Systemic Design Methodology applied to hazelnut processing

The manufacturing sector needs to change its linear production model to provide an answer to sustainability requirements. Systemic Design integrates systems thinking in the design approach and can represent an effective methodology to design different solutions at system level and obtain a circular and blue economy. This paper wants to test and validate the specific methodology and assess the benefits created at environmental and socio-economic level. Through the application to a case study in the agri-food sector, the hazelnut processing in Piedmont Region, all the eight steps of the methodology are presented and the outcomes are critically evaluated. The case study shows limits of this methodology, such as the necessity to map the current situation and to involve many actors and stakeholders in the process. However, the application in the case-study highlights many opportunities for the use and transformation at local level of by-products and their environmental and economic benefits.