Due to a shortage of funding and other market challenges, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) have a tough time adopting new technologies. Numerous technological obstacles nega-tively impact the long-term commercial achievement of SMEs. The deployment of Industry 4.0 might resolve several technological challenges. A sustainable city is a difficult structure whose economical, societal, and ecological components interact and compete with one another. There is a dearth of actual methodologies for measuring interaction. The objective of Industry 4.0 is to obtain a better degree of performance effectiveness and profitability, and greater automation. Conse-quently, the purpose of the research is to determine the influence of Industry 4.0 in fostering economic efficiency in small and medium enterprises' sustainability. A Sustainable City using Multi-Criteria Decision Making (SC-MCDM) system is designed in this research to test and achieve sustainable developmental goals. This paper then gives a technique for calculating the interaction between various standards, such as static interactions and dynamical pattern resemblance, as well as the weight variables of every indication generated by the connection. Furthermore, the ap-plication of the suggested technique is proved by assessing the sustainable development goals of twelve Chinese cities within the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) paradigm. From a geographic-temporal viewpoint, spatial variations in city sustainability reveal regional inequalities in sustainability. Indicator scores suggest that the lack of research spending, falling financing in stationary assets, shortage of financial development, and inadequate shared transit are the most significant limiting factors for most communities. Furthermore, the growth of tertiary industries, the improvement of energy performance, the expansion of green areas, and the reduction of pollution emissions are the key driving forces for enhancing sustainability. Compared to other methodologies, Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) considers the interplay between conditions, which is an excellent way to assess the sustainability of a city. The experimental findings show the impact of MCDM and sustainability to achieve sustainable development goals.

There is a growing recognition of the need to incorporate sustainability considerations early-on in the product development (PD) process (PDP). As part of a case study at an engineering consultancy firm, this paper identifies considerations that influence the integration of sustainable design practices into real-world PD practices. This is informed by the first author getting embedded in the firm as an intern, and closely observing the PD workflow across various projects, conducting interviews and group discussions with a wide range of practitioners, and iteratively designing and testing various potential interventions. From literature and observation, we find that designers and engineers often struggle to identify and apply the right sustainable design methods and tools (SDMTs) to tackle the environmental impacts associated with their products. Through a human-centered design process, we co-created a reusable, modular framework of practices that aids the selection of relevant strategies, based on the environmental hotspots, stage of the PD process, and the client’s sustainability priorities. The paper further presents insights related to the framework’s real-world application and impacts in the firm, based on results of longitudinal engagement with the firm.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) envisaged under Agenda 2030 are a set of seventeen goals which envisage a holistic approach towards attaining certain targets keeping humankind and the planet at center. There are total 169 targets spread across seventeen goals covering wide ranging issues and challenges the world is facing in the twenty-first century. And they are to be achieved by 2030. Concerted efforts of all the stakeholders ranging from indigenous communities, common citizens, scientists, policy makers, world leaders are needed to achieve all the goals and targets Of the seventeen goals, at least seven goals are of interest to the ethnobotanists and are associated with traditional ethnobotanical knowledge. Therefore to achieve those set of goals, a thorough understanding is required to disentangle the intricacies involving traditional ethnobotanical knowledge, indigenous people as traditional knowledge holders and their future role. Understanding relationships between traditional ethnobotanical knowledge and indigenous communities, seeking cooperation from and establishing partnerships with them would help us design policies to achieve intended outcomes of SDGs. In this paper, particular attention is attracted towards the potential role of traditional ethnobotanical knowledge in achieving select sustainable development goals and targets.

Humanity’s social and economic development has been challenged by a range of adversities over the millennia that have caused widespread and unimaginable suffering. At the same time, these challenges have forced humans to evolve more wisely, overcoming adversity through creativity and leading to advancements in science and technology, medicine, ethics and legal systems, and socio-political systems. The dynamics of risks and opportunities caused by COVID-19, in the built, cyber, social and economic environments, present opportunities for deepening our understanding of resilient and sustainable development and infrastructure. This article reflects on five lessons that COVID-19 is teaching us about what it means to develop sustainably through the lens of transportation: (1) sustainable development planning and analytical frameworks must be comprehensive, for long-term sustainability; (2) multi-modal transportation is a superior vision for sustainable development than any one particular mode; (3) tele-activities are part of an effective infrastructure sustainability strategy; (4) economic capital is critically important to sustainable development even when it is not a critical existential threat, and, (5) effective social capital is essential in global disaster resistance and recovery, and can and must be leveraged between fast-moving and slow-moving disasters. Resilient and sustainable infrastructure will continue to be critical to addressing evolving natural and man-made hazards in the 21^st Century.

