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Designing Dynamic Sustainable Business Models to Assess the Feasibility of an Industrial Symbiosis: The Case of the Retro-Port Area of Trieste

Author

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  • Laura Bordoli

    (AREA Science Park Trieste, 34121 Trieste, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Giovanni Scire’

    (CNR-IFAC, 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Francesca Rossi

    (CNR-IFAC, 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy)

Abstract

This study evaluates the managerial sustainability of implementing a decision support system for industrial symbiosis through a recent business modeling methodology. The decision support system is intended to facilitate the identification of implementable industrial symbiosis good practices in a pilot project located in the industrial retro-port area of Trieste. To evaluate the feasibility of this project, a qualitative “Dynamic business model canvas for sustainability” was designed and supported by a system dynamics approach using causal loop diagrams. The study analyzed various governance scenarios for managing the decision support system (public, private, or public–private partnership) and the financing system. The analysis concludes by discussing the research limitations of this study and future opportunities, emphasizing the importance of a resilient system that can handle operational and regulatory shocks, given the project’s public relevance. Further study opportunities could be provided through quantitative simulations and potential numerical validations with stakeholders in the local area, considering potential regulatory constraints.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Bordoli & Giovanni Scire’ & Francesca Rossi, 2023. "Designing Dynamic Sustainable Business Models to Assess the Feasibility of an Industrial Symbiosis: The Case of the Retro-Port Area of Trieste," Businesses, MDPI, vol. 3(2), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jbusin:v:3:y:2023:i:2:p:23-381:d:1171059
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Henning Breuer & Klaus Fichter & Florian Lüdeke-Freund & Irina Tiemann, 2018. "Sustainability-oriented business model development: principles, criteria and tools," International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 10(2), pages 256-286.
    2. Emilia Faria & Cristiane Barreto & Armando Caldeira-Pires & Jorge Alfredo Cerqueira Streit & Patricia Guarnieri, 2023. "Brazilian Circular Economy Pilot Project: Integrating Local Stakeholders’ Perception and Social Context in Industrial Symbiosis Analyses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-28, February.
    3. Lledó Castellet-Viciano & Vicent Hernández-Chover & Águeda Bellver-Domingo & Francesc Hernández-Sancho, 2022. "Industrial Symbiosis: A Mechanism to Guarantee the Implementation of Circular Economy Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-16, November.
    4. Federico Cosenz & Vinicius Picanço Rodrigues & Francesco Rosati, 2020. "Dynamic business modeling for sustainability: Exploring a system dynamics perspective to develop sustainable business models," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 651-664, February.
    5. Pietro Sorci, 2019. "Governing Local Area Development through Dynamic Performance Management," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 159-177, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Spyridon A. Bafas & Alexandra P. Alexandropoulou & Andreas E. Fousteris & Eleni A. Didaskalou & Dimitrios A. Georgakellos, 2023. "Sustainable Development and Business Strategies: An Exploratory Study of Greek Businesses," Businesses, MDPI, vol. 3(3), pages 1-19, August.

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