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In the current definition of sustainability, project cultures promote a transition involving changes in production, consumption and lifestyle, taking into account the progressive integration of environmental, social, cultural and economic aspects. By analysing eleven design approaches for sustainable, responsible, and circular transitions and, in particular, the disciplines of Advanced Design and Transition Design, this paper introduces the new figure of the Transitional Industrial Designer, a future-oriented designer with a critical awareness of the social and environmental implications of industrial design, able to contribute to more sustainable and adaptable models in a changing context. The article introduces the methods and tools tested in an EU-funded project.   Article info Received: 18/03/2024; Revised: 23/04/2024; Accepted: 01/05/2024, Nella definizione attuale di sostenibilità, le culture del progetto tengono in considerazione la progressiva integrazione di aspetti ambientali, sociali, culturali ed economici per promuovere una transizione che implichi cambiamenti nella produzione, consumo e stile di vita. Attraverso l’analisi di undici approcci progettuali per la transizione sostenibile, responsabile e circolare e, in particolare, delle discipline dell’Advanced Design e del Transition Design, l’articolo introduce il Transitional Industrial Designer, nuova figura di progettista orientato al futuro, con una consapevolezza critica sulle implicazioni sociali e ambientali della progettazione industriale e capacità a contribuire a modelli più sostenibili e adattabili in un contesto in continua evoluzione. L’articolo ne introduce metodi e strumenti sperimentati all’interno di un progetto finanziato dall’Unione Europea.   Info sull'articolo Ricevuto: 18/03/2024; Revisionato: 23/04/2024; Accettato: 01/05/2024

In the current definition of sustainability, project cultures promote a transition involving changes in production, consumption and lifestyle, taking into account the progressive integration of environmental, social, cultural and economic aspects. By analysing eleven design approaches for sustainable, responsible, and circular transitions and, in particular, the disciplines of Advanced Design and Transition Design, this paper introduces the new figure of the Transitional Industrial Designer, a future-oriented designer with a critical awareness of the social and environmental implications of industrial design, able to contribute to more sustainable and adaptable models in a changing context. The article introduces the methods and tools tested in an EU-funded project.   Article info Received: 18/03/2024; Revised: 23/04/2024; Accepted: 01/05/2024, Nella definizione attuale di sostenibilità, le culture del progetto tengono in considerazione la progressiva integrazione di aspetti ambientali, sociali, culturali ed economici per promuovere una transizione che implichi cambiamenti nella produzione, consumo e stile di vita. Attraverso l’analisi di undici approcci progettuali per la transizione sostenibile, responsabile e circolare e, in particolare, delle discipline dell’Advanced Design e del Transition Design, l’articolo introduce il Transitional Industrial Designer, nuova figura di progettista orientato al futuro, con una consapevolezza critica sulle implicazioni sociali e ambientali della progettazione industriale e capacità a contribuire a modelli più sostenibili e adattabili in un contesto in continua evoluzione. L’articolo ne introduce metodi e strumenti sperimentati all’interno di un progetto finanziato dall’Unione Europea.   Info sull'articolo Ricevuto: 18/03/2024; Revisionato: 23/04/2024; Accettato: 01/05/2024

India is now poised to become one of the most important recycling hubs of the world. In the recent years, large-scale infrastructural set-up for sorting, processing, and recycling textiles has received attention. Additionally, with the positive policy intervention from the government, textile recyclers and sorters are now investing in modern technologies and exploring new business models to reshape this industry. This opens up opportunities for developing novel industrial value chains and ecosystems for valorising textile waste inter-continentally. This white paper serves a strategic insight document for all stakeholders associated with the quadruple helix of Indian textile recycling ecosystem, that is textile recycling sector, textile value chain players, governmental and financial institutions, academia, and special interest groups to vision the key strategic intervention areas and develop guidelines on future road mapping for designing a flourishing textile recycling ecosystem in India. We have addressed 4 dimensions for scaling textile recycling ecosystems and its underlying value chains, in terms of value chain optimization, supply-market strategic alignment, designing ecosystem sustainability and mobilizing external support to create a level playing field for value chain actors. 13 strategic intervention areas (SIAs) are identified where actions are required. To sum up: Value chain optimization calls for advancing existing technologies and building multi-technology flexible platforms to valorise diverse waste fractions. While legitimacy-building tools via certifications, standards and accreditations are crucial for brand image, of equal importance is supply network design for increasing effectiveness. Strategic alignment in textile recycling value chains for matching supply and demands, calls for improving market, customer and supply chain orientation, for enhancing value opportunities. While improved data generation and visibility will drive such market and, CLOSeD, RESORTEX

[ES] La demanda global de baterías de ion de litio (LIBs) ha aumentado significativamente en las últimas décadas y se espera que continúe creciendo. Los vehículos eléctricos (EVs) se han adentrado en el mercado automovilístico para ayudar a reducir el impacto ambiental que producen los vehículos de combustible tradicional. La electrificación de la industria automovilística es fundamental para conducir a la humanidad hacia un futuro más verde, y las LIBs desarrollan un papel crucial en esta transición. Sin embargo, esta tecnología ha suscitado preocupaciones por su impacto ambiental y su sostenibilidad durante la cadena de valor, desde la extracción de materias primas hasta la gestión del fin de vida útil (EoL). Esta tesis proporciona un análisis de la literatura sobre el ciclo de vida y la sostenibilidad de las LIBs en la industria automovilística, aplicando una perspectiva de economía circular. Discute materias primas críticas como el litio, el cobalto y el níquel, enfatizando los desafíos asociados con su extracción, procesamiento y vulnerabilidades en la cadena de suministro. El estudio también investiga tecnologías emergentes de baterías, la importancia de los sistemas de gestión de baterías y el impacto del envejecimiento durante su fase de uso. Finalmente, examina el proceso de EoL de las baterías y ofrece perspectivas sobre esta etapa en Europa, evaluando las diferentes alternativas desde una perspectiva de economía circular y los desafíos durante la última fase del ciclo de vida de las LIBs., [EN] The global demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has increased significantly over the last decades and it is expected to continue growing. Electric vehicles (EVs) have dived into the automotive market to help reduce the environmental impact that traditional fuel vehicles produce. The electrification of the automotive industry is crucial for shifting humanity towards a greener future, and LIBs play a crucial role in this transition. However, this technology has raised concerns about the environmental impact and sustainability of the entire value chain, from raw material extraction to end of life (EoL) management. This thesis provides a literature review that examines the lifecycle and sustainability of LIBs in the automotive industry, from a circular economy perspective. It discusses critical raw materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, emphasizing the challenges associated with their extraction, processing, and vulnerabilities in the supply chain. The study also investigates emerging battery technologies, the significance of battery management systems, and the impact of aging during the use phase of the batteries. Finally, it examines the process of battery EoL and offers insights into this stage in Europe, evaluating the different alternatives from a circular economy perspective and challenges during last phase of the LIB s life cycle.

[ES] La demanda global de baterías de ion de litio (LIBs) ha aumentado significativamente en las últimas décadas y se espera que continúe creciendo. Los vehículos eléctricos (EVs) se han adentrado en el mercado automovilístico para ayudar a reducir el impacto ambiental que producen los vehículos de combustible tradicional. La electrificación de la industria automovilística es fundamental para conducir a la humanidad hacia un futuro más verde, y las LIBs desarrollan un papel crucial en esta transición. Sin embargo, esta tecnología ha suscitado preocupaciones por su impacto ambiental y su sostenibilidad durante la cadena de valor, desde la extracción de materias primas hasta la gestión del fin de vida útil (EoL). Esta tesis proporciona un análisis de la literatura sobre el ciclo de vida y la sostenibilidad de las LIBs en la industria automovilística, aplicando una perspectiva de economía circular. Discute materias primas críticas como el litio, el cobalto y el níquel, enfatizando los desafíos asociados con su extracción, procesamiento y vulnerabilidades en la cadena de suministro. El estudio también investiga tecnologías emergentes de baterías, la importancia de los sistemas de gestión de baterías y el impacto del envejecimiento durante su fase de uso. Finalmente, examina el proceso de EoL de las baterías y ofrece perspectivas sobre esta etapa en Europa, evaluando las diferentes alternativas desde una perspectiva de economía circular y los desafíos durante la última fase del ciclo de vida de las LIBs., [EN] The global demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has increased significantly over the last decades and it is expected to continue growing. Electric vehicles (EVs) have dived into the automotive market to help reduce the environmental impact that traditional fuel vehicles produce. The electrification of the automotive industry is crucial for shifting humanity towards a greener future, and LIBs play a crucial role in this transition. However, this technology has raised concerns about the environmental impact and sustainability of the entire value chain, from raw material extraction to end of life (EoL) management. This thesis provides a literature review that examines the lifecycle and sustainability of LIBs in the automotive industry, from a circular economy perspective. It discusses critical raw materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, emphasizing the challenges associated with their extraction, processing, and vulnerabilities in the supply chain. The study also investigates emerging battery technologies, the significance of battery management systems, and the impact of aging during the use phase of the batteries. Finally, it examines the process of battery EoL and offers insights into this stage in Europe, evaluating the different alternatives from a circular economy perspective and challenges during last phase of the LIB s life cycle.

