The circular economy focuses on the utilisation of resources and the reutilisation of these resou... more The circular economy focuses on the utilisation of resources and the reutilisation of these resources and waste streams into value added products. Wood as a renewable resources represent one of the most important advantage of the forest based industry and all related industries. These sectors aim on the sustainable wood and different wood products production and utilisation, wood buildings including. Improved utilization of available industrial wood assortments and utilisation of wood waste to added value products generate profit for all actors in the supply chain. Analysis of wood flows take into account not only the uses of wood as a material, but also by-products and waste generated by the production to be used as inputs for further uses in construction, wood processing or energy sectors. This paper deals with the analysis of raw wood flows in Slovakia with a focus on wood-based waste management, utilisation of wood waste for long term wood products in the built environment. At the present time new approaches such as cascade use of woody biomass can be applied to ensure the sustainable utilisation of renewable resources. The material flow analysis (MFA)was used to identify relations between the resources and primary uses of wood. In particular the results show some particular examples of wood flows focused on possibilities of utilisation of wood waste from the wood processing industry (WPI) and recycled wood in the construction sector.
Research background: Globalisation is nowadays phenomenon which affects all economic sectors. The... more Research background: Globalisation is nowadays phenomenon which affects all economic sectors. The pros and cons of globalisation can also be observed in the case of forestry and forest-based complex in Slovakia. Timber trade and market follows the theory of derived demand, which means that demand for wood depends on the demand for final products. We can observe a significant impact of globalisation on changes in the use of wood from traditional to new ecological and sustainable use. Since 1993 the consumption of industrial roundwood in Slovakia has increased by almost 185%. Purpose of the article: The aim of this study is to examine the impact of globalisation on the consumption of coniferous and non-coniferous industrial roundwood in Slovakia, and to determine the relationship between the consumption of industrial roundwood and trends of globalisation trends in Slovakia. Methods: The development of KOF globalization index was analysed in the period 2003 to 2018. In addition, the de...
Research background: The development of the Slovak economy depends on the demand in foreign marke... more Research background: The development of the Slovak economy depends on the demand in foreign markets. The Slovak economy is open and responds very sensitively to global changes. Globalisation brings positive as well as negative impacts on national economies. These impacts are also noticeable in the case of value added wood products. Globally, the furniture trade has grown more quickly than furniture production in the last ten years. The value of the world furniture trade has grown by 65%. On the other hand, domestic sales of furniture are low due to the orientation of the Slovak furniture producers on export, even if at the present time the positive development is reflected in an increasing total sales volume. Purpose of the article: This paper is focused on the assessment of globalisation impact on value added wood products trade. The aim of the paper is to determine the relationship between the trends of globalisation and furniture trade in Slovakia. Methods: The development of for...
identify difficulties in existing certified wood product supply chains. Results indicate that res... more identify difficulties in existing certified wood product supply chains. Results indicate that respondents demonstrated a high level of understanding of the chain of custody certification concept. Respondents also link forest certification mainly to the issues of legality, tracing the origin source of supply and prevention from illegal logging. The main expected benefits are linked to the improvement of external company image followed by business performance factors such as penetrating new markets, increase of sales volume, expanded market share and the increase of profit margin. The key problems connected to certified supply chains relate to the overpricing of certified material inputs, while respondents reported none or minimum price premiums for their certified products over non-certified alternatives.
Abstract In order to measure the corporate image and identity of companies the Corporate Characte... more Abstract In order to measure the corporate image and identity of companies the Corporate Character Scale was developed. This scale consists of seven dimensions of corporate personality: Agreeableness, Enterprise, Competence, Chic, Ruthlessness, Informality and Machismo. In our paper, we test this method in the conditions of the Slovak Republic surveying customers of two well-known furniture selling companies – IKEA and Merkury Market in order analyse and reveal their corporate image profile. There were 546 respondents asked to agree or disagree with the items of the scale. The results represent the profiles of the two companies. In general, respondents perceive IKEA as a company with more positive corporate image compared to Mercury Market. Additionally, the paper provides recommendations for further research in this field.
