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Transition Towards Sustainable E-Commerce: A Design Thinking Approach

Hellström, Daniel LU ; Olsson, John LU and Hjort, Klas LU (2022) Knowledge for Sustainable Development
– Lund University Research Conference
Abstract
Aim
To achieve the sustainable development goals there is no doubt that we need to transform e-commerce into a sustainable system. Individual efforts are not enough. We need changes at the system level. We also know that research and innovation are crucial for tackling this global and complex societal challenge. How do we transform e-commerce into a sustainable system? What key areas and issues need to be addressed?

Methodology
Grounded in Design Thinking, we approach this complex challenge from a user perspective. In total four workshops were conducted with about 20 participants in each session. A wide range of actors, e.g. authorities, municipalities, industries, and business, participated in each workshop, which lasted... (More)
Aim
To achieve the sustainable development goals there is no doubt that we need to transform e-commerce into a sustainable system. Individual efforts are not enough. We need changes at the system level. We also know that research and innovation are crucial for tackling this global and complex societal challenge. How do we transform e-commerce into a sustainable system? What key areas and issues need to be addressed?

Methodology
Grounded in Design Thinking, we approach this complex challenge from a user perspective. In total four workshops were conducted with about 20 participants in each session. A wide range of actors, e.g. authorities, municipalities, industries, and business, participated in each workshop, which lasted approximately three hours. Multiple investigators collected and analysed the data.

Key results/conclusions
This study identifies eight multidisciplinary and interconnected areas in need of radical change in order to transform e-commerce into a sustainable system. These are: dynamic and flexible delivery, delivery location, packaging, horizontal distribution collaboration, returns, consumption lifestyles, logistics predictions, and urban planning and design. Strategic change in the form of new knowledge and innovation in these areas have the potential to effect the entire e-commerce system. Based on these insights and to effectively bring about radical system change, we formed an Alliance for SusTainable E-commeRce (ASTER) acting as the national competence hub to strategically coordinate initiatives and accelerate demonstration and collaboration projects. ASTER use Vinnova's mission-oriented approach, which means getting different actors to work together in the same direction towards common goals.
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to conference
publication status
published
subject
keywords
ture-oriented methodologies, sustainability performance indicators, complexity, sustainable solutions, co-creation, innovation, Collaboration
conference name
Knowledge for Sustainable Development <br/>– Lund University Research Conference
conference location
Lund, Sweden
conference dates
2022-05-02 - 2022-05-02
project
National Initiative for Sustainable E-commerce: Accelerate Innovation
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e0fcd708-cac1-4bc1-8f0d-abcdc013e553
date added to LUP
2022-05-06 15:51:22
date last changed
2022-05-11 11:54:44
@misc{e0fcd708-cac1-4bc1-8f0d-abcdc013e553,
  abstract     = {{Aim<br/>To achieve the sustainable development goals there is no doubt that we need to transform e-commerce into a sustainable system. Individual efforts are not enough. We need changes at the system level. We also know that research and innovation are crucial for tackling this global and complex societal challenge. How do we transform e-commerce into a sustainable system? What key areas and issues need to be addressed?<br/><br/>Methodology<br/>Grounded in Design Thinking, we approach this complex challenge from a user perspective. In total four workshops were conducted with about 20 participants in each session. A wide range of actors, e.g. authorities, municipalities, industries, and business, participated in each workshop, which lasted approximately three hours. Multiple investigators collected and analysed the data.<br/><br/>Key results/conclusions<br/>This study identifies eight multidisciplinary and interconnected areas in need of radical change in order to transform e-commerce into a sustainable system. These are: dynamic and flexible delivery, delivery location, packaging, horizontal distribution collaboration, returns, consumption lifestyles, logistics predictions, and urban planning and design. Strategic change in the form of new knowledge and innovation in these areas have the potential to effect the entire e-commerce system. Based on these insights and to effectively bring about radical system change, we formed an Alliance for SusTainable E-commeRce (ASTER) acting as the national competence hub to strategically coordinate initiatives and accelerate demonstration and collaboration projects. ASTER use Vinnova's mission-oriented approach, which means getting different actors to work together in the same direction towards common goals.<br/>}},
  author       = {{Hellström, Daniel and Olsson, John and Hjort, Klas}},
  keywords     = {{ture-oriented methodologies; sustainability performance indicators; complexity; sustainable solutions; co-creation; innovation; Collaboration}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{05}},
  title        = {{Transition Towards Sustainable E-Commerce: A Design Thinking Approach}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}