With growing urbanisation the sustainability of cities has become increasingly important. Although cities have been using indicators for a long time it is only in the last decades that attempts have been made to collate indicators into indicator sets with the aim of reflecting the many different aspects that need to be covered to assess the sustainability of a city. The aim of this paper is to review how indicators for monitoring sustainable urban development have evolved over time and compare them to the indicators suggested by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The review reveals that previous indicator sets emphasised environmental sustainability, health and economic growth. It is also shown that indicator sets that pre-date the SDGs lacked dimensions such as gender equality and reduced inequalities. In all, the SDG indicators provide the possibility of a more balanced and integrated approach to urban sustainability monitoring. At the same time, a methodology is needed to facilitate the adaptation process of localising the SDGS, targets and indicators. Challenges of local application include their large number, their generic characteristics and the need to complement them with specific indicators that are more relevant at the city level.

Since the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) came into effect, both UNESCO and other international organisations recommend empowering youth to implement the SDGs in universities. Getting started with the SDGs at university level is of special relevance in pre-service teacher training since future teachers are powerful agents of change in the lives of young people. Future teachers need to acquire competencies in sustainability to be able to promote meaningful changes in sustainable behaviour. To that end, holistic approaches to facilitate their acquirement need to be developed. The aim of this study is to explore which teaching methodologies are suitable for the development of competencies in sustainability in Higher Education (HE) and how to empower students to take a leading role in implementing the SDGs in universities. The participants in the study are a group of 23 students in pre-service teacher training. The experimental educational model used for the development of sustainable competencies consists of a methodological sequence of Project-Oriented Learning (POL) and a Cross-disciplinary Workshop on Sustainable Food. This study provides evidence that a holistic approach is appropriate for developing sustainable competencies and contributes to empowering students to implement SDG 12 at their university.

Public transport is one of the most important functions of a city, which can have a major impact on the elements that support sustainable development: society, the environment and the economy. In order for residents and tourists of the Petrosani Basin to benefit from a predictable, systematized public transport system with well-established travel times, it is necessary to analyze some current factors and trends regarding public transport in the Petrosani Basin. This prospective study confirms that the use of the public transport system in the Petrosani Basin is decreasing, a decrease mainly associated with the lack of spatial accessibility, comfort and safety of passengers (inappropriate stations, lack of air conditioning in means of transport, lack of a modern fare system, the lack of means of information in the stations, etc.) but also with the change in people's attitude imposed by the protective measures taken as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. However, it should be noted that the public transport system in the Petrosani Basin is strongly influenced by the geographical characteristics of the Petrosani Basin, by the sharp decrease in the population (negative natural increase; reduction of the school population) but also by the increase in the number of private cars.

A Digital marketing allows brands to disseminate information in a targeted way towards their clients and consumers, making bidirectional communication and interactions between organizations and audiences feasible. This reality not only allows companies to pass on messages about sustainability associated with processes and products with the aim of launching trends and shaping behaviour, but also allows consumers to share their experiences, needs, preferences and expectations. In this sense, the techniques used in the context of digital marketing make it possible not only to communicate products and services but also to show that brands are working to be more sustainable and to disseminate new sustainable trends that help to change consumer mindsets. This research paper employs a Systematic Literature Review with Bibliometric Analysis (SLBA) methodology to explore and synthesize data about how digital marketing can be used to promote and communicate sustainability. In this study, the results show that digital marketing strategies contribute to promoting sustainable development by encouraging sustainable consumption patterns. This scenario is possible by understanding consumer behavior, communicating key messages through the best channels and effectively evaluating green marketing campaigns on consumer attitudes and purchasing decisions.

Child-friendly tourism is a tourism concept that focuses on the welfare and needs of children as tourism actors. This concept is an important part of developing a sustainable tourism city because children are the future generation who will continue their role in maintaining the sustainability of the tourism industry. This article discusses the importance of child-friendly tourism in the development of a sustainable tourist city and provides some examples of best practices in creating a safe, comfortable and educational tourism environment for children. This article also discusses some of the challenges and opportunities in implementing the concept of child-friendly tourism, including how to involve children in decision-making and increase community participation in creating a better tourism environment for children. By adopting the concept of child-friendly tourism, tourist cities can build a sustainable tourism environment and preserve natural resources and local culture, while also providing positive and memorable tourism experiences for children and their families.

Keywords: Utilizing; HOMER; techno-economic; sustainable; urban (List three to ten pertinent keywords specific to the article yet reasonably common within the subject discipline.)

Green consumption has become a crucial academic and practical topic with the increasing environmental-protection awareness of scholars, industries and consumers. However, the growth in green purchasing may not reflect the concerns. This study aims to synthesize recent research, and points several causes of low purchases to green products in the consumer perspective, and provide a comprehensive understanding to the realistic consumer decision-making process. Through the scope of Consumer Buying Process framework, this study systematically reviewed 73 credible articles on green purchase behaviour published from 2010 to 2022. Main constructs and theories applied in selected literature is further discussed in each sector of the CBP framework. The study results showed the green purchase process may have a ‘loop tendency’ that falls into the circulation of construction of evaluation and adoption of those evaluation. Moreover, purchasing behaviour which performed by minority of the consumers may not be strong enough to form a valid social norm, and the current available still lacked power to fulfil consumer needs. The lack of research to impulsive purchasing behaviour, or the emotions of consumers are under-researched, thus how the emotional appraisals affect consumer green purchasing may require more research. With the modified consumer buying process framework, this study highlights the importance of creating memorable experience and build strong emotional communications with consumers. In addition, triggering the collective empathy is recommended to be an effective way of constructing consistent social norms thus enhance the green purchasing intention of consumers.

