Implementation of a Supply Chain Sustainability Risk Analysis Methodology: A Case Study on the European Union’s Import Partners

This thesis develops and applies a country-level supply chain sustainability risk assessment framework to evaluate the environmental, social, and economic sustainability risks of the European Union’s top 20 import partners. Based on publicly available indexes and indicators, seven different weighting scenarios were tested to examine how prioritizing different sustainability dimensions affects each country’s final risk score and ranking. The results show that most countries fall within the ‘low-risk’ to ‘medium-risk’ categories, with no country reaching ‘critically high-risk’. Norway consistently performs the best across all scenarios, while India ranks the lowest, reflecting persistent and widespread sustainability challenges. Countries like Switzerland and the United Kingdom maintain strong performance across all scenarios, suggesting a well-integrated approach to sustainability governance. In contrast, mid-ranking countries such as Morocco, Vietnam, and Brazil show more variation depending on the weighting model, indicating unbalanced performance across different sustainability aspects. Overall, the framework provides a practical tool for identifying country-level sustainability risks in global trade relationships. Its broad coverage and adaptable structure make it useful for policymakers, businesses, and organizations aiming to understand and address sustainability risks in international supply chains.