Vesselina Dimitrova, Teodoro Gallucci, Georgi Marinov and Petyo Boshnakov
Identifying the barriers that hinder the circularity in the wine industry in Bulgaria and proposing a preliminary circular economy (CE) index for ranking in order of importance…
Abstract
Purpose
Identifying the barriers that hinder the circularity in the wine industry in Bulgaria and proposing a preliminary circular economy (CE) index for ranking in order of importance the barriers for providing a suitable and replicable model through the contextualization of the study applied at the territorial level.
Design/methodology/approach
The article adopts a Fuzzy AHP methodology based on 6 main barriers and 19 sub-barriers to find the weights of the barriers and rank them. The study was conducted in Bulgaria, and it consists of a questionnaire with pairwise comparisons to ask for expert opinions of members of the Executive Board of the National Association of Bulgarian Vinegrowers and additional members of the regional vine and winegrowing chambers.
Findings
The study identifies training and education and environmental barriers as the most important among the main barriers whereas, economic barriers are assessed as low impact. Considering the sub-barriers, lack of consumer awareness and interest, unclear taxation for CE, lack of knowledge about environmental emissions (carbon, water etc.) within the supply chains, and lack of digital trends are determined as the most significant sub-barriers.
Research limitations/implications
The preliminary CE index can be practically used and tested, when necessary, by each winemaker according to their understanding and opinion of CE barriers and sub-barriers. The ranking within the CE index can lead winemakers also to decisions related to the company's social policy.
Originality/value
The study uses the Fuzzy AHP methodology with expert opinions to analyze and weigh the main barriers to achieving CE at the micro-level.
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Giovanni Lagioia, Vera Amicarelli, Rossana Strippoli, Christian Bux and Teodoro Gallucci
The hotel industry is one of the leading producers of waste worldwide, and more than one-third of that waste is food. The purpose of this study is to investigate hotel managers'…
Abstract
Purpose
The hotel industry is one of the leading producers of waste worldwide, and more than one-third of that waste is food. The purpose of this study is to investigate hotel managers' awareness of sustainable and circular practices, with a focus on their attitude toward and perception of food waste in Apulia, Southern Italy. The region has a tourist vocation, accounts for 3.3 million tourists per year and plays a key role in the Italian tourism.
Design/methodology/approach
The study was conducted using a questionnaire administered to ten hotel managers located in Apulia. In light of the Checkup Tool Speditivo, a sustainability score indicates managers' awareness of and attitude toward sustainability and circularity, distinguishing between “beginner” (0–25 points), “concerned” (26–50 points), “proactivist” (51–75 points) and “sustainable” (76–100 points). The results have been analyzed using descriptive statistic tools.
Findings
The average sustainability score indicating the level of awareness of sustainable and circular practices among hotel managers in Apulia was 84, whereas the average score associated with their attitude toward food waste management strategies was 65. The greater the number of stars, the higher the sustainability scores. However, the greater the number of rooms, the lower the attitude toward food waste management strategies.
Originality/value
The study sheds light on the main opportunities, barriers and trends in the field of food waste management, highlighting the food commodities which are wasted the most and proposing further strategies to improve circularity and sustainability in hotels. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first on such topics in Southern Italy and could represent the basis for future research on the topic.
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Vesselina Dimitrova, Mariana Kaneva and Teodoro Gallucci
This paper aims to examine the level of customer knowledge (CK) for natural cosmetic products, namely Bulgarian rose products, in three European countries – Bulgaria, Montenegro…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the level of customer knowledge (CK) for natural cosmetic products, namely Bulgarian rose products, in three European countries – Bulgaria, Montenegro and Italy – and to propose appropriate solutions for its management.
Design/methodology/approach
The research structure is based on a questionnaire and represents a part of the general investigation about the nature of the Bulgarian rose products. The study includes the responses to priority questions on customers' knowledge about these products. Feedback is received from 236 respondents in 450 distributed inquiries for the whole investigation.
Findings
The results of the research indicate that the role of the customers in the cognitive process of knowledge accumulation for the specific and rare aromatic rose products is captive, based on a new learning for the nature of the product and on the application of integrated marketing ideas for product development and promotion.
Practical implications
This paper gives suggestions for the customers' preferences of organizing communication systems by the use of integrated media mix of TV, internet and journals on the unique natural cosmetic products in Bulgaria. The empirical results show the opportunity to organize a collected database for healthy products as Bulgarian rose products.
Originality/value
The study of CK in the natural cosmetics industry is structured on the basis of logit regression model, which targets to analyze the increase of the chance for effective knowledge transfer with customers, with the recognition of motivation for purchasing natural Bulgarian rose products and the exchange of high‐grade information with customers about this product.
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Vesselina Dimitrova, Giovanni Lagioia and Teodoro Gallucci
The paper aims to study the main managerial factors for evaluating the eco‐cluster approach and to promote their implementation within the environmental industry management.
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to study the main managerial factors for evaluating the eco‐cluster approach and to promote their implementation within the environmental industry management.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper includes the authors' observations about the advantages of eco‐clustering, and their practical consideration. The empirical research shows the tendencies for developing an eco‐cluster policy in one of the most economically dynamic regions in Bulgaria: Varna‐Devnya. The study framework was discussed with managers on the basis of the environmental practices of Solvay Sodi, Devnya Cement, and Agropolihim JSC. The authors outline the possible cycle of waste management and emission exchanges in that industrial zone.
Findings
The findings show that the eco‐cluster concept in Bulgaria could be provided on micro‐ and macro‐managerial levels, discussing firm relationships and governmental policy. The principal limitation for generating the findings is the lack of concordance between the governmental interest and the business interests of the TNCs. Three negative factors are important in the implementation of the eco‐clustering concept: lack of information; financial constraints; lack of trust.
Practical implications
Common strategic agreements between TNCs and local authorities provide useful managerial and public implications for eco‐clustering. Second, the analysis outlines essential steps for the managerial behavior for creating eco‐clusters.
Originality/value
The perspectives of the eco‐cluster are studied for the first time in Bulgaria. The investigation gives motivation for a further study of the eco‐clustering approach with the support of the local authorities. The practical steps for managerial and public implications of the eco‐cluster concept as an innovative tool for Bulgarian managers are revealed.