Sustainability of food supply chains – mapping food waste and by-product synergies

Purpose: This conceptual paper introduces the theoretical and methodological basis of an analytical framework conceived with the purpose of bringing industrial ecology perspectives into the core of the underlying disciplines supporting studies concerned with environmental sustainability aspects beyond product life cycle boundaries in a supply chain. Research Approach: To develop the framework, we draw from a previous LCA-driven methodological approach applied to investigate industrial activities with the purpose of defining industrial ecology strategies for the development of ‘eco-industrial clusters’. We expand on this approach by combining it with the waste model for the food sector to classify the inventory of food waste and by-products generated in different stages of a food supply chain. Finally, food waste and by-product flows are considered with basis on the European waste hierarchy model and core industrial symbiosis concepts. These flows depict two time-related scenarios: 1. Present scenarios showing the status quo of current waste and by-product flows, and 2. Future scenarios pointing out potential food waste and by-product synergies along the supply chain. Findings and Originality: Different ecosystems scenarios are expected to emerge from the analysis applied in different industrial stages of a food supply chain: Farming, manufacturing, and retailing. The scenarios are the main outcomes of the analysis process and they ultimately describe potential food waste and by-product synergies not only within and between core industrial activities of the supply chain being studied, but also potential industrial linkages with organisations outside the supply chain that are nonetheless located in areas adjacent to the core industries in the supply chain being analyzed. Research Impact: By bringing industrial ecology perspectives into the analytical framework developed, the paper provides a valuable and innovative contribution to the wider debate on how supply chains meet the challenges of sustainability. Given the pressing challenges faced by the food sector, the framework focuses upon waste minimization through industrial linkages in food supply chains. The combination of industrial ecology practice with basic LCA elements, the waste hierarchy model, and the spatial scale of industrial symbiosis allows the standardization of qualitative analyses and associated outcomes. Such standardization enables comparative analysis not only between different stages of a supply chain, but also between different supply chains. Practical Impact: The analytical approach proposed contributes more coherently to the wider circular economy aspiration of optimizing the flow of goods to get the most out of raw materials and cuts wastes to a minimum. The transition to a circular economy based upon circular design and production, new circular business models involving reverse cycles and cascading of products, by-products and waste, as well as cross-cycle and cross-sector collaborations beyond traditional supply chain boundaries, requires a refreshed understanding of more current circular supply chain archetypes

Valoração de atributos de qualidade no preçode veículos populares novos

The purpose of this study is to value the quality attributes of economy car models, that is, vehicles with a 1000 cc engine. With the liberalization of the domestic automotive market, the sector has been experiencing a growing market development and technology expansion which allows for the sale of more varieties and types of vehicles, each with a wide range of options, accessories and comfort items available as options for consumers. Based on the available attributes for each item, the consumer will choose those he perceives as useful depending on his perception of usefulness and quality. Among the different methods of quality valuation, this paper explores the theory of hedonic prices. According to the model proposed, it is possible to identify that the brand is the main attribute of valuation in the composition of the price of economy cars. At this point, it is possible to observe the companies' actions in the attempt to reposition their products in the consumer's mind. In comparison with similar studies, it is possible to notice that economy cars have evolved in terms of accessory availability. These results can also contribute as a point of reference for the automakers to better plan the vehicle, giving priority to types of vehicles that are consistent with the preferences of their consumersEl objetivo de este estudio es valorar los atributos de calidad de los modelos de vehículos de pasajeros populares, o sea, con motores de 1000 cc. Con la liberalización del mercado automovilístico nacional, el sector viene experimentando un creciente desarrollo del mercado y una expansión tecnológica, que hacen posible la comercialización cada vez mayor de más variedades y tipos de vehículos, cada cual con una gran variedad de opcionales, accesorios e ítems de conforto disponibles para la elección del consumidor. A partir de los atributos disponibles para cada bien, el consumidor escogerá aquellos que él perciba como útiles según su percepción de utilidad y calidad. Entre las diversas formas de valorar la calidad, este estudio explora la teoría de los precios hedónicos. De acuerdo con el modelo propuesto, se puede identificar que la marca constituye el principal atributo de valor en la composición de los precios de los vehículos populares. En este punto, se notan acciones de las empresas en el sentido de buscar un reposicionamiento de sus productos en la mente del consumidor. En comparación con estudios similares, se verifica que los vehículos populares han evolucionado en disponibilidad de accesorios. Estos resultados todavía pueden contribuir como estimativa para que las montadoras puedan planear mejor el vehículo, dando prioridad a los tipos que estén de acuerdo con las preferencias de los consumidoresO objetivo deste estudo é valorar os atributos de qualidade dos modelos de veículos de passageiros populares, isto é, com motorização de 1000 cc. Com a liberalização do mercado automobilístico nacional, o setor vem experimentando um crescente desenvolvimento do mercado e uma expansão tecnológica, que possibilitam a comercialização cada vez maior de mais variedades e tipos de veículos, cada qual com uma grande variedade de opcionais, acessórios e itens de conforto disponíveis para a escolha do consumidor. A partir dos atributos disponíveis para cada bem, o consumidor escolherá aqueles que ele perceba como úteis segundo sua percepção de utilidade e qualidade. Dentre as diversas formas de valorar a qualidade, este estudo explora a teoria dos preços hedônicos. De acordo com o modelo proposto, pode-se identificar que a marca constitui o principal atributo de valor na composição dos preços dos veículos populares. Nesse ponto, notam-se ações das empresas no sentido de buscar um reposicionamento de seus produtos na mente do consumidor. Comparativamente com estudos similares, verifica-se que os veículos populares têm evoluído em disponibilidade de acessórios. Esses resultados ainda podem contribuir como balizamento para que as montadoras possam planejar melhor o veículo, priorizando os tipos de veículos consistentes com as preferências de seus pretendente

