Is there more to sustainability than shopping wisely?

Sustainability depends less on consumer choices and more on how supply chains are structured. Research on Brazil’s beef sector shows that, despite the BRSL initiative to improve sustainability, results fell short. Four types of distance geographical, organizational, cultural, and relational hindered collaboration. These gaps created communication problems and weakened trust among stakeholders. Real progress requires external mediators, such as governments or NGOs, to reconnect the entire supply chain.