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PurposeAlthough not yet fully defined, natural wine represents a sector that has gained the widespread attention of final consumers and, therefore, also of the restaurant world, because of its promise of sustainability. The objective of this paper is to understand Italian haute cuisine's interest in natural wine, with the aim of analysing what qualifies this product as sustainable.Design/methodology/approachAfter introducing a theoretical framework based on the concept of natural wine, a brief paragraph is dedicated to consumer preferences; subsequently, the analysis focusses on a questionnaire given to restaurateurs to determine the impact that natural wine has had in the Italian context. The results try to identify the importance that restaurateurs give to the characteristics of natural wine and their propensity for using such wine in their own businesses.FindingsThe analysis, conducted on a sample of medium-high range restaurants, highlights their strong interest in natural wine, as a result of the final consumers' attitude towards wine with characteristics attributable to sustainability. The positive perception by restaurateurs is similar across Italy, both geographically and in terms of the size of the restaurant.Originality/valueThe originality of the work is the focus on the world of restaurants. To date, the literature on natural wine remains embryonic and always refers to the final consumer. This research is the first step in a broader study that will involve a greater number of restaurants, extending beyond Italy to all of Europe, with the aim of understanding the real development potential of natural wine.

The importance of innovation, in both private and public entrepreneurial fields, is the basis of all companies’ strategic choices. This study examines entrepreneurship and innovation, as well as their dynamic interface in value creation, in the public sector. It explores entrepreneurial determinants for public-sector innovation, as collected from managers and employees involved in the water supply and sewage industries in Ukraine. The data, related to a sample of firms, were obtained from a twofold self-administered survey. Adopting an ordered logistic regression model to analyse the data obtained from a survey, it is found that the entrepreneurial determinants of self-awareness, knowledge-enabling and entrepreneurial orientation positively correlate with fostering innovation process. The findings reveal that entrepreneurial leadership and intrapreneurial self-efficacy are mediating determinants. Finally, the results demonstrate that intrapreneurial self-efficacy has more potential than entrepreneurial leadership to stimulate innovation at the individual level, which has both theoretical and practical implications.

Food product safety and quality are considered to be of the utmost significance on a global scale. Highly publicized food safety incidents have significantly increased public interest in food traceability, defined as “the ability to track any food, feed, food-producing animal or substance that will be used for consumption, through all stages of production, processing, and distribution” (European Union). The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that governments, producers, and consumers work together to ensure food safety, which calls for the dissemination of pertinent information throughout complex food value networks. Therefore, it is in the best interest of profit-driven businesses to implement information systems for tracking food goods, a significant byproduct of which is the likelihood of increased profitability. This paper aims to explore the ample possibilities for such implementations that are now available thanks to blockchain technology. In particular, the goal is to explore the dynamics of this technology and identify how it helps to create good customer relationships. For this purpose, the case of Lavazza, an important Italian roasted coffee company that has recently introduced a blockchain-tracked product to the market, is analyzed in detail, including all the steps that made the application of the technology possible and how it was finally communicated to the consumer. The case study offers a concrete example that resulted from both stakeholders’ internal need for greater traceability and consumers’ external need for greater transparency regarding the company’s sourcing processes. In this pilot project, collaboration among all the entities that are part of the chain was essential to delivering a formative, customized, and ultimately, easy-to-understand experience to the end consumer. Finally, Lavazza is an example of a company that decided to challenge itself by following a trend that will be increasingly present in future socioeconomic scenarios.

PurposeThe role of sustainability is predominant in many aspects of consumer purchasing decisions. Millennials and young people are, in this field, potential players who buy and consume wine with ecosustainable decisions but, in the literature, these aspects are analyzed with nonuniform findings. This paper aims to investigate the wine consumption among young people belonging to the millennial generation, Y generation and Z generation considering also the gender.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a questionnaire with 2000 respondents. The data are analyzed to understand consumption decisions in the wine sector. This information is analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics (hypothesis test and multiple regression).FindingsThe results of the paper show a clear propensity to be sustainable of the young generation compared with the elderly, highlighting the role of Millennials. Moreover, considering gender, there is a greater sustainable wine tendency (considering both the environmental and the economic/decisional component) in female compared with male.Research limitations/implicationsThis work reflects the Italian reality of the pre-COVID-19 period. Obviously, the pandemic situation and the geographic scenario analyzed could change the results of a second wave of the survey.Social implicationsThis study contributes to improve the knowledge concerning the wine consumption habits of Italian young generations.Originality/valueThe paper manages to underline the different aspects of sustainability in the wine purchasing decisions by young consumers by focusing on the considered generations.

