A produção mais limpa como geradora de inovação e competitividade : o caso da fazenda Cerro do Tigre.

Abstract

We understand that in the current production mode - as much primary as industrial - there are, at least, two common characteristics between both of them. They are the waste of raw materials and energy. The desire of minimizing or eliminating the causes and effects of this situation are the main goals of the Cleaner Production (CP). The expression “Cleaner Production” implies that impacts in the environment are still happening. However, these impacts are being reviewed, in order to be minimized or eliminated. The theme of this research is related to the Cleaner Production as a generator of the innovation and competitiveness, under the viewpoint of the management of technology and taking in consideration the environmental issues. The problem of the research was stated as follows: How does the adoption of the Cleaner Production (CP) can generate innovation and competitiveness for the firm that adopts it? The general objective of the research was to identify how the adoption of the Cleaner Production can generates innovation and competitiveness for the firm that adopts it. The specific objectives were (1) identifying why the Cleaner Production is being adopted; (2) describing how the Cleaner Production is being implemented; and, (3) identifying the tangible and intangible results obtained with the implementation of the Cleaner Production. The theoretical part of the study allowed us to identify and understand the existing relationship among the adoption of the Cleaner Production (CP) and the generation of the innovation and the competitiveness. We have also studied the Ecoprofit Methodology of UNIDO/UNEP. Some parts of this methodology were used in this research. Considering that the researched firm - Fazenda Cerro do Tigre (FCT) - belongs to the agribusiness sector, we sought to understand the rice production chain. We have chosen the case study as the research method. The result of this study indicates that the adoption of the Cleaner Production (CP) is generating innovation and competitiveness for the firm. This is happening because Fazenda Cerro do Tigre (FCT) is succeeding in making the connection between the “Cleaner Production” and the “Competitiveness” variables through the “Innovation” variable. The adoption of the Cleaner Production (CP) requires that the firm permanently has procedures for the continuous improvement. These improvements facilitate the generation of innovations. The innovations, by their turn, facilitate the attainment of the competitiveness.