Sustainable strategies in energy-intensive industries: a qualitative study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7433/s126.2025.11Keywords:
sustainability, innovation, business relationship, marketing strategy, industrial symbiosisAbstract
Frame of the research: Sustainability has emerged as a strategic lever, particularly crucial for energy-intensive companies operating within the upstream level of supply chains. These companies have to address resource scarcity and complexity while upholding sustainability goals.
Purpose of the paper: The study delves into how energy-intensive companies manage sustainable goals through circularity and supplier relationships.
Methodology: Employing a qualitative approach due to the exploratory nature of the research, the study applies a multiple case study comprising semi-structured interviews.
Findings: The results reveal that energy-intensive companies tackle sustainability challenges through product and process innovations, delineating four main approaches. Additionally, a conceptual matrix for sustainable strategies is developed.
Research limits: While a multiple case study offers insights, it is constrained by the number of actors involved. Quantitative research could enhance result generalizability and comparative analyses could spotlight cross-country similarities or differences.
Practical implications: Our paper support companies in discerning key sustainable approaches and strategies, serving as a guideline for enhancing sustainability commitment.
Originality of the paper: The paper stands among the few studies exploring sustainable strategies applicable to energy-intensive companies for successfully managing product and process innovations. By focusing on circularity and supplier relationships, it advances sustainability discipline and marketing practices, outlining four main approaches and varied strategies to bolster sustainability commitment.
References
AMARASINGHE I., HONG Y., STEWART R. A. (2024), “Visualising a framework for enhancing material circularity in building construction projects: Drivers, barriers, and strategies”, Building and Environment, 111359.
AMBEC S., LANOIE P. (2008), “Does it pay to be green? A systematic overview”, The Academy of Management Perspectives, pp. 45-62.
BABINA T., FEDYK A., HE A., HODSON J. (2024), “Artificial intelligence, firm growth, and product innovation”, Journal of Financial Economics, vol. 151, 103745.
BAPTISTA R. (1999), “The diffusion of process innovations: A selective review”, International journal of the economics of business, vol. 6, n. 1, pp. 107-129.
BARRATT M. (2004), “Understanding the meaning of collaboration in the supply chain”, Supply Chain Management: an international journal, vol. 9, n. 1, pp. 30-42.
BATH V. N. (1993), ”Green marketing begins with green design”, Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, vol. 8, n. 4, pp. 26-31.
BIBRI S. E., KROGSTIE J., KABOLI A., ALAHI A. (2024), “Smarter eco-cities and their leading-edge artificial intelligence of things solutions for environmental sustainability: A comprehensive systematic review”, Environmental Science and Ecotechnology, vol. 19, 100330.
BOONS F., CHERTOW M., PARK J., SPEKKINK W., SHI H. (2017), “Industrial symbiosis dynamics and the problem of equivalence: Proposal for a comparative framework”, Journal of Industrial Ecology, vol. 21, n. 4, pp. 938-952.
BRUNDTLAND G. H. (1987), “What is sustainable development”, Our common future, vol. 8, n. 9.
CHERTOW M. R., LOMBARDI D. R. (2005), “Quantifying economic and environmental benefits of co-located firms”, Environmental science and technology, vol. 39, n. 17, pp. 6535-6541.
COSTA-CAMPI M.T., GARCÍA-QUEVEDO J., SEGARRA A. (2015), “Energy efficiency determinants: an empirical analysis of Spanish innovative firms”, Energy Policy, vol. 83, n. 8, pp. 229-239.
CROSSAN M. M., APAYDIN M. (2010), “A multi‐dimensional framework of organizational innovation: A systematic review of the literature”, Journal of management studies, vol. 47, n. 6, pp. 1154-1191.
CUCARI N., D’ANGELO E., SARDANELLI D., SURACE F., DI SILVESTRE S. (2023), “Substance and symbol in ESG-linked executive compensation: evidence from Italian listed companies”, Sinergie Italian Journal of Management, vol. 41, n. 2, pp. 101-125.
DAMANPOUR F., ARAVIND D. (2006), “Product and process innovations: A review of organizational and environmental determinants”, Innovation, science, and industrial change: A research handbook, pp. 38-66.