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to investigate whether the corporate social responsibility (CSR) and innovation activity of Certified B Corps® is comparable to listed companies in the Italian fashion industry.Design/methodology/approachThe study includes a systematic literature review performed on Scopus® and combining keywords related to CSR and the fashion industry. Moreover, the literature review involves empirical analyses performed using a mixed-methods approach. First, a text-based content analysis was carried out on the companies' sustainability reports using the keyword scoring approach. The innovation index was then calculated, and multiple ordinary least squares (OLS) linear regressions were performed.FindingsBased on the data available, it has emerged that Certified B Corps® who pursue a more significant number of SDGs are more likely to implement circular economy principles. Moreover, Certified B Corps® that have higher transparency standards and assume social responsibility practices also have higher innovation activity; in contrast, companies who used CSR only as a marketing tool have lower activity.Research limitations/implicationsThe analyses were influenced by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, revealing weaker relationships between the variables, as the analyses involved 2020 data. Furthermore, although the analysis considers the entire population of Certified B Corps® and listed companies in the Italian fashion industry, the size of the sample analyzed influenced the results and insights. Therefore, the analysis does not allow for generalizability. Finally, the study was conducted on a single country whose economic and social contexts have influenced some variables.Practical implicationsThe paper highlights some managerial implications. Managers should consider CSR to be an investment and an opportunity to survive the post-COVID-19 pandemic by applying the triple bottom line (TBL) approach in formulating strategies and increasing investments to develop sustainable innovations.Originality/valueThe article explores B Corps, which has received minimal attention in the literature, to propose a deeper understanding of the topic.

The paper aims to analyse an increasingly problem connected with the generation of waste created along the entire food industry chain and transform it in an opportunity. The reuse of this waste to produce fashion items it gives new life to the waste itself. This is the principle of the circular economy. In order to be competitive companies are today facing the needs to change the entire production model by trying to extract the maximum value that each resource has at its disposal, avoiding the creation of waste. The shift from the linear model to the circular one needs social and economic instruments that regulate its functioning as well as the sensitization of the entire social system. The transition to this circular model has become of fundamental importance and one can no longer afford to procrastinate.In the research particular attention is paid on the possibilities of recovering by-products, through the analysis of 5 best practices:Orange Fiber, Duedilatte, Vegea, Piñatex and S. Café. The paper investigates the innovation in fashion industry using waste from food in order to transform what is considered waste into a new resource creating value.The paper hast two main research questions:- How to reduce the impact of pollution creating by the food industry with the help of fashion industry?- What is the contribution of food and fashion industries to the circular economy? Food and fashion, apparently so far apart, are today collaborating more and more in creating new value, helping our planet to reach sustainable long-lasting goals. At the same time, they are promoting a fundamental shift from traditional fashion to sustainable fashion, able to apply the principles of reduce, reuse and recycle for offering to consumers new opportunities for a sustainable approach to fashion demand.

This paper introduces an environment-driven, artificial intelligence model for sustainable policymaking in European countries, with a focus on Ukraine. It develops regional clusters using artificial neural networking; then, it dynamically optimises budgeting allocations. It is a hybrid, environment-driven model that clusters regionalised-data using Kohonen’s self-organising map and optimises budget allocations using the simplex-modified distribution method (U-V MODI). Model benefits focus on regional public policies, environmental development, and core-periphery balanced growth. Results reveal an innovative plan that activates the participation of environmental stakeholders in public policymaking, reforms regions based on set sustainability criteria, and optimises regional funding. Keywords: Environmental planning, sustainable public policy, environment-driven regional policies, artificial neural network methodology

