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With PhDs in Business Management and in Physics of Materials, I am currently Innovation and Sustainability Manager at Gruppo Ceramiche Gresmalt in Sassuolo (Italy). In this position I am scientific director and coordinator of several important research and development projects co-financed by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development and the European Commission. I am also a collaborating professor at the Rey Juan Carlos University of Madrid, the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and the University of Pavia. Finally, I am a member of the Academy of Management and author of several scientific papers in the field of sustainability management in the manufacturing industry.
Risk management plays a key role in uncertain times, preventing corporations from acting rashly and incorrectly, allowing them to become flexible and resilient. A global turbulence such as the COVID-19 pandemic has had a strong impact on individual companies and entire economic sectors, raising the question of whether a paradigm shift is necessary, in order to enable a new cycle of development that is much environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. This environmental and socio-economic context of profound uncertainty forces organizations to consider more carefully the risk factors affecting their business continuity, as well as how these factors relate to sustainability issues. However, there is a gap in knowledge about how risk management systems relate to sustainability management systems, and how both of them exert influence on business performance, especially from a theoretical point of view. The aim of this study is to address this gap, by developing a new interpretative framework for the analysis of risk management strategies in organizations. This approach has been identified in economic hermeneutics as an innovative methodological tool to improve the knowledge of risk and design the most appropriate management strategies. The paper provides two main results: the first one is the construction of a theoretical model that relates risk management to sustainability management; the second one is an operational framework of multidimensional risk assessment useful for analysis at different levels (business, competitive scenario and system). Finally, the model also makes it possible to carry out a sustainability assessment through risk evaluation in the perspective of the sustainable development goals.
Davide Settembre-Blundo; Rocío González-Sánchez; Sonia Medina-Salgado; Fernando E. García-Muiña. Flexibility and Resilience in Corporate Decision Making: A New Sustainability-Based Risk Management System in Uncertain Times. Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management 2021, 1 -26.
AMA StyleDavide Settembre-Blundo, Rocío González-Sánchez, Sonia Medina-Salgado, Fernando E. García-Muiña. Flexibility and Resilience in Corporate Decision Making: A New Sustainability-Based Risk Management System in Uncertain Times. Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management. 2021; ():1-26.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDavide Settembre-Blundo; Rocío González-Sánchez; Sonia Medina-Salgado; Fernando E. García-Muiña. 2021. "Flexibility and Resilience in Corporate Decision Making: A New Sustainability-Based Risk Management System in Uncertain Times." Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management , no. : 1-26.
The e-waste sector is characterised by a rapid growth at global level and therefore involves an area not yet sufficiently investigated in its risk management dimension. This research fills the gap of the absence of a holistic approach to risk identification and assessment in e-waste management, suggesting a new Risk Awareness Indicator (RAI). An integrated Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA)-Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is proposed to calculate the new index. Weights and values will be proposed by twenty Big Four’s youngest consultants (generation-Z and millennials). For e-waste, cyber risks related to personal data are critical in the collection phase, environmental risks in the transport phase, and financial and economic risks in the processing phase. Recycling scenarios pose less overall risk than landfill alternatives. The results can help policy makers to meet the circular economy targets set at the European Union level by implementing administrative and regulatory simplifications to support recycling supply chains and make them more efficient and resilient after the pandemic disruption. This work focuses on e-waste and the opinion of screenagers consultants, however the methodology used to design the RAI index makes it easy to replicate the analysis to other social settings and other waste supply chains.
Andrea Appolloni; Idiano D’Adamo; Massimo Gastaldi; Ernesto D.R. Santibanez-Gonzalez; Davide Settembre-Blundo. Growing e-waste management risk awareness points toward new recycling scenarios: The view of the Big Four’s youngest consultants. Environmental Technology & Innovation 2021, 23, 101716 .
AMA StyleAndrea Appolloni, Idiano D’Adamo, Massimo Gastaldi, Ernesto D.R. Santibanez-Gonzalez, Davide Settembre-Blundo. Growing e-waste management risk awareness points toward new recycling scenarios: The view of the Big Four’s youngest consultants. Environmental Technology & Innovation. 2021; 23 ():101716.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAndrea Appolloni; Idiano D’Adamo; Massimo Gastaldi; Ernesto D.R. Santibanez-Gonzalez; Davide Settembre-Blundo. 2021. "Growing e-waste management risk awareness points toward new recycling scenarios: The view of the Big Four’s youngest consultants." Environmental Technology & Innovation 23, no. : 101716.
