European Industry Research Articles

Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) Implementation on Reducing Emission in the ASEAN Energy Sector

Abstract In the context of global efforts to combat climate change and transition towards a low-carbon economy, the European Union (EU) has introduced the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) as part of its ambitious Green Deal. This mechanism aims to address carbon leakage from high-emitting industries and ensure fair conditions for European industries. The ASEAN region, as highlighted in the 7th ASEAN Energy Outlook (AEO7) study, is projected to experience a substantial increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, reaching 6,704 Mt CO2-eq by 2050 compared to a baseline scenario of 1,815 Mt CO2-eq in 2020. Consequently, ASEAN has recognized the urgency to earnestly reduce its emissions in response to the global push for carbon neutrality. The implementation of CBAM by the EU has prompted many countries, including ASEAN Member States (AMS) exporting goods to the EU and beyond, to consider the adoption of CBAM policies. This study examines the potential implications of CBAM for the emission reduction in high-emitting industries in ASEAN (such as cement, iron and steel, aluminum, fertilizers, and electricity generation). The findings indicate that the implementation of CBAM may result in higher product prices for these industries, as they will be required to account for the climate footprint of their manufacturing activities through additional fees. However, it also presents an opportunity for emission reductions within these industries by incentivizing the adoption of renewable energy sources to mitigate their carbon footprint during manufacturing processes. To effectively respond to the implementation of CBAM, the region should adopt three key strategies: 1) active participation in and implementation of carbon pricing mechanisms, 2) increased investments in low carbon technologies, and 3) establishment of strategic partnerships to enhance trade relations between the EU and ASEAN.

The “Ariadne’s Space Thread” for France and Europe in the mid-twentieth and twenty-first centuries

In the twenty-first century, the importance of space exploration is increasing in the economic, political, and military spheres of social life. In this article, the author analyses, starting from the twentieth century, the historical experience of gaining access to space in the countries of Western Europe, including its regional integration association, the European Union, by means of launch vehicles. The absence of a detailed study of the role of France in the process of creating the first European launch vehicle in Russian historiography determines its novelty. The source base comprises archives, documents and materials of the French National Assembly, official structures of the EU and the European Space Agency (ESA), research articles, monographs drawing on memoirs. The purpose of the study is to analyze the history of the development and establishment of the French and European space exploration programs using the Ariane family of launch vehicles and the role of France in these processes. The author’s objectives are to identify the historical role of scientists from Germany, defeated in World War II, in the creation of France’s scientific and technical base, which allowed it to become the only nuclear power in the EU in the second half of the twentieth century and one of the world leaders in space exploration; to consider the process of providing autonomous access to space for Western Europe by creating its own launch vehicles with the key financial and technical contribution by France and with the participation of ESA; to analyse the role of space technologies and programmes in ensuring security, organizing reconnaissance from space. An analysis of the sources and literature on the topic leads to the conclusion that the pricing policy in the European space industry and strategic competition with space powers prevents European launch vehicles from strengthening their position in this market and achieving autonomy from third countries in access to outer space. Despite the long experience of post-war scientific and technological research and related advances in space exploration, it is difficult for France and Europe to achieve strategic autonomy in this important branch of human endeavour.

The Steelmaking Transformation Process and Its Consequences for Slag Utilization

The main challenge of the European steel industry for the next decade is the steel production transformation process. Many steel producers aim to avoid their CO2 emissions by substituting the CO2‐intensive blast furnace/basic oxygen furnace route by a gas‐based direct reduced iron (DRI) process combined with an electric smelting process. Thus, the well‐known latent hydraulic granulated blast furnace slag (GBS) will vanish step by step. For more than 140 years, this slag has been used as a supplementary cementitious material due to its clinker reduction potential and from there its CO2 reduction potential for the cement and concrete production. Moreover, slag cements offer some special technical advantages. Whereas the solid‐state DRI process itself does not generate any slag, the different electric smelting processes will produce liquid steel or “electric” pig iron, respectively, together with very different types of slags. However, specific slag/metal ratios, resulting slag volumes, chemical and mineralogical composition, and physical properties of the new slags are yet unknown. Therefore, their cementitious and environmental properties are also still unknown. Different current and scheduled projects aim mainly to enable the different types of new slags to substitute GBS to continue the successful cross‐industrial cooperation between steel and cement industry.

