Ökad förståelse för relationen mellan elektronisk handel och hållbarhet : En fallstudie gjord på svenska, exporterande B2B företag i Malaysia

Sammanfattning: Introduction: Sustainability issues are getting more and more attention. A common framework for working with sustainability is based on the three dimensions of social sustainability, environmental sustainability and economic sustainability. The goal of the sustainability model is to achieve a balance between the dimensions. Although sustainability models have been known for decades, companies find it difficult to strike a balance, as the economic dimension tends to set the agenda for the other two. Consequently, it seems easier to work with sustainability in theory than in practice. One reason for this may be that the companies have many stakeholders to consider. The digital infrastructure is making the market more and more global.   Problem discussion: The marketplace is changing, both for those who choose to apply the new technology as well as for those who choose to stand outside. New electronic solutions create new opportunities for both businesses and consumers. Sustainability aspects of the electronic B2C (Business to Consumer) commerce have been studied before, but there is a knowledge gap in the electronic B2B (Business to Business) commerce and especially in relation to sustainability. This is even though it is expected to increase more than B2C commerce on the internet.   Purpose: The purpose is to increase the understanding of the relationship between the export companies' electronic B2B commerce and their sustainability work based on the three dimensions; social sustainability, environmental sustainability and economic sustainability.   Method: The qualitative study was conducted as a case study. The sample has been Swedish, exporting companies in Malaysia. Informants from each case company have been interviewed.   Results and conclusion: All the companies in the case study are actively working on sustainability issues inspired by the three dimensions of social, environmental and economic sustainability. The result shows that few Swedish exporting companies in Malaysia are working with electronic B2B commerce. This is mainly because traditional sales dominate. For the companies that have implemented electronic B2B commerce, there are contradictions, in particular, between the economic sustainability dimension and the social sustainability dimension.