The pandemic has changed the citizens’ behavior, inducing them to avoid any real contact. This has given an incredible impulse to e-commerce; however, the complexity of the topic has not yet been adequately explored in the literature. To fill this gap, this study has a twofold purpose: (1) to investigate how European countries comparatively perform in e-commerce, and (2) to describe what are the most important challenges for the further expansion of e-commerce. To this end, we adopted a hybrid methodology based on multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and a Likert scale survey. The first method allows to us rank the e-commerce performance of different European countries, while the second one looks at the problems and barriers that characterize online shopping. The results of the study show that European countries have different sensitivities to the issue of cyber-security, and among them it is possible to identify three groups with different levels of attention to the critical issues of e-commerce. The Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark belong to the group of countries most responsive to e-commerce. This request is part of a broader framework of transition toward sustainable development, i.e., a reliable digital environment where citizens and businesses can exercise their rights and freedoms in complete security. Finally, from a theoretical perspective, this paper adds a new baseline to the literature on the state of the art of e-commerce in Europe that addresses the effects of the pandemic. From a managerial point of view, decision makers can find in the results of this analysis a support for the setting of business strategies for the expansion of firms in certain markets and guidance for public authorities when defining regulatory policies for e-commerce.
Idiano D’Adamo; Rocío González-Sánchez; Maria Medina-Salgado; Davide Settembre-Blundo. E-Commerce Calls for Cyber-Security and Sustainability: How European Citizens Look for a Trusted Online Environment. Sustainability 2021, 13, 6752 .
AMA StyleIdiano D’Adamo, Rocío González-Sánchez, Maria Medina-Salgado, Davide Settembre-Blundo. E-Commerce Calls for Cyber-Security and Sustainability: How European Citizens Look for a Trusted Online Environment. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (12):6752.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIdiano D’Adamo; Rocío González-Sánchez; Maria Medina-Salgado; Davide Settembre-Blundo. 2021. "E-Commerce Calls for Cyber-Security and Sustainability: How European Citizens Look for a Trusted Online Environment." Sustainability 13, no. 12: 6752.
Converging business, sustainability, and technology is a challenge that manufacturing firms face to create value and be competitive. Energy- and raw material-intensive manufacturing industries are particularly aware of environmental issues and circular economy practices due to the large amounts of resources they use. However, manufacturing companies must also be mindful of economic sustainability in order to make their business profitable. For this, appropriate economic evaluation tools are needed, one of which is life cycle costing (LCC). LCC, when applied to the manufacturing context, is often considered as a simple extension of the life cycle assessment (LCA). This is the main limitation of LCC, as it only contributes to determining the economic value of environmental damage. This research aims to overcome this limitation, analyzing the Italian ceramic tile manufacturing sector as a case study in order to conceptually develop, through the abductive methodology, a calculation framework that extends the potential of LCC by including circularity parameters. Subsequently, the conceptual framework is empirically validated using sectoral industrial costs by configuring two scenarios (with and without circularity practices) and building a benchmark for individual firms in this industry. Finally, the research includes some considerations on the positive implications and potential of life cycle costing in an open innovation context.
María Medina-Salgado; Fernando García-Muiña; Marco Cucchi; Davide Settembre-Blundo. Adaptive Life Cycle Costing (LCC) Modeling and Applying to Italy Ceramic Tile Manufacturing Sector: Its Implication of Open Innovation. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity 2021, 7, 101 .
AMA StyleMaría Medina-Salgado, Fernando García-Muiña, Marco Cucchi, Davide Settembre-Blundo. Adaptive Life Cycle Costing (LCC) Modeling and Applying to Italy Ceramic Tile Manufacturing Sector: Its Implication of Open Innovation. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity. 2021; 7 (1):101.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaría Medina-Salgado; Fernando García-Muiña; Marco Cucchi; Davide Settembre-Blundo. 2021. "Adaptive Life Cycle Costing (LCC) Modeling and Applying to Italy Ceramic Tile Manufacturing Sector: Its Implication of Open Innovation." Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity 7, no. 1: 101.
Nowadays, the buzzwords for organizations to be prepared for the competitive environment’s challenges are sustainability, digitalization, resilience and agility. However, despite the fact that these concepts have come into common use at the level of both scholars and practitioners, the nature of the relation between sustainability and resilience has not yet been sufficiently clarified. Above all, there is still no evidence of what factors determine greater resilience to change in an organization that also wants to be more sustainable, especially in times of crisis and discontinuity. This research aims to explore from a theoretical point of view, through the construction of a conceptual model, how these dimensions interact to help the business to become strategically resilient by leveraging digitization and agility as enablers. A new view of resilience arises from the study, which goes beyond the well-known ability to absorb or adapt to adversity, to also include a strategic attribute that could help companies capture change-related opportunities to design new ways of doing business under stress. A key set of strategically agile processes, enabled by digitalization, creates strategic resilience that also includes a proactive, opportunity-focused attitude in the face of change. Strategic resilience to lead to organizational sustainability must be understood as a multi-domain concept quite similar to the holistic view of sustainability: environment, economy and society. Finally, the research offers a set of propositions and a theoretical framework that can be empirically validated.
Antonio Miceli; Birgit Hagen; Maria Riccardi; Francesco Sotti; Davide Settembre-Blundo. Thriving, Not Just Surviving in Changing Times: How Sustainability, Agility and Digitalization Intertwine with Organizational Resilience. Sustainability 2021, 13, 2052 .
