Sustainability Transitions and Industrial Transformation: Multi-Sector Dynamics and Policy Perspectives | 2026
Authors: Thune T.; Mäkitie T.
DOI: 10.1007/978-981-95-4893-4_9
Journal: Sustainability Transitions and Industrial Transformation: Multi-Sector Dynamics and Policy Perspectives
Year: 2026
Publisher: Springer Nature
Document Type: Book chapter
Open Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access
Cited by: 0
Attention to industry structures and value chain relations is a useful complement to the literature on incumbent firm behaviour in sustainability transitions. In this chapter, we are interested in understanding mimetic behaviour between lead and follower firms and explore whether positions and relationships in value chains may influence how and when firms engage in sustainability reorientation. We study this issue through a detailed case study of two large incumbent firms in the Norwegian oil and gas value chain. Through an event-based analysis covering developments over a 15-year period, we outline how the two firms over time developed sustainability strategies and initiatives. The chapter discusses how the relationship between the two firms have influenced sustainability reorientation in different ways and finally, discusses the value of looking at value chains and inter-firm relationships when investigating the role of firms and industries in sustainability transitions. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2026.
Sustainable development; Case-studies; Event-based; Gas value chains; Industry structures; Inter-firm relationships; Mimetics; Oil and gas; Sustainability strategies; Sustainability transition; Value chains; Chains