Den globala ekonomin har under de senaste åren påverkats i flera olika aspekter däribland geopolitiska spänningar samt ökade transport-och arbetskostnader, vilket har utmynnat i utmaningar för företags globala värdekedjor. Företag som har globala värdekedjor har ofta valt att utkontraktera delar av sina processer till internationella leverantörer, främst för att ta del av expertis, billig arbetskraft samt närhet till råvaror. Trots fördelarna tillkommer utmaningar och risker som företagen behöver hantera. Det kan vara allt från osäkerheter i form av längre transportsträckor samt svårigheter i att granska standarder och kvalitén vid utkontrakterade produktioner. I samband med detta har företag genom åren velat profilera sig som hållbara och utgått från att försöka balansera miljömässiga, sociala och ekonomiska hållbarhetsaspekter. Detta är lättare sagt än gjort, och i jakten på högre vinster har de sociala och miljömässiga aspekterna inte alltid blivit lika prioriterade. Detta har bland annat resulterat i att företag utkontrakterar till internationella leverantörer som bland annat har bristande arbetsförhållanden och produktframställning. De miljömässiga konsekvenserna uppstår både på plats där själva aktiviteterna sker och i samband med transportsträckorna. Trots detta har företag av olika anledningar kvar sina internationella leverantörer där företagens förhållningsätt kring de hållbarhetsrelaterade aspekterna skiljer sig åt. Till exempel har en del företag varit omotiverade att hantera problem som inte har en tydlig ekonomisk effekt. Ökade påtryckningar från konsumenter och utökade regleringar har pressat företagens hållbarhetsarbete, både för att bibehålla konkurrenskraft och marknadsposition. Därav finns det företag idag som kan behöva ändra sina värderingar. Detta innebär i sin tur att företagen även kan behöva se över sina befintliga utkontrakteringsstrategier och valet av deras

This study explores the barriers to cross-sector collaboration among NGOs, for-profit organizations, PBCs, social enterprise and public entities within the plastic industry, aiming to identify the challenges hindering the transition towards a holistic circular economy. The research investigates the complex dynamics and interconnected factors that impede collaborative efforts in addressing the global plastic pollution crisis. Employing a qualitative approach, the study conducted semi-structured interviews with actors representing various sectors and roles within the plastic value chain. The research design involved a thematic analysis of the interview data, guided by the theoretical frameworks of Social Network Theory, Systems Thinking, and Innovation. This approach allowed for a comprehensive examination of the barriers to cross-sector collaboration, considering the interplay of power dynamics, economic priorities, and the lack of feasible, scalable solutions. The findings reveal three major barriers: power imbalances and disconnect among actors within the plastic industry network, the prioritization of profit over sustainability in the current economic system, and the absence of realistic, feasible solutions that can be implemented on a large scale across the entire value chain. The study highlights the necessity of fostering an inclusive environment, shifting mindsets, and developing innovative, scalable solutions to overcome these barriers. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex challenges in achieving cross-sector collaboration and provide valuable insights for practitioners and policymakers working towards a sustainable future in the plastic industry.

The purpose of this essay is to show how wool production takes place in practice on different types of sheep farms and to investigate how the value is created in wool. As well as examining and illustrating how the value chain for farms with sheep where wool is produced. To carry out the work, information has been collected with the help of qualitative approach and triangulation as a method. The theoretical framework has been developed from current research that can be linked to the chosen subject. Since there is not much research that focuses on wool and the farmers' entrepreneurship, this was developed into the subject of the essay. The framework of reference has then been built up by relevant and current research that creates understanding and to analyze empiricism. The discussion and conclusions of the study reveals that the sheep farmers have no economic value in the wool if they do not choose to develop it into products themselves. The work on the essay has shown that the farmers have a strong value in the wool, and they want it to get a stronger position in society so imports of wool can decrease.There is also some uncertainty about what the sheep farmers can do with the wool when it is cut. Where they can sell it and what can be done with it as a raw material. Results from the interviews show that the farmers help to keep the landscape open and praise that comes from the surroundings is something that motivates them to continue., Syftet med denna uppsats är att visa hur ullproduktion sker i praktiken på olika typer av fårgårdar och undersöka hur värdet skapas i ull. Samt att undersöka och illustrera hur värdekedjan för gårdar med får där ull produceras ser ut. För att genomföra arbetet har empiri samlats in med hjälp av kvalitativ ansats och triangulering som metod. Den teoretiska referensramen har utvecklats från aktuell forskning som kan kopplas till det valda ämnet. Då det inte finns mycket forskning som fokuserar på ull och böndernas entreprenörskap så utvecklades detta till ämnet för uppsatsen. Referensramen har då byggts upp av relevant och aktuell forskning som skapar förståelse och för att analysera empirin. Diskussionen och slutsatserna visar att fårbönderna inte har något ekonomiskt värde i ullen om de inte själva väljer att utveckla den till produkter. Arbetet med uppsatsen har visat att bönderna har ett starkt må bra-värde i ullen och att de vill att den ska få en starkare ställning i samhället så importen av ull kan minska. Det förekommer även viss osäkerhet kring vad fårbönderna kan göra med ullen när den är klippt. Vart de kan sälja den och vad som kan göras med den som råvara. Resultat från intervjuerna visar att bönderna hjälper till med att hålla landskapet öppet och beröm som kommer från omgivningen är något som motiverar dem att fortsätta.

Climate change is the most pressing environmental challenge of our time, with global temperatures rising and extreme weather events becoming more frequent. The corporate sector, particularly large industrial entities, faces increasing scrutiny due to its significant contributions to global emissions. This thesis examines Scope 3 emissions reporting within the mining and extractive industries, focusing on data quality and comparing Nordic and international practices. Using a self-developed theoretical model of logic, concepts, metrics, and tools, this research investigates how these industries report their Scope 3 emissions and identifies gaps in current practices. The study utilizes an abductive approach, combining both inductive and deductive methods, supported by a mixed-method combined of empirical data from publicly available sustainability reports and an online questionnaire, targeting mining and extractive companies and sustainability managers. Key findings reveal considerable variability in how companies report Scope 3 emissions, with Nordic companies often lagging behind their international counterparts despite strong sustainability credentials. Data quality concerns, including issues of accuracy, completeness, and timeliness, undermine stakeholders' ability to make informed decisions. Additionally, the research highlights diverse tools and methodologies employed by companies, noting that the lack of clear guidelines often hinders their effectiveness. This thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of Scope 3 emissions management, emphasizing the need for standardized and effective reporting practices.

Background: The textile industry new regulations require companies to integrate traceability in their value chain and circular initiatives. Recent studies present concern of the lack of traceability in products. Traceability is seen as an enabler for sustainability, since it displays company value chain activities. This research is part of the research project Systemdemonstratorn for a circular value chain. Purpose: The purpose of this research is to provide insights of the requirements in terms of traceability for companies’ adaptation to the digital product passport for the aim of creating an enhanced circular textile system. The research questions are divided in stage 1 to determine the current state and stage 2 to establish the requirement of future stage. Methodology: This research applies a qualitative approach with an explorative stance. The constructed conceptual framework is based on a merge of value stream mapping and The Butterfly Diagram with the addition of a proposed structure for the digital product passport from CIRPASS. The primary data was collected from semi-structured interviews and a conducted interview tool supported by the 5W1H information gathering technique. Findings: To analyse the findings this research conducted a thematic analysis, where themes were conducted individually in stage 1 and stage 2. The finding indicated a need of an integrated technological solution, a demand for a clear strategic communication process and a desire of clarity both within the companies and in the industry, it may still be a concern due to the novelty of the subject. Increased knowledge was further demonstrated as a necessity together with increased responsibility and lower ambiguity. Integrating traceability in circular loops and a unique product identifier was also distinguished as requirements. It was also stated that participants companies had progressed to different extent in the circular loops. Certifications was further distinguished as an established

In response to the challenge of moving society toward sustainability, a paradigm shift within the materials sector calls for a transition focusing on the socio-ecological sustainability of natural materials such as industrial hemp fibre (Cannabis sativa L.). Although well-suited for hemp cultivation, Sweden faces challenges building its hemp fibre value chain (HFVC). Taking a systems perspective, this study aimed to identify how Sweden can strengthen its HFVC by 1) uncovering system dynamics and mapping out the current HFVC and 2) identifying interventions that could strengthen the system. This study used Meadows’ 12 Leverage Points concept to analyse the data from survey-based questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with HFVC actors. The results illuminated a systemic view of the current structure of the HFVC and suggested a set of interventions for ‘shallow’ and ‘deep’ change that could move it toward sustainability. Ultimately, strengthening the HFVC to enhance sustainability depends on the ability to co-create a sustainable, resilient system. Through intentional collaboration,advocacy for hemp fibre, and strategic leadership, the HFVC has the potential to overcome the difficulty of responding urgently to the sustainability challenge while also meeting the time-intensive developmental needs of the system.