A Five-Year Hedonic Price Breakdown for Desktop Personal Computer Attributes in Brazil

The purpose of this article is to identify the attributes that discriminate the prices of personal desktop computers. We employ the hedonic price method in evaluating such characteristics. This approach allows market prices to be expressed as a function, a set of attributes present in the products and services offered. Prices and characteristics of up to 3,779 desktop personal computers offered in the IT pages of one of the main Brazilian newspapers were collected from January 2003 to December 2007. Several specifications for the hedonic (multivariate) linear regression were tested. In this particular study, the main attributes were found to be hard drive capacity, screen technology, main board brand, random memory size, microprocessor brand, video board memory, digital video and compact disk recording devices, screen size and microprocessor speed. These results highlight the novel contribution of this study: the manner and means in which hedonic price indexes may be estimated in Brazil

Will Rota 2030 deliver sustainable innovation? Comparing the ends and means of Brazilian and German auto industry innovation policies

Purpose – Due to dramatic transformation of the auto industry, governments are implementing innovationpolicies to ensure the domain of sustainable technologies. According to the literature, developing countries thatdepend on multinational subsidiaries must invest in complementary innovation to be part of their research anddevelopment (R&D) headquarters’ long-term plans. This study analyses the Brazilian auto industry innovationpolicy (Rota 2030) to evaluate if it targets complementarity with the German’s one (NPE). It also compares theinstitutional arrangements of the former against the latter to check for governance gaps. Design/methodology/approach – It applies a case-oriented comparative method (Ragin, 2014) for theanalysis of qualitative evidence on secondary data. It investigates evidence of complementarity between Rota2030 and national platform for electric mobility (NPE) objectives and checks for governance gaps in Rota 2030using NPE as a reference. Findings – The results confirmed a loose fitting between the innovation policies mainly for a lack ofdeterminism of Rota 2030 objectives. Governance gaps were also found on Rota 2030 policy formulation andoperationalization. Practical implications – It contributes for the improvement of Rota 2030, and its analytical frame may beused for the formulation or adjustment of other developing countries’ innovation policies. Originality/value – It contributes with innovation system and policy field development with a theoreticalextension coming from the New Institutional Economics (NIE) (Menard, 2018). By examining the performanceof“institutional arrangements” during the process of formulation and operationalization of innovation policies,it shows the importance of coordination for their effectivenes

Inovação de varejo sustentável: e-commerce e comércio justo

Com os mercados progressivamente mais competitivos, prezar por um relacionamento de longo prazo com os consumidores é cada vez mais importante, tornando necessário olhar para eles com atenção ao embarcar em qualquer uma das tendências vigentes no varejo. O consumo, por sua vez, é uma atividade fruto de um processo sociocultural, no qual são embutidos valores, princípios e preferências que condicionam as escolhas. O objetivo de pesquisa do presente estudo reside em investigar a inovação no contexto das atividades varejistas, analisando sob a ótica da inovação sustentável. Em especial, o presente artigo busca estudar o comércio justo no âmbito das lógicas predominantes no varejo competitivo. A pergunta de pesquisa é: uma parceria entre empresa varejista e um negócio social de comércio justo configura como inovação sustentável? Para abordar a questão, a qual detém um caráter exploratório, um estudo de caso é proposto sobre o E-Solidário, uma parceria entre a Solidarium e o Walmart, que juntos têm como objetivo ser o maior canal de comércio justo no Brasil. Verificou-se uma inovação de varejo sustentável como resultado dessa parceria entre as duas organizações, com benefícios para ambas

Evolução dos Custos Médico-Hospitalares de Planos Privados de Assistência à Saúde no Brasil

