The recognized importance of the “Circular Economy” paradigm – an industrial system regenerative and restorative by intention and design – in innovating the Manufacturing industry is central to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goal. Blockchain technology is a new protocol designed to ensure sharing and storing of data in a transparent, secure and irreversible way, with the potential to support the manufacturers through the green transaction during the Industry 4.0 era. The subject of the presented thesis enters in a nascent stream of research, within the intersection of the two macrotrends: sustainability and digital innovation. Among the review of the literature, the interest focuses on the benefits of the blockchain technology in both the circular economy and manufacturing industry, under a theoretical perspective. Few empirical studies have been conducted in the intersection of those fields. The objective of this thesis is to contribute to fill the gap in the literature by investigating blockchain technology’s current and potential contribution to the circular economy in the Manufacturing industry. The work consists in the collection, analysis and classification of real initiatives, through a framework including variables on Circular Manufacturing and on Blockchain application. To classify the projects, a scheme of variables was created, pointing out aspects related to the subsectors, the circular strategies adopted and the main characteristics for which blockchain is exploited. Within the sample considered, main considerations are drawn from the projects spread into different Manufacturing subsectors, where the application of blockchain supports circular strategies alongside the whole supply chain. The main benefits of blockchain are related to the possibility to record information transparently enabling a trustworthy environment, without the need of intermediaries. In this environment, blockchain can enable circular sourcing of renewable inputs and support responsible recycling. The hype and potential benefits associated with blockchain technology provide substantial motivation to identify future applications. To conclude the work two main thoughts are suggested: how blockchain can bring benefits to Manufacturing, maximising product use, and whether blockchain applied to circular manufacturing can improve social responsibility, alongside the economic contribution. This thesis is composed by four sections: (1) an introduction with a review of the literature on the main topics, (2) a description of the variables and the database created and (3) a section describing the results of analysis, identifying the actual uses of blockchain to support the Circular Economy in Manufacturing. To conclude the analysis of the results, a qualitative overview of the impact of the projects according to their economic contribution, environmental performance and social responsibility has been provided. (4) We conclude this work with recommendations for future research in this field.
L’importanza riconosciuta all’Economia Circolare – un termine generico per definire un’economia pensata per potersi rigenerare da sola – nell’innovare l’industria Manifatturiera rappresenta un passo fondamentale verso il raggiungimento degli Obiettivi di Sviluppo Sostenibile, (SDGs) sottoscritti dalle Nazioni Unite. La tecnologia Blockchain è un protocollo innovativo, progettato per garantire la condivisione e la memorizzazione dei dati in modo trasparente, sicuro e irreversibile, in grado di supportare le aziende manufatturiere nella cosiddetta “Transazione Verde” durante la Quarta Rivoluzione Industriale (Industria 4.0). Il tema della tesi presentata rientra in un nascente filone di ricerca, collocato nell’intersezione dei due macro-trend: sostenibilità e innovazione digitale. Durante la revisione della letteratura, l’argomento più studiato a livello teorico sono i benefici della blockchain sia nell’ambito dell’economia circolare sia nell’ambito industriale. Nell’intersezione fra questi argomenti, invece, sono stati condotti meno studi empirici. L’obiettivo di questa tesi è indagare il vuoto nella letteratura attuale, evidenziando il contributo – attuale e potenziale – della blockchain applicata all’industria circolare. L’analisi è composta da una fase di raccolta di progetti ed iniziative e da una successiva classificazione attraverso uno schema di variabili, volto a descrivere sia l’aspetto sostenibile (Circular Manufacturing) sia quello digitale (Blockchain). Per classificare i progetti è stato creato uno schema di variabili, in grado di evidenziare il sottosettore, le strategie circolari adottato e per quali proprietà la Blockchain è stata sfruttata. Partendo dal campione scelto, le principali considerazioni sono tratte progetti in diversi settori, in cui la blockchain è utilizzata per implementare l’economia circolare lungo tutta la filiera produttiva. La blockchain è in grado di registrare e trasmettere le informazioni in modo trasparente creando un ecosistema affidabile, senza la necessità di intermediari. In questo ambiente, la blockchain può garantire l'approvvigionamento di risorse rinnovabili e supportare un sistema di riciclaggio più responsabile. Il clamore e i potenziali benefici associati alla tecnologia blockchain forniscono una valida motivazione per cercare applicazioni future. Per concludere il lavoro vengono suggerite due riflessioni: in che misura la blockchain possa portare benefici all’industria manifatturiera, massimizzando l'utilizzo e la vita del prodotto, e in quale modo la blockchain possa migliorare la responsabilità sociale delle aziende manufatturiere secondo una prospettiva circolare. Questa tesi è composta da quattro sezioni: (1) revisione della letteratura per fornire una definizione comune riguardo agli argomenti trattati, (2) una descrizione delle variabili e del database collezionato e (3) una sezione dedicata alla descrizione dei risultati, per identificare come la blockchain supporti effettivamente il Circular Manufacturing. A conclusione dell’analisi, viene fornita una panoramica a livello qualitativo dell’impatto dei progetti, valutando il loro contributo economico, le prestazioni ambientali e l’impegno sociale. (4) L’ultima sezione comprende dei suggerimenti riguardo a future possibili direzioni di ricerca.
Blockchain as an enabler of circular manufacturing : an analysis of real cases
BELLINI, CLARISSA;Bonomi, Mauro
2020/2021
Abstract
The recognized importance of the “Circular Economy” paradigm – an industrial system regenerative and restorative by intention and design – in innovating the Manufacturing industry is central to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goal. Blockchain technology is a new protocol designed to ensure sharing and storing of data in a transparent, secure and irreversible way, with the potential to support the manufacturers through the green transaction during the Industry 4.0 era. The subject of the presented thesis enters in a nascent stream of research, within the intersection of the two macrotrends: sustainability and digital innovation. Among the review of the literature, the interest focuses on the benefits of the blockchain technology in both the circular economy and manufacturing industry, under a theoretical perspective. Few empirical studies have been conducted in the intersection of those fields. The objective of this thesis is to contribute to fill the gap in the literature by investigating blockchain technology’s current and potential contribution to the circular economy in the Manufacturing industry. The work consists in the collection, analysis and classification of real initiatives, through a framework including variables on Circular Manufacturing and on Blockchain application. To classify the projects, a scheme of variables was created, pointing out aspects related to the subsectors, the circular strategies adopted and the main characteristics for which blockchain is exploited. Within the sample considered, main considerations are drawn from the projects spread into different Manufacturing subsectors, where the application of blockchain supports circular strategies alongside the whole supply chain. The main benefits of blockchain are related to the possibility to record information transparently enabling a trustworthy environment, without the need of intermediaries. In this environment, blockchain can enable circular sourcing of renewable inputs and support responsible recycling. The hype and potential benefits associated with blockchain technology provide substantial motivation to identify future applications. To conclude the work two main thoughts are suggested: how blockchain can bring benefits to Manufacturing, maximising product use, and whether blockchain applied to circular manufacturing can improve social responsibility, alongside the economic contribution. This thesis is composed by four sections: (1) an introduction with a review of the literature on the main topics, (2) a description of the variables and the database created and (3) a section describing the results of analysis, identifying the actual uses of blockchain to support the Circular Economy in Manufacturing. To conclude the analysis of the results, a qualitative overview of the impact of the projects according to their economic contribution, environmental performance and social responsibility has been provided. (4) We conclude this work with recommendations for future research in this field.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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2021_12_Bellini_Bonomi.pdf
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Descrizione: Blockchain as an enabler of Circular Manufacturing: an analysis of real cases
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/182323