The research focuses on the creation of a framework that supports fashion companies in understanding the potentialities of blockchain technology in enhancing the transparency and traceability along their supply chain and their sustainability profile. To conduct this study, the starting point was the literature review, fundamental to identify the main gaps in the current knowledge. A preliminary research framework was then drafted. The methodology selected has been the development of case studies through data collected from interviews with experts and secondary sources. Sample of respondents has included fashion companies, blockchain providers and consultants. This variety has been driven by the actual scarcity of practical blockchain application in fashion and by the willingness to provide a more holistic perspective. The analysis of these case studies then allowed to enhance the initial model. The final framework is composed of five building blocks. The first two are respectively focused on the drivers and the challenges/barriers towards the adoption of blockchain as technology to support the traceability of the fashion supply chain. The drivers identified are related to: (I) transparency; (II) efficiency; (III) security; (IV) trust; (V) compliance. The barriers, instead, are: (I) operational (SC and Technology); (II) organizational and cultural; (III) technological. The other three blocks are focused on sustainability. Specifically, they aim at presenting the drivers for the implementation of blockchain, as technology supporting the traceability of fashion supply chains, for sustainability purposes and the sustainable practices supported by this technology. The drivers identified refer to: (I) need for verifiability; (II) need for enforcement; (III) need to compete. The main sustainable practices supported by the adoption of blockchain are: (I) external traceability, (II) communication, (III) supplier monitoring, (IV) supplier selection, (V) evaluation and consumption mapping, (VI) logistics, (VII) reverse logistics, (VIII) waste management, (IX) purchase of sustainable materials, (X) certifications and (XI) sustainable standards.
La ricerca punta a supportare le aziende nella filiera della moda nella comprensione delle potenzialità della tecnologia blockchain nel supportare la trasparenza, la tracciabilità e la sostenibilità delle loro filiere. Il punto di partenza di questo studio è stato la revisione della letteratura accademica al fine di identificare i gap nelle attuali conoscenze. Successivamente un modello preliminare per soddisfare l’obiettivo della ricerca è stato sviluppato. La metodologia utilizzata è stata lo sviluppo di casi di studio sulla base dei dati raccolti tramite interviste ad esperti e fonti secondarie. Il campione degli intervistati include aziende di moda, fornitori di soluzioni blockchain e consulenti. Questa varietà è dovuta alla scarsità di reali applicazioni di blockchain nel settore della moda e dall’interesse a voler fornire una visione più integrata. L’analisi dei casi di studio ha poi permesso di validare e valorizzare il modello. Il modello finale è costituito da cinque parti. Le prime due riguardano rispettivamente i driver e le sfide/barriere che influenzano l’adozione della blockchain, come tecnologia a supporto della tracciabilità delle filiere, da parte delle aziende di moda. I driver identificati sono legati alle seguenti esigenze: (I) trasparenza, (II) efficienza, (III) sicurezza, (IV) fiducia e (V) conformità. Le sfide/barriere identificate sono invece di tipo (I) operativo (queste barriere sono dovute sia alle caratteristiche della filiera della moda che alle difficoltà operative derivanti, in generale, dall’implementazione della blockchain), (II) organizzativo culturale e (III) legate alla tecnologia. Le altre parti del modello puntano ad esplicitare quelli che sono i fattori che spingono le aziende di moda ad adottare la blockchain per obiettivi di sostenibilità e le pratiche di sostenibilità supportate da essa. I driver identificati sono: (I) il bisogno di verificare, (II) il bisogno di responsabilizzare e (III) la necessità di competere nel mercato. Infine, le pratiche di sostenibilità nella filiera della moda che potrebbero essere supportate dall’adozione della blockchain riguardano: (I) la tracciabilità, (II) la comunicazione, (III) il monitoraggio dei fornitori, (IV) la selezione dei fornitori, (V) la valutazione e la mappatura dei consumi, (VI) la logistica, (VII) la logistica inversa, (VIII) la gestione dello spreco, (IX) l’acquisto di materiali sostenibili e l’adozione di (X) certificati e (XI) standard di sostenibilità.
Blockchain technology for the fashion supply chain : an analysis of its potentialities in supporting traceability and sustainability
BEVILACQUA, GIOVANNA;ADRAGNA, MARIA CHIARA
2018/2019
Abstract
The research focuses on the creation of a framework that supports fashion companies in understanding the potentialities of blockchain technology in enhancing the transparency and traceability along their supply chain and their sustainability profile. To conduct this study, the starting point was the literature review, fundamental to identify the main gaps in the current knowledge. A preliminary research framework was then drafted. The methodology selected has been the development of case studies through data collected from interviews with experts and secondary sources. Sample of respondents has included fashion companies, blockchain providers and consultants. This variety has been driven by the actual scarcity of practical blockchain application in fashion and by the willingness to provide a more holistic perspective. The analysis of these case studies then allowed to enhance the initial model. The final framework is composed of five building blocks. The first two are respectively focused on the drivers and the challenges/barriers towards the adoption of blockchain as technology to support the traceability of the fashion supply chain. The drivers identified are related to: (I) transparency; (II) efficiency; (III) security; (IV) trust; (V) compliance. The barriers, instead, are: (I) operational (SC and Technology); (II) organizational and cultural; (III) technological. The other three blocks are focused on sustainability. Specifically, they aim at presenting the drivers for the implementation of blockchain, as technology supporting the traceability of fashion supply chains, for sustainability purposes and the sustainable practices supported by this technology. The drivers identified refer to: (I) need for verifiability; (II) need for enforcement; (III) need to compete. The main sustainable practices supported by the adoption of blockchain are: (I) external traceability, (II) communication, (III) supplier monitoring, (IV) supplier selection, (V) evaluation and consumption mapping, (VI) logistics, (VII) reverse logistics, (VIII) waste management, (IX) purchase of sustainable materials, (X) certifications and (XI) sustainable standards.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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2019_12_Adragna_Bevilacqua.pdf
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/151769