India is now poised to become one of the most important recycling hubs of the world. In the recent years, large-scale infrastructural set-up for sorting, processing, and recycling textiles has received attention. Additionally, with the positive policy intervention from the government, textile recyclers and sorters are now investing in modern technologies and exploring new business models to reshape this industry. This opens up opportunities for developing novel industrial value chains and ecosystems for valorising textile waste inter-continentally. This white paper serves a strategic insight document for all stakeholders associated with the quadruple helix of Indian textile recycling ecosystem, that is textile recycling sector, textile value chain players, governmental and financial institutions, academia, and special interest groups to vision the key strategic intervention areas and develop guidelines on future road mapping for designing a flourishing textile recycling ecosystem in India. We have addressed 4 dimensions for scaling textile recycling ecosystems and its underlying value chains, in terms of value chain optimization, supply-market strategic alignment, designing ecosystem sustainability and mobilizing external support to create a level playing field for value chain actors. 13 strategic intervention areas (SIAs) are identified where actions are required. To sum up: Value chain optimization calls for advancing existing technologies and building multi-technology flexible platforms to valorise diverse waste fractions. While legitimacy-building tools via certifications, standards and accreditations are crucial for brand image, of equal importance is supply network design for increasing effectiveness. Strategic alignment in textile recycling value chains for matching supply and demands, calls for improving market, customer and supply chain orientation, for enhancing value opportunities. While improved data generation and visibility will drive such market and, CLOSeD, RESORTEX

Den globala ekonomin har under de senaste åren påverkats i flera olika aspekter däribland geopolitiska spänningar samt ökade transport-och arbetskostnader, vilket har utmynnat i utmaningar för företags globala värdekedjor. Företag som har globala värdekedjor har ofta valt att utkontraktera delar av sina processer till internationella leverantörer, främst för att ta del av expertis, billig arbetskraft samt närhet till råvaror. Trots fördelarna tillkommer utmaningar och risker som företagen behöver hantera. Det kan vara allt från osäkerheter i form av längre transportsträckor samt svårigheter i att granska standarder och kvalitén vid utkontrakterade produktioner. I samband med detta har företag genom åren velat profilera sig som hållbara och utgått från att försöka balansera miljömässiga, sociala och ekonomiska hållbarhetsaspekter. Detta är lättare sagt än gjort, och i jakten på högre vinster har de sociala och miljömässiga aspekterna inte alltid blivit lika prioriterade. Detta har bland annat resulterat i att företag utkontrakterar till internationella leverantörer som bland annat har bristande arbetsförhållanden och produktframställning. De miljömässiga konsekvenserna uppstår både på plats där själva aktiviteterna sker och i samband med transportsträckorna. Trots detta har företag av olika anledningar kvar sina internationella leverantörer där företagens förhållningsätt kring de hållbarhetsrelaterade aspekterna skiljer sig åt. Till exempel har en del företag varit omotiverade att hantera problem som inte har en tydlig ekonomisk effekt. Ökade påtryckningar från konsumenter och utökade regleringar har pressat företagens hållbarhetsarbete, både för att bibehålla konkurrenskraft och marknadsposition. Därav finns det företag idag som kan behöva ändra sina värderingar. Detta innebär i sin tur att företagen även kan behöva se över sina befintliga utkontrakteringsstrategier och valet av deras

This study explores the barriers to cross-sector collaboration among NGOs, for-profit organizations, PBCs, social enterprise and public entities within the plastic industry, aiming to identify the challenges hindering the transition towards a holistic circular economy. The research investigates the complex dynamics and interconnected factors that impede collaborative efforts in addressing the global plastic pollution crisis. Employing a qualitative approach, the study conducted semi-structured interviews with actors representing various sectors and roles within the plastic value chain. The research design involved a thematic analysis of the interview data, guided by the theoretical frameworks of Social Network Theory, Systems Thinking, and Innovation. This approach allowed for a comprehensive examination of the barriers to cross-sector collaboration, considering the interplay of power dynamics, economic priorities, and the lack of feasible, scalable solutions. The findings reveal three major barriers: power imbalances and disconnect among actors within the plastic industry network, the prioritization of profit over sustainability in the current economic system, and the absence of realistic, feasible solutions that can be implemented on a large scale across the entire value chain. The study highlights the necessity of fostering an inclusive environment, shifting mindsets, and developing innovative, scalable solutions to overcome these barriers. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex challenges in achieving cross-sector collaboration and provide valuable insights for practitioners and policymakers working towards a sustainable future in the plastic industry.

In response to the challenge of moving society toward sustainability, a paradigm shift within the materials sector calls for a transition focusing on the socio-ecological sustainability of natural materials such as industrial hemp fibre (Cannabis sativa L.). Although well-suited for hemp cultivation, Sweden faces challenges building its hemp fibre value chain (HFVC). Taking a systems perspective, this study aimed to identify how Sweden can strengthen its HFVC by 1) uncovering system dynamics and mapping out the current HFVC and 2) identifying interventions that could strengthen the system. This study used Meadows’ 12 Leverage Points concept to analyse the data from survey-based questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with HFVC actors. The results illuminated a systemic view of the current structure of the HFVC and suggested a set of interventions for ‘shallow’ and ‘deep’ change that could move it toward sustainability. Ultimately, strengthening the HFVC to enhance sustainability depends on the ability to co-create a sustainable, resilient system. Through intentional collaboration,advocacy for hemp fibre, and strategic leadership, the HFVC has the potential to overcome the difficulty of responding urgently to the sustainability challenge while also meeting the time-intensive developmental needs of the system.

In response to the challenge of moving society toward sustainability, a paradigm shift within the materials sector calls for a transition focusing on the socio-ecological sustainability of natural materials such as industrial hemp fibre (Cannabis sativa L.). Although well-suited for hemp cultivation, Sweden faces challenges building its hemp fibre value chain (HFVC). Taking a systems perspective, this study aimed to identify how Sweden can strengthen its HFVC by 1) uncovering system dynamics and mapping out the current HFVC and 2) identifying interventions that could strengthen the system. This study used Meadows’ 12 Leverage Points concept to analyse the data from survey-based questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with HFVC actors. The results illuminated a systemic view of the current structure of the HFVC and suggested a set of interventions for ‘shallow’ and ‘deep’ change that could move it toward sustainability. Ultimately, strengthening the HFVC to enhance sustainability depends on the ability to co-create a sustainable, resilient system. Through intentional collaboration,advocacy for hemp fibre, and strategic leadership, the HFVC has the potential to overcome the difficulty of responding urgently to the sustainability challenge while also meeting the time-intensive developmental needs of the system.

In response to the challenge of moving society toward sustainability, a paradigm shift within the materials sector calls for a transition focusing on the socio-ecological sustainability of natural materials such as industrial hemp fibre (Cannabis sativa L.). Although well-suited for hemp cultivation, Sweden faces challenges building its hemp fibre value chain (HFVC). Taking a systems perspective, this study aimed to identify how Sweden can strengthen its HFVC by 1) uncovering system dynamics and mapping out the current HFVC and 2) identifying interventions that could strengthen the system. This study used Meadows’ 12 Leverage Points concept to analyse the data from survey-based questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with HFVC actors. The results illuminated a systemic view of the current structure of the HFVC and suggested a set of interventions for ‘shallow’ and ‘deep’ change that could move it toward sustainability. Ultimately, strengthening the HFVC to enhance sustainability depends on the ability to co-create a sustainable, resilient system. Through intentional collaboration,advocacy for hemp fibre, and strategic leadership, the HFVC has the potential to overcome the difficulty of responding urgently to the sustainability challenge while also meeting the time-intensive developmental needs of the system.

