Supply Chain Operations in the Arctic

“This is an enthusiastic book that offers a captivating insight into a multiplicity of supply chain management practices across various Arctic regions. It highlights the often-overlooked social implications, making it an important contribution to Arctic research. With its diverse collection of case studies, rigorous research, and thought-provoking content, it will undoubtedly be of great interest to scholars, practitioners, and policymakers”.

Professor Frode Mellemvik, Director High North Center for Business and Governance, Nord University, Norway

“The Arctic region is warming 4 times faster than the rest of the planet. Freed from the pack ice that melts in summer, access routes to hydrocarbon resources and various ports are more numerous and easily accessible. However, the Arctic region is not like other regions, due to its lack of industrial infrastructure, its geography and above all the way of life of the local populations who live along the Arctic coastline. Logical supply operations are complex and often require costly dedicated resources to respect this environment, which is more fragile than elsewhere. While the Arctic is the subject of numerous scientific publications, particularly on climate, there are fewer that study the logistical and sociological issues centered on the demands of local populations. This is precisely what this book does remarkably well and accurately, covering all the subjects it covers.

Reading the 13 chapters, which cover a wide range of topics, provides a spectacular overview of all the issues involved in logistics operations in this hostile region, which is only accessible during the summer months. These different studies give a large place to the problems of the indigenous peoples for whom supplies, mainly by sea, are essential. All these studies lead to the same conclusion. The Arctic is a region that is opening up as a result of climate change and the potential for exploiting its resources. All the experts are unanimous in saying that the ecosystem needs to be managed in a sustainable way, by giving priority to shipping corridors, but above all by placing greater trust in the management of resources by local populations. Because it is remarkably clear that all the issues linked to preserving the environment and ensuring the safety of supply chains have the same thing in common: taking account of local populations. Although the deadlines may still seem a long way off (between 2024 and 2029), the ban on the use of heavy fuel oil as fuel for ships in the Arctic Ocean is a strong sign of the need to preserve this particularly vulnerable region. The idea of creating maritime access corridors has already been adopted in some parts of Nunavut.

The lessons learnt from the environmental impact of the various rail corridor projects in Finland on the Sami people clearly demonstrate the vulnerability of a systemic approach that does not take account of the cultural and geographical environment. This approach, centered on industrial needs, must not be reproduced in the Arctic. This book shows examples of a much more responsible approach, adapted to the populations and environment endemic to the Arctic, such as the practice of responsible fishing or the establishment of shipping corridors with low environmental impact. The main merit of this book is that it shows that solutions for respecting the environment cannot be based solely on the industrial players involved locally, but that a more sustainable approach must prevail, based on the needs of local populations who have a more sustainable and sociable vision of the exploitation of Arctic resources. The modes of governance must be more conducive to research in this direction rather than seeking to make the exploitation of resources acceptable as a source of profit, even if some of the profit is destined for local populations.

The holistic approach of this book means that all the topics covered are highly accessible to all readers, whether they are students, teachers, industrialists or simply anyone interested in the development of the Arctic. The quality of the authors, who are all outstanding specialists in their respective fields, lends enormous credence to this study, which covers an area that is still poorly analyzed or even neglected. This book “Supply Chain Operations in the Arctic: Implications for Social Sustainability” fills this gap”.

Hervé Baudu, Senior lecturer in Arctic nautical sciences, French Maritime Academy

“This book, with contributions from a global set of academic authors, deals with two different yet related topics within Supply Chain Management (SCM), namely social responsibility and supply chain operations, with focus on the Arctic. This part of the world is characterized by rough weather conditions, a vulnerable natural environment, and dispersed settlements often with weak connectivity to regional centres. Therefore, balancing the social, environmental, and economic outcomes of supply chain activities is of paramount importance in these areas. The volume deals with interesting and relevant elements from the rather broad field of SCM, like production, transportation, sustainability, and resilience, with social responsibility as a common denominator. These elements are put into an Arctic context by means of numerous case studies. Articles on health care provision and accessibility in rural areas, extraction of natural resources through fisheries and herding, social responsiveness, tourism in the vulnerable Arctic, carbon capture and storage (CCS) to reduce global warming, and various aspects of transportation are provided to illustrate the importance of having the social part of the ‘triple bottom line’ in mind. The book ends with useful reflections on future directions for research. It will be extremely useful for students, academics and others who are interested in the Arctic, with its steadily increasing pressure on resource extraction and geo-political activities. The relevance is underlined by the fact that the literature on SCM in the Arctic is scarce. Hence, this book gives a timely and important contribution.

Svein Bråthen, Professor in Transport Economics, Molde University College, Norway

1.

“This volume widens the understanding of the discipline of Supply Chain Management and includes a neglected dimension in Arctic logistics and transportation research. It is made abundantly clear that supply chains are essential not only for economic activities, but also for social conditions. Thus, it includes analyses of local food supply, safe maternity services, sustainable reindeer herding and tourism. Interview data and an anthropological approach bring out information from locations hitherto poorly researched. But the book also provides comprehensive and new insights in large infrastructure projects connected to oil development, shipping and railway construction and explains how such projects can collide with environmental and social sustainability. By using supply chain management as a common framework – but not a straitjacket – the reader easily sees the commonalities and links between very different areas of activity in the Arctic. A rich literature review is very useful for students and scholars who want to pursue further research.”

Arild Moe,Research Professor, Fridtjof Nansen Institute, Norway

2.