This paper aimed to determine coniferous and non-coniferous sawnwood demand drivers and used hist... more This paper aimed to determine coniferous and non-coniferous sawnwood demand drivers and used historical data on their development as independent variables in the sawnwood demand models. The study presented a general form of ad hoc model that explained sawnwood consumption per capita as a function of a range of socioeconomic factors. Based on the theory of demand, the most important factors were identified to enter the regression model including significant price and income variables. In the case of the non-coniferous sawnwood model, time lag variables were applied. The results of the estimated econometric models confirmed the presence of different explanatory variables for both types of sawnwood. While consumption per capita of both coniferous and nonconiferous sawnwood was determined by the activities of the construction sector, and demand appeared to be very elastic in relation to the number of completed dwellings, the price and substitution for other wood materials had a significant impact only on non-coniferous sawnwood.
The aim of this paper is to analyse the competitiveness of selected central European countries in... more The aim of this paper is to analyse the competitiveness of selected central European countries in the EU forest products market with the emphasis on Slovakia. The competitiveness is studied in the sectors of raw wood material and the products of primary wood processing. A set of competitiveness indicators is used to analyse the changes in competitiveness of the respective countries. Results of the analyses pointed out that the comparative advantages are changing with the level of wood products processing and, in particular, they decline with the increasing value added to the products. Trade specialisation is also influenced by the level of wood processing. While on the raw material level and the level of semi-finished mechanical wood products with low added value, such as sawnwood, the country is inter-industry specialised, with the increasing added value of products its trade turns to be intra-industry specialised.
Research background: Globalization and the associated growing global competition provide incentiv... more Research background: Globalization and the associated growing global competition provide incentives for the adoption of new technologies and innovations. In general, innovations could be considered as a dominant driver of the economic growth. However, current environmental challenges and sustainable development support the diffusion of eco-innovations to foster green growth. In terms of its global position, a country is often compared to its neighbouring countries, which are often the most important trading partners in the international market. Purpose of the article: This paper is focused on the evaluation of eco-innovation performance of the V4 countries with emphasis on the Slovak Republic. Methods: The article applies selected indicators of the Global Innovation Index to provide insightful data on countries' eco-innovation performance from the different V4 countries by applying the correlation analysis. Findings & Value added: The results compare the state of selected indica...
Research background: Globalisation brings both opportunities and challenges. It affects relations... more Research background: Globalisation brings both opportunities and challenges. It affects relationships in various areas of business, including the wood processing industry. The EU seeks to make the most of globalisation for citizens and businesses while reducing its negative effects. Green purchasing is one of the tools that helps to eliminate the negative effects of globalisation. To increase the competitiveness in the wood processing industry through green purchasing is not only about reducing the direct environmental impact of business activities but also about bringing social and health as well as economic and political benefits. Green purchasing is intelligent purchasing, which increases the efficiency of procurement of goods and services with the lowest possible negative impact on the environment and thus replaces goods or services that would be purchased by default to perform the same function but with a worse impact on the environment.Purpose of the article: The aim of this p...
The forestry and forest-based sector play a significant role in climate change mitigation strateg... more The forestry and forest-based sector play a significant role in climate change mitigation strategies and can contribute to the achievement of a climate-neutral economy. In this context, the ability of harvested wood products (HWP) to sequester carbon is of significant importance. The objective of this work is to make a projection of climate change mitigation potential of HWP, under different scenarios of wood utilization in Slovakia. This study builds on the comparison of different scenarios of industrial wood utilization till 2035 and presents the resulting impacts on the national carbon balance. The results suggest that the development of timber supplies after 2020 in Slovakia will be influenced, in particular, by the future changes in the age distribution and tree species composition as well as the extent of future accidental felling. Consequently, a predicted structure and availability of wood resources in Slovakia will be reflected in a higher share of the production of products with shorter life cycle and thus will negatively affect the carbon pool in HWP. By comparing the results of the four designed scenarios, it follows that the scenario with the greatest mitigation potential, is the one assuming the optimal use of wood assortments and limitation of industrial roundwood foreign trade.