Objective: This research aims to formulate a model of value chain and livelihood assets in an effort to enhance the performance of cooperatives focusing on processed coconut products in the North Maluku Province. Coconut (Cocos nucifera) is a fruit plant with a crucial role on a global scale, providing a food source for millions of people, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Due to the numerous benefitsit yields, the coconut is often referred to as the "tree of life" or the "rescuer tree Method: A total of 206 samples were used in this study, and the analysis was conducted using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) method. The determination of the research location is purposive, primarily in the largest coconut-producing areas in North Maluku. The selection of the research location is based on the consideration that this region is one of the largest coconut producers in Indonesia and has the presence of cooperatives in the coconut plantation sector. North Maluku Province produces coconut products in several regencies, including North Halmahera Regency, South Halmahera Regency, West Halmahera Regency, Central Halmahera Regency, Morotai Island Regency, Sula Regency, Taliabu Regency, and North Maluku Regency. Results: The research results indicate that primary activities, social capital, physical capital, entrepreneurship, and political capital have a positive and significant influence on the value chain and livelihood assets. On the other hand, support activities, human capital, natural capital, and financial capital do not have a significant impact on either the value chain or livelihood assets. The value chain and livelihood assets significantly contribute to the performance of the cooperative. Conclusions: factors such as support activities, human capital, natural capital, and financial capital do not have a significant influence on the value chain or livelihood assets. These results can serve as a foundation for policymakers and stakeholders to

This study investigates the effect of entrepreneurship determinants on economic diversification and sustainable livelihoods among fish farmers in Kakamega County, Kenya. Entrepreneurship determinants encompass a range of factors including access to finance, training, market information, infrastructure, and supportive institutional frameworks. Economic diversification is vital for reducing reliance on traditional income sources and enhancing resilience to economic shocks, while sustainable livelihoods ensure long-term prosperity while preserving natural resources. The specific objective was to examine the moderating effect of entrepreneurship determinants on the relationship between economic diversification and sustainable livelihoods among fish farmers in Kakamega County. The study was guided by Sustainable Livelihoods Theory. The target population was 4500 fish farmers in Kakamega County from which a sample of 354 fish farmers was selected for the study using the Krejcie and Morgan Table 1970. Data was collected using closed-ended questionnaires. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS version 26. Using descriptive and survey research designs, data was collected from a sample of fish farmers in Kakamega County. The findings reveal significant correlations between entrepreneurship determinants, economic diversification, and sustainable livelihoods. Economic Activity Diversification explained 50.8% changes on sustainable livelihoods. However, when moderated with entrepreneurial determinants, the influence of economic diversification explained 66.3% of the changes in sustainable livelihoods among the fish farmers in Kakamega County. The analysis utilized unstandardized coefficients to elucidate the relationships between variables. In Model 1, Vertical Diversification (B = 0.271, p = 0.000) and Portfolio Diversification (B = 0.488, p = 0.000) significantly influenced Sustainable Livelihoods, while Structural Diversification (B = -0.044, p = 0.493) did not. Model 2 intro

This study investigates the effect of entrepreneurship determinants on economic diversification and sustainable livelihoods among fish farmers in Kakamega County, Kenya. Entrepreneurship determinants encompass a range of factors including access to finance, training, market information, infrastructure, and supportive institutional frameworks. Economic diversification is vital for reducing reliance on traditional income sources and enhancing resilience to economic shocks, while sustainable livelihoods ensure long-term prosperity while preserving natural resources. The specific objective was to examine the moderating effect of entrepreneurship determinants on the relationship between economic diversification and sustainable livelihoods among fish farmers in Kakamega County. The study was guided by Sustainable Livelihoods Theory. The target population was 4500 fish farmers in Kakamega County from which a sample of 354 fish farmers was selected for the study using the Krejcie and Morgan Table 1970. Data was collected using closed-ended questionnaires. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS version 26. Using descriptive and survey research designs, data was collected from a sample of fish farmers in Kakamega County. The findings reveal significant correlations between entrepreneurship determinants, economic diversification, and sustainable livelihoods. Economic Activity Diversification explained 50.8% changes on sustainable livelihoods. However, when moderated with entrepreneurial determinants, the influence of economic diversification explained 66.3% of the changes in sustainable livelihoods among the fish farmers in Kakamega County. The analysis utilized unstandardized coefficients to elucidate the relationships between variables. In Model 1, Vertical Diversification (B = 0.271, p = 0.000) and Portfolio Diversification (B = 0.488, p = 0.000) significantly influenced Sustainable Livelihoods, while Structural Diversification (B = -0.044, p = 0.493) did not. Model 2 intro

Based on circular economy readiness assessments of six value chain layers, 18 design strategies and five collaboration strategies for circular economy were identified. The design strategies have many applications, from the design of materials, products, and processes to business models, and while some are specific to determined layers, others can be addressed by companies in multiple layers. Furthermore, collaboration across the value chain was found to affect positively the employment of circular economy design strategies, contributing to the fulfilment of solutions’ circularity potential.

Forced labour presents a severe human rights violation and affects about 27.6 million people worldwide. Most forced labour in the private economy takes place in businesses linked to the global market economy. In efforts against forced labour, it is therefore crucial to address the role of business operations in global supply chains. The European Commission has presented a proposal for a ban on products made with forced labour on the EU market which applies to all companies and industries. Although this initiative has been welcomed broadly the proposal has served as a topic for political debate in the EU. Stakeholders have contrasting views on what would serve as the most effective solution to the problem and, indeed, what actually constitutes the problem. Research on policy design acknowledge that the way a problem is framed and understood determines which kind of solutions will be deemed as appropriate. This thesis aims to understand the foundations of how the European Commission perceives the problem by conducting a frame analysis of the proposal focusing in turn on how the problem is framed, which actors are included, and how causes and solutions are framed. The frame analysis reveals that the Commission’s framing of the problem is ambiguous and twofold - it includes aspects of human rights perspectives as well as market and trade perspectives. The aim of the proposal is to contribute to the eradication of forced labour, but it also addresses the issue of distortion on the internal EU market and on removing unfair competition. Although the proposal fails to address some of the underlying root causes of forced labour this initiative, together with other legal measures in the business and human rights field, presents an important step towards keeping companies accountable for their adverse human rights impacts.

Forced labour presents a severe human rights violation and affects about 27.6 million people worldwide. Most forced labour in the private economy takes place in businesses linked to the global market economy. In efforts against forced labour, it is therefore crucial to address the role of business operations in global supply chains. The European Commission has presented a proposal for a ban on products made with forced labour on the EU market which applies to all companies and industries. Although this initiative has been welcomed broadly the proposal has served as a topic for political debate in the EU. Stakeholders have contrasting views on what would serve as the most effective solution to the problem and, indeed, what actually constitutes the problem. Research on policy design acknowledge that the way a problem is framed and understood determines which kind of solutions will be deemed as appropriate. This thesis aims to understand the foundations of how the European Commission perceives the problem by conducting a frame analysis of the proposal focusing in turn on how the problem is framed, which actors are included, and how causes and solutions are framed. The frame analysis reveals that the Commission’s framing of the problem is ambiguous and twofold - it includes aspects of human rights perspectives as well as market and trade perspectives. The aim of the proposal is to contribute to the eradication of forced labour, but it also addresses the issue of distortion on the internal EU market and on removing unfair competition. Although the proposal fails to address some of the underlying root causes of forced labour this initiative, together with other legal measures in the business and human rights field, presents an important step towards keeping companies accountable for their adverse human rights impacts.