AMA StyleAntonio Miceli, Birgit Hagen, Maria Riccardi, Francesco Sotti, Davide Settembre-Blundo. Thriving, Not Just Surviving in Changing Times: How Sustainability, Agility and Digitalization Intertwine with Organizational Resilience. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (4):2052.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAntonio Miceli; Birgit Hagen; Maria Riccardi; Francesco Sotti; Davide Settembre-Blundo. 2021. "Thriving, Not Just Surviving in Changing Times: How Sustainability, Agility and Digitalization Intertwine with Organizational Resilience." Sustainability 13, no. 4: 2052.
With the advent of Industry 4.0, new technologies have been made available to companies in order to monitor, integrate and trace processes through integrated digital systems; thanks to a combination of sensors and control systems, manufacturing information are collected and processed so that a detailed database helpful for the monitoring and continuous improvement of the production plant can be built. The potentiality of this comprehensive data collection may be exploited also from an environmental point of view, with the aim to enhance the sustainability of processes; in fact, a large part of this data provides the basis for the Life Cycle Inventory (LCI), the most energy and time-consuming phase of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) which in this way could become quicker and dynamic. Based on a case study related to an Italian ceramic tile manufacturer, the aim of this paper is to describe the architecture and the application of the Dynamic LCA system that integrates the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system with a customized LCA tool through a Business Intelligence (BI) software. The model was tested on different levels of validation in order to verify first the proper functioning of the IT architecture and then the environmental impact results provided, both in a static and dynamic way. The validation processes were successful, and the Dynamic LCA system has proved to be a valuable tool for the evaluation and monitoring of environmental impacts related to the production process.
Anna Maria Ferrari; Lucrezia Volpi; Davide Settembre-Blundo; Fernando E. García-Muiña. Dynamic life cycle assessment (LCA) integrating life cycle inventory (LCI) and Enterprise resource planning (ERP) in an industry 4.0 environment. Journal of Cleaner Production 2020, 286, 125314 .
AMA StyleAnna Maria Ferrari, Lucrezia Volpi, Davide Settembre-Blundo, Fernando E. García-Muiña. Dynamic life cycle assessment (LCA) integrating life cycle inventory (LCI) and Enterprise resource planning (ERP) in an industry 4.0 environment. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2020; 286 ():125314.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnna Maria Ferrari; Lucrezia Volpi; Davide Settembre-Blundo; Fernando E. García-Muiña. 2020. "Dynamic life cycle assessment (LCA) integrating life cycle inventory (LCI) and Enterprise resource planning (ERP) in an industry 4.0 environment." Journal of Cleaner Production 286, no. : 125314.
This study examined the literature on social life-cycle assessment (S-LCA) published in the last 15 years (2003–2018) using bibliometric methods. Applying scientific mapping and analyzing publication performance, the study describes the structure of and trends in S-LCA publications in terms of related subject categories, authors, journals, countries, and highly cited articles. Challenges and research gaps in the S-LCA literature were also explored. The content of related papers published in the ISI Web of Science databases was examined to identify the main themes investigated, evolution of publication activity, and most representative elements. Analyses were conducted with SciMAT software. This tool enables researchers to map research specialties by extracting qualitative information in the specialized literature and representing it using quantitative measures. The results show rapid and exponential growth of the S-LCA research line in the past ten years, with a clear upward trend in related publications (mostly case studies), especially after publication of the UNEP/SETAC Guidelines for Social Life Cycle Assessment of Products in 2009: 66% of all articles published on S-LCA were published during the period 2015–2018, primarily by European authors. The findings also delineate S-LCA as a highly fragmented research field that has been applied to diverse sectors (agriculture, bioenergy, transport, water management, chemical products, electronics, etc.), mainly in non-European countries. Critical questions concerning methods, framework, paradigms, and indicators remain to be resolved. This study provides insight into the publication performance of S-LCA, characterizing its intellectual structure and salient authors and works. In identifying hotspots in the S-LCA research, the study provides a useful state-of-the-art reference guide for academics and reveals critical research gaps and potential research avenues for future studies to advance in consolidating the discipline.
Irene Huertas-Valdivia; Anna Ferrari; Davide Settembre-Blundo; Fernando García-Muiña. Social Life-Cycle Assessment: A Review by Bibliometric Analysis. Sustainability 2020, 12, 6211 .
AMA StyleIrene Huertas-Valdivia, Anna Ferrari, Davide Settembre-Blundo, Fernando García-Muiña. Social Life-Cycle Assessment: A Review by Bibliometric Analysis. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (15):6211.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIrene Huertas-Valdivia; Anna Ferrari; Davide Settembre-Blundo; Fernando García-Muiña. 2020. "Social Life-Cycle Assessment: A Review by Bibliometric Analysis." Sustainability 12, no. 15: 6211.
Circular economy is an alternative to the traditional production model and has therefore attracted a great deal of attention from researchers. The change in the production system is accompanied by new logistical needs related both to resources and waste and to the distribution and recovery of products. The circular supply chain involves return processes and the manufacturer intends to capture additional value in the supply chain. In this paper, value chains have been mapped to visualize the links and interactions between the different stages and actors to understand the complexities of these systems and to make informed decisions. For this reason, and based on thorough literature review, the final objective of this work is to achieve a conceptual framework to study circular supply chain, which uses the main theoretical perspectives in strategic management literature. Four dimensions have been identified to support the development of these new supply chains—greater intensity in the relationships established in the supply chain, adaptation of logistics and organizational, disruptive and smart technologies, and a functioning environment. It can be concluded that to develop a new relationship capacity will allow for reaching more frequent, closer relationships with more actors. These relationships will be developed within an adapted organizational and logistical framework that is framed in new business model archetypes. However, dimensions related to the business environment such as sectoral, legislative, and fiscal frameworks must be incorporated.
