The document discusses a case study in Biella, Italy, focusing on the application of systemic design methodology to relaunch the territory's economy. It highlights the challenges faced by the region, including depopulation, land abandonment, and pollution, along with the importance of enhancing local strengths such as natural resource protection. The study suggests strategies like collective composting and water reduction measures to address these issues and improve sustainability.

1. Acting on a company to relaunch
a territory: the application of the
Systemic Design Methodology.
A case study in the province of Biella, Italy.
Authors: Alice Marchesi, Denisa Moldovan, Mariapaola Puglielli, Martina Troppino,
William Tonelli, Xinwei Wu

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“This involves recognizing the nature of firms not only as legally bounded entities and owners of proprietary assets
(both tangible and intangible) but also as institutions with permeable and highly blurred boundaries—in other words,
conceptualizing them as “networks within networks” or “systems within systems.” (Dicken & Malmberg, 2001).

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39,3%
14,7%
4,8%
1,5%
0,7%
91326,8 Ha
174 170
Holistic Diagnosis
of the territory
Biella - a province of Piedmont, located in the northwest of Italy. It is divided in three parts
almost equal between mountains, hills, and flatlands. The air quality is the cleanest in
Piedmont and the population is the oldest in the region.
Inhabitants
Total area
forests
agriculture
natural grassland
pastures
water bodies

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Holistic Diagnosis
of the territory
The predominantly mountainous topography favored animal breeding. Since the XV
century, small landowners played a key role: having animals allowed to raise their own
livestock and work wool and fabrics on their own properties (lanedibiella.com, n.d). Still,
now, the primary sector is composed of 37% of the enterprises dedicated to farming.
Textile sector
€ 8.905.004 revenue per year
Agri-food sector
€ 2.565.566 revenue per year

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The territorial
complexity
Depopulation & land
abandonment
Lack of labor opportunities
Scarsity & pollution
of rivers
Factory
abandonment
Lack of collaboration
among enterprises
Lack of Infrastructures

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The economic crisis has brought with it a socio-identity crisis. The need now is to recover and enhance the strengths
of the province, such as the recognition of the province outside its borders and the safeguard of natural resources, a
source of wealth and the basis of the economy.

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Holistic Diagnosis
of the Company
Foundation year - 1894
Artisanal approach
Reuse of resources within the
company
Local providers
Run-family enterprise
Small size dairy
24 Local providers

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high use
of water
80%
organic
waste
classic
packaging

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scarcity
of water
high use
of water
Lack of
collaboration
80%
organic
waste
crisis of the
textile
packaging not
valorized
Strategies

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infographics
volumeter
flow regulators
Water reduction

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infographics
volumeter
flow regulators
Water reduction
-20%
fresh water
wastewater

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infographics
volumeter
flow regulators
-20%
fresh water
wastewater
share the results
Water reduction

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Collective composting
Dairy industry
Food factory
Wood
factory
Farming

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Collective composting
Collective
composting
Fertilizer for the
territory

19. Textile
factory
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Cotton packaging
scraps

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Cotton packaging
Cotton packaging
infographics

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Cotton packaging
reuse

22. less impact
on waterways
water reducement
water
scarcity
Water
pollution
-20%
-20%
new
relation-
ships
collective
composting
cotton packaging
new storytelling
new opportunities

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