Sustainability in the food supply chain: evidences from the Italian beef industry

Sustainability in supply chains is a relevant but complex topic to study, especially when considering at the same time the three pillars of sustainability, namely social, environmental and economical. In particular there are many evidences that it is not only a matter of the decisions taken by companies individually, but it is more related to how the whole supply chain, including the market and the regulator, behaves (Seuring and Muller, 2008). Given the strong differences from industry to industry, we focused on the Italian beef supply chain that is relevant for its impact on the economy, the environment and the health of people. Through a set of case studies of companies at different stages of the chain we identified the sustainability practices put in place and which are the triggers - in particular if they come from inside or outside the company - and the related implications.