Rocío González-Sánchez; Davide Settembre-Blundo; Anna Maria Ferrari; Fernando E. García-Muiña. Main Dimensions in the Building of the Circular Supply Chain: A Literature Review. Sustainability 2020, 12, 2459 .
AMA StyleRocío González-Sánchez, Davide Settembre-Blundo, Anna Maria Ferrari, Fernando E. García-Muiña. Main Dimensions in the Building of the Circular Supply Chain: A Literature Review. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (6):2459.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRocío González-Sánchez; Davide Settembre-Blundo; Anna Maria Ferrari; Fernando E. García-Muiña. 2020. "Main Dimensions in the Building of the Circular Supply Chain: A Literature Review." Sustainability 12, no. 6: 2459.
For manufacturing companies, the transition to circular business models (CBMs) can be hampered both by the lack of relevant data and by operational tools. Eco-design, associated with Industry 4.0 IoT (Internet of Things) technologies, can be an effective methodological approach in developing products that are consistent with the principles of the circular economy. The reason is that, in the design phase, decisions are made that can significantly influence the degree of sustainability of products during their lifecycle. Therefore, in the manufacturing environment, eco-design represents an innovative approach to include sustainability among the traditional industrial variables such as functionality, aesthetics, quality, and profit. This study aimed to test eco-design as a tool to define the equilibrium point between sustainability and circular economy in the manufacturing environment of ceramic tile production, and to demonstrate how new business opportunities can be created through evolution from a linear to a circular business model, thanks to IoT and Industry 4.0 technologies used as enabling factors. The main result of this paper was the empirical validation in a manufacturing environment of sustainability paradigms through eco-design tools and digital technologies, proposing the circular business model as an operational tool to promote the competitiveness of enterprises.
Fernando E. Garcia-Muiña; Rocío González-Sánchez; Anna Maria Ferrari; Lucrezia Volpi; Martina Pini; Davide Settembre-Blundo. Identifying the Equilibrium Point between Sustainability Goals and Circular Economy Practices in an Industry 4.0 Manufacturing Context Using Eco-Design. Social Sciences 2019, 8, 241 .
AMA StyleFernando E. Garcia-Muiña, Rocío González-Sánchez, Anna Maria Ferrari, Lucrezia Volpi, Martina Pini, Davide Settembre-Blundo. Identifying the Equilibrium Point between Sustainability Goals and Circular Economy Practices in an Industry 4.0 Manufacturing Context Using Eco-Design. Social Sciences. 2019; 8 (8):241.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFernando E. Garcia-Muiña; Rocío González-Sánchez; Anna Maria Ferrari; Lucrezia Volpi; Martina Pini; Davide Settembre-Blundo. 2019. "Identifying the Equilibrium Point between Sustainability Goals and Circular Economy Practices in an Industry 4.0 Manufacturing Context Using Eco-Design." Social Sciences 8, no. 8: 241.
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the application of a hermeneutic-based approach as innovative way to study the Cultural Heritage management in a mesoeconomic space. Design/methodology/approach The paper builds a theoretical framework based on the analysis of relevant literature in the field of cultural economics, heritage economics and conservation and restoration techniques. Then, after having defined the conceptual hypothesis, a hermeneutical interpretative model is designed for the analysis of the processes of Cultural Heritage management with particular regard to the strategies of stakeholder engagement. Findings The research shows how the mesoeconomic space is that border area where it is possible to solve more easily the conflicts that arise as a result of the different expectations of stakeholders. Hermeneutical analysis, applied in iterative form, allows us to find common connections, points of contact and convergences between the interpretative horizons of the various stakeholders. Practical implications The application of the interpretative model allows the identification of the expectations of stakeholders, improving the knowledge of the tangible and intangible attributes of works of art, in order to design appropriate interventions of restoration, conservation and valorization. Social implications The new model of analysis, based on hermeneutic methodology, is designed to understand and describe the social and economic relations between the different stakeholders involved in the management of Cultural Heritage. Originality/value This paper examines for the first time the Cultural Heritage sector within the mesoeconomic area between the micro and the macroeconomy. In addition to this mesoeconomic analysis and conceptual approach, the authors introduce as methodology the economic hermeneutics that represents an innovative tool in the field of economic and business disciplines.
Davide Settembre Blundo; Anna Lucia Maramotti Politi; Alfonso Pedro Fernández Del Hoyo; Fernando Enrique García Muiña. The Gadamerian hermeneutics for a mesoeconomic analysis of Cultural Heritage. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development 2019, 9, 300 -333.