Context: The value chain in the production process of a good involves the strategic and coordinated interaction of external and internal agents in the value generation process. Palm oil is a globally relevant product that is part of a dynamic sector in terms of its production and commercialization by multiple companies, so it is necessary to understand how knowledge is obtained, managed, and transferred to remain in a highly competitive market. Methodology: A case study methodology was developed based on the information from 65 semi-structured surveys applied to commercial and non-commercial agents in the sector, which was contrasted through Denzen's triangulation method, analyzed by means of descriptive and open coding, and finally interpreted through a process of purification and categorization of the compiled information. Results: The specialized knowledge requirements of producers to improve their efficiency and mitigate the environmental impacts derived from the production process are managed by a centralizing agent who administers the processes of knowledge generation and transfer. Conclusions: Scientific institutions in charge of generating and transferring knowledge as well as organizations responsible for environmental regulation operate in a restricted and discriminatory manner with producers due to their limitations in terms of resource availability and geographical location., Contexto: La cadena de valor en el proceso de transformación de un bien involucra la interacción estratégica y coordinada de agentes externos e internos en la generación de valor. El aceite de palma es un producto de relevancia mundial que forma parte de un sector dinámico en términos de su producción y comercialización por parte de múltiples empresas, por lo que es pertinente comprender cómo se obtiene, gestiona y transfiere el conocimiento para poder permanecer en un mercado altamente competitivo. Metodología: Se soportó en el estudio de caso a partir de la información de 65 encuestas semiestructuradas aplicadas a agentes comerciales y no comerciales del sector, al cual fue contrastada a través del método de triangulación de Denzen, y analizada tanto por medio de codificación descriptiva y abierta, como a partir de una depuración y categorización. Resultados: Los requerimientos de conocimiento especializado por parte de los productores, para mejorar su eficiencia y mitigar los impactos medioambientales derivados del proceso productivo, son gestionados por un agente centralizador que administra la generación y transferencia de conocimiento. Conclusiones: Los entes científicos encargados de generar y transferir conocimiento, así como las organizaciones responsables de la regulación medioambiental operan de forma restringida y discriminatoria con los productores debido a sus limitaciones en términos de disponibilidad de recursos y su ubicación geográfica.

We develop a quantitative theory of prices in firm-to-firm trade with bilateral negotiations and two-sided market power. Markups reflect oligopoly and oligopsony forces, with relative bargaining power as weight. Cost pass-through elasticities into import prices can be incomplete or complete, depending on the exporters and importers bargaining power and market shares. In U.S. import data, we find that U.S. importers have substantial market power and disproportionate leverage in price negotiations. The estimated model produces accurate predictions of the impact of Trump tariffs on pair-level prices. At the aggregate level, ignoring two-sided market power could exaggerate tariff pass-through by about 60 percent.

The current economic climate of the region is characterized by the growth that is expected to be lower than the historical average and by rising food insecurity. This adverse environment for households underscores the urgent need to focus on initiatives aimed at boosting household incomes in the countries of the region by revitalizing output and employment. With a view to identifying strategies for raising output, Chapter 2 highlights those sectors where the capacity to boost national output and employment through the latters demand for goods and services from other sectors of the economy is particularly significant. Chapter 3 examines local participation in global value chains and discusses a number of strategies aimed at promoting them. Lastly, Chapter 4 discusses a number of strategies and sectors that could help bring about greater trade diversification in the region.

In 2022, the Central American region and the Dominican Republic expected to continue its path towards economic recovery that it had begun in 2021. However, new external shocks interrupted these prospects. In particular, the disruptions in supply chains as a result of COVID-19, the increases in international food and energy prices as a result of the war in Ukraine, and the lagged effects of extraordinary liquidity measures during the pandemic, accelerated inflation and slowed economic growth. Furthermore, the gaps in poverty, access to services, and employment have increased after the pandemic, jeopardizing the social gains made in recent years. The increased frequency and impact of recent crises presents an opportunity to rethink growth strategies with multidimensional, resilient, and people-centered growth. From this perspective, the Bank has deployed its support to the region in recent years, with interventions in different sectors, but with the common goal of improving people's well-being. The IDB Group approved more than US$4.1 billion in 2022 to continue its support for the provision of basic services, especially for vulnerable populations; productivity, with an emphasis on MSMEs and the agricultural and tourism sectors; the transparency of governments; and environmental sustainability and response to natural disasters. This report highlights the main activities of the Group in Central America and the Dominican Republic during 2022, regionally and by country.

The capability framework in evolutionary economic geography views regional economic development as a process of related diversification through the acquisition of capabilities that render a regional economy more complex. Using this framework, we synthesize seven theoretical notions that hitherto remained rather disconnected: relatedness, complementarity, variety, complexity, diversification, agents of structural change and related variety. We formulate a constructive critique of the capability framework, relaxing the overly restrictive assumption that the presence of capabilities in a region is both necessary and sufficient for complex products to be produced in a region. Instead, we argue that the complexity of a regional economy depends primarily on the institutions that support firms to coordinate production in complex value chains within and across regions. The augmented framework allows for closer integration of evolutionary and relational approaches in economic geography, providing new links between the literature on clusters, innovation systems and global production networks.

This article explores how African entrepreneurs in Guangzhou manage to survive in an environment that is characterized by harsh competition and major institutional restrictions. Combining literature on social networks theory with the mixed embeddedness approach, this paper presents an analysis of African entrepreneurial trajectories as a transnational and locally embedded process through exploring networking and trust-building strategies that African entrepreneurs employ to (re)position themselves in the Sino-African value chain. Based on ethnographic research on African entrepreneurs in Guangzhou, it shows that many African entrepreneurs are changing positions in the value chain by moving closer to Chinese production. Moving closer to the production side necessitates entrepreneurs to develop stronger local embeddedness whereas at the same time they need to maintain their transnational ties. Entrepreneurs in earlier phases rely on a ties with other Africans in Guangzhou, while in later phases they are embedded in a more diversified network.

This paper presents a mathematical model for planning optimization of the gas supply chain of a company that is a producer, trader, and gas consumer for its operations, but does not transport it, according to the guidelines of the Colombian government. The model optimizes the profit of the modeled company based on (i) the availability and demand of the modeled company, (ii) public information from other gas-producing and consuming companies, and (iii) demand-serving priorities. The model is formulated as a single-period non-linear programming (NLP) model that optimizes the natural gas allocations and the total profit of the company considering production, transportation, prioritization, and economic constraints. Due to prioritization constraints, the model is formulated as a optimization problem that is solved with the lexicographical method. The proposed model stands out for its ability to be used as a decision support tool for natural gas supply planners in Colombia due to its considerations of the technical, legal, contractual, and regulatory aspects of natural gas production in the country., Este artículo presenta un modelo matemático para la optimización de la planeación de la cadena de suministro de gas de una empresa que es productora, comercializadora y consumidora de gas para sus operaciones, pero no lo transporta, de acuerdo con los lineamientos del gobierno colombiano. El modelo optimiza las ganancias de la empresa modelada en función de (i) la disponibilidad y la demanda de gas de la empresa modelada, (ii) la información pública de otras empresas productoras y consumidoras de gas, y (iii) las prioridades de atención de la demanda. El modelo está formulado como un modelo de programación no lineal (NLP) de un solo período que optimiza las asignaciones de gas natural y las ganancias totales de la empresa considerando restricciones de producción, transporte, priorización y económicas. Debido a restricciones de priorización, el modelo se formula como un problema de optimización que se resuelve con el método lexicográfico. El modelo propuesto destaca por su capacidad de ser utilizado como herramienta de apoyo a la decisión de los planificadores del suministro de gas natural en Colombia debido a sus consideraciones de los aspectos técnicos, legales, contractuales y regulatorios de la producción de gas natural en el país.

