Frederik Kamphues

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

During a research stay in Ghana, I saw what ecological and social consequences our consumption can have. On the one hand, I was able to visit the largest electronic waste dump in the world. There, people have burned highly toxic electronic waste without protective clothing, which people from Europe and America have disposed of cheaply.
On the other hand, through my work on cocoa farms, I was able to see how much nature suffers because we want to eat chocolate Santas and Easter bunnies. Both experiences made a big impression on me, so I have decided to make a small contribution to achieving more sustainable supply chains. 

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

I want to find out which HREDD legislations has the greatest and most positive effect on the sustainability of supply chains. Governance efforts will only be successful in the long term if as many stakeholders as possible benefit from them or at least are not negatively affected. Therefore, I hope that my research can contribute to the widespread acceptance and permanent implementation of HREDD laws by a broad range of stakeholders.

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

Due to globalization, most supply chains span the entire planet, which is why people with very different needs and values work together in a supply chain. I consider the key challenges to be ensuring fair conditions for all people and, of course, for the various ecosystems. On the other hand, sustainable supply chains also offer the opportunity to enable prosperity and social stability in various regions of the world. We just have to find the right way to organize them.

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

I hope to be able to work with many scientists who have already gained experience in different countries. Due to the global dimension of most supply chains, it is of utmost importance to be able to represent as many perspectives as possible from different regions of the world. I am therefore very much looking forward to exchange research results from other countries and other sectors.