AMA StyleDavide Settembre Blundo, Anna Lucia Maramotti Politi, Alfonso Pedro Fernández Del Hoyo, Fernando Enrique García Muiña. The Gadamerian hermeneutics for a mesoeconomic analysis of Cultural Heritage. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development. 2019; 9 (3):300-333.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDavide Settembre Blundo; Anna Lucia Maramotti Politi; Alfonso Pedro Fernández Del Hoyo; Fernando Enrique García Muiña. 2019. "The Gadamerian hermeneutics for a mesoeconomic analysis of Cultural Heritage." Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development 9, no. 3: 300-333.
PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how sustainability can become a source of competitive advantage for mature manufacturing sectors where technologies are standardized, and innovation is mainly generated across the value chain and not by individual companies.Design/methodology/approachFrom the methodological point of view, this research estimates the sustainability status of ceramic production in the Sassuolo district (Italy), using the Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) model, and changing the observation point for the analysis, from the enterprise (micro level) to the entire sector (meso level).FindingsThis paper provides an analysis of the environmental, economic and social impacts of the four main types of ceramic tiles manufactured in Italy, both in aggregate terms for the entire sector and per square meter of product.Practical implicationsThe methodological approach used in this research is easy to replicate both for companies when designing their sustainability strategies and for public decision makers when assessing the sustainability performance of a sector or supply chain.Social implicationsFor the first time, a socio-economic impact assessment is proposed for the ceramic sector, conducted in parallel with the environmental impact assessment through stakeholder mapping and prioritization.Originality/valueThis paper conceptualizes the theme of relations and interdependencies between ceramic producers organized in industrial districts and the territories in which they operate in order to determine empirically the sustainability performance of Italian ceramic sector, using the LCSA model with a territorial extension that presupposes an innovative contribution to current literature and practice.
Davide Settembre Blundo; Fernando Enrique García-Muiña; Martina Pini; Lucrezia Volpi; Cristina Siligardi; Anna Maria Ferrari. Sustainability as source of competitive advantages in mature sectors. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment 2019, 8, 53 -79.
AMA StyleDavide Settembre Blundo, Fernando Enrique García-Muiña, Martina Pini, Lucrezia Volpi, Cristina Siligardi, Anna Maria Ferrari. Sustainability as source of competitive advantages in mature sectors. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment. 2019; 8 (1):53-79.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDavide Settembre Blundo; Fernando Enrique García-Muiña; Martina Pini; Lucrezia Volpi; Cristina Siligardi; Anna Maria Ferrari. 2019. "Sustainability as source of competitive advantages in mature sectors." Smart and Sustainable Built Environment 8, no. 1: 53-79.
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the strategic management of risks in companies from a marketing management perspective and to provide some guidance for management practice. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents the authors’ viewpoint, and it conceptualizes a new approach to risk management. Findings The conceptual discussion has opened up a possible new way for enterprises, especially SMEs, to start taking a strategic approach to risk. Originality/value This paper would like to contribute to the current debate on the role of marketing function in managerial practice beyond the classic four Ps.
Davide Settembre-Blundo; Alfonso Pedro Fernández Del Hoyo; Fernando Enrique García-Muiña. The risk associated with strategic decisions: is it a marketing issue? Strategic Direction 2019, 35, 6 -8.
AMA StyleDavide Settembre-Blundo, Alfonso Pedro Fernández Del Hoyo, Fernando Enrique García-Muiña. The risk associated with strategic decisions: is it a marketing issue? Strategic Direction. 2019; 35 (1):6-8.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDavide Settembre-Blundo; Alfonso Pedro Fernández Del Hoyo; Fernando Enrique García-Muiña. 2019. "The risk associated with strategic decisions: is it a marketing issue?" Strategic Direction 35, no. 1: 6-8.
The purpose of this paper is to determine indices of environmental, economic and social sustainability related to the Italian production of ceramic tiles in porcelain stoneware in order to contribute to the construction of a reference benchmarking useful to decision makers, designers and end users of ceramic tiles. To achieve this goal, this paper is based on the Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) framework that incorporates the three dimensions of sustainability with cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) tools. The study has shown that in the production of porcelain stoneware one of the major environmental problems, in addition to production in the strict sense, is the distribution system of the product to end users and, to a lesser extent but always significant, the process of supplying raw materials. Finally, it was highlighted that the joint use of the three impact assessment tools (LCA, LCC, S-LCA) requires further methodological work to avoid the risk of double counting of sustainability performance. This research has adopted a detailed methodological approach, both in the collection and in the processing of data, keeping the main phases of the production process separate. In this way, it has been possible to highlight that the major environmental criticalities are just beyond the “gate” of the ceramic factories, along the logistics chain. The study also proposes for the Italian ceramic sector not only indicators of environmental sustainability but also economic and social.
Anna Maria Ferrari; Lucrezia Volpi; Martina Pini; Cristina Siligardi; Fernando Enrique García-Muiña; Davide Settembre-Blundo. Building a Sustainability Benchmarking Framework of Ceramic Tiles Based on Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA). Resources 2019, 8, 11 .
