Hidden Cost Of Production

How do we want to live and work? This is the central question that Stefan Gold explores in his studies. He conducts research and teaches as Professor of Sustainability Management at TUM Campus Straubing . His focus is on the social dimension of sustainability. "I look at companies from a management perspective and ask how they can design their business models and supply chains to consume fewer resources while offering decent work," says Gold.

Modern supply chains, for example in the agricultural, electronics or textile industries, extend across many companies in different countries. They are often fragmented and subject to constant change, whether due to economic crises, political conflicts or wars. This makes it difficult to understand the actual working conditions on the ground. "When production steps are outsourced to other countries, this creates new jobs and direct investment locally," says Gold. "At the same time, however, it can also lead to serious problems in terms of human and labor rights. My team and I are deeply committed to helping improve this situation, at least to some extent."

That is why, in one of his research projects, he is developing a tool to better detect modern slavery. The term refers to exploitative working conditions in which people are deprived of their rights and freedoms for personal or commercial gain. Human rights organizations estimate that 50 million people worldwide are affected.

Using AI to combat exploitative working conditions

As a first step, the team led by Stefan Gold and Prof. Dr. André Hanelt from the University of Kassel has built a database of confirmed cases of modern slavery. The database includes press reports, research articles and court rulings. Based on this data, the next step will be to use software trained with artificial intelligence to identify where particular risks of exploitative working conditions exist along global value chains. Stefan Gold is convinced that this can help trade unions, non-governmental organizations and companies to identify cases of modern slavery more easily. "We want to enable civil society actors to become politically active and draw attention to critical issues."

Prior to joining TUM, Stefan Gold conducted research at the University of Kassel and, before that, the University of Nottingham. There, using the example of the British construction sector, he examined how actors from companies, associations, NGOs and politics interpreted the contested concept of modern slavery differently in their communication - and how this made effective countermeasures in the sector more difficult. The findings of this study were incorporated into the British Standard on organizational responses to modern slavery.

Tools for transformation

A second focus of Stefan Gold's work is the circular economy. He develops management tools designed to help companies use resources as efficiently as possible, close loops, and integrate aspects of social sustainability into business models. "We analyze how value is created, which customer segment is promising, which technology should be used and which partnerships are needed. It is also crucial that the business model is economically sustainable and can therefore actually be implemented."

Professor Gold says that he has found an ideal environment for his research at TUM: "At Campus Straubing, everything revolves around sustainability. It provides the interdisciplinary input from the natural sciences, engineering, and social sciences that we need to answer research questions in this field."

He particularly values the fact that these diverse perspectives are also reflected in the teaching and degree programs at Campus Straubing. "My goal is to equip students, from a management perspective, with tools for today and for tomorrow that will help them better address the challenges facing our world," he says. "Ultimately, sustainability is the active shaping of social and ecological transformation in the sense of 'change by design' rather than 'change by disaster'."