Suchergebnisse

In the present competitive global environment, many drivers should motivate the growing attention paid to sustainable consumption in the luxury industry. From the demand side, in Western mature markets wealthy consumers show a growing awareness of environmental and social issues and, therefore, seek new forms of luxury which show respect for both natural resources and human beings, yet standing by traditional factors such as quality, rarity, creativity, originality and craftsmanship of goods. On the firm's side, sustainable consumption offers luxury firms a particularly suitable platform to enrich the value-set of products as brands identity and brand image. Starting from a review of the literature on the concept of sustainable consumption, the paper provides an analysis of the main drivers that are leading to the emergence of "sustainable luxury". The aim of the paper is to investigate the opportunity for the development of this new competitive paradigm within the Chinese luxury market, by analyzing the distinct feature of Chinese high-end demand. The paper also taking into account the growing role played by the Chinese central government in creating the conditions for sustainable consumption or "circular economy".

AbstractThe aim of the paper is to present how the interaction between the micro behaviours of individual families and the collective macro behaviour of the city of Pavia produced a unique historical phenomenon that, on the one hand, has amazed Italy and the whole world for its striking number of towers and on the other represents a clear example of urban housing unsustainability in the Middle Ages. In the paper, using a simulation software, the micro and macro effects of the accumulation of towers in the city of Pavia are shown. The study of the behaviour of collectivities has been a very complex subject of analysis and for this reason, a fascinating and interesting one as well. To understand, explain and, to a certain extent, control collective phenomena, the Theory of Combinatory Systems was recently formalized. This theory describes, interprets and simulates the most relevant collective phenomena and their observable effects. With the aid of a simple probabilistic combinatory automaton, we have simulated the dynamics of the formation of the towered town of Pavia, Italy, which is unique in all the world, as can be observed in the historical descriptions or by a visit to this ancient Italian town.

In the world of organizations, firms, management and control, in general, a silent conceptual movement has been under way for less than 50 years now, beginning in 1967, when Arthur Koestler formally introduced the concepts of holon, holarchy (a hierarchical structure of holons) and holonic network (a reticular structure of holons). Thirty years later, Ken Wilber tried to generalize the holonic perspective. The new holonic perspective forces us to observe the surrounding universe (at a physical and biological level, and in the real or formal sense) by taking into account the whole/part (holarchies) and the before/after (holonic networks) relationships: any observable unit is at the same time a whole—composed of smaller parts—and part of a larger whole. In order to clarify the holonic vison and the ideas behind holons, holarchies and holonic networks, this study will examine some significant uses of these concepts and, in particular, the main sources of inspiration for those production systems referred to as the holonic manufacturing systems, comparing these to those defined as bionic and fractal manufacturing systems. Some forms of inter‐organizational networks, as well as holonic and virtual organizations, have also been considered. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The research aims to analyze the evolution of the concept of sustainable ecological development and the central rule of the government policy for the improvement of the quality of life. The paper, using the model of five capitals, explains how the sustainable ecological development can help to improve the quality of life of citizens. A minimum necessary condition for sustainable ecological development is the maintenance of the total natural capital stock at or above the current level. This work explores the link between natural capital and sustainability from a government policy perspective and it examines how sustainable ecological development must be integrated within public sector organization's planning. The research considers that the goal of sustainable ecological development is to use the natural resources wisely in the short-term so that these resources are available in the long-term. Ecological sustainability relies on the fact that humans can exhaust the natural resources, leaving nothing but polluted water and infertile soil for future generations. Ecological sustainability is the belief that all humans must use resources wisely and efficiently so that these resources never become exhausted or over polluted.

The paper aims to analyse the strong links between the company and the local community. We live a very fragile condition at both micro level and at macro level. The most solid organizations (companies, foundations, non profit) feel the uncertainty that oppresses visionary leaps and crushes the passions of employees. At macro level, national governments and supranational organizations don't show the capacity to react and to project in an adequate way to the complexity of the problems. The two aspects are usually treated individually by separate disciplines. We argue that separating points of view don't improve the skills of analysis and diagnosis, nor the strategic and political intervention. To understand the union between company and local communities we analyse two Italian companies, known for their responsible actions: Olivetti and Luxottica. The first belongs to our past: 1950s. For Adriano Olivetti, the company is a community of people pursuing a common good through combinations of labour and capital. The ethics of the common good has been directly involved in the economic governance of the company. The second is a current example of innovative governance based on the human aspects of organizational life and on the quality of relationships among people. Luxottica has developed as a subject in itself with humanity, a human community in the full meaning of the term. Both examples show that the stress of the economic performance is combined synergistically with the development of the local community; in this ago-antagonist relationship the aesthetic dimension plays a non-additional role.

