Month: June 2021

  • 29 June 2021

    Circular Economy for Food

    Franco Fassio dell’Università di Scienze Gastronomiche di Pollenzo (UNISG) è stato nostro ospite in occasione di Hacking the City lo scorso aprile. Il suo intervento, riassunto in questo articolo, si è concentrato sulla necessità di partire dal cibo per cambiare il nostro attuale paradigma economico. Una tale evolluzione in chiave circolare permetterebbe di riportare l’attenzione sulla biodiversità, sulle comunità, sulla qualità delle relazioni e sulla sostanza dei comportamenti. Infatti, per comprendere i problemi che caratterizzano il food system, abbiamo bisogno di adottare un approccio sistemico, di analisi e progettazione. Il “thinking in systems” ci può aiutare a vedere le interconnessioni e capire le esigenze di tutte le parti coinvolte nel sistema. Già l’antropologo britannico Gregory Bateson  in Verso un ecologia della mente aveva sostenuto: “I maggiori problemi del mondo sono il risultato della differenza tra come la natura funziona (sistema) e il modo in cui le persone pensano (lineare)”. Secondo il Professor Fassio, dunque, il primo terreno da arare se vogliamo sostenere e promuovere l’Economia Circolare è la consapevolezza che siamo un unico sistema interconnesso e che un’economia sostenibile può essere solo un’economia della conoscenza. Istruzione, formazione e ricerca sono necessari per ripensare le ipotesi della società contemporanea  e mettere in discussione abitudini consolidate che a volte sono il vero ostacolo ad uno sviluppo sostenibile. La filiera agroalimentare estesa (comparto agricolo, industria alimentare, distribuzione e Horeca) è il primo settore economico del nostro Paese, con un fatturato di oltre 500 miliardi di euro e quasi 4 milioni di occupati. L’importanza di questo settore è tale che la pandemia di Covid-19 ha colpito il settore agroalimentare in maniera relativamente ridotta, con una contrazione del 4% in termini di valore aggiunto su base annua. L’importanza di questa industria è quindi tale da permettere di immaginare una ripartenza dinamica e sostenibile che sfrutti al meglio...
  • 25 June 2021