DANGELICO R. M. (2016), “Green product innovation: Where we are and where we are going”, Business Strategy and the Environment, vol. 25, n. 8, pp. 560-576.
DANIELS S. E., WALKER G. B. (2001), Working through environmental conflict: The collaborative learning approach, Praeger Publisher, Westport, CT.
DAVENPORT T.H. (1993), Process Innovation. Reengineering Work through Information Technology, Harvard Business School Press, Boston.
DE ANGELIS R., HOWARD M., MIEMCZYK J. (2018), “Supply chain management and the circular economy: towards the circular supply chain”, Production Planning & Control, vol. 29, n. 6, pp. 425-437.
DEMARTINI M., TONELLI F., GOVINDAN K. (2022), “An investigation into modelling approaches for industrial symbiosis: A literature review and research agenda”, Cleaner Logistics and Supply Chain, vol. 3, 100020.
DUBEY R., GUNASEKARAN A., CHILDE S. J., PAPADOPOULOS T., HELO P. (2019), “Supplier relationship management for circular economy: Influence of external pressures and top management commitment”, Management Decision, vol. 57, n. 4, pp. 767-790.
EISENHARDT K. M. (1989), “Building theories from case study research”, Academy of management review, vol. 14, n. 4, pp. 532-550.
ELKINGTON J. (1998), “Partnerships from cannibals with forks: The triple bottom line of 21st‐century business”, Environmental quality management, vol. 8, n. 1, pp. 37–51.
EMF (ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDATION) (2013), Towards a circular economy—Economic and business rationale for an accelerated transition, Cowes, UK: EMF.
FAROOQ U., AL-GAMRH B., DAI J. (2024), “Green drives greenbacks: The impact of sustainable innovation on corporate cash holdings in BRICS nations”, Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 436, 140533.
FAWCETT S. E., MCCARTER M. W., FAWCETT A. M., WEBB G. S., MAGNAN G. M. (2015), “Why supply chain collaboration fails: the socio-structural view of resistance to relational strategies”, Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, vol. 20, n. 6, pp. 648-663.
FRACCASCIA L., CECCARELLI G., DANGELICO R. M. (2023), “Green products from industrial symbiosis: Are consumers ready for them?”, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, vol. 189, 122395.
GEISSDOERFER M., SAVAGET P., BOCKEN,N. M., HULTINK E. J. (2017), “The Circular Economy–A new sustainability paradigm?”, Journal of cleaner production, vol. 143, pp. 757-768.
GENOVESE A., ACQUAYE A. A., FIGUEROA A., KOH, S. L. (2017), “Sustainable supply chain management and the transition towards a circular economy: Evidence and some applications”, Omega, vol. 66, pp. 344-357.
GHISELLINI P., CIALANI C., ULGIATI S. (2016), “A review on circular economy: the expected transition to a balanced interplay of environmental and economic systems”, Journal of Cleaner production, vol. 114, pp. 11-32.
GLASER B. G., STRAUSS A. L. (2017), “Theoretical sampling”, Sociological methods, pp. 105-114.
GMELIN H., SEURING S. (2014), “Achieving sustainable new product development by integrating product life-cycle management capabilities”, International Journal of Production Economics, vol. 154, pp. 166-177.
GOVINDAN K., HASANAGIC M. (2018), “A systematic review on drivers, barriers, and practices towards circular economy: a supply chain perspective”, International Journal of Production Research, vol. 56, n. 1-2, pp. 278-311.
GREENLAND D. J. (1997), The sustainability of rice farming, Cab International.
GUI L., LEI H., LE P. B. (2024), “Fostering product and process innovation through transformational leadership and knowledge management capability: the moderating role of innovation culture”, European Journal of Innovation Management, vol. 27, n. 1, pp. 214-232.
HUNTER J. M., DE GIACOMO M. R. (2023), “The environmental performance of B Corp SMEs and the occurrence of greenwashing”, Sinergie Italian Journal of Management, vol. 41, n. 3, pp. 49-69.
KLEINPETER V., SEEN D. L., DEGENNE P., LURETTE A., WASSENAAR T., VAYSSIÈRES J. (2024), “A stakeholder decision and road-network-based deterministic model to simulate material flows in regional scale industrial symbioses”, Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 434, 139778.