The aim of the study is to analyse the productive potential of grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moen... more The aim of the study is to analyse the productive potential of grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench) along an altitudinal gradient to verify coincidence ofproductive and ecological optimum and to identify climatic factors that control the growth. Along the altitudinal gradient of the river basin, dendrometric data has been analysed on the eight permanent research plots at the altitude of 525–705m. Correlations between standard chronology and average monthly climate characteristics were calculated for the period 1969–2015. Significant differences in the average basal area increments have been recognized among the investigated altitudinal zones. The highest basal area increment…
Studia Universitatis „Vasile Goldis” Arad – Economics Series, 2017
Packaging has always served a practical function - to hold goods together and protect it when mov... more Packaging has always served a practical function - to hold goods together and protect it when moving toward the customer through distribution channel. Today packaging is also a container for promoting the product and making it easier and safer to use. The sheer importance of packaging functions is still growing and consequently the interest of the company is to access to the packaging more innovative and creative. The paper deals with the innovative approaches to packaging resulting in the creation of packaging with interactive active features in the form of active and intelligent packaging. Using comparative analysis, we monitored the perception of the active packaging functions in comparison to intelligent packaging function among different age categories. We identified the age categories which are most interested in these functions.
Studia Universitatis „Vasile Goldis” Arad – Economics Series, 2016
The paper deals with the evaluation of the perception of packaging innovations in terms of their ... more The paper deals with the evaluation of the perception of packaging innovations in terms of their functions through the Kano model. It focuses on the evaluation of the perception of innovation of all main seven functions of packaging, in particular on handling, protective, informative, economic, environmental, promotional and ecological packaging functions. The results indicate that the target groups interested in the new innovative packaging are mostly in age between 41 to 60 years. These groups have the highest requirements for new packaging. The innovations of handling functions of packaging have the most significant influence on the older generation. However, almost all ages categories positively recognize ecological innovations of packaging.
This paper analyzes and evaluates the European Union (EU) utilization of renewable resources in e... more This paper analyzes and evaluates the European Union (EU) utilization of renewable resources in energy production and consumption. Biomass and renewable waste, with a share of 64.2% of primary renewable energy production, is the most important energy source in the EU. However, utilization of renewables in energy production and consumption differs across EU countries and is significantly influenced by various factors, including environmental, social, and economic characteristics. Cluster analysis was used to reveal these differences based on the identification and quantification of a set of factors reflecting the availability of renewable resources, utilization of renewable resources, and relevant socioeconomic indicators. The results indicate that there are nine main identifiable clusters, considering the high variability of selected variables. The analysis confirmed that the economically developed EU countries with significant renewable resources have above-average primary energy production from renewable resources and biomass in particular. On the other hand, small EU countries are aggregated in numerous clusters characterized by under-average values in terms of availability and utilization of renewable resources such as wood production or energy consumption but with a relatively high share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption.
Customer satisfaction is one the most important factor in a successful business. A continuously i... more Customer satisfaction is one the most important factor in a successful business. A continuously increasing customer satisfaction leads to increased competitiveness. Monitoring and measuring customer satisfaction is based on detailed information about customer. The article is focused on the application of the model Customer Window Quadrant (CWQ) as a method of measuring the customer satisfaction in the furniture company. The main goal is to make an objective investigation of the customer satisfaction in the selected company using a questionnaire survey. The analysis and model can demonstrate eventual inadequacy, as well as, customer dissatisfaction. Different relationship between the current status of the customer satisfaction and importance is described on the graphical model. The results confirmed customers preferences as quality and service compared to the price. The customers consider as a negative services like lack of information about the status of their orders, range, etc. Company should innovate towards the use of more sophisticated tools for ensuring the tracking of orders and stock. This would satisfy even the needs of the customers, where the price is not a decisive feature for the customers. The collected data offer advices, which should lead to the increase of the customer satisfaction.