Purpose This paper aims to explore the sharing economy in Italy, focusing on key socioeconomic characteristics. Design/methodology/approach Adopting an exploratory approach, it analyzes the answers of a questionnaire, created using Google Forms and administered via social networks and e-mails. To analyze the answers statistical tests and descriptive statistics were used. The survey reveals potential behavioral factors, which influence the participation propensity to share economic practices. Findings Results exhibit that the age of the consumer is an impactful participating factor of sharing economy, and therefore, it seems to be a discriminant. On the contrary, gender and annual income are insignificant determinants. Research limitations/implications The sample is unbalanced, the majority of the answers were provided by young people. Social implications The paper can give a picture of the role and the importance of the sharing economy in Italy. Motivated by its global economic growth that could reach in 2025 the value of €570bn, it contextualizes what drives people to collaborate and share tangible and intangible assets. Originality/value It aims to discover how this digital trend shapes the social fabric of the global economy, providing a broader reflection in terms of future sustainability developments. Ongoing dynamic changes on digital consumer preferences toward sharing products and services provide valuable evidence on their future commercial behavior.

This descriptive exploratory case study reveals the current state of an innovative municipal services’ design for socially responsible tenders, as well as its sustainability findings. A mixed-method approach enables the collection of rich, contextual information from the 60 participating organisations that contribute to the three-step design of this socially responsible framework. Data is analysed using bivariate analysis against the different research variables. Findings indicate an individual notion of strongly correlated procuring public services, involving traditional and digital communication approaches. They lead to innovative public private socioeconomic synergies in supply chain management (SCM), as well as the reestablishment of the city’s social and environmental profile. Growing implications in the Greek public and private sectors link the role of social responsibility to sustainable supply chain management practices (SSCM). As a result, current municipal tenders are reflecting a socially responsible framework design for the city’s growth and sustainable development. In a European post-financial crisis era where budgets are limited, this study contributes to (i) European sustainability socially responsible services and (ii) lessons learned from the participating actors of an SR design, setting a valuable SSCM example for other European counties.

Crowdfunding is an emerging practice that plays a central role in funding innovative ideas that support social sustainability. B-Corps are sustainable companies that are increasingly pursuing innovative financial strategies to fund their corporate sustainability goals. To date, the use of crowdfunding as a social financing innovation by B-Corp organisations has received scant attention. This paper contributes to closing this gap by addressing three research questions. The first investigates the relationship between B-Corps certification and the use of crowdfunding. The second explores whether there is a relationship between crowdfunding and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The third investigates B-Corps’ level of information transparency in relation to this innovation and SDGs. Our investigation involved a cross-analysis of B Labs and the main crowdfunding platforms. In total, 28 B-Corps were identified as using crowdfunding platforms. Of these, 22 were selected for analysis. Our findings reveal that the pandemic period increased the use of crowdfunding among B-Corps. Crowdfunding financing was not found to be linked to the SDGs as not all investors purse these goals. We further found that investors prefer to base their decisions on the information communicated via crowdfunding platforms. Few companies declared the use of this innovative form of financing on their websites, especially on the homepage, and less than half of the companies analyzed included this form of financing in their sustainability reports. Our findings suggest that managers should provide specific information on the objectives of the campaign to be funded on the crowdfunding platforms and in the “other sustainability documents”. This way the campaigns would be more effective and could raise a greater amount of money.

Attracting resources to achieve established goals makes social reporting necessary in relation to an organization’s stakeholders, and reports on the social impact of resource use and activities have an essential role in increasing stakeholder satisfaction and trust. The COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the importance of sustainable development goals and transparent social reporting for different categories of stakeholders. This paper aims to identify the social reporting dimensions that influence the satisfaction and trust of the primary stakeholders of non-profit organizations in an emerging market (Romania), i.e., managers, employees, members, volunteers, donors, and collaborators. The results reveal the positive influence COVID-19 reporting had on stakeholder satisfaction. The lack of formal reporting has a weak yet statistically significant negative influence on stakeholder satisfaction, thus positively influencing the perceived need for external and internal auditing. Stakeholder trust in an organization is strongly and positively influenced by satisfaction with the organizational activity and internal auditing and is negatively influenced by a lack of formal reporting.

