1. Expressing added value in food supply chainsNejc Zidar, Jernej Turk, Jernej Prišenk, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Value-added food supply chains are chains that maintain positive social, environmental, and community values which are integrated into the production process from the primary producer to the final consumer, ensuring economic, social, and environmental sustainability, thus forming a sustainable agricultural and food production system. The evaluation of the value added in each chain is based on indicators, which are a tool to measure changes in the actual situation or to show performance trends in achieving the progress set by the objectives. The presented indicators are based on publicly available statistics and foreign literature that allow measuring value added in specific livestock chains at aggregate level (beef production, pork production and dairy production) and are based on publicly available statistics in the Republic of Slovenia. The need to produce indicators of value added in livestock food supply chains arises from the large differences in structural changes in the sector itself and in the development and economic performance of the various livestock industries.
Keywords: food supply chain, value-added, indicators, sustainability, economic, social and environmental aspect
Published in DKUM: 23.04.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 0
 Link to file |
2. Influence of socio-demographic profiles on attitudes toward sustainability and digitalization in logistics and supply chainsLazar Pavić, Matevž Obrecht, Maja Rosi, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: This study examines the impact of socio-demographic factors on attitudes towards sustainability and digitalization in logistics and supply chain management. Since a significant gap was identified in this field, study explores how company size, industry sector, and workforce diversity influence strategic planning and operational efficiency within these pivotal sectors of global commerce. The main novelty of the research is to set the roles of technological readiness and knowledge-based factors in shaping organizational responses to sustainability challenges and digital transformation opportunities. By analyzing the correlation between socio-demographic profiles and technological adoption behaviors, the paper aims to provide insights that could help organizations tailor their strategic initiatives to better align with diverse stakeholder needs, enhancing operational efficiency and promoting sustainable practices. This study seeks to fill the gaps in current research by offering a detailed exploration of how sociodemographic diversity impacts the adoption of innovative technologies and sustainability measures within the logistics and supply chain sectors. Results revealed that gender, sector, work position and company size contribute to different understanding and prioritisation of sustainability topics. Managers and team leaders are more focused towards sustainability than the rest of employees and logistics and supply chain sector prefer digitalization over sustainability.
Keywords: socio-demographic profiles, sustainability, digitalization, logistics, supply chain management
Published in DKUM: 17.03.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 3
 Full text (343,20 KB)
This document has many files! More... |
3. Developing a framework for closed-loop supply chain and its impact on sustainability in the petrochemicals industryLobna Tag el Sheikh, Rebeka Kovačič Lukman, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Companies rely on formulating, implementing, and monitoring strategies in social, environmental and economic aspects to ensure that they achieve their goals and keep abreast of developments related to sustainability requirements. Therefore, our study develops a system to integrate the closed-loop supply chain approach in the petrochemical sector. The research follows the quantitative-based approach by collecting data through a questionnaire directed to employees in the supply chain departments, including 230 questionnaires that were collected. Correlation and structural equation models (SEM) were used. This technique consists of multiple regression analysis and factor analysis and analyses the structural relationship between the underlying structures and the measured variables. The results indicated a significant relationship between the supply chains that have a loop from the following perspectives: economic motivations, customer awareness, environmental legislation, and sustainability. By increasing financial reasons, customer awareness and environmental legislation, sustainability will increase as they all move in the same direction. Therefore, the overall effect of a closed-loop supply chain is positive and significant.
Keywords: closed-loop supply chain, petrochemicals, cost effectivity, product stewardship, multiple regression analysis, factor analysis, sustainability
Published in DKUM: 12.12.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 4
Full text (1,60 MB)
This document has many files! More... |
4. Closed-loop supply chain and impacts on sustainability, comprehending logistics sustainability capacity building : dialogues, paradoxes and innovationLobna Tag el Sheikh, 2024, doctoral dissertation Abstract: This thesis focuses on creating a framework for evaluating the influence of closed-loop on supply chain performance in the case of petrochemical industry in the Egyptian context, with a focus to test the influence of sustainability on the supply chain performance, to investigate the function of sustainability as a mediator between reverse logistics and supply chain performance, and evaluate the impact of closed-loop supply chains (environmental legislation, customer awareness and economic motivations) on sustainable development. The gathering of primary data helped the current study's goals get accomplished. Surveys are used to gather data to estimate how reverse logistics impacts the effectiveness of the supply chain. The employees of supply chain companies in Egypt received the surveys from the researcher. The study's findings indicate a strong link between sustainability and reverse logistics. Additionally, there is a marginally significant correlation between supply chain performance and sustainability. The outcomes also showed that the closed-loop supply chain has little influence on supply chain efficiency and sustainability. Furthermore, there is a marginally significant association between supply chain effectiveness and reverse logistics. The results also revealed that sustainability has a function in supply chain performance and reverse logistics.
Keywords: closed loop-supply chain, reverse logistics, supply chain performance, sustainability, logistics, capacity building
Published in DKUM: 16.10.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 9
Full text (2,45 MB) |
5. Agrowellness goods distribution in the light of sustainability : the consumer perspective and the case of slovenia’s eastern cohesion regionLazar Pavić, Milica Rančić Demir, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: This study explores the distribution of agrowellness products and services from a sustainability perspective, focusing on consumer perceptions in Slovenia’s Eastern Cohesion Region. Utilizing an empirical approach through an online survey, the research assesses how sustainable lifestyle practices influence the frequency of agrowellness goods consumption and their perceived availability. The study employs structural equation modeling (SEM) to test four hypotheses, revealing that sustainable lifestyle practices positively affect the frequency of agrowellness product usage, enhancing the perception of product availability. A critical novel contribution of the research is identifying sociodemographic factors as significant moderators of these relationships, offering more profound insights into consumer behavior. Additionally, the frequency of use mediates the link between a sustainable lifestyle and perceived availability, with gender, age, education, and the place of residence as essential moderators. The findings contribute to theory and practice, offering actionable recommendations for marketing and distribution strategies to enhance the accessibility and appeal of agrowellness products. These insights provide valuable guidance for stakeholders in agriculture, rural development, and wellness tourism, with broader implications for policy development aimed at promoting sustainable lifestyles and supporting rural economies.