AMA StyleAnna Maria Ferrari, Lucrezia Volpi, Martina Pini, Cristina Siligardi, Fernando Enrique García-Muiña, Davide Settembre-Blundo. Building a Sustainability Benchmarking Framework of Ceramic Tiles Based on Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA). Resources. 2019; 8 (1):11.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnna Maria Ferrari; Lucrezia Volpi; Martina Pini; Cristina Siligardi; Fernando Enrique García-Muiña; Davide Settembre-Blundo. 2019. "Building a Sustainability Benchmarking Framework of Ceramic Tiles Based on Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA)." Resources 8, no. 1: 11.
Sustainable development and the circular economy are two important issues for the future and the competitiveness of businesses. The programs for the integration of sustainability into industrial activities include the reconfiguration of production processes with a view to reducing their impact on the natural system, the development of new eco-sustainable products and the redesign of the business model. This paradigm shift requires the participation and commitment of different stakeholder groups and industry can completely redesign supply chains, aiming at resource efficiency and circularity. Developments in key ICT technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), help this systemic transition. This paper explores the phases of the transition from a linear to a circular economy and proposes a procedure for introducing the principles of sustainability (environmental, economic and social) in a manufacturing environment, through the design of a new Circular Business Model (CBM). The new procedure has been tested and validated in an Italian company producing ceramic tiles, using the digitalization of the production processes of the Industry 4.0 environment, to implement the impact assessment tools (LCA—Life Cycle Assessment, LCC—Life Cycle Costing and S-LCA—Social Life Cycle Assessment) and the business intelligence systems to provide appropriate sustainability performance indicators essential for the definition of the new CBM.
Fernando E. Garcia-Muiña; Rocío González-Sánchez; Anna Maria Ferrari; Davide Settembre-Blundo. The Paradigms of Industry 4.0 and Circular Economy as Enabling Drivers for the Competitiveness of Businesses and Territories: The Case of an Italian Ceramic Tiles Manufacturing Company. Social Sciences 2018, 7, 255 .
AMA StyleFernando E. Garcia-Muiña, Rocío González-Sánchez, Anna Maria Ferrari, Davide Settembre-Blundo. The Paradigms of Industry 4.0 and Circular Economy as Enabling Drivers for the Competitiveness of Businesses and Territories: The Case of an Italian Ceramic Tiles Manufacturing Company. Social Sciences. 2018; 7 (12):255.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFernando E. Garcia-Muiña; Rocío González-Sánchez; Anna Maria Ferrari; Davide Settembre-Blundo. 2018. "The Paradigms of Industry 4.0 and Circular Economy as Enabling Drivers for the Competitiveness of Businesses and Territories: The Case of an Italian Ceramic Tiles Manufacturing Company." Social Sciences 7, no. 12: 255.
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the production cycle of glazed porcelain stoneware, from the extraction of raw materials to the packaging of the finished product, with the aim of verifying the effects of integrating an environmental impact assessment into the decision-making process for managing the life cycle, to make it economically and ecologically sustainable, in a holistic approach along the supply-chain. Design/methodology/approach The research is performed using the life cycle assessment and life cycle costing methodologies, to identify environmental impacts and costs, that occur during extraction of raw materials, transportation, ceramic tiles production, material handling, distribution and end-of-life stages within a cradle to grave perspective. Findings Through the use of a comprehensive analysis of the environmental impact assessment and related externalities, three possible strategic options to improve the environmental performance and costs of ceramic tile production were formulated, leveraging sustainability as a competitive advantage. Research limitations/implications This exploratory research opens future lines of investigation, the first of which is to confirm the technological feasibility and market responsiveness to the three strategic solutions hypothesised thanks to the use of an innovative eco-design technique. Originality/value The research has allowed testing and validating the tools of environmental impact assessment (life cycle assessment) and economic impact assessment (life cycle costing as structured methodologies in a life cycle management framework, to help companies implement competitive strategies based on sustainability.
Davide Settembre Blundo; Fernando Enrique García Muiña; Martina Pini; Lucrezia Volpi; Cristina Siligardi; Anna Maria Ferrari. Lifecycle-oriented design of ceramic tiles in sustainable supply chains (SSCs). Asia Pacific Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship 2018, 12, 323 -337.
AMA StyleDavide Settembre Blundo, Fernando Enrique García Muiña, Martina Pini, Lucrezia Volpi, Cristina Siligardi, Anna Maria Ferrari. Lifecycle-oriented design of ceramic tiles in sustainable supply chains (SSCs). Asia Pacific Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. 2018; 12 (3):323-337.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDavide Settembre Blundo; Fernando Enrique García Muiña; Martina Pini; Lucrezia Volpi; Cristina Siligardi; Anna Maria Ferrari. 2018. "Lifecycle-oriented design of ceramic tiles in sustainable supply chains (SSCs)." Asia Pacific Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship 12, no. 3: 323-337.