Applying MBSE to Optimize Satellite and Payload Interfaces in Early Mission Phases

The use of model-based systems engineering (MBSE) has been increasingly explored recently in industries that require multi-discipline engineering coordination. In the European space industry, applying MBSE for the engineering of space systems has been an ongoing undertaking on many missions. In the following paper, the MBSE activities in CAMEO conducted during the A/B1 phases of a typical Earth observation satellite engineered by Airbus are discussed in detail in the form of a case study. The analyses shown are based around the modeling of the spacecraft electrical interfaces in CAMEO. This model was used to automate electrical interface control documents (EICDs) and enable the control of electrical interface development. These methodologies were further put in the context of Airbus’ satellite design processes to assess the benefits of an MBSE approach to the current electrical interface engineering procedure and the potential for the reuse of CAMEO models between satellite projects. The reduction in system engineering effort through the reuse of models to modularly create similar satellite systems for efficient concept evaluation and comparison is a clear benefit.

Integrating source tracking tools for marine shellfish tracing: Metataxonomic and isotopic analyses

Shellfish farming is a significant activity in the Northern Adriatic Sea, particularly in Italy, where it plays a crucial role in the European industry of live bivalve mollusks. This study aimed to exploit different analyses, including metataxonomy and isotopic profiling, to address these issues. Isotopic analysis showed differences between habitats, with lower δ15N in sea samples, likely indicating lesser anthropogenic impact compared to lagoon environments. Additionally, seasonal variations in δ15N, δ13C and C/N highlighted differences in primary productivity and organic matter sources across seasons. Metataxonomic analysis revealed significant variability in microbial taxa across harvesting habitats and seasons. While no marked differences were observed in alpha and beta diversity based on habitat, distinct seasonal clustering indicated the influence of environmental factors on microbial community structure. Gammaproteobacteria were prevalent across habitats and seasons, with notable fluctuations in other taxa, such as Alphaproteobacteria, Epsilonproteobacteria, Flavobacteria, and Bacteroidia, particularly in lagoon habitats during winter. Overall, this study highlights the potential of microbial and isotopic characterization for tracing the origin of shellfish products. Metataxonomic analysis identified microbial signatures indicative of habitat and season, with implications for ecological dynamics and consumer safety. Isotopic analysis provided information on habitat characteristics and harvesting seasons, enhancing product traceability.

Export, economic complexity and growth in the integrated periphery of the European automotive industry

ABSTRACT This article examines the relationship between the export of automobiles, economic complexity and the growth of countries of the European automotive industry. It utilises Eurostat and OEC databases and implements an OLS panel model to examine the trends and position of countries in the dynamic core-periphery structure over the period 2000–2020. We aim to investigate how the increase in economic complexity is related to the change in the share of exports of automobiles in the post-socialist countries of the integrated periphery compared to core areas. Our results suggest that the economic growth of the post-socialist countries of the integrated periphery is driven by economic complexity. On the other hand, they differ significantly when it comes to the export of automobiles which can have a substantial influence on long-term sustainable growth in the context of digital and green transformation.

Debating Europe Transnationally: The Council of European Industrial Federations and the Struggle over European Integration, 1950–1962

European integration has been promoted, shaped and criticised by a variety of actors in different frameworks since 1945. Non-state actors such as employers’ associations became involved in this process very early on and, contrary to the widespread assumption in political science, created or revived transnational business associations in order to debate and shape the development of European integration from the second half of the 1940s. One of these platforms was the Council of European Industrial Federations (CEIF), which was founded in 1949 and consisted of representatives of all the national peak employers’ associations from the member states of the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC). It officially advised the OEEC and represented European industry. The article analyses transnational business associations’ conflictual engagement with European integration and ‘Europe’ on the basis of the CEIF's Europeanisation process in the 1950s. It argues that contestation acted as a main driver of Europeanisation and that the early period of European integration must be understood as one of fights over different ‘Europes’. However, it also shows that ‘Europe’ must be understood as a fluid category that was used in various ways and imbued with a range of meanings by economic actors in different circumstances.

