Silicon Revolution: Sustainability Disclosures and Performance in the Semiconductor Manufacturing Industry (2010-2014)

This exploratory work investigates the sustainability performance and reporting practices in 20 semiconductor companies from 2010-2014 using content analysis, survey, and interview methods. The sample consists of companies that are either integrated chip manufacturers (ICMs) or semiconductor foundries with annual net revenue of $0.2 billion to$55.9 billion. A sustainability matrix based on the Global Reporting Initiative guidelines assesses the reporting completeness. Sustainability performance is measured based on two factors, identification of trends in social and environmental data and adoption of 28 sustainability best practices specific to this manufacturing sector. The majority of the resource use and emissions data followed a decreasing trend during 2010-2014. The study found ethical responsibility and concern for society and the environment to be the main motivations for sustainability reporting in this sector. A positive association between reporting completeness and the sustainability performance was observed, but based on the available data the causation could not be established

Performance Indictors disclosure in Sustainability Reports – Lessons from Ghanaian large Mining Companies

This study examines the extent of Global Reporting Initiative performance indicators disclosed in Sustainability Reports of mining companies in Ghana to see the content and trend development. Case study approach to 20 reports (in 2008 and 2012) of 10 large scale mining companies in Ghana was used and analysed using content analysis methods. The findings suggest there has been a wider and increasing trend in the disclosure of performance indicators in sustainability report in accordance with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines. The findings suggest that mining companies in Ghana have made good progress in voluntary adoption of the GRI guidelines to increase transparency, credibility and comparability in sustainability reporting

Agro-environmental project duration and effectiveness in South-east Asia

Considerable emphasis has been placed on developing technologies for agricultural sustainability. Many bilateral projects are working to achieve this outcome. A desk review was conducted to study the importance of project duration for the effectiveness of sustainable agricultural projects. Longer-duration projects were successful in addressing more holistic issues than short projects. However, funding agencies tend to fund shorter-duration projects, so projects become progressively shorter. At the same time, the number of projects implemented each year is increasing. Despite the decrease in total development assistance, increases in project numbers, particularly since 1986, appear to be at the cost of project duration. Short project duration was one of the most cited reasons for not completing essential dissemination activities for wider adoption, whereas longer- duration projects were usually considered more successful in addressing more holistic issues. It is difficult to produce tangible outputs from agricultural and soil conservation projects within five years. Considering the slow changes in the system and in agricultural and environmental sustainability, the authors suggest that project developers should be advised to plan for a minimum of 5–10 years, depending on the nature of activities. It is time for funding agencies to reconsider their tendency to fund shorter-duration projects

Contextual impacts on industrial processes brought by the digital transformation of manufacturing: a systematic review

The digital transformation of manufacturing (a phenomenon also known as "Industry 4.0" or "Smart Manufacturing") is finding a growing interest both at practitioner and academic levels, but is still in its infancy and needs deeper investigation. Even though current and potential advantages of digital manufacturing are remarkable, in terms of improved efficiency, sustainability, customization, and flexibility, only a limited number of companies has already developed ad hoc strategies necessary to achieve a superior performance. Through a systematic review, this study aims at assessing the current state of the art of the academic literature regarding the paradigm shift occurring in the manufacturing settings, in order to provide definitions as well as point out recurring patterns and gaps to be addressed by future research. For the literature search, the most representative keywords, strict criteria, and classification schemes based on authoritative reference studies were used. The final sample of 156 primary publications was analyzed through a systematic coding process to identify theoretical and methodological approaches, together with other significant elements. This analysis allowed a mapping of the literature based on clusters of critical themes to synthesize the developments of different research streams and provide the most representative picture of its current state. Research areas, insights, and gaps resulting from this analysis contributed to create a schematic research agenda, which clearly indicates the space for future evolutions of the state of knowledge in this field

Investigating Performance Indictors Disclosure in Sustainability Reports of Large Mining Companies in Ghana

Purpose: This study examines the degree, contents and trend development of Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) performance indicators disclosed in Sustainability Reports of large mining companies in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach: Content analysis methods used to analyse 50 sustainability reports of 10 large scale mining companies in Ghana covering the period 2008-2012. Findings: The study finds that there has been a widening and increasing trend in the disclosure of performance indicators in sustainability reports for the large mining companies in Ghana in accordance with GRI guidelines. The findings suggest that good progress in the strategic sector has been made in the voluntary adoption of the GRI guidelines to increase transparency, credibility and comparability in sustainability reporting. The findings also indicate areas to be improved. Research limitations/implications: Practical implications: The Government of Ghana and the Ghana Chamber of Mines could learn from the findings about the current status of this matter in order for them to formulate policies and regulations which encourage the mining sector moving forward in the adoption of international reporting standards. Social implications: Originality/value: This paper initialises investigating into the degree, contents and trends of performance indicators in sustainability reports of large mining companies in Ghana using content analysis