LINDGREEN A., DI BENEDETTO C. A., BEVERLAND M. B. (2021), “How to write up case-study methodology sections”, Industrial Marketing Management, vol. 96, pp. A7-A10.
LITVINENKO V., BOWBRIСK I., NAUMOV I., ZAITSEVA Z. (2022), “Global guidelines and requirements for professional competencies of natural resource extraction engineers: Implications for ESG principles and sustainable development goals”, Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 338, 130530.
LU H., ZHAO G., LIU S. (2024), “Integrating circular economy and Industry 4.0 for sustainable supply chain management: a dynamic capability view”, Production Planning & Control, vol. 35, n. 2, pp. 170-186.
MA S., HUANG Y., LIU Y., KONG X., YIN L., CHEN G. (2023), “Edge-cloud cooperation-driven smart and sustainable production for energy-intensive manufacturing industries”, Applied Energy, vol. 337, 120843.
MAHMOUMGONBADI A., GENOVESE A., SGALAMBRO A. (2021), “Closed-loop supply chain design for the transition towards a circular economy: A systematic literature review of methods, applications and current gaps”, Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 323, 129101.
MORTENSEN L., KØRNØV L. (2019), “Critical factors for industrial symbiosis emergence process”, Journal of cleaner production, vol. 212, pp. 56-69.
PAUL S. K., CHOWDHURY P., MOKTADIR M. A., LAU, K. H. (2021), “Supply chain recovery challenges in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic”, Journal of Business Research, vol. 136, pp. 316-329.
PAUWELS P., MATTHYSSENS P. (2004), “The architecture of multiple case study research in international business”, Handbook of qualitative research methods for international business, pp. 125-143.
PEARCE D. W., TURNER R. K. (1989), Economics of natural resources and the environment, Johns Hopkins University Press.
POMPONI F., MONCASTER A. (2017), “Circular economy for the built environment: A research framework”, Journal of cleaner production, vol. 143, pp. 710-718.
PORTER M., VAN DER LINDE C. (1995), ”Green and competitive: ending the stalemate”, The Dynamics of the eco-efficient economy: environmental regulation and competitive advantage, vol. 33, pp. 120-134.
RASHID A., RASHEED R., NGAH A. H. (2024), “Achieving sustainability through multifaceted green functions in manufacturing”, Journal of Global Operations and Strategic Sourcing.
RICHARDS L., MORSE J. M., GATTI F. (2009), Fare ricerca qualitativa: prima guida, Franco Angeli.
ROMITO S., VURRO C., BENASSI M. (2023), “The impact of stakeholder orientation on innovation: an empirical investigation on firm patenting activity”, Sinergie Italian Journal of Management, vol. 41, n. 2, pp. 177-199.
ROWLEY J. (2012), “Conducting research interviews”, Management research review, vol. 35, n. 3/4, pp. 260-271.
SANDERS N. R., WOOD J. D. (2024), Foundations of Sustainable Business. John Wiley & Sons.
SEURING S. A. (2008), “Assessing the rigor of case study research in supply chain management”, Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, vol. 13, n. 2, pp. 128-137.
SIMATUPANG T. M., SRIDHARAN R. (2002), “The collaborative supply chain”, The international journal of logistics management, vol. 1, n. 1, pp. 15-30.
SPEKMAN R., DAVIS E. W. (2016), “The extended enterprise: a decade later”, International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, vol. 46, n. 1, pp. 43-61.
VACHON S., KLASSEN R. D. (2008), “Environmental management and manufacturing performance: The role of collaboration in the supply chain”, International journal of production economics, vol. 111, n. 2, pp. 299-315.
WANG S., SU D. (2022), “Sustainable product innovation and consumer communication”, Sustainability, vol. 14, n. 14, 8395.
YIN R. K. (2018), Case study research and applications: Design and methods (Sixth edition), SAGE.
Websites
MASE (2024), https://www.mase.gov.it/pagina/lagenda-2030-lo-sviluppo-sostenibile
OECD (2024), https://www.oecd.org/ukraine-hub/en/