A fronte di un consumatore sempre più esigente e informato, il mondo del vino, che in Italia rappresenta una realtà di grande rilievo, si trova nella necessità di sviluppare innovative strategie di comunicazione in grado di valorizzare tutti gli elementi che caratterizzano l’esperienza di consumo del prodotto vino. Di qui l’importanza per le imprese di ideare strategie innovative di marketing esperienziale, capaci di creare nuove forme di comunicazione e basate su modelli di consumo condivisi, in cui il brand riesce a incorporare un set di significati molteplici nei quali il consumatore si può rispecchiare. Obiettivo del presente lavoro è identificare i driver della comunicazione oggigiorno più influenti per descrivere e veicolare la qualità del vino (nelle sue diverse accezioni) e gli scenari verso i quali le imprese si stanno muovendo in un contesto competitivo sempre più complesso e spesso di non facile interpretazione. A tale scopo, verranno messi a confronto dieci casi aziendali significativi, selezionati consolidando le informazioni ricavate da uno studio di Mediobanca e Aida e identificando solo le realtà con fatturato annuo superiore a 20 milioni di euro, leader di redditività., Vol 12, No 1 (2021): ISSUE 1/2021

У статті розроблено механізм попередження банкрутства підприємств на регіональному рівні, що дає можливість керівництву вчасно прийняти управлінські рішення, які будуть ефективно оцінювати загрозу банкрутства та завчасно її передбачати. Розроблений механізм дослідження, включає в себе 3 основні етапи: формування простору ознак; оцінка ймовірності банкрутства підприємства; прогнозування стану підприємства. Доведено, що з кожними роком більшість українських підприємств мають незначні доходи та отримують величезні збитки, внаслідок чого в країні зростає безробіття. Вагомий негативний внесок в діяльність як вітчизняних, так і зарубіжних підприємств внесли карантинні обмеження, пов’язані з пандемією COVID – 19. Об’єктом дослідження була міжнародна тютюнова компанія, діяльність якої зосереджена в Харківському регіоні. Так, проведений аналіз фінансового стану показав, що дослідженому підприємству, наразі, не загрожує банкрутство оскільки воно знаходиться в стабільному фінансовому стані. Крім того, підприємство має високі показники ліквідності та платоспроможності. Саме тому в роботі запропоновано розглянути механізм попередження банкрутства підприємств на прикладі міжнародної тютюнової компанії. Таким чином, в результаті розробки механізму попередження банкрутства стало можливим сформувати базис моделей, які будуть адаптовані під вітчизняні підприємства, що дасть змогу визначати загрозу банкрутства та запобігати банкрутству на ранніх стадіях, тим самим збільшуючи кількість фінансово здорових підприємств і економічне зростання регіонів. The paper develops a mechanism for preventing bankruptcy of enterprises at the regional level, which allows management to make managerial decisions on time that will effectively assess the threat of bankruptcy and anticipate it in advance. The developed research mechanism includes 3 main stages: formation of the feature space; enterprise`s bankruptcy probability assessment; forecasting the state of the enterprise. One proved that every year most Ukrainian enterprises have insignificant incomes and receive huge losses, as a result an unemployment is growing in the country. Quarantine restrictions related to the COVID–19 pandemics have made a significant negative contribution to the activities of both domestic and foreign enterprises. The object of the study was an international tobacco company whose activities goes in the Kharkiv region. Thus, the analysis of the financial condition showed that the enterprise investigated is not yet in danger of bankruptcy, since it is in a stable financial condition. In addition, the company has high indicators of liquidity and solvency. That is why the paper proposes to consider the mechanism for preventing bankruptcy of enterprises on the example of an international tobacco company. Thus, as a result of the development of the bankruptcy prevention mechanism, it became possible to form the basis of models that will be adapted to domestic enterprises, which will allow identifying the threat of bankruptcy and preventing bankruptcy at an early stage, thereby increasing the number of financially healthy enterprises and economic growth in the regions.