The Stability and Growth Pact from the Perspective Of the New Member States

The purpose of this paper is to examine the fiscal characteristics of the new members in the light of the requirements of the SGP and the criticisms levelled against the Pact and to see in what ways their initial conditions differ from those faced by the current euro zone countries in the run-up to the adoption of the euro. Overall, because of the lower debt levels and greater yield convergence already achieved, the new members will be able to rely less on gains from yield convergence than the current euro zone members were able to do. EU accession will also have a negative net impact on the budgets of the new members in the early years of membership. We also look at the cyclical sensitivities of the budgets and find that in the new members the smoothing capacity of the automatic stabilizers might be weaker than in the current euro zone members. Beyond these general characteristics, we also emphasize that there are large differences in the starting fiscal positions of the new members. Some of the policy implications of our findings are discussed.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/40095/3/wp709.pd

Impact of new technologies in hard rock underground mining taking into account operational efficiencies and production rates

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to discuss the impact that new technology will have and a few of the key areas to be addressed that will ensure a successful and sustained adoption of new technologies within mining organizations. Methods: Analysis and the practical experience of implementing technology to enable organization wide transformations across multiple industries. Findings: Five key areas will need to be taken into account in driving to improved levels of production rates, greater operational efficiencies and higher health and safety levels namely technology, mechanization, people, equipment and economic sustainability. Originality: Ensuring that all five areas are addressed holistically and no one area in isolation will result in improved production levels and efficiencies and ultimately the achievement of autonomous mining. Practical implications. There will have to be a significant organisational culture transformation within mining organisations and the ability to foster a culture of learning is going to be critical to the successful adoption of new technology in mining and the subsequent improvements in operational efficiencies and production rates that will result.Мета. Метою даної статті є аналіз впливу, який буде чинити нова технологія, а також деякі з розглянутих ключових областей, які забезпечують успішне та стабільне впровадження новітніх технологій на гірничодобувних підприємствах. Методика. Аналіз і практичний досвід технологічних впроваджень для забезпечення значного перетворення підприємства в різних галузях промисловості. Результати. Встановлено, що для досягнення поліпшення рівня темпів виробництва, підвищення експлуатаційної ефективності й більш високих рівнів охорони здоров’я та безпеки, необхідно враховувати п’ять ключових факторів, а саме: технологію, механізацію, людей, обладнання та економічну стійкість. Наукова новизна. Новизна роботи забезпечується тим, що всі п’ять факторів розглядаються як єдине ціле і жоден з них окремо не призводить до підвищення рівня виробництва та ефективності, й у кінцевому підсумку – досягнення автономного видобутку. Практична значимість. Повинно бути значне перетворення корпоративної культури на гірничодобувних підприємствах, також повинна бути можливість сприяння формуванню культури навчання, що буде мати вирішальне значення для успішного впровадження нових технологій у гірничодобувній промисловості та в результаті – подальшого поліпшення експлуатаційної ефективності й темпів виробництва.Цель. Целью данной статьи является анализ воздействия, которое будет оказывать новая технология, а также некоторые из рассматриваемых ключевых областей, обеспечивающих успешное и стабильное внедрение новейших технологий на горнодобывающих предприятиях. Методика. Анализ и практический опыт технологических внедрений для обеспечения обширного преобразования предприятия в различных отраслях промышленности. Результаты. Установлено, что для достижения улучшения уровня темпов производства, повышения эксплуатационной эффективности и более высоких уровней охраны здоровья и безопасности, необходимо учитывать пять ключевых факторов, а именно: технологию, механизацию, людей, оборудование и экономическую устойчивость. Научная новизна. Новизна работы обеспечивается тем, что все пять факторов рассматриваются как единое целое и ни один из них в отдельности не приводит к повышению уровня производства и эффективности, и в конечном итоге – достижению автономной добычи. Практическая значимость. Должно быть значительное преобразование корпоративной культуры на горнодобывающих предприятиях, также должна быть возможность содействия формированию культуры обучения, что будет иметь решающее значение для успешного внедрения новых технологий в горнодобывающей промышленности и в результате – последующего улучшения эксплуатационной эффективности и темпов производства.The paper did not originate under any project and no funding was raised

Efficacy of landfill tax and subsidy policies for the emergence of industrial symbiosis networks: An agent-based simulation study

Despite the theoretical value of industrial symbiosis (IS), this approach appears to be underdeveloped in terms of practical applications. Different attempts to stimulate IS in practice are noticed, one of them consisting in the application of adequate policy measures. This paper explores the efficacy of two specific policies (landfill tax and economic subsidy for IS exchanges) in supporting the emergence of self-organized industrial symbiosis networks (ISNs). We frame the ISNs as complex adaptive systems and we design an agent-based model to simulate their emergence. We use a real case study and, by means of the simulation model, we assess how the two policy measures are able to enhance the formation of spontaneous IS relationships, thereby forcing the emergence of the ISN. Results show that both policy measures have a positive effect in all scenarios considered, but the extent is strictly dependent on the environmental conditions in which IS relationships occur. The economic implications for the government are finally discussed