    Circular Business Models

    By Irene Ambrosi English Version Why it is so important? As we know the traditional systems of production are facing the challenge of shifting to sustainable manufacturing. This shift is needed to meet the Sustainable Development Goals and to reach the Carbon Neutrality Goal set by Europe by 2050. Over the last decade, the interest in circular business models has increased among institutions, governments, companies, and other stakeholders. To ensure this transition, businesses need to change the way they generate value. This means that they need to re-think their business model (BM) in order to enable the creation of value while considering resources consumption. What is a business model? A business model is a conceptual tool characterized by three elements: – the value proposition (what value is offered to whom?) – the value creation and delivery (how is the value provided?) – the value capture (how does the company generate value and other types of value?). In a circular milieu, a business model combines the creation of economic value with the narrowing, slowing, or closing of resource loops. In this context, companies that are compelled to interact within an ecosystem of actors need to move from a firm-centric to a network-centric operational logic. Hence, business model innovation towards sustainability and circularity is a fundamental capability for companies. But regardless of the academic definitions of circular business models, what should business management do and how? It is necessary to consider that one of the main aims of companies remains to make profits, therefore it is important to understand that while capturing environmental and social value we still need to consider the profit objective as well. For example, a thrift shop generates revenues by selling secondhand clothes, but it also creates environmental value by reducing the environmental footprint of consumption. We should...
  • Gianluca Tettamanti, Professore Ordinario presso l’Università degli Studi dell’Insubria, è stato nostro ospite in occasione di Hacking the City lo scorso aprile. Il prof. Tettamanti ha condiviso con noi una parte della sua ricerca, che analizza il ruolo che hanno – e soprattutto quello che potranno avere in futuro – gli insetti nella valorizzazione dei rifiuti. La necessità di valorizzare i rifiuti, come quella di accedere a nuove fonti di nutrimento, è di centrale importanza data la rapida crescita della popolazione globale che ha generato un importante aumento della domanda di cibo, e in particolare di proteine, a livello mondiale. Questo tema assume un’ulteriore urgenza se consideriamo che ad oggi circa un terzo del cibo prodotto a livello mondiale (pari a circa 1,3 miliardi di tonnellate) viene sprecato. Un ridisegnamento dei nostri sistemi produttivi è quindi necessario se l’obiettivo è quello di garantire la sicurezza alimentare della popolazione globale: tale ripensamento deve passare non solo attraverso una riallocazione delle risorse disponibili, ma anche dalla valorizzazione dei rifiuti che produciamo. In questo senso l’impiego degli insetti può essere estremamente utile: alcune larve possono infatti crescere su substrati di scarto producendo dei materiali di un certo valore. Questa possibilità consente di ridurre i rifiuti e, allo stesso tempo, di produrre materiali che possono essere utilizzati con nuovi scopi. In ambito zootecnico, per esempio, è possibile reintrodurre questi materiali come fonte di alimento per altri animali. Alcuni dei vantaggi più importanti che derivano dall’utilizzo di questi insetti sono i seguenti: – Gli insetti possono essere allevati su materiali di scarto di diverso tipo: materiali vegetali, reflui zootecnici, rifiuti urbani e molto altro. In generale questi materiali non sono in competizione con l’alimentazione umana: è quindi possibile nutrire questi insetti senza sprecare risorse. – Gli insetti hanno un elevato indice di conversione: essi sono...
  • By Simina Scripat English Version The crisis caused by COVID-19 and the effects of climate change made the transition to an economic system in which production and consumption are more sustainable increasingly urgent. This implies a total paradigm shift from the status quo. In this new perspective, the needs of the present must be met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. To achieve such development, in 2015 the Member Countries of the United Nations adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved by 2030. These goals are based on the three pillars: environmental, social, and economic. Given the close interconnection of these levels, a transformation of the economic system can also bring environmental and social benefits. Generally speaking, studies have shown how the circular model can benefit the achievement of all SDGs. For example, it has a direct effect on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all (SDG 6). In fact, several parts of the world currently experience severe water shortages at least once a year. The use of circular practices, such as the development of small-scale water purification technologies or wastewater treatment to reduce the discharge of wastewater into drinking water sources, may offer a solution to this water access issue. Circular economy (CE) can also directly benefit the achievement of SDG 7 – ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. Energy is one of the most polluting sectors, and as a study by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation shows, the transition to renewable energy can address 55% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. By introducing CE in five sectors (key cement, plastics, steel, aluminum, and food), it would be possible to reduce these emissions by 9.3 billion tons, thus curbing the other...
  • By Giovanna Matrone and Simone Bambagioni English Version The manufacturing process is currently living its fourth revolution: Industry 4.0. Based on a wide range of new technologies combining physical, digital, and biological aspects, this means taking an enormous step forward compared to the previous revolutions mainly characterized by technological advancement. These new technologies are impacting all disciplines, economies, and industries, as well as challenging ideas about our conditions as humans. The main characteristic of Industry 4.0 is the connectivity between machines, orders, employees, suppliers, and customers. This digital transformation – based on Internet-of-Things and electronic devices – impacts the entire value chain of the manufacturing process. Within this revolution, some trends are receiving more attention and investments due to their high potential: Smart factory, Predictive maintenance, and 3D printing. 3D printing is a computer-controlled process serving object production by adding sequential layers of material (metal, plastic, composite). The evolution of this technology, mostly used for prototyping of low volumes, is the Additive Manufacturing (AM) aimed to support a real serial production. This manufacturing process significantly differs from conventional subtractive methods, mainly based on removing material from a solid block. AM offers significant advantages: production innovation can be accelerated, while product customization and functional integration can be reached quickly and at lower costs. This makes AM attractive for many companies to differentiate themselves on the market and reach sustainability targets. Indeed, AM becomes a fundamental step in transitioning from a linear to a circular economy, disrupting current supply chain in terms of design, materials, manufacturing, and products. DESIGN AM basically expands the scope of design to a wider range of factors, asking engineers for a real mindset change. Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) is not just focused on the manufacturing step itself, but it also considers the material properties, part parameters,...
  • 8 June 2021