The Emergence of Data-Driven Business Models in the European Energy Industry

The Emergence of Data-Driven Business Models in the European Energy Industry

Decarbonization in the European steel industry: Strategies, risks, and commitments

This paper investigates the challenge of decarbonizing the steel industry, a pillar of the global economy but also a major carbon emitter. Analyzing current decarbonization strategies, their effectiveness, and the role of corporate commitment and risk management offers insights needed to identify development paths in the current environment characterized by pressure driven by stringent environmental standards and fierce competition. An empirical approach, including a survey model and simulation, is used to answer prominent research questions. Aspects such as the influence of environmental and governance criteria, specific initiatives that can be undertaken, the importance of corporate commitment, and the integration of risk management into strategic planning are examined. Simulations suggest that the probability of meeting the 2030 goals range from 65.08 to 75.98 percent and the delta between low and high commitment ranges from 4.917 to 4.133 percent according to the share of renewables in the energy mix decarbonization. The influence of the energy mix is also included in the analysis. The research highlights the need for greater coordination and commitment across the industry to improve decarbonization efforts. It emphasizes the critical role of government policies and market dynamics in shaping industry actions toward achieving decarbonization goals. The findings contribute to understanding decarbonization processes, offering insights and guidance for the steel sector's transition to a low-carbon economy.

‘Most Favored Nation’ Clauses in the Online Food Delivery Platform Market: Beyond Booking.com Cases

The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed a transformative shift in the European food service industry, with local restaurants increasingly turning to online food delivery platforms (OFDPs) to sustain their operations during lockdowns. However, this symbiotic relationship has raised concerns regarding the prevalence of Most Favoured Nation clauses (MFNs) within contractual agreements between local restaurants and OFDPs These clauses, designed to ensure price parity across different sales channels, have sparked debates over their impact on competition and consumer welfare. This is due to their potential effect of hindering local restaurants’ ability to compete effectively, thus, consumers may face reduced price options and higher food costs. The Bundeskartellamt’s landmark decisions regarding MFNs in the online accommodation sector concerning Booking.com have provided initial guidance, but the application of this approach to OFDP markets remains complex. Against this backdrop, and following the reasoning laid down in a more recent approach from the Bundeskartellamt, we propose a systematic methodology for evaluating the effects of MFNs, taking as a starting point of analysis OFDP market conditions and business models. Ultimately, we aim to address the balance between positive and negative effects of usingMFNs byOFDPs to incentivize platform investment and protect the efficiencies passed on to consumers and local restaurants.

DISCLOSURE ANALYSIS OF 7R♲ SUSTAINABILITY MATERIAL INDICATORS IN THE CIRCULAR FASHION INDUSTRY

The fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world, which makes it a candidate for attention towards what concerns the circular economy, along with other sustainability-related practices. This industry has great potential of disposing itself from the unsustainable linear business models that it adopted for a long period to more circular business models, which promotes closing the loop. In order to find out the circularity performance of the selected companies towards the disclosure of circular economy-related information in their corporate sustainability reports, this study transformed the quantitative material circularity performance indicators proposed by Rossi et. al (2020) into qualitative indicators, which makes it more inclusive for the analyzed companies, because not all of them report and disclose information respecting the same guidelines. Upon transforming the quantitative indicators into qualitative ones, the circularity performance was measured through a score-based method, which offers an insight perspective on data that makes possible a comparative analysis and also an interpretation of the extent of circular information disclosure. Seven circular material indicators were selected and analyzed for fifteen companies representing the European fashion industry. Results revealed that the higher average disclosure score is on the recyclability of materials and resources while the poor disclosed information in the sustainability reports is regarding remanufacture and refurbishment.