The circular economy focuses on the utilisation of resources and the reutilisation of these resou... more The circular economy focuses on the utilisation of resources and the reutilisation of these resources and waste streams into value added products. Wood as a renewable resources represent one of the most important advantage of the forest based industry and all related industries. These sectors aim on the sustainable wood and different wood products production and utilisation, wood buildings including. Improved utilization of available industrial wood assortments and utilisation of wood waste to added value products generate profit for all actors in the supply chain. Analysis of wood flows take into account not only the uses of wood as a material, but also by-products and waste generated by the production to be used as inputs for further uses in construction, wood processing or energy sectors. This paper deals with the analysis of raw wood flows in Slovakia with a focus on wood-based waste management, utilisation of wood waste for long term wood products in the built environment. At the present time new approaches such as cascade use of woody biomass can be applied to ensure the sustainable utilisation of renewable resources. The material flow analysis (MFA)was used to identify relations between the resources and primary uses of wood. In particular the results show some particular examples of wood flows focused on possibilities of utilisation of wood waste from the wood processing industry (WPI) and recycled wood in the construction sector.
Research background: Globalisation is nowadays phenomenon which affects all economic sectors. The... more Research background: Globalisation is nowadays phenomenon which affects all economic sectors. The pros and cons of globalisation can also be observed in the case of forestry and forest-based complex in Slovakia. Timber trade and market follows the theory of derived demand, which means that demand for wood depends on the demand for final products. We can observe a significant impact of globalisation on changes in the use of wood from traditional to new ecological and sustainable use. Since 1993 the consumption of industrial roundwood in Slovakia has increased by almost 185%. Purpose of the article: The aim of this study is to examine the impact of globalisation on the consumption of coniferous and non-coniferous industrial roundwood in Slovakia, and to determine the relationship between the consumption of industrial roundwood and trends of globalisation trends in Slovakia. Methods: The development of KOF globalization index was analysed in the period 2003 to 2018. In addition, the de...
Research background: The development of the Slovak economy depends on the demand in foreign marke... more Research background: The development of the Slovak economy depends on the demand in foreign markets. The Slovak economy is open and responds very sensitively to global changes. Globalisation brings positive as well as negative impacts on national economies. These impacts are also noticeable in the case of value added wood products. Globally, the furniture trade has grown more quickly than furniture production in the last ten years. The value of the world furniture trade has grown by 65%. On the other hand, domestic sales of furniture are low due to the orientation of the Slovak furniture producers on export, even if at the present time the positive development is reflected in an increasing total sales volume. Purpose of the article: This paper is focused on the assessment of globalisation impact on value added wood products trade. The aim of the paper is to determine the relationship between the trends of globalisation and furniture trade in Slovakia. Methods: The development of for...
identify difficulties in existing certified wood product supply chains. Results indicate that res... more identify difficulties in existing certified wood product supply chains. Results indicate that respondents demonstrated a high level of understanding of the chain of custody certification concept. Respondents also link forest certification mainly to the issues of legality, tracing the origin source of supply and prevention from illegal logging. The main expected benefits are linked to the improvement of external company image followed by business performance factors such as penetrating new markets, increase of sales volume, expanded market share and the increase of profit margin. The key problems connected to certified supply chains relate to the overpricing of certified material inputs, while respondents reported none or minimum price premiums for their certified products over non-certified alternatives.
Abstract In order to measure the corporate image and identity of companies the Corporate Characte... more Abstract In order to measure the corporate image and identity of companies the Corporate Character Scale was developed. This scale consists of seven dimensions of corporate personality: Agreeableness, Enterprise, Competence, Chic, Ruthlessness, Informality and Machismo. In our paper, we test this method in the conditions of the Slovak Republic surveying customers of two well-known furniture selling companies – IKEA and Merkury Market in order analyse and reveal their corporate image profile. There were 546 respondents asked to agree or disagree with the items of the scale. The results represent the profiles of the two companies. In general, respondents perceive IKEA as a company with more positive corporate image compared to Mercury Market. Additionally, the paper provides recommendations for further research in this field.
