Michela Melis

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.

Environmental Strategies by the Banking Sector: Case Studies in the Italian Context

Up to today, researches and studies have been focused, from time to time, on the different financial tools through which a bank may affect the environment, with the aim of understanding the drivers and barriers that can influence their adoption and successful implementation. The paper aims at providing a more in-depth analysis of the ways in which a bank sets up and implements these different available tools, when it comes to deciding the strategies and the objectives for the business channels on which it focuses. By means of a case-study methodological approach, the experiences of three Italian banks are analysed, with the ultimate goal of identifying a clear-cut framework of conditions that have to be ensured in order to guarantee the effectiveness of banks’ environmental strategies. Findings provide evidence that, in order to be effective, these strategies should rely on well-designed specific tools, that are able to guarantee the right balance between: i) the positive impact on the environment, ii) the attractiveness for the clients and iii) the financial and competitive feasibility for the bank.

How Does EMAS Affect Organisations? Efforts and Competitive Rewards? Analysis of the Drivers, Barriers and Benefits Connected with the EU Scheme

In sight of the incoming revision process relating to the two most important voluntary instruments of the European Commission - the EMAS Scheme and the EU Eco-label - the Ever Study has been carried out on behalf of DG Environment by a consortium of consultants led by Iefe - Bocconi University. The fundamental aim of the Ever Study was to provide recommendations for the revision of both the voluntary schemes. As regards in particular EMAS, the Study aimed at delivering a critical appraisal of the instrument, in terms of relevance, effectiveness and efficiency. Furthermore, it identified the drivers and barriers of the scheme, and investigate its effectiveness (i.e. appropriateness as policy instrument) and viability. The Study provided the Commission with recommendations by detailing options for improvement. This paper aims at describing the results of the Ever Study, with specific reference to Emas barriers, drivers, benefits and impact on competitiveness, on the basis of the evidence collected in the different phases of the Study: the ‘desk research’ - consisting of a thorough review of existing literature and previous studies and surveys on the schemes - and the ‘in-field’ research, carried out by way of direct interviews and case studies, provided the background relating to their strengths and weaknesses.