A ‘Europe of defence’? The establishment of binding commitments and supranational governance in European security and defence

ABSTRACT Cooperation between EU member-states in the field of security and defence is increasingly difficult to reconcile with the notion of intergovernmentalism. The decisions to establish the European Defence Fund (EDF), Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), the Coordinated Annual Review of Defence (CARD) and most recently the European Defence Industry Reinforcement Through Common Procurement Act (EDIRPA) have resulted in integrative commitments between EU member-states. In order to account for these commitments, we must analyse the positions and perspectives of key (France, Germany, Italy, and Spain) EU member-states. The article adds to the literature on European integration in two respects. First, by developing indicators to identify and establish the extent to which a move beyond intergovernmentalism has taken place. Second, through the application of a comprehensive approach, which is required in order to understand why EU security and defence integration has come about.

Management control practices for the sustainability transformation in the European construction industry

PurposeWhile research on sustainability reporting in the construction industry has already provided comprehensive findings, the purpose of this paper is to answer the question of how construction companies anchor the topic of sustainability in their strategic and operative management control practices. The implementation of sustainable business models and sustainability strategies requires proper management control instruments or mechanisms that support the transformation process or make it possible in the first place.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative content analysis based on deductive and inductive procedures was conducted. 39 sustainability reports published by the largest construction companies in the EU were examined.FindingsValuable insights are provided by showing which control instruments and mechanisms are used to improve corporate sustainability performance as well as how these are linked systematically. The results show that the focus is on strategic planning, cultural and administrative controls, while short-term targets, which could set out the path to achieving the long-term sustainability goals set, are often not reported. Strategic stakeholder theory and legitimacy theory provide explanations for the use of management control practices identified.Originality/valuePrevious studies often focus on selected single control practices and miss holistic approaches for investigating corporate sustainability in construction companies. Furthermore, theoretical perspectives with instrumental and socio/political views on corporate sustainability help us explain the control practices applied. Moreover, practitioners, standard setters and legislators can use the findings for sustainability management or for developing standards and legislation.

Schengen visa marketing in China: the street-level competition to attract tourists to Europe

ABSTRACT Before COVID-19, visitors from China, were a prime target for the European tourism industries. Yet, their mobility was constrained by the Schengen visa requirement for any trip to a European Union (EU)’s Member States. While the literature on Schengen visa policy has highlighted the repressive practices of street-level bureaucrats processing visa applications abroad, this article seeks to understand how Schengen visa policy is implemented when the objective is to attract potential visitors rather than drive them away. The paper argues that the economic imperative to attract Chinese tourists to Europe is turning local consular cooperation from Schengen into local consular competition. To support this claim and using ethnographic methods as well as a relational approach to implementation, the paper develops the concept of visa marketing to analyse the race to attractiveness between French and Italian consulates based in Beijing, the capital of China. Visa marketing refers to the use of visa procedures (receipt conditions, reliability, processing speed, etc.) by consulates as sales arguments to advertise the destination they represent. In essence, the article presents a case of domestic actors appropriating common visa regimes, engaging in competition to entice foreign consumers to their territories.

Study on the labels of selected cat and dog foods from Türkiye

At first look, the label contains details about the contents and properties of the cat and dog foods. Label information must be included in accordance with national and international requirements. The sufficiency of cat and dog food labelling in Türkiye has not before been evaluated. In this study, the labelling information for 215 chosen cat and dog foods (164 cats and 51 dogs) available in Türkiye was analysed using Turkish national legislation and the Federation of the European Pet Food Industry standards. It was determined that all food labelling information was compliant with Turkish feed legislation. In comparison, only 67.1% of cat and 78% of dog diets included the metabolised energy value on the package. Cat foods have a website at 60.8%, whereas dog foods have 81.7%. It is found that the cat and dog food labels totally comply with Turkish legislation rules. On the other hand, more information may be valuable in enlightening customers. The recommended amount of food per day was unclear in numerous products, which is an area of improvement. In future studies, competencies of the daily nutrition advice information on the labels can be evaluated.

