Sustainable Business Practices Research Interest Group (SPRING)

Overview

The Sustainable Business Practices Research Interest Group (SPRING) is involved in research and consultancy for government and commercial organisations.

Launched in January 2007, the group works with organisations such as:

• Department of Environment
• Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
• UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), which is part of BIS

Head of the Unit, Maurizio Catulliis, is actively involved in research in the Low Carbon Environmental Goods and Services (LCEGS) sector and in sustainable business models such as Product Service Systems (PSS).

Aims of the unit

The unit aims to:

• carry out research on sustainable business practices encompassing marketing, strategy, supply chain management and other business disciplines.
• research the Low Carbon Environmental Goods and Services (LCEGS) industry and opportunities arising from this sector.
• identify strengths and weaknesses of the sector with a view to position SPRING as an advisory body to the government Low Carbon Industrial Strategy.
• become an advisory body to the LCEGS sector to support its growth and pursuit of international opportunities.

Research themes

The unit's research themes include:

• sustainable marketing
• product service systems
• network management
• sustainable value chains
• the Low Carbon Environmental Goods and Services (LCEGS) industry
• the marketing of recycled resources

Indicative publications

Journals

• Catulli, M. (2012), "What Uncertainty? Further Insights on why consumers might be distrustful of product service systems", Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 23(6)
• Catulli, M. And Fryer, E. (2012), "ICT enabled Low Carbon Technologies: a new sector of the economy?", Journal of Industrial Ecology
• Catulli, M. (2008), "Review of the Environmental Goods and Services Industry", International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, Vol. 7, No 3, pp. 332 344
• Catulli, M. (2007), "What's your marketing footprint?" (2007), The Marketer, January 2007

Conferences

• Catulli, M. (2010), "Changing the rules of the marketing game: towards Product Service Systems supported by interaction and relationship management practices" in Ceschin, F. Et al (2010), Sustainability in Design: Now!, Proceedings of the LeNS Conference, Bangalore, India, ISBN – 13:978-1-906093-54-9
• Catulli, M. Morris, K. and Brown, C. (2009), "Green Branding and networks: building salvaged material in branded value proposition", Conference Proceedings, IMP Group 25th Conference, Marseille
• Catulli, M. Chedidze-Wain, A. and Crowe, A. (2008), "Digital Printing: a case of best practice in Sustainable Marketing communications", Conference Proceedings, IMP Group 24th Conference, Uppsala

Downloads

• Download a full list of indicative publications for SPRING. (DOC - 0.03 Mb)