vs. need to build upon existing routines and systems (learning)

systemic problems in producing countries (Learn1) [systemic]

Top-tier firms (1/6)

Lower-tier firms (3/5)

Third parties (2/4)

Top-tier firms (5/6)

Mid-tier firms (1/10)

Lower-tier firms (3/5)

Third parties (2/4)

Top-tier firms (1/6)

Top-tier firms (3/6)

Mid-tier firms (3/10)

Top-tier firms

(1/6)

Mid-tier firms

(1/10)

-

-

Synthesis:Avoiding critical inputs (RP01)during design phase for not having to source material commonly mined in countries with systemic problems (Frequency: TT2, TT3, MT5); *Certifications and standards (RP02), e.g., to guarantee the sustainability performance of suppliers in countries with systemic problems (TT4, MT3, MT4, LT1, LT2, LT3); Expertcollaborations (RP03)with consultants or NGOs for their know-how and services for ensuring that suppliers in countries with systemic problems meet sustainability requirements (TT1, TT2, TT3, TT5, LT1, LT3); Monitoringand controlling (RP04), e.g., to guarantee the sustainability performance of suppliers in countries with systemic problems (TT1, TT4, TT6, MT3, MT4, LT1, LT2); Recycling materials (RP05)to avoid the sourcing of critical materials commonly mined in countries with systemic problems (TT3, MT3, MT10, LT3); Supplier development (RP06)to improve the sustainability performance of suppliers in countries with systemic problems (TT1, TT2 , MT3, MT4, LT1, LT2); *Supplier selection (RP07), e.g., to ensure that suppliers in countries with systemic problems are willing to engage in social-ecological improvements (TT3, TT4, MT4, MT5, LT1, LT2, LT3). Separation:Developing infrastructure (RP08)at a larger systemic level for being able to do business (vertical separation) (LT5); *Public-privatepartnerships (RP09)to address problems and issues in SCs at a larger systemic level (vertical separation) (TT4, TT6, LT2); Strategic businessalliances (RP10)to work on sourcing guidelines and sustainability standards at a larger systemic level (vertical separation) (TT3, TT6, MT4, MT5, LT1, LT2, LT3). Contextualization:*External contextualization (RP11)(TT1, TT3, TT4) and *Internal contextualization (RP12)(TT1, TT3, TT4, MT3, LT1) of the challenges and tensions stemming from the systemic problems in producing countries

economic system favoring large-scale producers (Learn2) [systemic]

-

Top-tier firms (1/6)

Mid-tier firms (1/10)

-

-

Top-tier firms (4/6)

Mid-tier firms (4/10)

Third parties (1/4)

Synthesis:Insourcing (RP13)to have direct influence on the sustainability of production processes (TT2); *L ong-term relationships (RP14)with suppliers to increase the influence over their social-ecological performance (TT3, MT2); Raising sustainability awareness (RP15)of suppliers to shape their understanding of social-ecological topics and increase their willingness to engage in social-ecological improvements (TT3); Supplier selection(RP07), e.g., based on their willingness to engage in social-ecological improvements (TT2, TT3, MT2, MT5); Sourcing collaborations (RP16)with other buying companies for increasing the purchasing power and influence over suppliers (TT3, TT5, MT1). Separation:*Long-term organizational growth (RP17)for increasing the purchasing power and influence over suppliers (temporal separation) (TT1, TT2, TT3). Contextualization:External contextualization (RP11)(TT2) and *Internal contextualization(RP12)(TT1, TT2, MT5) of the challenges and tensions stemming from the economic system favoring large-scale producers

absence of suitable standards and certifications (Learn3) [systemic, SC]

-

Lower-tier firms

(4/5)

Third parties

(1/4)

-

Third parties (1/4)

-

-

-

Synthesis:*Self-defined certifications and standards (RP02)to compensate

for the absence of suitable standards and certifications (LT2, LT5).

Separation:[no identified practices]. Contextualization:External contextualization (RP11)of the challenges and tensions stemming from the

absence of suitable standards and certifications (LT5)

structural complexity of SCs (Learn4) [SC]

Lower-tier firms (2/5)

Third parties (1/4)

Top-tier firms (5/6)

Mid-tier firms (3/10)

Lower-tier firms (3/5)

Third parties (2/4)

Top-tier firms (6/6)

Mid-tier firms (4/10)

Lower-tier firms (2/5)

Third parties (1/4)

Top-tier firms (3/6)

Mid-tier firms (1/10)

Top-tier firms (4/6)

Mid-tier firms

(4/10)

Third parties (1/4)

-

-

Synthesis:Avoiding critical inputs (RP01)during design phase for not having to trace the sustainability of these materials along multi-tier SCs (TT2, TT3, MT5); *Certifications and standards (RP02)for ensuring minimum requirements along multi-tier SCs (TT4, TT6, MT3, MT4, MT5, LT1, LT4); Increasing visibility of company and products in SCs (RP18), e.g., to receive financial compensations and other forms of support when engaging in social-ecological measures (MT2, LT3); Recycling materials(RP05)to avoid the monitoring of sustainability of minerals along multi-tier SCs (MT3, MT10, LT3); Supplier development (RP06)instead of replacing suppliers in the multi-tier SC if sustainability misconducts appear (TT4). Separation:Gradually increasing transparency (RP19)along the multi-tier SC (horizontal and temporal separation) (TT1, TT3, TT4, TT5); Mass-balancing (RP20)for the integration of ethical minerals, instead of having to trace materials along the multi-tier SC (horizontal separation) (TT2, MT3); Selective monitoring and controlling (RP04)of the multi-tier SC, e.g., based on the risk potential of suppliers (horizontal separation) (TT3, TT4, TT5, TT6, MT4, MT7, LT2); *Strategic business alliances (RP10)to drive industry-wide sustainability requirements and standards (vertical separation) (TT4, TT6, MT4, LT1, LT4). Contextualization:*Externalcontextualization (RP11)(TT1, TT2, TT3, TT4, LT3) and *Internalcontextualization (RP12)(TT1, TT2, TT3, TT4, TT5) of the challenges and tensions stemming from the structural complexity of SCs