This paper aimed to determine coniferous and non-coniferous sawnwood demand drivers and used hist... more This paper aimed to determine coniferous and non-coniferous sawnwood demand drivers and used historical data on their development as independent variables in the sawnwood demand models. The study presented a general form of ad hoc model that explained sawnwood consumption per capita as a function of a range of socioeconomic factors. Based on the theory of demand, the most important factors were identified to enter the regression model including significant price and income variables. In the case of the non-coniferous sawnwood model, time lag variables were applied. The results of the estimated econometric models confirmed the presence of different explanatory variables for both types of sawnwood. While consumption per capita of both coniferous and nonconiferous sawnwood was determined by the activities of the construction sector, and demand appeared to be very elastic in relation to the number of completed dwellings, the price and substitution for other wood materials had a significant impact only on non-coniferous sawnwood.
The aim of this paper is to analyse the competitiveness of selected central European countries in... more The aim of this paper is to analyse the competitiveness of selected central European countries in the EU forest products market with the emphasis on Slovakia. The competitiveness is studied in the sectors of raw wood material and the products of primary wood processing. A set of competitiveness indicators is used to analyse the changes in competitiveness of the respective countries. Results of the analyses pointed out that the comparative advantages are changing with the level of wood products processing and, in particular, they decline with the increasing value added to the products. Trade specialisation is also influenced by the level of wood processing. While on the raw material level and the level of semi-finished mechanical wood products with low added value, such as sawnwood, the country is inter-industry specialised, with the increasing added value of products its trade turns to be intra-industry specialised.
Research background: Globalization and the associated growing global competition provide incentiv... more Research background: Globalization and the associated growing global competition provide incentives for the adoption of new technologies and innovations. In general, innovations could be considered as a dominant driver of the economic growth. However, current environmental challenges and sustainable development support the diffusion of eco-innovations to foster green growth. In terms of its global position, a country is often compared to its neighbouring countries, which are often the most important trading partners in the international market. Purpose of the article: This paper is focused on the evaluation of eco-innovation performance of the V4 countries with emphasis on the Slovak Republic. Methods: The article applies selected indicators of the Global Innovation Index to provide insightful data on countries' eco-innovation performance from the different V4 countries by applying the correlation analysis. Findings & Value added: The results compare the state of selected indica...
Research background: Globalisation brings both opportunities and challenges. It affects relations... more Research background: Globalisation brings both opportunities and challenges. It affects relationships in various areas of business, including the wood processing industry. The EU seeks to make the most of globalisation for citizens and businesses while reducing its negative effects. Green purchasing is one of the tools that helps to eliminate the negative effects of globalisation. To increase the competitiveness in the wood processing industry through green purchasing is not only about reducing the direct environmental impact of business activities but also about bringing social and health as well as economic and political benefits. Green purchasing is intelligent purchasing, which increases the efficiency of procurement of goods and services with the lowest possible negative impact on the environment and thus replaces goods or services that would be purchased by default to perform the same function but with a worse impact on the environment.Purpose of the article: The aim of this p...
The forestry and forest-based sector play a significant role in climate change mitigation strateg... more The forestry and forest-based sector play a significant role in climate change mitigation strategies and can contribute to the achievement of a climate-neutral economy. In this context, the ability of harvested wood products (HWP) to sequester carbon is of significant importance. The objective of this work is to make a projection of climate change mitigation potential of HWP, under different scenarios of wood utilization in Slovakia. This study builds on the comparison of different scenarios of industrial wood utilization till 2035 and presents the resulting impacts on the national carbon balance. The results suggest that the development of timber supplies after 2020 in Slovakia will be influenced, in particular, by the future changes in the age distribution and tree species composition as well as the extent of future accidental felling. Consequently, a predicted structure and availability of wood resources in Slovakia will be reflected in a higher share of the production of products with shorter life cycle and thus will negatively affect the carbon pool in HWP. By comparing the results of the four designed scenarios, it follows that the scenario with the greatest mitigation potential, is the one assuming the optimal use of wood assortments and limitation of industrial roundwood foreign trade.