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop an innovative branding method based on the hermeneutical approach and interpretive theory, to respond to the need of a simple and effective tool to build corporate identity through an industrial brand identity design and, being a new business, has been considered the brand perception of their stakeholders as the main input to analyze. Design/methodology/approach The case study of a small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME), that produces nanomaterials for the business-to-business (B2B) industrial market, is used to design the new hermeneutic branding method. The methodology process has been structured in four phases that have marked the investigation and that correspond to four different levels of knowledge that, in succession, between them, constituted the so-called hermeneutic circle. Findings This new approach allowed us to understand the social phenomenon related to the brand: its characteristic, context and the brand itself. Though hermeneutic analysis has confirmed that business strategy is only part of a more complex system of brand management, it must also consider the competitive environment and the views of the stakeholders. Practical implications This paper contributes to research on industrial branding by adopting the hermeneutical approach in managerial practice. This paper is the first of its kind in detail modelling the design phases of a B2B brand, providing an operational tool for marketing specialists. Originality/value There is a lack of research studies in the methods for designing industrial brands. The contribution of this paper lies in proposing a new interpretative approach that, acknowledging the different expectations of the stakeholder in the supply chain, allows to draw a B2B brand that communicates the system values of the product and company.
Davide Settembre-Blundo; Alfonso Pedro Fernández del Hoyo; Fernando Enrique García-Muiña. Hermeneutics as innovative method to design the brand identity of a nanotechnology company. Asia Pacific Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship 2018, 12, 181 -205.
AMA StyleDavide Settembre-Blundo, Alfonso Pedro Fernández del Hoyo, Fernando Enrique García-Muiña. Hermeneutics as innovative method to design the brand identity of a nanotechnology company. Asia Pacific Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. 2018; 12 (2):181-205.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDavide Settembre-Blundo; Alfonso Pedro Fernández del Hoyo; Fernando Enrique García-Muiña. 2018. "Hermeneutics as innovative method to design the brand identity of a nanotechnology company." Asia Pacific Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship 12, no. 2: 181-205.
Sustainable restoration process is one of the biggest challenges for public and private decision makers in the Cultural Heritage sector. Currently, sustainability assessment methods are well established tools to quantitatively determine their environmental (LCA), economic (LCC) and social (SLCA) impacts from products/service across the entire value chain. Nevertheless, while these life cycle methods are widely applied in many industries and service sectors, they still are at its infancy in the restoration work of Cultural Heritage. The main goal of this paper is to define and build a general framework including all impact indicators related to the restoration work processes to apply experimentally, and for the first time, all the sustainability assessment dimensions together within the Cultural Heritage sector. The ISO 14040 standard under guidelines published by the UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative has been used as an assessment tool. Then, a CH-LCM Model framework based on a previous work from the author is applied to the real case concerning the restoration of the fortress of Uncastillo (Spain). The data collected from the real case concerning the restoration of the fortress of Uncastillo (Spain) have allowed us to reach two objectives: firstly, to validate the model empirically and, secondly, to identify successful managerial practices for the decision makers. In this respect, the paper shows that the life cycle approach can be considered an effective method for improving innovative managerial practices towards the sustainability, preservation and restoration of Cultural Heritage by assessing the environmental impact, the financial and economic feasibility and the implementation of an engagement strategy for the stakeholders. Finally, we have pointed out a set of valuable recommendations for future actions.
Davide Settembre Blundo; Anna Maria Ferrari; Alfonso Fernández del Hoyo; Maria Pia Riccardi; Fernando E. García Muiña. Improving sustainable cultural heritage restoration work through life cycle assessment based model. Journal of Cultural Heritage 2018, 32, 221 -231.
AMA StyleDavide Settembre Blundo, Anna Maria Ferrari, Alfonso Fernández del Hoyo, Maria Pia Riccardi, Fernando E. García Muiña. Improving sustainable cultural heritage restoration work through life cycle assessment based model. Journal of Cultural Heritage. 2018; 32 ():221-231.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDavide Settembre Blundo; Anna Maria Ferrari; Alfonso Fernández del Hoyo; Maria Pia Riccardi; Fernando E. García Muiña. 2018. "Improving sustainable cultural heritage restoration work through life cycle assessment based model." Journal of Cultural Heritage 32, no. : 221-231.
The restoration of cultural heritage, like in other production sectors, requires an innovative approach to integrate the principles of sustainability into processes. The main purpose of this article is to demonstrate that an integrated environmental and social impact assessment of restoration works can be conducted through the use of an operational model, which for the first time is applied to a real case of public private partnership (PPP) in the cultural heritage sector. The evaluation of the proposed strategy is carried out through an approach based on life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology, which takes into account environmental and social aspects. An environmental LCA analysis was conducted on a case study, assessing the effects of an intervention of a historical site that was restored to become a museum. The social effects arising from the intervention were then examined and evaluated with an approach based on the key points of the UNEP/SETAC S-LCA guidelines involving stakeholders, social topics, and performance indicators, thus defining a reference framework that can be adapted to the case study. The environmental LCA analysis identified the phases of the restoration with the most impact as those related to the reconstruction of materials and elements that was necessary when the originals were too damaged to be recovered. The use and periodic replacement of electronic equipment in the museum also had a significant impact in the use phase of the buildings. The evaluation method for the social aspects scored each social theme, outlining the benefits produced by the restoration. The results show that the restoration had several positive effects, particularly in terms of social issues related to the local community. The environmental LCA assessed the advantages and the hotspots in the recovery and reuse of heritage buildings. The framework developed from the guidelines for the S-LCA of products is a suitable tool for the evaluation of social aspects related to cultural heritage interventions, after adapting the methodology of S-LCA to the context and to the reference case study. In some cases, evaluations are based on subjective judgments, but the results provide a reliable overview of the social impact generated.