The circularity of composites

Composites are sustainable materials and essential for realising the European Green Deal's net-zero targets. Using the latest information and examples, the European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA) can now also demonstrate that composites are truly circular materials.

ESG and stock return volatility: Evidence from industry analysis in Europe

This study investigates the impact of environmental, social and governance fac- tors on stock return volatility in different European industries. Employing a sample of European companies belonging to different industries (Basic Materials, Consumer Cyclicals, Consumer Non-Cyclicals, Energy, Financials, Healthcare, Industrials, Real Estate, Technol- ogy and Utilities), I tested if ESG performance and ESG controversies influence volatility. Additionally, the study analyses the impact of the individual Environmental, Social and Governance pillars of ESG to determine through which component ESG affects volatility. Research findings showed that ESG factors impact stock return volatility across industries. The findings of the study contribute to and enrich the academic literature in this field through an industry analysis

Unraveling the internal drivers of pharmaceutical company performance in Europe: A DEMATEL analysis

Research background: Internal business factors are vital to how a company achieves its goals. The present study of internal drivers of pharmaceutical company performance is very insightful, as it has the potential to boost further competitiveness, it may allow health authority personnel to have guidelines to make strategic decisions, as well as inspire investor confidence, ensure regulatory compliance and performance benchmarking, and support talent acquisition and retention. In addition, it can identify the important internal factors that need to receive more priority. Purpose of the article: The European pharmaceutical industry is currently facing multiple challenges. This paper aims to map the relative relationships among the internal factors that influence the business performance of pharmaceutical companies in Europe by using the DEMATEL approach. Method: There are two phases of the present study, an extensive literature review and the use of the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) technique. To identify the key internal drivers and their cause-and-effect relationship with pharmaceutical company performance in Europe, data from experts were obtained using the predesigned DEMATEL questionnaire. Findings & value added: The extensive literature review from the Web of Science and Scopus databases found that seven internal factors are very demanding in the case of European pharmaceutical business performance. The main elements that have the highest impact on pharmaceutical business performance in Europe are human resources competencies, the information system, technological competitiveness, and the patent system. However, financial profitability, research and development competencies, alliances with other companies, and supply chain management are the factors that are affected more by other factors. The study is the first attempt to identify the internal business performance of the pharmaceutical sector in Europe by working with pragmatic and perceptive decisions from pharmaceutical stakeholders in Europe.

Robots and the rise of European superstar firms

We study how a recent digital automation technology—industrial robots—is associated with the distribution of sales, productivity, markups, and profits within industries. Our empirical analysis combines data on the industry-level stock of industrial robots with firms' balance sheet data for six European countries from 2004 to 2013. We find that industries with high robot exposure are characterized by dis-proportional increases in productivity in those firms that are already most productive to begin with. Those firms are able to increase their markups and overall profits, while less profitable firms within the same industry, country and year tend to see declining markups and profits. We also find that variation in robot exposure across industries is correlated with declining labor income shares, mainly through adjustments within firms that are initially large, productive and have low labor cost-to -sales ratios. In sum, our paper suggests that European manufacturing industries with higher robot adoption rates experience a stronger emergence of superstar firms and more pronounced shifts of the functional income distribution away from wages and towards profits.

LIGNOCELLULOSIC LINERS BASED ON WOOD WOOL

Basic physical and mechanical properties of lignocellulosic liners up to 1.5 mm thick with a compact and non-crumbling surface based on wood wool and thermoplastic water based glues were determined. PVAc and starch glue with a high proportion of water content were used. The dry mat was pressed gradually under high pressure up to 28 MPa and a temperature of around 190°C with the release of steam. Tests according to the CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries) standards were adopted. Procedures for tensile strength according to ISO 1924-2 (2008), Burst strength according to ISO 2758 (2014), puncture according to ASTM D781-68 (1973), water absorption according to ISO 5637 (1989) and porosity according to TAPPI Test method T460 were applied.