The Circular Economy in the Social Enterprises ’ Ecology: An exploratory case study

1. The Circular Economy in the Social Enterprises’ Ecology:An exploratory case study Laura Rocca (University of Brescia) Monica Veneziani(University of Brescia)

2. Motivation

3. Agenda • The research analyses the CE transition in a Social Enterprises’ network to explore: • the social dimension of CE and • the role of accountability for CE. • Context: • Circular Economy paradigm • Social Enterprises • Location • Italy

4. Research Questions • RQ1 – What are the reasons and requirements for a transition towards a CE for a Social Enterprise? • RQ2 - What are the social and cultural dimensions of CE in a Social Enterprise? • RQ3 - What are the effects of that transition on the network? • RQ4 - What is the role of accountability in this process? For whom?

5. Theoretical Framing Niche Construction (Kendal et al., 2011) • to explore relationships and variations within an ecosystem by taking cognisance of the cultural and physical aspects of ecological inheritance “The process whereby organisms, through their activities and choices, modify their own and other’s niches”. • The ability of some organisms/species in the ecosystem to modify their environment and alter the relationships with other organisms/species. • This ability to modify the environment may or may not have an impact on the ecosystem.  If it does have an impact, then two consequences may result: • The ecosystem will change • Through social learning, the changes will be inherited by recipient populations.

6. Accountability paradigm Accountability perspective: a form of accountability according to Russell et al. (2017) as “interdisciplinary efforts may well lead to experimentation in the design and creation of different accounts and accountability practices” (pag. 1444) • Sustainability communication: • Disclosure: what, how and who • Dissemination: what channel – from traditional tools to new ones

7. Methodology • Case Study: a qualitative approach • How to collect data? • Archival analysis • Semi-structured interviews • Participation of organizations’ life • Survey to employee (?) • How to analyze data? • Content analysis • Transcript and coding • Informal notes

8. Social Enterprise's context in Italy • Social Enterprise? • National Law N. 381/1991: «Cooperative sociali» creation • Art. 1 • “Social cooperatives aim to pursue the general interest of the community in human promotion and social integration of citizens through: • management of socio-health and educational services; • b) the carrying out of different activities - agricultural, industrial, commercial or service - aimed at the employment of disadvantaged people.”

9. Location: Italy, Brescia • Italy – Brescia

10. CAUTO network 3 social enterprises Main activities: Renewable energies (photovoltaic panels installation) Main activities: Waste management (prevention, collection, treatment) Main activities: Medical devices 1 social consortium Composed by 8 social enterprises Main activities: Collaboration among social enterprises, sharing of experiences, technical support, general contractor for tender partecipation

11. CAUTO network 453 people Workers on 2017 Non-profit social enterprises Disadvantaged workers Not disadvantaged workers 136 317 About € 16.000.000 60% of turnover is workers cost Turnover per year

12. Waste hierarchy (Directive 2008/98/EC - Waste Framework Directive)

13. Recycling: municipal waste collection Waste collectionservices in 20 municipalities 25.000 ton/year: collected and recycled 32 municipalwastecollection center

14. Recycling : waste treatment facility 35.000 ton/yeartreated 49,8 % paper and cardboard 20,9 % plastic packaging 10,1 % wood

15. Waste hierarchy (Directive 2008/98/EC - Waste Framework Directive)

16. Recovery of medical equipment and donation/sale Pediatric incubators, ultrasound machines, X-ray machines, defibrillator, lamps and beds for operating theatre Home health care equipment Manual and electric wheelchairs, beds, crutchs … BEFORE AFTER

17. Waste hierarchy (Directive 2008/98/EC - Waste Framework Directive)

18. Waste prevention: Second hand shop

19. Food waste prevention: «Dispensa sociale»

20. Waste prevention: Community desk and reuse desk • What is it? • A physical space dedicated to share services and second hand materials in exchange for different goods and services • The desk creates a system of social relations and it builds a virtuous path of sharing economy where people, disadvantaged or not, receive help in exchange for their time and their skills • Everyone becomes a resource for his territory and the Desk enhances goods and services

21. On-going work, some preliminary findings RQ1 – Circular thinking is a social learning process and an “ecological inheritance” RQ2 – Social dimension: participatory dimension and benefits for employee due to CE approach - Cultural dimension: education and mentoring role of Cauto in the “Brescia” environment RQ3 – The network “adapts” to endogenous CE pressures RQ4 – The role of accountability for the CE: a disclosure tool both inside and outside the organisations through different channels.

22. Concluding comments The CE transition is a cultural evolution based on semantic information (social learning) and physical environments (tools, facilities,..) that lead the ecology of social enterprise to construct a “circular economy” niche. There is a social impact from that transition Accountability contributes to: • create the cultural inheritance inside the organisation; • support the external pressure towards CE within he other organizations in the ecology.

23. Thank you for listening; questions and feedback welcome.