The objective of this study is to design a prospective and scenario-based competitiveness model based on the school’s proposal of modified probabilistic trends, applied to an Excel tool so that they can expand their markets and enter the health market in Bogotá. To meet the objective, an instrument was generated with the proposed variables, a statistical analysis was carried out with a database of the Ministry of Health, Fasecolda, Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá, DANE, BACEX. The results obtained through the use of the proposed Excel tool allow the necessary calculations for investment and decision making. The originality of the model will allow local surgical suture manufacturing companies to implement strategies to enter the market with better or equal quality than multinationals. It is concluded that the model that would be applied is optimal, because it establishes prospective-competitive scenarios, with indicators of liquidity, profitability and productivity that favor competitiveness; such as Ebitda, current ratio, ROA, liquidity, indebtedness, concentration of liabilities, and the indebtedness ratio, which reflect its financial situation, allowing us to infer how competitive the organization is; competitive factors may pose probable scenarios that may occur in the pharmaceutical market, L’objectif de cette étude est de concevoir un modèle de scénario prospectif et compétitif basé sur la proposition de l’école des tendances probabilistes modifiées, appliqué à un outil Excel afin qu’ils puissent étendre leurs marchés et entrer sur le marché de la santé à Bogota, en Colombie. Afin d’atteindre l’objectif, un instrument a été généré avec les variables proposées, une analyse statistique a été faite avec les bases de données du Ministère de la Santé, Fasecolda, Chambre de Commerce de Bogota, DANE, BACEX. Les résultats obtenus grâce à l’utilisation de l’outil Excel proposé permettent d’effectuer les calculs nécessaires à l’investissement et à la prise de décision au sein de l’entreprise.L’originalité du modèle permettra aux entreprises locales de fabrication de sutures chirurgicales et à d’autres organisations de mettre en œuvre des stratégies pour entrer sur le marché avec une qualité meilleure ou égale à celle des entreprises multinationales. En conclusion, il est souligné que le modèle qui pourrait être appliqué est optimal, car il établit des scénarios prospectifs et compétitifs, avec des indicateurs de liquidité, de rentabilité et de productivité qui favorisent la compétitivité, tels que l’Ebitda, le Current Ratio, le ROA, la liquidité, l’endettement, la concentration des passifs et le ratio d’endettement, qui reflètent sa situation financière et permettent de déduire le degré de compétitivité de l’organisation ; les facteurs compétitifs peuvent soulever des scénarios probables qui pourraient se produire sur le marché pharmaceutique., O objetivo deste estudo é desenhar um modelo de cenário prospetivo e competitivo baseado na proposta da escola de tendências probabilísticas modificadas, aplicado a uma ferramenta Excel para que possam expandir os seus mercados e entrar no mercado da saúde em Bogotá, Colômbia. Para atingir o objetivo, foi gerado um instrumento com as variáveis propostas, foi feita uma análise estatística com bases de dados do Ministério da Saúde, Fasecolda, Câmara de Comércio de Bogotá, DANE, BACEX. Os resultados obtidos através da utilização da ferramenta Excel proposta permitem efetuar os cálculos necessários para o investimento e a tomada de decisões na empresa.A originalidade do modelo permitirá que as empresas locais de fabrico de suturas cirúrgicas e outras organizações implementem estratégias para entrar no mercado com uma qualidade melhor ou igual à das empresas multinacionais. Como conclusão, salienta-se que o modelo que poderá ser aplicado é ótimo, pois estabelece cenários prospectivos e competitivos, com indicadores de liquidez, rentabilidade e produtividade que beneficiam a competitividade, como o Ebitda, o Rácio Corrente, o ROA, a liquidez, o endividamento, a concentração de passivos e o rácio de endividamento, que reflectem a sua situação financeira e permitem inferir o grau de competitividade da organização; os factores competitivos podem levantar cenários prováveis que poderão ocorrer no mercado farmacêutico., El presente estudio tiene como objetivo diseñar un modelo prospectivo y de competitividad por escenarios a partir de la propuesta de la escuela de tendencias probabilísticas modificadas, aplicadas a una herramienta en Excel para que puedan ampliar sus mercados e ingresar al mercado de la salud en Bogotá. Para cumplir con el objetivo se generó un instrumento con las variables propuestas, se hizo un análisis estadístico con base de datos del Ministerio de Salud, Fasecolda, Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá, DANE, BACEX. Los resultados obtenidos mediante el uso de la herramienta de Excel propuesta permiten realizar los cálculos necesarios para la inversión y toma de decisiones. La originalidad del modelo permitirá a las empresas locales de manufactura de suturas quirúrgicas y otras organizaciones implementar estrategias para ingresar al mercado con mejor o igual calidad que las multinacionales. Se concluye que el modelo que se aplicaría es óptimo, ya que establece escenarios prospectivos – competitivos, con indicadores de liquidez, rentabilidad y productividad que favorecen la competitividad, como son Ebitda, Razón corriente, ROA, Liquidez, endeudamiento, la concentración de pasivos y la razón de endeudamiento, que reflejan su situación financiera permitiendo inferir qué tan competitiva es la organización; los factores competitivos pueden plantear escenarios probables que puedan ocurrir en el mercado farmacéutico.

There is no doubt that agriculture plays a significant role in the economic and social development of Andean countries due to its socioeconomic importance, food security, and its potential to contribute to more inclusive and sustainable growth. It's an age-old activity that has shaped the way of life of Andean communities and continues to determine their future. Despite challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, the sector has shown its resilience and potential to contribute to the economy. This sector currently offers a range of opportunities for productive diversification, social inclusion, and achieving climate goals. As outlined in this book, this is possible through inclusive and environmentally friendly production schemes that help reduce carbon emissions from this sector. This involves addressing issues such as rapid deforestation and efficient use of water resources while generating socio-economic and environmental benefits that outweigh the costs. Realizing these benefits requires addressing long-standing structural challenges related to the sector's low productivity, bottlenecks such as limited multimodal infrastructure support, institutional aspects, adjusting priorities and action timelines in response to the threat of climate change, and promoting gender equity and women's empowerment in agriculture. Throughout the book, opportunities are presented to increase the inclusion of women farmers and contribute to their empowerment and development, mitigate the impact of climate change on agriculture, including essential crops, promote productive diversification, and position Andean agricultural offerings in niche and high-value markets, including superfoods, the forestry sector, and Agtech. Connecting the agricultural sector with new economic opportunities is a major goal of public policies in the countries of the region. In this regard, there is an opportunity in Andean countries to develop value chains that offer multiple advantages, including improving sector

This study analyzes the main risks, impacts, and mitigation measures for activities related to green hydrogen including production, transportation, storage and associated energy carriers, including ammonia and methanol. This technical note also summarizes, analyzes, and compares international best practices on Environmental, Health, Safety and Social matters for hydrogen management. Finally, the authors analyze these practices as they relate to the IDBs new Environmental and Social Policy Framework (ESPF) approved by the Bank in September 2020.

Participatory Plant Breeding (PPB) is an approach to plant breeding for agriculture that puts farmers in the driver’s seat of variety development, with implications for farmer empowerment, decentralization of power in agriculture, and climate change. The University of Manitoba Participatory Plant Breeding Program (in partnership with the Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security) has developed farmer crops to the point that they are starting to be commercialized, but questions remain about the socio-economic landscape that these participatory crops will enter. Who will buy them? Why? What barriers will they encounter in entering the market? This exploratory research endeavoured to answer these questions by investigating the value chains of participant farmers – the material path that their crops follow from farmer to eater, the various actors along this chain, and the socio-economic orientation of these actors. It did this through semi-structured interviews and, as a practicum, produced a series of deliverables. An Integrated Project Plan that structured the investigation was developed with project partners and the study indicated the current state of commercial development as well as practical considerations for the continued commercialization of PPB cultivars. Interview data was coded based on broad categories derived from the literature, conversations with project partners, and emergent themes from interviews. Coded content was then used to create detailed farmer profiles and a summary document of the research. Project deliverables included the development of a background report on PPB and commercialization, a summary report of the data including brief case summaries for each farmer, and then detailed farmer profiles. Farmer profiles uncovered the complexity and variety of farmers’ agro-economic contexts, while the summary report demonstrated common patterns in participants’ current value chains, the PPB commercialization prospects within these chains, an

Die Europäische Union (EU) hat erkannt, dass das Ziel der Klimaneutralität bis 2050 ein zentraler Innovations- und Wachstumsmotor für Industrie und Wirtschaft in der EU sein kann. Neben großen Chancen stellt dies die europäische Wirtschaft und überwiegend die besonders emissionsintensiven sowie im international starkem Wettbewerb stehenden Grundstoffindustrien auch vor erhebliche Herausforderungen. Eine integrierte Klima- und Industriestrategie ist für den Klimaschutz von zentraler Bedeutung, da auf die Produktion von Stahl, Zement, Grundstoffchemikalien, Glas, Papier und anderen Materialien in der EU und weltweit rund 20 Prozent der gesamten Treibhausgasemissionen entfallen. Auch in einer treibhausgasneutralen Zukunft kann auf diese Materialien nicht verzichten werden. Zugleich ist die emissionsfreie Herstellung der Materialien technologisch sowie mit Blick auf die dafür erforderlichen Infrastrukturen besonders herausfordernd. Dies gilt vor allem für die Frage woher die hohen benötigten Mengen an grüner Energie - insbesondere Strom und Wasserstoff - zu wettbewerbsfähigen Preisen kommen sollen. Analysen zeigen, dass trotz erheblicher Kosten bei der Prozessumstellung die Kosten der Transformation der Grundstoffindustrie für die Gesellschaft insgesamt tragbar sind. Denn bezogen auf die Endprodukte betragen die Mehrkosten meist nur wenige Prozentpunkte; die Preise von Rohstahl oder Zement dagegen würden sich zwischen einem Drittel und 100 Prozent verteuern. Da fast alle Grundstoffhersteller in starker Weltmarktkonkurrenz stehen, können sie die Investitionen in eine klimaneutrale Produktion und die benötigten Energieinfrastrukturen aber nicht ohne Unterstützung tragen. Das vorliegende Papier skizziert ein integriertes Klima-Industriepolitikpaket, das der EU ermöglichen kann, die bestehende technologische Führung in vielen dieser Industrien zielgerichtet zum Aufbau einer treibhausgasneutralen Grundstoffindustrie zu nutzen.