    Circular Threads

    Versione Italiana Comunicato Stampa Circular Threads Tondo presenta il primo studio italiano sulla relazione tra industria del tessile ed Economia Circolare per valutare il livello di circolarità del settore nel Nord Italia Tondo, Fondazione Pistoletto, Associazione Tessile e Salute e Rén sono lieti di annunciare la presentazione dello studio Circular Threads, che verrà illustrato per la prima volta presso la sede della Fondazione Pistoletto a Biella il 22 giugno dalle ore 14:30 alle ore 18:30.   Lo studio Circular Threads è stato sviluppato con l’intenzione di promuovere la transizione verso l’Economia Circolare nell’industria tessile attraverso una prima misurazione del livello di sostenibilità e circolarità su scala settoriale e aziendale. L’industria tessile rappresenta un settore cruciale dell’economia italiana. L’adozione di modelli produttivi basati sui principi dell’Economia Circolare permetterebbe a questo settore di diventare non solo più sostenibile, ma anche più resiliente, efficiente e redditizio. “Misurare la sostenibilità, saperla valorizzare senza cadere nei luoghi comuni del greenwashing e mantenere alti i valori dell’etica, questi sono i fattori che possono aiutare le manifatture a differenziarsi” – commenta Marco Piu, Direttore di Associazione Tessile e Salute. La ricerca, che ha coinvolto circa 300 aziende, è stata condotta su 3 livelli di analisi (desk search, questionario, misurazione della circolarità) fornendo una panoramica della situazione attuale del settore, con l’obiettivo ultimo di comprendere i gap esistenti e di accelerare la transizione verso l’Economia Circolare nell’industria tessile, anche grazie all’identificazione delle best practices e delle principali sfide da affrontare. “La volontà di portare avanti questo studio – racconta Alberto Monti, Head of Research di Tondo – nasce dalla consapevolezza dell’esistenza di una serie di criticità che il settore del tessile si trova a dover affrontare, ma anche dalla convinzione che i principi dell’Economia Circolare possano servire non solo per far diventare l’intero settore più sostenibile, ma anche più produttivo, redditizio e...
  • English Version Pietro Lanza General Manager of Intesa (IBM Group) and Blockchain Director of IBM Italia was with us at our Re-think Circular Economy Forum in October. Together we discussed how the transition towards the Circular Economy and the Green Deal create new opportunities for businesses in which technology and digital innovation play a key role. According to Pietro Lanza, what we are experiencing is a new industrial revolution that is based on exponential technologies, such as IoT, AI, cognitive computing, and Cloud. These technologies are growing at a global scale and allow companies to move towards new business models, enabling the Green and Digital Transition to a Circular Economy. The technology sector is then becoming a key player in redesigning businesses for Italian mid and big-size companies, especially because the supply chains of many industries are becoming more complex. Why are these technologies important? To unlock the potential of a Circular Economy through these new technologies, it is useful to highlight seven essential steps. First of all, it is necessary to understand and leverage the usage of IoT platforms. The second step is about focusing on the right data and analyzing them. This step is usually supported by AI combined with Machine Learning. The next one deals with rethinking the operations, an area in which Intesa is deploying a lot of effort, helping its clients in redefining their processes from the product design to the supply chain to the overall industrial processes. In this step blockchain, augmented reality, and optimization of the processes through innovation are often used. The fourth step is about connections: we are living in an interconnected world, which means that it is important to leverage on open platforms to connect in real-time actors across all the network. The blockchain is an example of a connected...
  • By Benedetta Esposito English Version The agri-food sector has been severely affected by many problems, such as resource scarcity, food loss and waste generation along the worldwide supply chain which, in 2019, counted approximately 1.3 billion tons, generating a cost of more than 1000 billion dollars per year (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2019). The decline in biodiversity and the improper management of resources and processes represent only some of the causes of such problems. Accordingly, a need has emerged to radically redesign the traditional linear economic path of production and consumption. In this scenario, Circular Economy emerges as a possible strategy that is able to overcome these critical issues, especially in the state of emergency generated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Hence, the need to adopt models and tools of Circular Economy in the agri-food sector is imperative to overcome these problems. Under this lens, the company’s performance should be guided towards consumption reduction, optimization of resource management, reduction of environmental impacts, waste reduction, and the reuse of leftovers. Moreover, the literature has shown that stakeholders’ engagement plays a pivotal role in catalyzing the shift towards the adoption of circular economy models, which is required at the supply-chain level rather than the individual company level. Indeed, one of the main barriers to circular economy implementation is the lack of information about the stakeholders involved in the supply chain. In addition to primary producers, numerous categories of subjects should be involved, such as customers and consumers, investors, public decision-makers, the process and transformation industry and distribution. Insightful information about companies’ practices can support sustainable business systems in the agri-food sector. Consistent with this statement, researchers have demonstrated that incorporating social and environmental considerations into the decision-making process and customers ‘reuse activities’ yields significant economic benefits. Therefore, sustainability commitments and the actions of...
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