Natalia Marzia Gusmerotti

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.

Assessment and governance of Ecosystem Services for improving management effectiveness of Natura 2000 sites

The Natura 2000 network is the cornerstone of the EU Biodiversity Strategy aimed at halting the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Yet in many EU Member States the level of development and execution of management plans and conservation measures of Natura 2000 sites is often very low due to scarce financial resources; for this reason management effectiveness is rarely achieved. This paper presents initial insights from the Life+ MGN project and highlights the costs and benefits associated with 2 out of 21 Natura 2000 study sites in Italy in order to present a new governance approach relying on the qualitative and quantitative valuation of Ecosystem Services (ES). Preliminary results suggest that the quantification of costs and benefits related to the Natura 2000 network is crucial for reaching Natura 2000 conservation objectives and measuring management effectiveness.

Predictors of organizational citizenship behavior in relation to environmental and health & safety issues

Abstract Organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) in relation to the environment and health and safety, commonly shaped by individual and voluntary initiatives, are essential factors for a smooth and efficient organization in firms. Our research explores the factors affecting OCBs related to environmental and health and safety issues in a Multinational Enterprise (MNE) operating in the oil & gas sector. More in detail, we tested the influence of personal attitudes, self-efficacy, organizational support and social norm on OCBs related to environmental and health and safety issues. The results show that personal attitudes and self-efficacy positively influence OCBs related to environmental and health and safety issues and those factors are influenced respectively by perceived organizational support and social norm. Moreover, we found that attitudes play a full mediation between social norm and OCBs related to environmental and health and safety issues and that organizational support on organization citizenship behavior for the environment and health and safety that is partially mediated through the perceived self efficacy. Finally, the results of our investigation are contextualized in the theoretical and managerial frameworks pointing to a number of avenues for further research.

Exploring waste prevention behaviour through empirical research

Waste prevention is currently a critical issue, and our research aims to provide a more nuanced view by examining the determinants of individual behaviour when deciding to either purchase a certain item or to extend the life of an owned item through repair or reuse activities. Our research has two main aims: (1) to examine the importance that being aware of consequences and personal norms have in shaping positive attitudes towards waste prevention behaviour; and (2) to explore the relationship between attitudes and perceived behavioural control on waste prevention by testing the mediation effects of perceived behavioural control and waste prevention behaviour. The research is based on 375 questionnaires collected in Pietra Ligure, a municipality located in Northwest Italy. Data were modelled using a structural equation model to test the hypotheses. The findings show that awareness of the consequences is a fundamental driver of waste prevention attitudes while personal norms are not. The findings also confirm a positive relationship between attitudes and perceived behavioural control. Finally, a positive significant relationship was found between perceived behavioural control and waste prevention behaviour, and between social norms and waste prevention behaviour. The results of our investigation are contextualised in theoretical, political and managerial frameworks and suggest several avenues for further research.

Assessing the role of preparation for reuse in waste-prevention strategies by analytical hierarchical process: suggestions for an optimal implementation in waste management supply chain

Reuse is one of the most important waste-prevention strategies. Although the importance of preparation for reuse is clear, preparation centres for reuse are not common in the traditional waste management supply chain. An analysis of their contribution in waste-prevention strategies is therefore needed. Our research evaluates three preparations for reuse scenarios in municipal solid waste management with an analytic hierarchy process (AHP). These alternatives were assessed with three criteria: economic, social and environmental. Sensitivity analyses were performed to study the impact on the final ranking of changes in various parameters. Results highlight that the best alternative is to include the preparation for reuse in the waste management supply chain, with a moderate recourse to it. The study sheds light on how managers can better plan preparation for reuse activities and provides new trajectories for future research.

Servizi ecosistemici e biodiversità: una nuova prospettiva per un’economia più sostenibile

Purpose of paper : This paper aims at building a bridge among management studies, natural sciences and ecological economics. Concepts such as ecosystem services and biodiversity are introduced with the purpose to provide a new perspective to sustainability management. Methodology : The paper is theoretical. Constructs and tools developed in other disciplines are illustrated and discussed in order to provide a new knowledge platform to management studies. Results : The main results are: a) a theoretical framework to illustrate the relation of interdependence between the firm with the social-ecological systems; b) an exam of the most important economic tools developed to protect ecosystem services and biodiversity; c) analyze the main implications of the management of the firm. Limits of the study : This is a first study aiming at opening new research avenues both theoretical and empirical. Qualitative (e.g. case studies) and quantitative research can stem from this contribution. Practical implications : The theoretical framework and the economic tools analyzed in this paper provide several hints and suggestions to develop a more environmentally sustainable management strategy. Novelty of the paper : The paper broadens managerial literature introducing new constructs and concepts from natural sciences. This new perspective helps to position the firm into the social-ecological system, favoring a more coherent interpretation of the relation of interdependence with the natural environment.

Food sharing: Making sense between new business models and responsible social initiatives for food waste prevention

In the context of circular economy, food waste represents an important challenge. Recently some initiatives emerged in fighting and preventing food waste using digital technologies. Food sharing platforms allow individuals and businesses (e.g. retailers, producers, local shops) to share surplus food to other platform users. Our study aims at exploring which models are adopted in food sharing practices based on market orientation (for-profit or non-profit) and market structure (peer-to-peer or business-to-peer), and their contribution to the food waste prevention. Using content analysis, our results indicate there are two typologies of social initiatives and two prevailing business models: social sharing platforms, corporate social sharing platforms, social eating platforms (SE business model) and food alerting platform (FAP business model). Despite the positive social and environmental impact, these initiatives have to face some criticisms due to the lack of a dominant player and the high fragmentation of users among the existing platforms.