Bioeconomy and Green Economy: from theory to practice case study of a tuscan micro-enterprise

Bioeconomy research focuses on development process to realize through energy and production efficiency, by reducing polluting activities, using renewable resources such as biomass, wind, solar, hydro and recycling of all types of waste, even within the limits defined by the market economy. This paper aims at describing activities and projects of Rohan Italia srl, a micro-enterprise in Livorno, Tuscany – Italy whose policies are developed according to bioeconomic theories. Rohan Italia srl is a leading pharmaceutical company in the production of vegetable based medicine and their by-products. Rohan Italia policy is deeply based on the implementation of traceability process which is kept under control by an integrated Quality - Ethics - Food Safety management system, based on international standards. This system supports Rohan’s mission which fosters the use sustainable technologies, the protection of biodiversity and the involvement of new employers in social responsibility policies. At the same time, the company ethical mission is promoted to all the stakeholders and representatives of the local organizations it collaborates with. Rohan is involved in two projects: 1) “Island of Gorgona”: the inmates of the high security prison in the island are involved in planting, growing and harvesting native plants; 2) “Forest of Montenero”: social workers (“protected categories”) are involved in the maintenance and promotion of woods in the park of Montenero. This project aims at developing a socio-rural economy, based on the involvement of unemployed people with mild disabilities and on the recycling of wood waste as biomass to fuel the supply chains.