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© Davide Settembre Blundo, Fernando Enrique Garcia Muina, Martina Pini, Lucrezia Volpi, Cristina Siligardi and Anna Maria Ferrari. This work is published under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/legalcode (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the production cycle of glazed porcelain stoneware, from the extraction of raw materials to the packaging of the finished product, with the aim of verifying the effects of integrating an environmental impact assessment into the decision-making process for managing the life cycle, to make it economically and ecologically sustainable, in a holistic approach along the supply-chain.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is performed using the life cycle assessment and life cycle costing methodologies, to identify environmental impacts and costs, that occur during extraction of raw materials, transportation, ceramic tiles production, material handling, distribution and end-of-life stages within a cradle to grave perspective.

Findings

Through the use of a comprehensive analysis of the environmental impact assessment and related externalities, three possible strategic options to improve the environmental performance and costs of ceramic tile production were formulated, leveraging sustainability as a competitive advantage.

Research limitations/implications

This exploratory research opens future lines of investigation, the first of which is to confirm the technological feasibility and market responsiveness to the three strategic solutions hypothesised thanks to the use of an innovative eco-design technique.

Originality/value

The research has allowed testing and validating the tools of environmental impact assessment (life cycle assessment) and economic impact assessment (life cycle costing as structured methodologies in a life cycle management framework, to help companies implement competitive strategies based on sustainability.

Details

Title
Lifecycle-oriented design of ceramic tiles in sustainable supply chains (SSCs)
Author
Davide Settembre Blundo; García Muiña, Fernando Enrique; Pini, Martina; Volpi, Lucrezia; Siligardi, Cristina; Ferrari, Anna Maria
Pages
323-337
Publication year
2018
Publication date
2018
Publisher
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
ISSN
20711395
e-ISSN
23987812
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2506858648
Copyright
© Davide Settembre Blundo, Fernando Enrique Garcia Muina, Martina Pini, Lucrezia Volpi, Cristina Siligardi and Anna Maria Ferrari. This work is published under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/legalcode (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.