Abstract This research analyzes the importance of the institutional and economic context and the institutional capacity building to develop an industrial symbiosis networks through the "Programa Mineiro de Simbiose Industrial" (PMSI). The research is qualitative, exploratory and descriptive, using content analysis techniques. Interviews were conducted with managers and government actors with active PMSI participation. The institutional and economic contexts and the current knowledge, mobilization and relational capacities were identified. The results indicate that the industrial symbiosis network is not dense and there are few waste exchanges among companies. There is an effort among actors who participate in the PMSI to build knowledge, mobilization and relationship capacities. However, the institutional context is unfavorable to the development of industrial symbiosis. This study article reinforces the need to invest in eco-innovative solutions and institutional environment improvements to develop efficient natural resources and waste management, and thus allow the development of eco-industrial parks.
Purpose This paper aims to investigate how sustainable solutions in the textiles and clothing industry are decided through business-to-business collaboration.
Design/methodology/approach A qualitative and inductive study of the Brazilian textiles and clothing industry is carried out, an industry in which sustainable denim products are increasingly being recognized as subject to competition. The paper adopts a focal net perspective to understand the collaborative arrangements through which firms combine the products they offer as a sustainable solution. Documentary data were collected and in-depth interviews conducted with the top managers of one of the world's largest denim-manufacturing companies present in the Brazilian market, which is involved in providing sustainable solutions in cooperation with its partners.
Findings The authors describe the factors that reflect the conditions for generating a sustainable business performance, including a corporate policy that assumes and articulates the responsibility for social interest, core-business stakeholders and regulatory requirements; a sustainable product-service system (S.PSS) based on innovative interactions between the stakeholders in the value production system; relations between stakeholders that promote business sustainability through a dependable value chain characterized by a sense of collaboration and collective actions; and a business model for sustainability that combines economic with social and ecological value creation. These factors help a business establish a more strategic position in the value network, enabling it to capture more value.
Practical implications Sustainable solutions are developed dynamically and collaboratively within an S.PPS. Managers need to focus not only on tangible products but also on intangible services designed and combined so that they are jointly capable of fulfilling customer's needs and creating social and ecological value. Managers within the solution provider must develop business models for sustainability that are continually evolving to satisfy the interest in resource-efficiency by actors in civil society, business and government.
Originality/value The research contributes to the existing literature by applying approaches involving corporate social responsibility (CSR) and strategic nets to the study of the implementation of an S.PSS. Sustainable initiatives and offers developed by an S.PSS are not isolated phenomena but result from collaboration in finding solutions among different actors linked in a strategic net. In this sense, companies need to adjust their business models for sustainability to generate positive economic, social and ecological value and gain credibility for their missions.
ABSTRACT Purpose: To explore financial alternatives to implement PV power generation projects based on the provisions of Normative Resolution n. 482/2012 of the Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency (Aneel). This regulation sets forth the general conditions to the access of micro- and minigeneration granted to the electric energy distribution systems through the energy product offset method. Originality/gap/relevance/implications: This paper discusses the need for regulatory changes, greater government participation in the granting of financial and tax incentives so that PV solar power technology in distributed generation can be financially viable for residential consumers. Key methodological aspects: Investment analysis in PV systems used the Net Present Value (NPV) valuation method. The research assessed two scenarios for Grid-Connected PV Systems (GCPVSs), with different solar power usage levels for a residential consumer. Summary of key results: The results point to a low financial viability in the implementation of distributed microgeneration projects, suggesting the need to remove the tax burden and reduce financing costs. Key considerations/conclusions: The study shows the need of flexibilization of the Brazilian regulatory model, with changes that enable the expansion of renewable energy offers, with positive economic outcomes for tariff affordability. Tariff benefits from distributed microgeneration can positively reflect on captive customers, provided that investment risks are reduced.
ABSTRACT Purpose: To explore financial alternatives to implement PV power generation projects based on the provisions of Normative Resolution n. 482/2012 of the Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency (Aneel). This regulation sets forth the general conditions to the access of micro- and minigeneration granted to the electric energy distribution systems through the energy product offset method. Originality/gap/relevance/implications: This paper discusses the need for regulatory changes, greater government participation in the granting of financial and tax incentives so that PV solar power technology in distributed generation can be financially viable for residential consumers. Key methodological aspects: Investment analysis in PV systems used the Net Present Value (NPV) valuation method. The research assessed two scenarios for Grid-Connected PV Systems (GCPVSs), with different solar power usage levels for a residential consumer. Summary of key results: The results point to a low financial viability in the implementation of distributed microgeneration projects, suggesting the need to remove the tax burden and reduce financing costs. Key considerations/conclusions: The study shows the need of flexibilization of the Brazilian regulatory model, with changes that enable the expansion of renewable energy offers, with positive economic outcomes for tariff affordability. Tariff benefits from distributed microgeneration can positively reflect on captive customers, provided that investment risks are reduced.