The aim of the study is to analyse the productive potential of grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moen... more The aim of the study is to analyse the productive potential of grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench) along an altitudinal gradient to verify coincidence ofproductive and ecological optimum and to identify climatic factors that control the growth. Along the altitudinal gradient of the river basin, dendrometric data has been analysed on the eight permanent research plots at the altitude of 525–705m. Correlations between standard chronology and average monthly climate characteristics were calculated for the period 1969–2015. Significant differences in the average basal area increments have been recognized among the investigated altitudinal zones. The highest basal area increment…
Studia Universitatis „Vasile Goldis” Arad – Economics Series, 2017
Packaging has always served a practical function - to hold goods together and protect it when mov... more Packaging has always served a practical function - to hold goods together and protect it when moving toward the customer through distribution channel. Today packaging is also a container for promoting the product and making it easier and safer to use. The sheer importance of packaging functions is still growing and consequently the interest of the company is to access to the packaging more innovative and creative. The paper deals with the innovative approaches to packaging resulting in the creation of packaging with interactive active features in the form of active and intelligent packaging. Using comparative analysis, we monitored the perception of the active packaging functions in comparison to intelligent packaging function among different age categories. We identified the age categories which are most interested in these functions.
Studia Universitatis „Vasile Goldis” Arad – Economics Series, 2016
The paper deals with the evaluation of the perception of packaging innovations in terms of their ... more The paper deals with the evaluation of the perception of packaging innovations in terms of their functions through the Kano model. It focuses on the evaluation of the perception of innovation of all main seven functions of packaging, in particular on handling, protective, informative, economic, environmental, promotional and ecological packaging functions. The results indicate that the target groups interested in the new innovative packaging are mostly in age between 41 to 60 years. These groups have the highest requirements for new packaging. The innovations of handling functions of packaging have the most significant influence on the older generation. However, almost all ages categories positively recognize ecological innovations of packaging.
This paper analyzes and evaluates the European Union (EU) utilization of renewable resources in e... more This paper analyzes and evaluates the European Union (EU) utilization of renewable resources in energy production and consumption. Biomass and renewable waste, with a share of 64.2% of primary renewable energy production, is the most important energy source in the EU. However, utilization of renewables in energy production and consumption differs across EU countries and is significantly influenced by various factors, including environmental, social, and economic characteristics. Cluster analysis was used to reveal these differences based on the identification and quantification of a set of factors reflecting the availability of renewable resources, utilization of renewable resources, and relevant socioeconomic indicators. The results indicate that there are nine main identifiable clusters, considering the high variability of selected variables. The analysis confirmed that the economically developed EU countries with significant renewable resources have above-average primary energy production from renewable resources and biomass in particular. On the other hand, small EU countries are aggregated in numerous clusters characterized by under-average values in terms of availability and utilization of renewable resources such as wood production or energy consumption but with a relatively high share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption.
Customer satisfaction is one the most important factor in a successful business. A continuously i... more Customer satisfaction is one the most important factor in a successful business. A continuously increasing customer satisfaction leads to increased competitiveness. Monitoring and measuring customer satisfaction is based on detailed information about customer. The article is focused on the application of the model Customer Window Quadrant (CWQ) as a method of measuring the customer satisfaction in the furniture company. The main goal is to make an objective investigation of the customer satisfaction in the selected company using a questionnaire survey. The analysis and model can demonstrate eventual inadequacy, as well as, customer dissatisfaction. Different relationship between the current status of the customer satisfaction and importance is described on the graphical model. The results confirmed customers preferences as quality and service compared to the price. The customers consider as a negative services like lack of information about the status of their orders, range, etc. Company should innovate towards the use of more sophisticated tools for ensuring the tracking of orders and stock. This would satisfy even the needs of the customers, where the price is not a decisive feature for the customers. The collected data offer advices, which should lead to the increase of the customer satisfaction.
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Papers by Jan Parobek