The necessity to satisfy "the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to satisfy their own" (WCED, 1987) has increasingly become a global awareness. It is precisely for this reason that the linear economic model is no longer sustainable and there is a strong need to promote the transition towards a Circular Economy (CE). The present work will investigate how the implementation of circularity practices can increase sustainability in fruit and vegetable (F&V) supply chains. This objective is achieved conducting seven case studies of companies currently operating in the F&V sector in Italy. The main findings are related to the quantification of waste and surplus generated, and to the prevention and management actions implemented, with a focus on the drivers and barriers. Due to the complexity of adopting the circularity principles, achieving them takes a long time and, therefore, many companies are only at the dawn of this transition. The results of the study derive from the analysis of a cross-section of the F&V supply chain, from the cultivation phase to the processing and distribution of fresh products ones. To understand the Italian F&V scenario and answer the research questions, three different data sources were used: semi-structured interviews, company reports and Ellen MacArthur Foundation research. It emerged that the phases that generate the greatest quantities of waste and surpluses are the sorting and processing of fresh products. This result could be due both to the high-quality standards imposed, in terms of shape, color and size of the product, and to the lack of common policies between countries and supply chain operators. To prevent the production of F&V waste and surpluses, the companies have identified 4 main activities to be implemented: forecasting, training, sharing of information and knowledge, and economic support. Finally, a large section has been dedicated to the analysis of the drivers and barriers that companies face today aiming at transforming their business model from linear to circular.
L’esigenza di soddisfare “i bisogni del presente senza compromettere la capacità delle generazioni future di soddisfare i propri” (WCED, 1987) è diventata sempre di più una consapevolezza a livello globale. È proprio per questo motivo che il modello di sviluppo economico lineare non è più sostenibile e c'è una forte necessità di promuovere la transizione verso un'Economia Circolare (EC). Questa ricerca indagherà come l'implementazione di pratiche di circolarità può aumentare la sostenibilità nelle filiere di frutta e verdura (F&V). L'obiettivo verrà raggiunto conducendo sette casi studio di aziende che attualmente operano nel settore ortofrutticolo in Italia. I risultati si riferiscono alla quantificazione degli sprechi e delle eccedenze generate, e alle azioni di prevenzione e gestione messe implementate, con un focus su driver e barriere. A causa della complessità nell'adottare i principi di circolarità, il raggiungimento di questi obiettivi richiede tempi lunghi e dunque molte aziende sono solamente agli albori di questa transizione. I risultati dello studio derivano dall’analisi di uno spaccato della filiera ortofrutticola, dalla fase di coltivazione a quella di lavorazione e distribuzione dei prodotti freschi. Per comprendere il panorama ortofrutticolo italiano e rispondere alle domande di ricerca, sono state utilizzate tre diverse fonti di dati: interviste semi-strutturate, report delle aziende e risultati della Fondazione Ellen MacArthur. È emerso che le fasi che generano le maggiori quantità di sprechi ed eccedenze sono la selezione e la lavorazione dei prodotti freschi. Questo risultato potrebbe essere dovuto sia agli elevati standard qualitativi imposti, in termini di forma, colore e dimensione del prodotto, sia alla mancanza di politiche comuni tra paesi e operatori della filiera. Per prevenire la produzione di sprechi ed eccedenze ortofrutticole, le aziende hanno individuato 4 attività principali da mettere in atto: previsione, formazione, condivisione di informazioni e conoscenze, supporto economico. Infine, è stata dedicata un'ampia sezione all'analisi dei driver e delle barriere che oggigiorno le aziende si trovano a fronteggiare per trasformare il loro modello di business da lineare a circolare.
Adoption of circular economy practices in the fruit and vegetable supply chain
Frontini, Francesca
2021/2022
Abstract
The necessity to satisfy "the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to satisfy their own" (WCED, 1987) has increasingly become a global awareness. It is precisely for this reason that the linear economic model is no longer sustainable and there is a strong need to promote the transition towards a Circular Economy (CE). The present work will investigate how the implementation of circularity practices can increase sustainability in fruit and vegetable (F&V) supply chains. This objective is achieved conducting seven case studies of companies currently operating in the F&V sector in Italy. The main findings are related to the quantification of waste and surplus generated, and to the prevention and management actions implemented, with a focus on the drivers and barriers. Due to the complexity of adopting the circularity principles, achieving them takes a long time and, therefore, many companies are only at the dawn of this transition. The results of the study derive from the analysis of a cross-section of the F&V supply chain, from the cultivation phase to the processing and distribution of fresh products ones. To understand the Italian F&V scenario and answer the research questions, three different data sources were used: semi-structured interviews, company reports and Ellen MacArthur Foundation research. It emerged that the phases that generate the greatest quantities of waste and surpluses are the sorting and processing of fresh products. This result could be due both to the high-quality standards imposed, in terms of shape, color and size of the product, and to the lack of common policies between countries and supply chain operators. To prevent the production of F&V waste and surpluses, the companies have identified 4 main activities to be implemented: forecasting, training, sharing of information and knowledge, and economic support. Finally, a large section has been dedicated to the analysis of the drivers and barriers that companies face today aiming at transforming their business model from linear to circular.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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Adoption of Circular Economy practices in the Fruit and Vegetable supply chain.pdf
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/183136