1,721,003 research outputs found
Exploring the feasibility of introducing electric freight vehicles in the short food supply chain: A multi-stakeholder approach
No full textThe transition towards more sustainable approaches in the Food Supply Chain was concretely visible in the implementation of alternative models, like the Short Food Supply Chain. Some authors raise doubts on the environmental impact of this model, in particular for the externalities caused by the transport system, suggesting the adoption of Electric Freight vehicles. By adopting a multi-stakeholder approach, the objective of this study is to explore both the barriers and potentialities involved in the adoption of Electric Freight vehicles in the Short Food Supply Chain, and the existence of a shared strategy at the system level able to foster their adoption. Results suggest that, for entrepreneurs, Electric Freight vehicles appear as a viable option, although more efforts are still needed at a governmental level, through the promotion of public measures in the form of support for purchasing costs or rental rate and offering technical expertise services. In terms of infrastructures, as is clear from in-terviews, improving the charging infrastructure efficiency to ensure EFVs shift optimisation and increasing the number of charging points are today a priority. On the whole, more collaborative methods should be inaugu-rated, contributing to a shared vision of urban mobility which takes into account all supply chain actors (charging point operators, automotive industry, rental car services, farmers, and local authorities) to ensure the system works in a more efficient way
The contribution of a supplier of the food and beverage industry to the sustainability of the overall supply chain
No full textAchieving sustainable scopes in a supply chain context entails structural changes at all tiers. Recently, scholars investigated different models able to achieve a sustainable supply chain management. With the aim to explain which factors, at the single supplier level, could reassure a focal firm as regards the compliance of sub-suppliers toward sustainability principles, a case study was performed on a company of the food and beverage packaging industry, based on the natural resources-based view of the firm. Results show the leading role that, a major supplier, can play in promoting sub-suppliers' compliance towards sustainable principles. Reputation, legitimacy and concerns about future positioning in the market, are guiding factors able to influence the strategies adopted towards sub-suppliers. Implications for focal firms' managers suggest to invest more in relationships with those suppliers able to demonstrate reliable sustainable management systems, with proven commitments to product stewardship and greener technologies
Driving forces affecting the adoption of certifications in the forest-based industry: a systematic literature review
No full textSeveral forest certification schemes have become increasingly popular over the last few decades as voluntary mechanisms to tack sustainability in the forest-based industry to an environmental, social, and economic paradigm. This study aims to systematically review the economic literature on the main motivational factors affecting the adoption of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) certifications in order to perform a broadly theoretical assessment of this research field and identify the most relevant driving forces affecting the adoption of third-party certification in the forest-based industry. Results reveal that the most relevant mechanisms are linked to both market pressure and the opportunity to communicate social and environmental commitment. Other driving forces, such as moral and legal ones, have been little explored, although they play a key role in the entrepreneurs' choices, emphasising the need to explore more deeply the behavioural intention of forest owners and managers, adopting different theoretical lenses or developing new conceptual frameworks
THE MEDITERRANEAN'S GOLD: WHICH COMMERCIAL PROSPECTS FOR THE THUNNUS THYNNUS IN ITALY?
Full text linkBy taking into consideration the relevant role, in the international trade of Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus), played by Italy, aim of this work is assess the change in the Italian competitive advantage in the international market over the last decade (2008/2017), as a consequence of the Total Allowable Catch system together with size limits set by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). Investigating the main changes occurred in the Italian international trade balance, by focusing the attention on the relations with the main commercial partners operating in this industry, is of relevant importance to make available updated data to policy makers, managers and scholars in order to reflect on alternative solutions to increase profits in the international trade. By applying the Relative Trade Advantage Index, results show that Italy in the last decade, although maintained an overall profitable position in the international market, has been affected by drastic changes at system level, mainly caused by the ICCAT regulations aimed at reducing the Thunnus thynnus stock overfishing. Measures that led the country to modify commercial partners relations and also internal production business patterns, such as a fragmentation of the Thunnus thynnus supply chain related to the export line. Results suggest to both policy makers and stakeholders to activate alternative solutions to improve the trade volume (in money terms) of this sector, in so doing better exploiting the great potential of product, respecting at the same time the Bluefin Tuna sustainability programs
THE ENTREPRENEURS’ PROPENSITY TO ADOPT ELECTRIC MOBILITY IN THE SHORT FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN
Full text linkIn the last years, Short Food Supply Chain (SFSC) has gained relevant attention among the consumers, for its characteristics of environmental, economic and social sustainability. At the same time, recently some doubts has been raised about the environmental negative impacts that also SFSC is causing, despite the intrinsic “local” label. In particular, the reference is on the transport system and related CO2 emissions of SFSC that undermines the full achievement of environmental concerns. To deal with this challenge, electric vehicles (EVs) are seen as a viable and very promising alternative. Starting from these considerations, this study investigates the propensity of entrepreneurs operating in the SFSC to introduce EVs inside their business. In particular, in order to understand which factors affect this behaviour, the Theory of Planned Behaviour and New Ecological Paradigm have been used. Results show that farmers with high attitudes towards the shift from carbon transport systems to electrical ones, and which are more sensitive to ecological and environmental sustainability issues, are more willing to adopt EVs in their business. This is the first work that investigates the intention of local producers, operating in the SFSC, to introduce an EV for the freight transports, providing interesting theoretical, managerial and political implication, and addressing scholars towards future researches
Consumers perception of food safety related risk in the italian market
No full textThe aim of this paper is to define the factors affecting the consumers' perception on food risk associated to the consumption of products (i) containing food additives, (ii) obtained with the use of pesticides, and (iii) processed through novel food technologies, in relation to different socio-economic and demographic characteristics, the source of acquisition of information on food safety issues, and the place of purchase of food. The study is based on a sample of 392 consumers, living in Italy, and it uses three ordered probit estimation models to process data collected. Findings show that food risk perception is greater among youngsters, mainly for the additives and residual pesticides in foods, and among respondents which do not pose attention to the advice of friends or family members and acquire information by them. In overall, variables affecting the foods risk perception are different in relation to the three typologies of food issues. Our study provides some theoretical, managerial, and political implications
Developing a Blockchain-based Framework for Improving Customers' Loyalty to the Wine Brand: A Case Study
No full textthis paper focuses on the wine industry and explores how blockchain use cases, and blockchain-based applications including smart contracts, can improve the loyalty of customers to the wine brand. Starting from the strategies currently adopted in the wine industry to upgrade the customers’ loyalty towards the wine brands, the study aimsto propose potential applications of the BCT and smart contracts to make these strategies more effective and less expensive
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
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