The interconnections of lock-in mechanisms in the forest-based bioeconomy transition towards sustainability

Abstract

Complex systems and changes in their structures and processes directed towards more sustainable practices have been increasingly investigated. However, such transitions towards sustainability have often been hindered by lock-in, where positive feedback locks the system into a certain outcome. In the forest-based bioeconomy transition in the boreal region, lock-in has played a two-fold role. On the one hand, it has driven force-resisting changes, whereas on the other hand, it has accelerated the implementation of novel practices. Qualitative and quantitative approaches were employed in this dissertation to identify the types, effects and related alternative outcomes of interconnections of lock-in mechanisms in the transition of complex systems towards sustainability in the context of the forest-based bioeconomy. The results identify maintaining interconnections supporting lock-in and transformational interconnections facilitating lock-out, not only in historical transition but also in future renewal. In addition, the effects of interconnections and related outcomes, such as a diversified product range and improved environmental sustainability, have been made visible in the forest-based bioeconomy transition. A wide, systemic view of this dissertation enables a comprehensive understanding of the interconnections of complex system transitions in terms of company-level practices and critical ecological limitations.