Piotr Kafel

The primary objective of this publication, as well as the conducted research, is to analyse official data on the implementation of circular economy principles by food enterprises operating in Poland and listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. The authors conducted a content analysis of the official non-financial management reports on the activities of individual companies. For the purposes of the study, a sample of 20 enterprises that published their activity reports in 2024 was analysed. The main findings highlight that the aspects of the circular economy are not yet widely adopted among Polish food organisations listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. However, there is increasing trust and growing interest and confidence among top-level management in transforming their operations toward a more circular approach.

Purpose: The main goal of the conducted research was to acquire knowledge and analyze the official information on fulfilment of food safety and quality culture, as well as management systems aspects reported by food organizations listed on the Polish Stock Exchange. Design/methodology/approach: In order to address the research questions, the research team conducted a content analysis of management board reports on the activities of food organizations. The sample of 18 organizations with statements from 2021 and 20 organizations with 2024 statements was used. Findings: With regard to quality and safety culture, as well as top management's involvement in its continuous improvement, only indirect elements are communicated through official statement reports and channels. Supplier standards such as BRC and IFS are referenced more frequently by organizations than quality and food safety management systems based on ISO standards. Comparing the samples from 2021 and 2024 a noticeable decline is observed in the prevalence of the communicational content related to quality and safety issues. Originality/value: The importance of food safety and quality culture in the communication with organizational owners and investors was analyzed offering a new perspective considering both the source of information as well as the recipients of communication.

Purpose: The aim of this article is to analyze and evaluate practices related to onboarding process of temporary employees in companies in the logistics and warehouse industry (services). Additionally, the purpose of this article is to recommend activities, that can be implemented in the organizations in order to achieve better quality of work and ultimately increased quality of services, provided by the temporary employees. Design/methodology/approach: The study was preliminary and based on conducting a pilot qualitative study using the method of individual in-depth interview (IDI). The study covered the subject of the onboarding process of temporary employees in logistics and warehouse organizations operating in the Great Poland region. The article presents the results of the study conducted among temporary employees. Findings: The main aspects, covered in the study, regarding onboarding process are related to the way the onboarding process has been performed, what information has been passed to the temporary newcomers and how they have been welcomed and trained. Authors suggests recommendations to the organizations to improve this process. Research limitations/implications: The limitation of the study was the analysis of the practice of just 25 employees in 3 companies. The results of the initial study might be subjected to further study, in a full scope. At the same time competences’ development process for temporary employees may be also examined. Collecting the data from different HR processes, applied within the temporary employees’ community, will make it possible to build a full picture of the practices used in organizations. This picture together with the analysis and recommendations will help companies, using temporary form of employment, to improve their process to achieve desired results in terms of quality. Practical implications: The results of the study might be used by the companies interested in the form of temporary work and companies struggling with lowering quality of products or services as a result of employing temporary employees. Originality/value: As the temporary work in Poland usage is important and this importance has increased companies need to understand the factors influencing the quality of temporary employees’ work. This area has not been explored enough through research study.

The concept of the circular economy is becoming an increasingly important issue within the economic and political sphere. The aim of the study is to check the opinions of representatives of organizations on the need to act in accordance with the principles of the circular economy concept in organizations and to indicate the differences in these opinions, taking into account the following aspects: the number of implemented management systems and the FSMS implementation. The survey method was used in the study. The surveyed organizations were divided into groups according to two criteria: having implemented food safety management systems and the total number of implemented management systems. The Mann–Whitney U test was used to analyze differences between groups. The conducted research showed that the organizations with more than three MSSs perceive a greater need to act in accordance with the principles of the CE than other companies. There was no sufficient proof to support the hypothesis concerning the higher engagement of food sector organizations in circular economy activities. The size of the organization is a factor that is also irrelevant in this context.

The circular economy (CE) has become an important issue within the European Union due to the Green Deal regulations. A CE makes sustainable development feasible by creating value in the economy and by closing the energy and materials loops. The aim of the study is to predict the most effective functioning of CEs at the macro-level by the selection of the best possible requirements addressed for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as an extension supplement of a voluntary environmental management system—ISO 14001. For such aim, researchers developed a two-stage Delphi study. According to the performed Delphi study, the main conclusion is that a more circular management system is possible and needed in SME organizations. Two ISO 14001 sub-requirements were considered as definitely contributing to the implementation of the CE concept at the macro- and meso-levels. Those were: The scope of the CE system and communication. The most discussed requirements that should be further studied in that context were internal audits and managerial reviews. The most difficult goals to implement by SMEs were: limiting the use of primary raw materials, striving for the implementation of climate neutrality and sustainable development as well as closing the material loop.

Purpose: The paper concerns supply chains. It aims to identify the essential improvement actions that manufacturing companies expect their suppliers to take in the future rather than selection requirements already used in the assessment process. Within those improvement actions, the goal is to determine whether the size and management methods used in assessing companies affect these future expectations. Design/methodology/approach: Hypotheses were developed regarding the expectations of manufacturing companies and the factors influencing these expectations. Data collected from 118 companies from the Polish automotive, metal and chemical sectors were used to verify them. For this purpose, the U-Mann Whitney test was applied. Findings: Manufacturing companies expect their suppliers to improve: (1) products, (2) processes, (3) organization management, (4) communication and (5) relationship, with the most important thing for them is the improvement of products and processes. It was found that the expectations regarding the contributors are influenced by whether the manufacturing company is a large or small enterprise or it uses or not the Toyota Production System. Lean Management and the ISO 14,001 Environmental Management System do not translate into these expectations. Originality/value: : The article gives a new look at shaping relations between suppliers and customers in supply chains. Unlike most of the research to date, it does not concern the requirements that suppliers should meet at a given moment but focuses on the improvement actions they should undertake in the future. This paper adds important detail to understanding cooperation in B2B relations.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the scope of undertaken and planned actions related to microplastics risk in one of the biggest polish food sector company for better understanding the relations between quality management, food safety management and circular economy. To explore the planed and undertaken actions in relation to microplastics risk a case study was performed. It was performed in one of the leading polish organization producing and selling food products of an international range of operation. During the study representative of the leadership of the organization was interviewed as well as relevant instructions and records provided by the organization were analysed. Results indicate that the issue of microplastics for studied company is a marginal problem, that has not been given much attention so far. On the other hand, significant changes at the global level such as circular economy strategy lead to changes in the design of products (mainly packaging). To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine the microplastics risk from the perspective of the management systems implemented in food sector organization with the circular economy context. This study enriches current knowledge about circular economy and its integration with other management systems in the microplastics elimination context.

Research background: Food production is more and more globalized concerning not only the suppliers of food ingredients and producers but also considering the packaging trends and solutions available on the market. In opposition to that trend the EU high quality food products schemes were implemented such as organic farming products or traditional and regional ones. That products are usually perceived as good for the environment which is not always case when the packaging of that products are considered. The other global trend described in the paper that is focusing the attention is circular economy idea that points to the takeover from a linear economy to a circular economy. This paper combine the specific product (organic food) and its packaging with the recommendations of circular economy.Purpose of the article: The purpose of the study was the question, if the studied companies that are under the strict obligatory surveillance according to the organic food production rules meet the requirements of the sustainable production and circular economy requirements.Methods: Food processing manufacturers operating on a polish market were surveyed in the area of circular economy aspects concerning the use of the product packaging to indicate the level of implementation and real interest in sustainable development and circular economy.Findings & Value added: The main findings are related to the conclusion that organic farming producers with no implemented voluntary management system standards do not implement circular economy requirements.