Environmental upgrading and suppliers' agency in the leather global value chain

Valentina De Marchi; Eleonora di Maria

doi:10.3390/su11236530

Environmental upgrading and suppliers' agency in the leather global value chain

Valentina De Marchi^*
, Eleonora di Maria

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Indexed journal article › Article › peer-review

50 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The paper explores the role of suppliers in the process of environmental upgrading (EnvU) within global value chains (GVCs). Theoretical contributions to EnvU have highlighted, in particular, the role of global buyers in supporting the EnvU of products and processes, while limited attention has been given to suppliers as proactive actors within GVCs. This paper approaches EnvUthrough the lens of innovation and focuses on the agency of suppliers. Through the analysis of innovations developed within the leather GVC, with a special focus on the Arzignano cluster (Italy), the analysis shows how suppliers can autonomously develop sustainability strategies to maintain their competitiveness and achieve higher value in the GVC. However, results stress the limits of green strategies as buyers and suppliers do not share the same vision of how to foster sustainability.

Original language	English
Article number	6530
Number of pages	17
Journal	Sustainability (Switzerland)
Volume	11
Issue number	23
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/su11236530
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2019
Externally published	Yes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Keywords

Circular economy
Environmental upgrading
Innovation
Leather
Supplier
Sustainability

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10.3390/su11236530

Cite this

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title = "Environmental upgrading and suppliers' agency in the leather global value chain",

abstract = "The paper explores the role of suppliers in the process of environmental upgrading (EnvU) within global value chains (GVCs). Theoretical contributions to EnvU have highlighted, in particular, the role of global buyers in supporting the EnvU of products and processes, while limited attention has been given to suppliers as proactive actors within GVCs. This paper approaches EnvUthrough the lens of innovation and focuses on the agency of suppliers. Through the analysis of innovations developed within the leather GVC, with a special focus on the Arzignano cluster (Italy), the analysis shows how suppliers can autonomously develop sustainability strategies to maintain their competitiveness and achieve higher value in the GVC. However, results stress the limits of green strategies as buyers and suppliers do not share the same vision of how to foster sustainability.",

keywords = "Circular economy, Environmental upgrading, Innovation, Leather, Supplier, Sustainability",

author = "\{De Marchi\}, Valentina and \{di Maria\}, Eleonora",

note = "Funding Information: Funding: This research was funded by the European Union—LIFE Programme—Project: Green Leather Industry for the Environment, grant number: LIFE13 ENV/IT/000840. Funding Information: This research was funded by the European Union-LIFE Programme-Project: Green Leather Industry for the Environment, grant number: LIFE13 ENV/IT/000840. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.",

year = "2019",

month = dec,

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doi = "10.3390/su11236530",

language = "English",

volume = "11",

journal = "Sustainability (Switzerland)",

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T1 - Environmental upgrading and suppliers' agency in the leather global value chain

AU - De Marchi, Valentina

AU - di Maria, Eleonora

N1 - Funding Information: Funding: This research was funded by the European Union—LIFE Programme—Project: Green Leather Industry for the Environment, grant number: LIFE13 ENV/IT/000840. Funding Information: This research was funded by the European Union-LIFE Programme-Project: Green Leather Industry for the Environment, grant number: LIFE13 ENV/IT/000840. Publisher Copyright: © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

PY - 2019/12/1

Y1 - 2019/12/1

N2 - The paper explores the role of suppliers in the process of environmental upgrading (EnvU) within global value chains (GVCs). Theoretical contributions to EnvU have highlighted, in particular, the role of global buyers in supporting the EnvU of products and processes, while limited attention has been given to suppliers as proactive actors within GVCs. This paper approaches EnvUthrough the lens of innovation and focuses on the agency of suppliers. Through the analysis of innovations developed within the leather GVC, with a special focus on the Arzignano cluster (Italy), the analysis shows how suppliers can autonomously develop sustainability strategies to maintain their competitiveness and achieve higher value in the GVC. However, results stress the limits of green strategies as buyers and suppliers do not share the same vision of how to foster sustainability.

AB - The paper explores the role of suppliers in the process of environmental upgrading (EnvU) within global value chains (GVCs). Theoretical contributions to EnvU have highlighted, in particular, the role of global buyers in supporting the EnvU of products and processes, while limited attention has been given to suppliers as proactive actors within GVCs. This paper approaches EnvUthrough the lens of innovation and focuses on the agency of suppliers. Through the analysis of innovations developed within the leather GVC, with a special focus on the Arzignano cluster (Italy), the analysis shows how suppliers can autonomously develop sustainability strategies to maintain their competitiveness and achieve higher value in the GVC. However, results stress the limits of green strategies as buyers and suppliers do not share the same vision of how to foster sustainability.

KW - Circular economy

KW - Environmental upgrading

KW - Innovation

KW - Leather

KW - Supplier

KW - Sustainability

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85076466418

U2 - 10.3390/su11236530

DO - 10.3390/su11236530

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85076466418

SN - 2071-1050

VL - 11

JO - Sustainability (Switzerland)

JF - Sustainability (Switzerland)

IS - 23

M1 - 6530

ER -

Environmental upgrading and suppliers' agency in the leather global value chain

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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