The aim of the paper is to analyze the role of companies as driver of sustainable development and respect for fundamental workers' rights. Trade policies and agreements can have wide-ranging effects on the economy, employment, labour standards, social cohesion, and the environment, including policy development and regulatory aspects. Nowadays the countries are closely tied to one another through trade and investment. This creates a common interest in a well-balanced world economy and properly functioning global system of trade. Thus, the EU wants to ensure that its trade actions are supportive of sustainable development within the EU, in the partner countries, and globally. The sustainability with its economic, social and environmental dimension in all relevant policies is a basic objective set out in the Treaty on the European Union, both as regards the EU's internal policies and external action. Respect for fundamental workers' rights and for environmental protection requirements should be ensured in a context of trade and economic expansion: the jobs created by open trade shall reflect international core labor standards and increased trade flows shall help the rapid spread of green goods, services and technologies around the world. The research presents three case studies on the CSR policy: Nike, Apple and Walmart. These multinationals have been involved in social and environment conflicts. The article researched how companies solved these conflicts and what changes they made in the sustainable policy in relation to those conflicts.

AbstractThe aim of this study is to describe and analyse the relationship between the phenomenon of B Corp and M&A operations carried out by these companies. Italy is the second country at the international level and the first country at the European level to have been particularly active in this direction (Law n.208/2015). Therefore, a questionnaire was developed and sent to the certified Italian B Corps. The medium‐long‐term vision emerged in particular, and the values that guide these companies are ethics, sustainability and transparency. These are aspects that particularly characterise the ideals, identity and culture of B Corps, which are also involved in social and environmental issues. The research shows how corporate culture influences these companies from a merger and acquisition perspective. Cultural compatibility is important, as it allows the companies to operate according to common or similar visions regarding certain aspects that other companies probably find less important.

AbstractReligious tourism and pilgrimages increasingly contribute to developing the social and economic growth of local economies and communities over time. The aim of the present study is to analyse the role of religious touristic routes as sites of pilgrimages and an opportunity to drive a pathway for sustainable tourism development. The study relies on analysing qualitative and quantitative data, through a questionnaire distributed in late 2018; the questionnaire relates to pilgrimages concerning the Camino de Santiago de Compostela and Via Francigena as religious touristic destinations that contribute to the social and economic sustainability of local economies. Indeed, these pilgrimages strengthen the importance of building collaborative processes by enabling religious touristic destinations to open up to better managing and by driving sustainability‐oriented policies, thus enhancing social and economic growth within local communities.

Abstract
The continuing process of urbanization sets up urgent issues of environmental degradation resulting in disrupting opportunities to enhance quality of life of the population. In Ukraine, the anthropogenic and human impacts on the environment are several times higher than in developed countries. Thus, life expectancy in Ukraine is on average around 68 years (e.g. in Italy – 82, Sweden - 80, Poland - 74) which is largely due to the environmental pollution which is the result of production activities of mining, metallurgy, chemical industries, fuel and energy complex. Therefore, there is a strong need in the Ukrainian society to address the consequences of powerful external forces as environmental pollution and climate change, and internal forces as socioeconomic development. These forces play a role at all levels but are prevalent at urban levels. Cities are not isolated entities; they interact with their surroundings, economically, socio-politically and environmentally. Urban development toward sustainability has to consider the capacity of the entire ecosystem to support such development including the prevention and mitigation of adverse environmental impacts of the outside urban areas. Hence, cities are unique territories to implement green economy opportunities to ensure the development of sustainable societies. Exploring different dimensions of sustainability should be connected with the exploration of urban processes and developments on a global level. This connection shows how sustainability can be destroyed or ensured. Sustainability should be based on social cohesion in local urban areas and contribute to sustainable urban development.

AbstractA Benefit Corporation is one possible alternative to traditional business models and a new way of managing business and sustainability. Emphasis on B‐Corporations in Italy dates back 2006, and 1 year later, B LAB certified the first Benefit Corporation Industry using the first version of the Benefit Impact Assessment process. Since then, the number of B‐Corporations has been growing, showing the success of the initiative of this category of firm that have voluntarily decided to pursue, like the profit, a further purpose: to obtain in the exercise of economic activity a positive impact on society and on the planet. After a presentation of the Benefit Corporation features, the main aim of this paper is to explore the relations that exists between the five different impact areas considered in certification awarded to Certified Benefit Corporation and the net profit value, using ordinary least squares regression model based on the entire sample of the Italian Certified enterprises.

AbstractThe purpose of the research is to investigate the increasing importance of the role of sustainability in high‐end restaurants, specifically in those awarded Michelin stars. The focus is on the role sustainability plays as a crucial element in the state‐of‐the‐art of fine‐dining business given that restaurants are challenged to reconsider the noteworthiness of new sustainable imperatives. The study is based on a questionnaire survey carried out with over 70 owners and chefs from Italian Michelin‐starred restaurants. The results show a clear tendency towards sustainability and an increasing attention towards this trend, emphasizing its peculiarities for the restaurant industry, which is indicates profound changes. More specifically, 35% of the variance in internal sustainability policies adoption is explained by external drives related to sustainability and customers' demands of sustainability. The data collected relies on an Italian sample, but the results are useful to understand the sustainability imperatives for the Michelin‐stars restaurants worldwide as the Italian food service industry is often deemed as iconic. The study advances new insights into the future of the sustainable restaurant industry. The results of research are based on a novel research design and empirical survey capturing the state‐of‐the‐art of sustainability policies adoption in the case of Michelin‐starred restaurants.