The innovative software system "myEcoCost" enables to gather and communicate resource and environmental data for products and services in global value chains. The system has been developed in the consortium of the European research project myEcoCost and forms a basis of a new, highly automated environmental accounting system für companies and consumers. The prototype of the system, linked to financial accounting of companies, was developed and tested in close collaboration with large and small companies. This brochure gives a brief introduction to the vision linked to myEcoCost: a network formed by collaborative environmental accounting nodes collecting environmental data at each step in a product's value chains. It shows why better life cycle data are needed and how myEcoCost addresses and solves this problem. Furthermore, it presents options for a future upscaling of highly automated environmental accounting for prodcuts and services.

Ende März 2022 veröffentlichte die Europäische Kommission ihre neue EU-Strategie für nachhaltige und zirkuläre Textilien. Die ambitionierte Vision: Textilabfälle sollen reduziert, zirkuläre Maßnahmen gefördert und negative Umweltfolgen der Textilindustrie minimiert werden. Doch wie sieht eine Textilwirtschaft, die Textilien im Kreislauf führt, aus und welche politischen Anforderungen ergeben sich daraus für Deutschland? Der vorliegende Zukunftsimpuls des Wuppertal Instituts zeigt, welche Position Deutschland in der Transformation hin zu einer zirkulären Textilindustrie einnehmen könnte.

Research background: Wage inequalities are still part of an interesting policy-oriented research area. Given the developments in international trade models (heterogeneity of firms) and increasing availability of micro-level data, more and more attention is paid to wage differences observed within and be-tween firms. Purpose of the article: The aim of the paper is to address the research gap concerning limited cross-country evidence on a nexus of wage inequality?global value chains (GVCs), analysed from the perspective of wage inequality components within and between firms. Methods: This paper uses a large employee?employer database derived from the European Structure of Earnings Survey (SES), combined with sector-level indicators of GVC involvement based on the World Input-Output Database (WIOD). As a result, a rich database covering more than 7.5 million observations is created. The regression-based decomposition modelling technique developed by Fiorio and Jenkins (2010) is used to identify the contributions of different factors to wage inequalities, focusing on the components within and between firms. Findings & value added: The analysis presented in this paper aimed to show the contribution of GVC involvement, among various other factors, to the observed inequality of wages. Due to the use of a rich database that merges employer and employee data, the effects materialised with respect to different types of wages could be analysed separately, in particular components between and within firms. The general conclusion from the regression-based decomposition in log wages is that GVCs contribute marginally to the observed wage inequality in the European sample analysed in this paper. Some differences confronting the components within and between firms (the latter dominates) are observed; there is also certain intra sample heterogeneity in the estimated results (e.g. due to sector type or country group), but the general result is robust.

The continuously increasing amount of production data and the advancing development of digitization solutions promote advanced data analytics as a promising approach for failure management. Beyond the consideration of single units, examining the end-to-end value chain, including development, production, and usage, offers potential for failure in management-related investigations. Nonetheless, challenges regarding data integration from different entities along the value creation process, data volume and formats handling, effective analytics, and decision support arise. The CRISP-DM approach has become a widely established reference as a conceptual framework for data-driven solutions. However, the linkage between existing failure management procedures and the subsequent development of data-driven solutions needs to be specified. Accordingly, this paper presents a cross-value chain Data Enabled Failure Management Process (DEFMP). The central element is a process model to implement a cross-value chain data-enabled failure management, considering established quality management and data analytics approaches. Based on available failure, product, and process knowledge along the value chain, a path towards developing a comprehensive decision support system is shown. DEFMP combines a reactive failure process with a data-driven approach to incorporate data analytics for proactive improvements. Using DEFMP, the failure management process of a commercial vehicle manufacturer is adapted. With this, partial automation of failure management is made possible. In addition, the potential for improvements is identified and prioritized.

Participatory Plant Breeding (PPB) is an approach to plant breeding for agriculture that puts farmers in the driver’s seat of variety development, with implications for farmer empowerment, decentralization of power in agriculture, and climate change. The University of Manitoba Participatory Plant Breeding Program (in partnership with the Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security) has developed farmer crops to the point that they are starting to be commercialized, but questions remain about the socio-economic landscape that these participatory crops will enter. Who will buy them? Why? What barriers will they encounter in entering the market? This exploratory research endeavoured to answer these questions by investigating the value chains of participant farmers – the material path that their crops follow from farmer to eater, the various actors along this chain, and the socio-economic orientation of these actors. It did this through semi-structured interviews and, as a practicum, produced a series of deliverables. An Integrated Project Plan that structured the investigation was developed with project partners and the study indicated the current state of commercial development as well as practical considerations for the continued commercialization of PPB cultivars. Interview data was coded based on broad categories derived from the literature, conversations with project partners, and emergent themes from interviews. Coded content was then used to create detailed farmer profiles and a summary document of the research. Project deliverables included the development of a background report on PPB and commercialization, a summary report of the data including brief case summaries for each farmer, and then detailed farmer profiles. Farmer profiles uncovered the complexity and variety of farmers’ agro-economic contexts, while the summary report demonstrated common patterns in participants’ current value chains, the PPB commercialization prospects within these chains, an

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a widely used method for evaluating the environmental impacts of a product throughout its entire life cycle. As a decision-making tool, LCA allows decision-makers to identify the environmental hotspots in a product or process, and to explore opportunities for improvement. However, while LCA has many potentials, it also has several limitations that need to be considered. One of the main limitations of LCA is the difficulty in obtaining accurate data, particularly for the upstream and downstream stages of a product's life cycle. Another limitation is the challenge of interpreting the results, as LCA involves complex calculations and assumptions that can be difficult for non-experts to understand. Despite these limitations, LCA remains a valuable tool for informing decision-making, and efforts are being made to address these limitations through the development of standardized methods and improved data collection and interpretation techniques. This paper provides an overview of LCA as a decision-making tool in the context of vaccine manufacturing, its potential and limitations, and the current state of research in this field.

It is frequent to hear artisanal fishers criticizing a regulatory system that is not aligned with the reality of the territory, and that is defined by civil servants without the appropriate knowledge of the field and whose decisions respond to pressures that have nothing to do with the health of the ecosystems, the wellbeing of fishers, and the optimal supply of food.The commercialization of local fishery products in Tenerife is an excellent example. The European legislation allows the acquisition of small quantities by final consumers, but the different transpositions of the member states have resulted in regulatory frameworks with diverse implications depending on the side of the border where the fishing gear are used. In Tenerife, the applicable law and the market structure of local fishery products have generated certain shortages in the coastline, so consumers must travel to the few fishmongers remaining in distant urban areas or buy in their communities as they have traditionally done, either from professional fishers selling their products, now unlawfully, or to poachers, promoting black market in both cases. This paper analyses the regulatory framework regarding direct sales in Tenerife and its consequences., Es frecuente escuchar a pescadores artesanales criticar regulaciones que no se ajustan a la realidad del territorio, definidas por funcionarios desconocedores del terreno y cuyas decisiones responden a presiones que poco tienen que ver con la salud de los ecosistemas, el bienestar de los pescadores o el suministro óptimo de alimentos. En la comercialización de productos pesqueros locales en Tenerife tenemos un claro ejemplo. La normativa europea contempla la posibilidad de vender pequeñas cantidades a consumidores finales, pero las transposiciones de los países miembros han generado marcos regulatorios con diferentes implicaciones, dependiendo de si un pescador cala sus artes a un lado u otro de la frontera, o incluso en una región u otra del mismo país. En Tenerife, la legislación vigente y la estructura del mercado de productos pesqueros locales han generado cierto desabastecimiento en el litoral, por lo que los consumidores deben desplazarse a las pocas pescaderías que quedan en distantes núcleos urbanos, o adquirirlo en su comunidad, como tradicionalmente han hecho, a pescadores profesionales que venden ahora su producto de forma ilegal, o a pescadores furtivos, fomentando en ambos casos el mercado negro. Este trabajo analiza la normativa que enmarca la venta directa en Tenerife y sus consecuencias.