Keywords: agrowellness, sustainability, consumer behavior, rural development, wellness tourism, distribution, supply chain, Slovenia
Published in DKUM: 11.10.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 3
Full text (445,75 KB) |
6. Defining a sustainable supply chain for buildings Off-Site envelope thermal insulation solutions : proposal of a methodology to investigate opportunities based on a context analysisMiriam Benedetti, Carlos Herce, Matteo Sforzini, Tiziana Susca, Claudia Toro, 2024, review article Abstract: External wall thermal insulation is one of the most effective solutions on the market to increase energy efficiency in the built environment. Off-Site Construction (OSC), through better control of the various parameters involved, can bring important advantages, such as the reduction of construction time, the improvement of product and process quality, etc. In the last years, the rapidly growing demand for thermal insulation systems, stimulated also by tax incentives, has generated a unique situation in Italy compared to the rest of Europe, also leading to a considerable fragmentation of the supply chain with several players involved (component and system manufacturers, distributors, and installers). The complexity of such context makes Italy an extremely challenging and insightful case study for a supply chain and sustainability study, also considering the fact that the energy efficiency of the Italian building stock represents a crucial challenge to achieve the country's energy saving goals since 40% of final energy consumption derives from buildings and 75% of the building stock presents a low energy performance (energy labels E, F and G). This article presents both an analysis of the Italian market of manufacturers of building envelope thermal insulation solutions, highlighting the different players in the supply chain in terms of number, type, and marketed products and solutions, and a focus on sustainable and recycled materials. The study also aims to define a methodology to investigate the state of play and opportunities for industrialisation of this market and its bottlenecks. In the article, a questionnaire is proposed to collect information and opinions on the spread of OSC and the perception of companies and professionals regarding the advantages and disadvantages of industrializing the sector. A first validation of the survey is presented in the form of industrial focus groups.
Keywords: supply chain sustainability, industrial energy efficiency, off-site construction, construction industrialisation, sustainable building materials, modular buildings
Published in DKUM: 01.10.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 3
Link to file
This document has many files! More... |
7. Sustainability topics integration in supply chain and logistics higher education : where is the Middle East?Maja Rosi, Matevž Obrecht, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: The global logistics industry has grown significantly in the last decade and has become essential to global business activities. In addition, the logistics industry is vital in transportation, urbanization in the Middle East, and transshipment through the Middle East. Due to their increasing importance and size, there is an increasing demand for adequately qualified people capable of managing the logistics systems and supply chains holistically and sustainably to avoid problems caused by unsustainable practices in mobility, transport, and supply chains. However, it is unclear whether the logistic and supply chain education of future leaders, managers, and engineers will follow SDG goals, the rise of new trends, and green technologies or lag behind. This paper pioneered a systematic approach and analyzed Middle Eastern countries regarding their sustainability integration into higher education programs related to supply chain management and logistics studies. It revealed enormous differences among countries and a lack of sustainability topics in most studied countries. Some countries are also significantly more oriented toward partial logistics challenges such as transport efficiency instead of sustainable supply chains, which are becoming critical challenges for the near future and must be accompanied by formal and life-long learning on sustainability-related topics. The circular economy and corporate social responsibility are especially neglected. It was also revealed that sustainability integration in higher education does not correlate with sustainability scores and the ranking of countries within the sustainability index.
Keywords: sustainability integration, Middle East, supply chain management, responsible logistics, education for SDGs
Published in DKUM: 25.07.2023; Views: 369; Downloads: 77
Full text (2,35 MB)
This document has many files! More... |
8. SYNTHESIS OF SUSTAINABLE BIOPROCESSES USING COMPUTER-AIDED PROCESS ENGINEERINGLidija Čuček, 2013, doctoral dissertation Abstract: This doctoral dissertation, which consists of four substantive wholes, presents several syntheses of sustainable bioprocesses using computer-aided process engineering. In the first part the synthesis of different integrated processes of ethanol production from the entire corn plant is presented. The synthesis of different processes is in the second part further extended to the simplified and more comprehensive synthesis of bioproducts in the whole production supply chain network. Synthesis is based on the generic optimisation model of biomass production and supply chain networks.
In the third part three methods for sustainable development assessment, suitable for multi-criteria optimisation, are presented: method of sustainability indexes, footprints and combined criteria, such as eco- and total profit. Methods are further upgraded with indirect effects in order to measure the unburdening the environment, associated with the use and replacement of environmentally-harmful products. Methods include the direct, indirect and total impacts on the environment.
In the last part the methodology for reducing a large number of criteria within multi-objective optimisation to a small number of representative criteria is presented. This method is presented on the case of environmental footprints.
Keywords: Biomass energy generation, Supply chain networks, Synthesis of sustainable bioprocesses, Life Cycle Analysis, Sustainability assessment, Multi-objective optimisation, Dimensionality reduction, Representative Objectives Method
Published in DKUM: 06.05.2013; Views: 2598; Downloads: 291
Full text (4,29 MB) |
