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In this paper, through the Community-Based Enterprise (CBE) theory lens and referring to a single case study of an Italian SME located in a depressed rural area, we aim to investigate the concept of community enterprise in action. Following the original concept developed by Peredo and Chrisman (2006), our analysis points out an entrepreneurial posture characterized by the integration of social and economic objectives and by the ability to leverage on local resources in order to attain multifaceted benefits for a local community. It also shows some differences from the original concept. CBE theory is in fact based mainly on experiences related to communities beset by chronic privation, namely the so-called global South. Our case study offers instead evidence of the role of this kind of enterprise in the context of a developed economy facing some stresses. It also highlights that in these contexts, being a CBE may be the outcome of a process of transformation characterized by the progressive awareness of the role played for the community and the territory of reference, and that institutional legitimacy is an essential pre-requisite in order to foster long-lasting and self-reinforcing development path.

La logistica fa parte dei settori che presentano il maggior ritardo nell’adozione di pratiche e tecnologie verdi. Gli attuali impegni nazionali e internazionali lasciano prospettare un’ulteriore crescita del suo impatto climalterante da qui al 2050. Il presente contributo si propone di analizzare le dinamiche che hanno frenato l’implementazione di pratiche sostenibili, e di riflettere sulle traiettorie in cui potrebbe incanalarsi la transizione ecologica. A tale scopo, viene assunto l’approccio dell’analisi socio-tecnica della transizione, che inquadra mercati e tecnologie nel loro contesto socio-politico secondo una logica co-evolutiva. La ricerca si basa su un caso studio a scala globale che considera congiuntamente evoluzione, dinamiche e prospettive future della logistica e della globalizzazione. L’analisi evidenzia come la convergenza di vedute rispetto alla funzione strumentale della logistica ai fini della crescita economica abbia favorito l’inerzia innovativa. L’adesione al pensiero liberoscambista, oltre a favorire la crescita dei traffici, ha determinato una situazione di competizione territoriale che sostiene pratiche non sostenibili. È probabile che in futuro la transizione ecologica faccia perno prevalentemente sull’innovazione tecnologica e/o che derivi da una regionalizzazione delle filiere produttive. In entrambi i casi, le caratteristiche socio-tecniche della logistica lasciano prospettare risultati insufficienti.

International audience

The environmental impact of food transportation depends on the trade-off between (increased) distances and the efficiency of modern logistics procedures. The relevant literature points out that such a trade-off is place and product specific, thus supporting the broadening of “food miles” research to new territories and product categories. Here we analyze the environmental impact – in terms of global warming, local pollution and traffic congestion – of two different canned tomatoes brands produced in Italy and consumed in Sassari (Sardinia, Italy). The supply chain of the first brand extends over the whole continental Italian territory, while the second one is mainly located in Sardinia. Different distribution patterns (modern vs. independent retail) and shopping modalities (foot vs. car) are also considered. The case study shows that the national supply chain contributes to global warming much more than the regional one, and therefore supports the view that shorter supply chains can be more sustainable than efficient logistics. The case study also confirms the very high impact of shopping by car, both in terms of global warming and local pollution.