project.