Brazil has achieved a national coverage rate of medical private health plans around 24.5% in June of 2017 (47,383,248). However, it has been observed a slowdown tendency of number of customers, comparing Dec / 2012 (50,409,378). This research reports the evolution of costs in Brazilian healthcare private operators (benefits manager, self-management, medical cooperative, philanthropy, health insurance specialist and group medicine) between 2003 and 2016, from the perspective of the average cost variation and of the resource and services utilization rate. The public data were obtained from websites of the Institute of Supplementary Health Studies (IESS), the National Agency of Supplemental Health (ANS) and the Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA). In this period, it was found that the growth of medical inflation in Brazil was higher than the general inflation and that resource and service utilization rates remain at high levels (geometric mean of 81.87%). This indicates that there is an increase in the average cost along with the increase in production.O Brasil alcançou uma taxa de cobertura nacional de planos de saúde privados de assistência médica em torno de 24,5% em junho de 2017 (47.383.248). Entretanto, se observa uma queda de 6,4% no número de beneficiários em relação dez/2014 (50.409.378). Esta pesquisa analisa a evolução dos custos das operadoras médico-hospitalares brasileiras de planos privados de assistência à saúde (administradora de benefícios, autogestão, cooperativa médica, filantropia, seguradora especializada em saúde e medicina de grupo) no período entre 2003 e 2016, sob a perspectiva das variações do custo médio e da sinistralidade (taxa de utilização de recursos e de serviços). Foram usados dados públicos disponíveis nas páginas eletrônicas do Instituto de Estudos de Saúde Suplementar (IESS), da Agência Nacional de Saúde e do Instituto de Pesquisas Econômicas Aplicadas (IPEA). Neste período se observou que o crescimento da inflação médica no Brasil foi superior à inflação geral e que a sinistralidade permanece em níveis elevados (média geométrica de 81,87%). Isto é, houve um crescimento do custo médio junto com a produção

O Impacto do Estádio no Consumo do Torcedor: como a Frequência no Estádio Impulsiona a Demanda por Produtos dos Clubes

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the presence of supporter in the stadium, which demonstrates the supporter’s involvement with his soccer club, and its influence on the purchase of official products of the 12 largest Brazilian brands of soccer clubs. In this research, it was collected information from 1,296 supporters who responded to a questionnaire with 22 questions. It was defined as involvement with their soccer club the frequency this supporter goes to the stadium. In order to determine the consumption relationship it were used variables such as frequency of purchase of official products, the annual amount spent on such products, favorite venue to purchase and assortment of the products mix. For the supporters buying preferences analysis, it was applied the technique of correspondence analysis (Anacor). As a result, we can point out that the supporters’ loyalty, driven by the relationship marketing, is one of the catalysts for increasing the soccer clubs revenue, since the higher the products and average tickets purchase frequency, the more this frequency is associated with a higher number of attendance to the stadium, as well as the variety in the mix of products acquired by the supporter. In this sense, the work points to the importance of building a long term relationship which goes beyond the emotional bond with the club, reaching the brand products consumption.O objetivo deste estudo é investigar a relação existente entre a presença do torcedor no estádio, que demonstra o envolvimento do torcedor com seu clube de futebol, e sua influência na compra de produtos oficiais das 12 maiores marcas brasileiras de clubes de futebol. Nesta pesquisa, coletaram-se informações de 1.296 torcedores que responderam a um questionário com 22 perguntas. Definiu-se como envolvimento com seu clube de futebol a frequência de ida ao estádio. Para determinar a relação de consumo, foram utilizadas variáveis como frequência de compra de produtos oficiais, valor anual gasto com tais produtos, local preferido para realização de compras e sortimento do mix de produto. Para a análise das preferências de compra do torcedor, foi aplicada a técnica de análise de correspondência (Anacor). Como resultado, pode-se apontar que a fidelização do torcedor, impulsionada pelo marketing de relacionamento, é um dos catalisadores para aumentar as receitas dos clubes de futebol, já que maiores frequências de compra e tíquetes médios estão associadas a um número maior de idas ao estádio, assim como à variedade do mix de produtos adquiridos pelo torcedor. Nesse sentido, o trabalho aponta para a importância de construir uma relação de longo prazo que vá além do vínculo emocional com o clube, chegando até ao consumo dos produtos da marca

Séries temporais e redes neurais: uma análise comparativa de técnicas na previsão de vendas do varejo brasileiro

An important economic activity in any society regards the commercialization of assets. The retail consists exactly of the link established between the industry and the final consumer. To predict the sales is essential so that one can manage in a proper way the production and commercialization processes. In the retail, this aspect is even more important. To sale means to harmonize the concerns of those producing with those who buy. Therefore, this paper is intended to exam comparatively the application of two retail sales forecast methods in the Brazilian market: the temporal series and the neural networks. The selection of those two techniques as object of that comparison was aroused by the importance those two conceptions have assumed in the literature. Although the utilization of neural networks has provided the smallest sum of the squares of the residues, one may say that the results using models of the ARIMA type have shown to be practically equivalent.Uma importante atividade econômica em qualquer sociedade diz respeito à comercialização de bens. O varejo consiste exatamente no vínculo que se estabelece entre a indústria e o consumidor final. Prever as vendas é essencial para que se possa gerenciar de modo adequado os processos produtivos e de comercialização. No varejo esse aspecto reveste-se de importância ainda maior. Vender significa harmonizar os interesses dos que produzem com aqueles que compram. Portanto, o presente trabalho tem por propósito examinar comparativamente dois métodos de previsão: as séries temporais e as redes neurais. A escolha dessas duas técnicas como objeto dessa comparação foi suscitada pela importância que essas duas concepções têm assumido na literatura. Embora a utilização de redes neurais tenha proporcionado a menor soma dos quadrados dos resíduos, pode-se dizer que os resultados empregando modelos do tipo ARIMA se mostraram praticamente equivalentes