Fabio Iraldo

An application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as a green marketing tool for agricultural products: the case of extra-virgin olive oil in Val di Cornia, Italy

In recent years, the interest in environmental issues has increased, along with the idea that consumer choices can actually improve the performance of the production system. A large number of eco-labelling schemes have been introduced, both at private and public levels. In this study, we apply a life-cycle methodology to assess the environmental impacts associated with extra-virgin olive oil production. The results of LCA were used to set the environmental requirements of a local product qualification scheme defined according to the National Protocol (QUAM – Qualità Ambientale), signed by two Italian Ministries and four Regional Governments, on the environmental qualification of cluster products. Using the three performance indicators taken from the LCA study and two input indicators, we defined a set of entry level requirements which each local producer must comply with in order to achieve the qualification.

A cluster-based approach as an effective way to implement the Environmental Compliance Assistance Programme: evidence from some good practices

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are to be considered a crucial target if policy makers really want to pursue sustainable development. These companies are responsible for a large share of business environmental impacts, but they show a low awareness about it and on environmental legislation. Our article aims at demonstrating how an innovative approach to environmental management, the “cluster approach”, can be an effective tool to improving the compliance of SMEs and, as a consequence, their environmental performance. The local experiences, analysed in our work, show the effectiveness of the cluster approach to strengthen the environmental competence and know-how at the local level, as well as the improvement of environmental performances of both individual SMEs and of the entire productive areas. How to develop the cluster approach and include it structurally in policy-making should be the question for future research and experimental initiatives, such as the on-going ECCELSA project.

Exploring the link between institutional pressures and environmental management systems effectiveness: An empirical study

Institutional theory has been widely debated by scholars. A part of literature examines how institutional pressures act on company choices regarding proactive environmental strategies. However, the institutional perspective has still not completely clarified the influence of these pressures on the effectiveness of environmental management systems (EMSs) in achieving goals in terms of eco-innovation, competitiveness and corporate reputation. This paper analyses the role played by coercive, mimetic and normative forces in stimulating innovative and competitive responses by firms with an environmental certification. Using the results of a survey on 242 European EMAS-registered organisations, the paper highlights the more positive influence of mimetic and normative pressures than coercive ones. The paper contributes to the literature debate on EMSs analysed through the lens of institutional theory.

The Impact of Wide-Scale Sport Events on Local Development: An Assessment of the XXth Torino Olympics Through the Sustainability Report

This paper examines the process and outcome of the sustainability reporting on the last Olympic Winter Games, held in Torino in February 2006, basing on the experience of Bocconi University as scientific partner in such process. Compared to previous Games, Torino Olympics were characterized by a structured sustainability strategy, whose accountability process turns out to be useful in analysing and discussing the contribution to territorial development for hosting areas related to the organisation of the event.

The Determinants of Innovation in Green Supply Chains: Evidence from an Italian Sectoral Study

In the last years attention has increased to the eco-innovation topic. Empirical studies have demonstrated that innovating firms grow faster, have higher productivity and are more profitable than their less innovative counterparts (Geroski et al., 1993; Roper and Hewitt-Dundas, 1998). Drawing upon a database of over 300 enterprises operating within eight defined green production chains working in the Province of Milan, this paper assesses the determinants and drawbacks of innovation. In particular, using an econometrical approach, we tested the following propositions: a) small dimension of enterprises is an obstacle to their innovation power; b) The adoption of an international strategy of production and commercialisation is an opportunity and a stimulus to eco-innovation; c) cooperation with research partners can help SMEs to overcome difficulties and help them to develop and offer eco-sustainable products and services. The econometric analysis shows a positive impact of dimension and level of internationalization on innovation capabilities. In addition, cooperation with research centers and access to capital market are positively related with effective innovations.

Examining green public procurement using content analysis: existing difficulties for procurers and useful recommendations

Green public procurement (GPP) promises great potential for improving the environmental impact of many public organizations. However, the effects this instrument will have in the near future are unclear as there is little evidence on its exact level of engagement. This study thus aims to analyze the contents of tenders in terms of green criteria by specifically focusing on the building and construction sector. A total of 164 Italian public tenders were analyzed according to a protocol of analysis based on the GPP toolkit developed by the European Commission. Starting from a content analysis used in previous studies, a complete list of green criteria was developed in order to investigate their prevalence in the sample selected, with the aim of exploring their frequency, distribution and correlation. The results revealed a limited use of green criteria, which were mainly included as technical specifications and award criteria, thus shedding light on the difficulties that procurers are experiencing in the implementation of GPP practices. Several suggestions for policy makers and managers are identified for a better and faster implementation of green public procurement tools and methods.

The implementation of an Environmental Management System in a North-African local public administration: the case of the City Council of Marrakech (Morocco)

This paper analyses the case of ISO 14001 certification in the City of Marrakech (Morocco). The case study defines the methods and approaches used in the implementation of the Environmental Management System (EMS), highlighting what were the main differences and the rationale and expected benefits of the certification process for the city. The paper aims to compare this experience with similar experiences of Western local authorities described in the literature by analysing drivers, motivations, benefits and barriers in EMS adoption. To achieve this goal, the paper reports, among other results, the outcome of a survey of the environmental perception of the City population carried out in the ISO 14001 implementation in order to identify how and if the attainment of ISO 14001 certification could be valorised by the City of Marrakech with regard to the citizens’ perception. From this enquiry it emerges that a relevant sensibility of the population related to numerous environmental issues can be stimulated by ISO 14001 certification. The case study shows that an approach foreseeing a strong involvement of the stakeholders can be particularly effective as it responds to the specificities of non-EU contexts.

Environmental Management System and SMEs: EU Experience, Barriers and Perspectives

SMEs are defined as enterprises which employ less than 250 employees and which have an annual turnover not exceeding €50 million, and/or an overall balance sheet not exceeding €43 millions (European Commission 2003). There are some 23 million SMEs in the EU providing approximately 75 million jobs (66% of private employment and up to 80% in some industrial sectors such as textile, construction or furniture) (European Commission 2005) . Moreover, micro enterprises

The effectiveness of cluster approach to improve environmental corporate performance in an industrial district of SMEs: a case study

This paper aims to assess the effectiveness of the so-called ‘Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) cluster approach’ when applied to environmental policies, by focusing on the case history of the industrial paper production cluster located in the Province of Lucca (Italy). The Lucca cluster represents approximately 20% of Italian paper production, and Italy is the fourth leading paper producer in Europe. In the last 10 years, environmental policies have been developed under the common ‘umbrella’ of a strong public and private partnership based on stakeholder networking within the application of the EU EMAS Regulation. This article evaluates the outcome of such an approach, by comparing the environmental performance indicators for the Lucca’s paper industry using data collected from more than 40 plants before and after the adoption of this voluntary tool. The results show considerable improvements for many environmental performance indicators, consistently with the implementation of the cluster approach.

A Cluster-Based Approach for the Application of EMAS

This paper analyses the benefits of the cluster approach in adopting EMAS (the EC Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) by some companies operating in the territorial area of Lucca. The cluster approach proves to be effective in stimulating and supporting the adoption of EMAS and, more in general, to provide a better environmental management by the interested companies. In order to start up and maintain this particular networking approach, there is to be a strong motivation by one or more actors in the cluster that are able to take the initiative and make shared resources and common tools available for the involved organisations. This motivation could be an EMAS related recognition or award for the Promotion Committee. In addition to that, it has to be stressed that accredited verifiers must be fully involved in the application of this kind of approaches, in order to really enable (and promote) the use of shared resources and common tools by all the organisations of a cluster.