“This well-written book, edited by Antonina Tsvetkova and Konstantin Timoshenko, two well-known experts in supply chain and Arctic issues in which renowned experts took part, questions the development of the Arctic in a very interesting way. It stresses the complexity of the Arctic environment and the need to implement a sustainable supply chain. The authors approach this topic from economic, human, and environmental perspectives. One of the innovative contributions of the book is to question the integration of northern communities into the development of the Arctic area. The authors demonstrate that these communities’ knowledge of the complexity of the system is a major asset for the implementation of a sustainable supply chain system. They highlight that Arctic development, and therefore sustainable supply chains, cannot be implemented without the involvement of Nordic communities. To conclude, I would say that this book is a very well-written book, in which esteemed experts have participated in examining the development of the Arctic in a very interesting way and shed new light on the sustainable development of Arctic regions.”

Olivier Faury, Associate Professor in Supply Chain Management and Logistics, EM Normandie Business School, Le Havre, France

3.

“The emerging and necessary societal dialogue about the expansion of supply chain operations in the Arctic requires comprehensive and transparent evaluation of its environmental, social and economic implications. To date, the topic has largely been explored from an environmental perspective, presenting an important, but one-sided argument. ‘Supply Chain Operations in the Arctic: Implications for Social Sustainability’ offers valuable insights to support a balanced discussion to shape the path ahead for socially responsible supply chain practices in the Arctic.”

Niklas Witte, Sustainability Manager Hamburg Süd, Germany

4.

“This is a pioneering book focusing on social responsibility in the unique region: the Arctic. The book addresses the issue in the Arctic through the lens of supply chain management and operations. It is an insightful collection of thirteen relevant topics contributed by prestigious experts and scholars from the Arctic. The well-researched book provides valuable and broad knowledge on social responsibility and sustainable development in the Arctic.”

Zhi Tao, Associate Professor in Logistics, University of Alaska Anchorage, USA

“The absolute merit of the contributors of the book is that they are trying to be original innovators in their creative search as social researchers in the Arctic. Familiar stories suddenly unfold according to the paradigm of supply chain operations. Sometimes it turns out very appropriate, sometimes hysterically, sometimes artificially. But the original idea to combine the incompatible - the economy of supply chain operations and Social Sustainability - as the editors’ mind game - deserves unconditional support.”

Alexander Pilyasov,Professor, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Chairman of the Russian Section of the European Regional Science Association, Director of the Center for the Arctic and Northern Economy, Russia

“This is an enthusiastic book that offers captivating insights into a multiplicity of supply chain management practices across various Arctic regions. It highlights the often-overlooked social implications, making it an important contribution to Arctic research. With its diverse collection of case studies, rigorous research, and thought-provoking content, it will undoubtedly be of great interest to scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.”

Frode Mellemvik, Professor, Director of High North Center for Business and Governance, Nord University, Norway

“The absolute merit of the contributors of the book is that they are trying to be original innovators in their creative search as social researchers in the Arctic. Familiar stories suddenly unfold according to the paradigm of supply chain operations. Sometimes it turns out very appropriate, sometimes hysterically, sometimes artificially. But the original idea to combine the incompatible - the economy of supply chain operations and Social Sustainability - as the editors’ mind game - deserves unconditional support.”

Alexander Pilyasov,Professor, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Chairman of the Russian Section of the European Regional Science Association, Director of the Center for the Arctic and Northern Economy, Russia

“The Arctic region is warming four times faster than the rest of the planet. Freed from the pack ice that melts in summer, access routes to hydrocarbon resources and various ports are more numerous and easily accessible. However, the Arctic region is not like other regions due to its lack of industrial infrastructure, its geography and, above all, the way of life of the local populations who live along the Arctic coastline. Logistics supply operations are complex and often require costly dedicated resources to respect this environment, which is more fragile than elsewhere. While the Arctic is the subject of numerous scientific publications, particularly on climate, there are fewer studies on the logistical and sociological issues centered around the demands of local populations. This is precisely what this book does remarkably well and accurately, covering all the subjects it covers.

Reading the 13 chapters, which cover a wide range of topics, provides a spectacular overview of all the issues involved in logistics operations in this hostile region, which is only accessible during the summer months. These different studies give a large place to the problems of the Indigenous peoples for whom supplies, mainly by sea, are essential. All these studies lead to the same conclusion. The Arctic is a region that is opening up as a result of climate change and the potential for exploiting its resources. All the experts are unanimous in saying that the ecosystem needs to be managed in a sustainable way by giving priority to shipping corridors, but above all, by placing greater trust in the management of resources by local populations. Because it is remarkably clear that all the issues linked to preserving the environment and ensuring the safety of supply chains have the same thing in common: taking account of local populations. Although the deadlines may still seem a long way off (between 2024 and 2029), the ban on the use of heavy fuel oil as fuel for ships in the Arctic Ocean is a strong sign of the need to preserve this particularly vulnerable region. The idea of creating maritime access corridors has already been adopted in some parts of Nunavut.

The lessons learnt from the environmental impact of the various rail corridor projects in Finland on the Sami people clearly demonstrate the vulnerability of a systemic approach that does not take account of the cultural and geographical environment. This approach, centered on industrial needs, must not be reproduced in the Arctic. This book shows examples of a much more responsible approach, adapted to the populations and environment endemic to the Arctic, such as the practice of responsible fishing or the establishment of shipping corridors with low environmental impact. The main merit of this book is that it shows that solutions for respe