Sustainability as source of competitive advantages in mature sectors: The case of Ceramic District of Sassuolo (Italy)

摘要: The purpose of this paper is to explore how sustainability can become a source competitive advantage for mature manufacturing sectors where technologies are standardized, and innovation mainly generated across the value chain not by individual companies.,From methodological point view, research estimates status ceramic production in Sassuolo district (Italy), using Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) model, changing observation analysis, from enterprise (micro level) entire sector (meso level).,This provides an analysis environmental, economic social impacts four main types tiles manufactured Italy, both aggregate terms per square meter product.,The approach used easy replicate companies when designing their strategies public decision makers assessing performance or supply chain.,For first time, socio-economic impact assessment proposed sector, conducted parallel with environmental through stakeholder mapping prioritization.,This conceptualizes theme relations interdependencies between producers organized industrial districts territories which they operate order determine empirically Italian LCSA model territorial extension that presupposes innovative contribution current literature practice.