Sara Mohaddes Khorassani; Anna Maria Ferrari; Martina Pini; Davide Settembre Blundo; Fernando Enrique García Muiña; José Francisco García. Environmental and social impact assessment of cultural heritage restoration and its application to the Uncastillo Fortress. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 2018, 24, 1297 -1318.
AMA StyleSara Mohaddes Khorassani, Anna Maria Ferrari, Martina Pini, Davide Settembre Blundo, Fernando Enrique García Muiña, José Francisco García. Environmental and social impact assessment of cultural heritage restoration and its application to the Uncastillo Fortress. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. 2018; 24 (7):1297-1318.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSara Mohaddes Khorassani; Anna Maria Ferrari; Martina Pini; Davide Settembre Blundo; Fernando Enrique García Muiña; José Francisco García. 2018. "Environmental and social impact assessment of cultural heritage restoration and its application to the Uncastillo Fortress." The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 24, no. 7: 1297-1318.
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present alternative management practice methods for the cultural heritage sector apart from the traditional public support model. These alternatives rely on sponsorship and patronage as well as the newer and more innovative public-private partnership (PPP). Design/methodology/approach The paper is organized in two conceptual sections based on a literature review. The first section presents and compares two closely associated business strategy forms that are increasingly becoming popular within companies: sponsorship and patronage. These strategies are analyzed to show their advantages and disadvantages and are assessed based on their best uses in terms of the benefits from their implementation to all stakeholders involved (benefactors, recipients and the public) and, more particularly, to the benefactor’s company communication policy. The second section analyzes the PPP as a newer innovative practice in the cultural heritage sector, a recent development that has great potential, especially during an economic crisis where public funds are reduced, which risks the future recovery and proper maintenance of sites. Findings In the paper, the authors stressed that sponsorship, patronage and PPP are not merely alternative ways of primarily obtaining government funding for the cultural heritage sector but are also new strategic management practices that, when properly performed, will not only preserve and improve the sector but also allow more value to be distributed among all stakeholders. Originality/value Although the topic of PPP is treated fairly in the scientific literature, especially with regard to infrastructure, there are few cases of the application of this model to cultural heritage management.
Davide Settembre Blundo; Fernando Enrique García Muiña; Alfonso Pedro Fernández Del Hoyo; Maria Pia Riccardi; Anna Lucia Maramotti Politi. Sponsorship and patronage and beyond. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development 2017, 7, 147 -163.
AMA StyleDavide Settembre Blundo, Fernando Enrique García Muiña, Alfonso Pedro Fernández Del Hoyo, Maria Pia Riccardi, Anna Lucia Maramotti Politi. Sponsorship and patronage and beyond. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development. 2017; 7 (2):147-163.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDavide Settembre Blundo; Fernando Enrique García Muiña; Alfonso Pedro Fernández Del Hoyo; Maria Pia Riccardi; Anna Lucia Maramotti Politi. 2017. "Sponsorship and patronage and beyond." Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development 7, no. 2: 147-163.
Purpose – In this paper, of exploratory character, the purpose of this paper is to propose the analysis of the life cycle for assessing the environmental, economic, and social impact in the activity of recovery, restoration, and valorization of Cultural Heritage. Design/methodology/approach – The analysis protocol is applied to the case of recovery and restoration processes and then outlining the salient features of what may become a model of Cultural Heritage Life Cycle Management (CH-LCM). Findings – The authors propose the approach of the life cycle, normally used to assess the impact of materials, processes or products, to the management of cultural heritage as an innovative methodology with great potential. Originality/value – The methodology for this sector is highly innovative, especially in its interdisciplinary approach, through the use of different technical, historical, and economic skills which can provide the tools for the preparation of a management plan according to the logic of the life cycle.
Davide Settembre Blundo; Anna Maria Ferrari; Martina Pini; Maria Pia Riccardi; José Francisco García; Fernández del Hoyo. The life cycle approach as an innovative methodology for the recovery and restoration of cultural heritage. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development 2014, 4, 133 -148.
AMA StyleDavide Settembre Blundo, Anna Maria Ferrari, Martina Pini, Maria Pia Riccardi, José Francisco García, Fernández del Hoyo. The life cycle approach as an innovative methodology for the recovery and restoration of cultural heritage. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development. 2014; 4 (2):133-148.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDavide Settembre Blundo; Anna Maria Ferrari; Martina Pini; Maria Pia Riccardi; José Francisco García; Fernández del Hoyo. 2014. "The life cycle approach as an innovative methodology for the recovery and restoration of cultural heritage." Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development 4, no. 2: 133-148.