AbstractThis paper examines institutional collective action and transaction cost (TC) dilemmas in a self‐organizing policy network involving federal, state, and municipal agencies for waste services in a port and industrial park. A thematic analysis revealed dilemmas in: (a) vertical levels, which lack leadership in industrial waste management due to unclear responsibility delegation across government levels; (b) horizontal levels, reluctant to take responsibilities and define jurisdiction boundaries for efficient waste services; and (c) functional levels, which exhibit fragmented and unaligned action scopes. Transaction costs, stemming from a deficiency in expertise, infrastructure, and organized information regarding companies' waste management, hinder effective programs and policies. Without tackling these challenges and TCs through a governance framework that includes implementation strategies, monitoring, and institutional controls, the self‐organizing policy network is likely to remain stuck in collective institutional inertia.
Abstract Purpose: This paper evaluates the influence of the institutional environment on the extent of social and environmental disclosure of companies from institutionally distant countries. Design/methodology/approach: We analyze basic materials, oil and gas, and public utility companies with shares traded on the Brazilian stock exchange (BM&FBovespa) and Canadian stock exchange (Toronto Stock Exchange) from 2007 to 2015. Quantitative methods are adopted through descriptive statistics and panel data analysis. The econometric modeling considers environmental and social disclosure as dependent variables, independent variables that represent the political, financial, educational and labor systems, and firm size, ROA, and indebtedness as control variables. Findings: In the case of the companies operating in Brazil, the extent of environmental and social disclosure is positively related to the political and labor systems, and negatively related to the financial system. In Canada, disclosure is negatively influenced by the financial system and the education system. The control variables, which represent characteristics of financial performance, were not significant. Originality/value: The study shows that isomorphic forces operate in the institutional field and affect the adoption of socially responsible behavior. By basing the study on institutionally distinct countries, such as Brazil and Canada, it reinforces the influence of the national business system on the extent of disclosure of environmental and social practices.
The paper builds a sustainable development index based on environmental, social, economic and institutional dimensions and presents a spatial assessment of municipalitties inequalities in the State of Ceará. Sustainability indices force institutions and governments to question their standards and act as "driving forces" for public policy-making. The validity of sustainability indexes is heavily dependent on how their components are weighted and aggregated. The research is quantitative developed through secondary data acquired in public agency databases of the country (Brazil) and federal unit (State of Ceara). Data analysis included confirmatory factor analysis for the construction of general sustainability indexes, descriptive analysis of these indices and spatial econometric modeling to represent on the map of Ceará municipalities. The survey results reveal a regular adjustment of the sustainable development index. The model allows a geographical view of sustainable development indicators and presents with a tool in the definition of public policies for social equity, environmental and economic. The analysis of social, economic, environmental, institutional and general indices revealed that the most urban areas of the State of Ceará have a greater sustainable development and confirms the fragility of public policies in promoting regional balance. ; El artículo presenta el análisis espacial de la sostenibilidad en los municipios cearenses a partir de la construcción de un índice de desarrollo sostenible, basado en dimensiones social, ambiental, económica e institucional. Los índices de sostenibilidad obligan a instituciones y gobiernos a cuestionar sus patrones y actúan como "fuerzas motrices" para la elaboración de políticas públicas. La validez de los índices de sostenibilidad depende de la definición del conjunto de indicadores, y de las técnicas adoptadas para definir los ponderadores y la agregación de los indicadores. La investigación es de naturaleza cuantitativa, desarrollada por medio de datos secundarios, y adoptó análisis factorial confirmatorio para la construcción del índice de desarrollo sostenible (IDS) y modelado econométrico espacial para representación de las desigualdades en el mapa de los municipios cearenses. Los resultados de la investigación revelan un ajuste regular del índice de desarrollo sostenible. El IDS permite una visualización geográfica e identificación de asociación espacial de los indicadores de desarrollo sostenible y se presenta como una herramienta de apoyo a la definición de políticas públicas. La investigación reveló que áreas más urbanas del Estado de Ceará presentan un mejor índice de desarrollo sostenible, y confirmó la fragilidad de las políticas públicas en promover el equilibrio regional. ; O artigo apresenta a análise espacial da sustentabilidade nos municípios cearenses a partir da construção de um índice de desenvolvimento sustentável, embasado em dimensões social, ambiental, econômica e institucional. Os índices de sustentabilidade forçam instituições e governos a questionarem seus padrões e atuam como "forças motrizes" para a elaboração de políticas públicas. A validade dos índices de sustentabilidade depende da definição do conjunto de indicadores, e das técnicas adotadas para definição dos ponderadores e agregação dos indicadores. A pesquisa é de natureza quantitativa, desenvolvida por meio de dados secundários, e adotou análise fatorial confirmatória para a construção do índice de desenvolvimento sustentável (IDS) e modelagem econométrica espacial para representação das desigualdades no mapa dos municípios cearenses. Os resultados da pesquisa revelam um ajuste regular do índice de desenvolvimento sustentável. O IDS permite uma visualização geográfica e identificação de associação espacial dos indicadores de desenvolvimento sustentável e apresenta-se como uma ferramenta de suporte à definição de políticas públicas. A pesquisa revelou que áreas mais urbanas do Estado do Ceará apresentam um melhor índice de desenvolvimento sustentável, e confirmou a fragilidade das políticas públicas em promover o equilíbrio regional.
