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Tales from the countryside: Unpacking “passing the environmental buck” as hypocritical practice in the food supply chain

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  • Glover, Jane
  • Touboulic, Anne

Abstract

Using a critical power lens and the concept of organisational hypocrisy, we explore how actors across the supply chain have been able to pass risk and responsibility for environmental impacts down the supply chain, in addition to associated economic costs. We use vignettes to relay farmers’ experiences and voices, which remain seldom heard in both practice and research. We argue that the main effect of the hypocritical practice of ‘passing the environmental buck’ is a removal of the farmers’ agency, paradoxically coupled with an increase in their responsibilities. We see this approach by large corporations as a mechanism that helps to mask their increasing dependence on this group to achieve their environmental goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Glover, Jane & Touboulic, Anne, 2020. "Tales from the countryside: Unpacking “passing the environmental buck” as hypocritical practice in the food supply chain," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 33-46.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:121:y:2020:i:c:p:33-46
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.06.066
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    1. Else, Tim & Choudhary, Sonal & Genovese, Andrea, 2022. "Uncovering sustainability storylines from dairy supply chain discourse," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 858-874.

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