The economy and tourism of a country are quickly related to each other and generate positive effects such as the economic and social growth of a country. In the province of Cotopaxi, it lacks programs and processes to promote tourist places, due to the limited use and knowledge in planning. The purpose is to analyze the value chain and its relationship with the development of tourism in the city of Latacunga to take marketing actions and decisions. The method applied was the Anholt hexagon and the exploitative factorial analysis. The results showed that the Cotopaxi canton positively and negatively influences tourism. It is important to promote tourism, improve attractive places, noise pollution, and increase public safety. While it is true, tourism has become one of the main sources of the country and the growth of various social and economic aspects., La economía y el turismo de un país se encuentran estrechamente relacionados entre sí y generan efectos positivos como el crecimiento económico y social de un país. En la provincia de Cotopaxi carece de programas y procesos para promocionar lugares turísticos, debido al limitado aprovechamiento y conocimiento en la planificación. El propósito, es analizar la cadena de valor y su relación con el desarrollo del turismo en la ciudad de Latacunga para tomar acciones y decisiones de marketing. El método aplicado fue el hexágono de Anholt y el análisis factorial exploratorio. Los hallazgos demostraron que, el cantón Cotopaxi influye de manera positiva y negativa en el turismo. Es importante promover el turismo, mejorar los lugares atractivos, la contaminación acústica y aumentar la seguridad pública. Si bien es cierto, el turismo se ha convertido en uno de las principales fuentes del país y el crecimiento de diversos aspectos sociales y económicos.

It was the computer revolution what emerged the need to formulate Business Continuity at around the 70’s for the first time, and long after, the practices are still believed to be restricted to IT operations amongst global organizations. Though many efforts were involved in publishing the first international standard in 2012, this only provides guidelines on the fundamentals of business continuity management (BCM) and what are the minimum requirements. Practical cases and examples are missing. Still nowadays from small to big organizations are unprepared and exposed to adverse consequences of large scale disasters, while how to achieve BCM is not clear. The study dives through available standards and literature with the aim to add an holistic view for what is Business Continuity and how to implement the methodology. It has in scope all the relevant functions and processes involved from the Supply Chain perspective. All this is elaborated through a real case within the chemical industry, through surveys and interviews with key stakeholders (managers). It presents how to address large scale threats while using the two fundamental tools of Business Continuity: Business Impact Analysis and Risk Analysis. The outcome will benefit the reader with a framework to understand how to build a BCM program: how to identify the activities which must be first prioritized and restored to guarantee minimum level of business

[Resumen] El presente trabajo de fin de carrera tiene como objetivo principal realizar un análisis del estado actual de la industria de la moda a nivel mundial, centrándose en el emergente modelo de negocio de la moda ultra rápida, y como caso especial se realiza el análisis de la cadena de suministro de una de las principales marcas en el mercado mundial, SHEIN. Además, se investiga cómo el cambio hacia una economía globalizada y digital, la reorientación estratégica de la marca a causa de la pandemia mundial, una cadena de suministro eficiente, la implementación de estrategias de integración vertical y la consolidación de un enfoque basado en el comercio 100% electrónico han sido factores determinantes en la expansión internacional de la marca y su notable éxito, planteando así un nuevo desafío en el sector de la moda y la industria textil. A lo largo de estas páginas se explicará como la empresa ha optimizado sus operaciones al establecer una cercanía estratégica con centros de distribución y fábricas, reduciendo los tiempos de producción y entrega a nivel mundial. A mayores, se examina cómo la externalización de la producción y la colaboración con proveedores-diseñadores también han contribuido a la disminución de costos. SHEIN puede aprovechar la experiencia y recursos de terceros, reduciendo los gastos en investigación y desarrollo. Otro aspecto destacado que se analizará es el enfoque estratégico en la gestión del inventario. Con esta táctica, SHEIN evita la acumulación de exceso de mercancía y reduce los costos asociados a la gestión del inventario. Al optimizar la producción y minimizar las pérdidas, SHEIN puede mantener precios competitivos y ofrecer un catálogo fresco y actualizado. SHEIN ha demostrado ser ágil al identificar y capitalizar las modas emergentes, ofreciendo constantemente productos que se ajustan a las últimas tendencias. Su capacidad de anticipación y respuesta rápida a las demandas del mercado ha sido clave para su éxito., [Abstract] The main objective of this final degree project is to carry out an analysis of the current state of the fashion industry worldwide, focusing on the emerging business model of ultra-fast fashion, and as a special case, the analysis of the supply chain of one of the main brands in the world market, SHEIN, is carried out. In addition, it investigates how the change towards a globalized and digital economy, the strategic reorientation of the brand due to the global pandemic, an efficient supply chain, the implementation of vertical integration strategies and the consolidation of an approach based on 100% electronic commerce have been determining factors in the international expansion of the brand and its remarkable success, thus posing a new challenge in the fashion and textile industry. Throughout these pages it will be explained how the company has optimized its operations by establishing strategic proximity to distribution centers and factories, reducing production and delivery times worldwide. Further, it examines how the outsourcing of production and the collaboration with supplier-designers have also contributed to the reduction of costs. SHEIN can take advantage of the expertise and resources of third parties, reducing research and development expenses. Another prominent aspect that will be discussed is the strategic approach to inventory management. With this strategy, SHEIN avoids the accumulation of excess merchandise and reduces the costs associated with inventory management. By optimizing production and minimizing losses, SHEIN is able to maintain competitive prices and offer a fresh and up-to-date catalogue. SHEIN has proven to be agile in identifying and capitalizing on emerging fashions, constantly offering products that match the latest trends and styles. Its ability to anticipate and quickly respond to market demands has been key to its success.

Rationale Food prices have lately grown at rates unprecedented in recent decades. A detailed comparative analysis of these developments and their determinants from an international perspective is therefore interesting, focusing especially on dairy and cereals, given their high weight in the consumption basket and the strength of their inflation. Takeaways •Food inflation in Spain has not been particularly different from that recorded in the euro area. However, its contribution to headline inflation has been greater because of food’s higher weight in Spain’s consumption basket. •The prices of virtually all foods are rising, albeit with considerable heterogeneity. •Different essentially global factors, which affected food commodity supply and production costs, have been the main determinants of food price developments, as illustrated by dairy and cereals.

The FAO aims to support local farmers in Nakasongola District, Uganda, to tap into value-added cassava market opportunities. This thesis critically examines farmers' experiences in these cassava markets, challenging classical economic assumptions that underpin the FAO project. It specifically focuses on the regulation of credit access in cassava markets, as it significantly affects farmers' and traders' terms of inclusion in agricultural markets. To gain a comprehensive understanding, a five-week qualitative case study was conducted in a sub-county of Nakasongola, using semi-structured interviews as the primary data collection method. The study reveals that farmers' decision-making is guided by a Chaynovian concept of "moral economy" rather than profit maximization principles of the market. The study shows that informal social institutions based on trust, reciprocity, and reputation play a crucial role in the farmers' lives. This includes informal credit institutions that are governed by similar mechanisms where access is based on social relationships including trust, friendship, and reputation. Therefore, social relationships become essential for farmers to meet their reproduction needs. The study implies that to ensure the success of future development projects, it is crucial to understand the local context and how existing institutions will shape the introduction of new ones, a concept known as institutional bricolage. This thesis provides an in-depth empirical example of how real agricultural market function and the reasoning of actors within these markets. In addition, the study has contributes to the theoretical discussion of agrarian change, and extends the theory of access by Ribot & Peluso by applying it to credit relations.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a widely used method for evaluating the environmental impacts of a product throughout its entire life cycle. As a decision-making tool, LCA allows decision-makers to identify the environmental hotspots in a product or process, and to explore opportunities for improvement. However, while LCA has many potentials, it also has several limitations that need to be considered. One of the main limitations of LCA is the difficulty in obtaining accurate data, particularly for the upstream and downstream stages of a product's life cycle. Another limitation is the challenge of interpreting the results, as LCA involves complex calculations and assumptions that can be difficult for non-experts to understand. Despite these limitations, LCA remains a valuable tool for informing decision-making, and efforts are being made to address these limitations through the development of standardized methods and improved data collection and interpretation techniques. This paper provides an overview of LCA as a decision-making tool in the context of vaccine manufacturing, its potential and limitations, and the current state of research in this field.

Seaweed has been receiving increasing attention as a novel food source worldwide. To optimally develop seaweed's food provisioning potential, the seaweed value chain requires further understanding. To this end, we used the Food System Approach to review the existing knowledge on seaweed as food source. We identified opportunities, constraints and knowledge needs relevant to fulfilling the potential of seaweed to contribute to food security. Thereby, we especially focus on optimizing and upscaling seaweed production and environmental sustainability. Our review shows that although progress has been made in solving technological issues in seaweed production, major knowledge gaps regarding social and economic factors remain. More attention to these issues can help realize the food potential of seaweed.