Dispositions and conditioning towards sustainability in the supply chain: a habitus perspective in the field of shipping

ABSTRACT The concept of habitus is instrumental in generating sociological understanding of governance and sustainability from an environmental perspective. In this study, the concept has been brought into play to better understand agents’ disposition and conditioning towards sustainable practices in the supply chain. Based on Bourdieu’s formulation of habitus and on prior literature, four theoretical propositions are defined and assessed. A multiple case study in the field of shipping is the focus of this research, intended to shed light on how agents´ habitus conditions the way sustainable development goals, such as climate action and life under water, are practiced in the maritime industry. The results highlight the role of several types of habitus that predispose agents to certain ways of mobilising supply chain material, legal, and institutional assets towards the practice of environmental sustainability. We discuss these findings, stressing the role of boundary objects as instrumental in supporting sustainable practices. Moreover, we discuss the transposition of habitus from one field to another and its implications for sustainable practices in the supply chain. We conclude with the theoretical contributions and practical applications stemming from this research.