The striving for sustainable development has become the goal of actions undertaken not only by representatives of public authorities and institutions representing this sector, but also representatives of private entities who are increasingly recognizing the benefits and sources of long-term development based on the principles and objectives of sustainable development. These are mainly based on the pursuit of synergy in the three basic areas of activities, i.e., in the economic, social, and environmental dimensions as well as in the maintenance of natural resources. The implementation of these activities is connected with the necessity of incurring financial expenditures, which the government (public sector) does not have in the required value. Therefore, in the process of sustainable development for which the government is responsible, the active participation of the financial sector (banks) is necessary. Achieving results within the alliance of the concept of sustainable development requires the setting of a kind of contract, the parties of which are the government, society, and financial institutions. The purpose of the conducted research is to indicate by which means the government can stimulate economic growth towards its sustainable development.

In the last decades, the impacts of urbanization on the hydrological cycle have led to an increase in the frequency and magnitude of urban flooding events, also amplified by the effects of climate change. Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) provide a revolutionary change in this field, improving the sustainability and resilience of cities. This research explores the integration of different SuDS with the aim of significantly reducing both flow volume and celerity of floods in a residual urban catchment area of metropolitan city of Querétaro (Mèxico), where extreme rainfall frequently occurs. This catchment is a representative suburb of urban pressure and environmental degradation problems. Currently, managing storm water under climate uncertainty through a multi-disciplinary approach is a major concern in this urban area. A 1D-2D coupling model of shallow water equations, finite volume method, unstructured meshing method, and hybrid parallel computing application defined the optimal configuration of SuDS at catchment scale to reduce the flood vulnerability in Querétaro. Specifically, in this paper we explore the management issues of the proposed SuDS configuration that acts as a water resource system with multiple purposes. A generic simulation model called MODSIM was applied to simulate the designed urban drainage system under a balanced IPCC future climate scenario in terms of reliability, resilience and vulnerability against water scarcity.

The allocation of funding for higher education typically focuses on competition in neoliberal mechanisms. Surprisingly, much less attention has been paid to considering the effect of fund locations for sustainable development through public goods purposes in neoliberal contexts. This study aims to examine specific funding schemes and determine the influential factors impacting funding for teaching, research, and public goods transformation. Taking Taiwan's Higher Education Sprout Project (HESP) as an example, we explored the effect of policy initiatives on public goods transformation towards sustainable development. The data were collected from the Ministry of Education and Scopus databases. First, a regression analysis was conducted to determine which factors influence the effect of funding allocations in academic institutes. Second, we used logistic regression to detect the effects of the system and the sector. Third, we used partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to explore the causal effects among the selected impact variables on expected outcomes. Finally, we used the bootstrap method to demonstrate the model’s robustness. Our study found that only diversity was shown in private technology groups receiving less HESP funding. At the same time, it did not widen the differences in the sector and system in the transformation process. Our findings suggest that funding allocations will not affect teaching and research based on sectors and systems. In contrast, this study demonstrates that transforming public goods through special funding can play a critical role in leading sustainable development in higher education.

The main purpose of the work is to indicate the effects of the implementation of the concept of sustainable production from the perspective of the well-being of employees. The diagnosis was made among manufacturers operating in the sector of agricultural technical means of transport (production of parts and subassemblies). Achieving the main goal required the formulation and implementation of partial goals, which the authors included: (C1) analysis of the concept of sustainable production from the perspective of employees' well-being (theoretical plane); (C2) compiling a research model in the form of an evaluation sheet being the result of a literature query and an expert study (theoretical and design layer); attention was paid to the articulation of categories relevant to the content and scope of research; (C3) verification of the research model (indication of the effects of the implementation of the concept of sustainable production (the perspective of employee well-being) by the surveyed enterprises).

“Sustainable development” (SD) is a term that has gained prominence in the international dia-logue around development. Many, however, continue to misunderstand the concept, its principles, its development, and its operationalization. The wide variety of definitions and interpretations of SD lean toward institutional and social prerogatives rather than unifying the essence of the con-cept, which is rooted in conventional ideas and values. By delving deeper into the paradigm, its history, and its potential, this research sought to contribute to ongoing discussions about sus-tainable development. The literature was thoroughly analyzed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020. This historical and conceptual analysis sought to update the body of knowledge on sustainability and sustainable development by examining the metaphorical and epistemological underpinnings of SD’s various definitions, evolutions, and principles. The research concludes and argues that intergenerational justice, based on the environment, economy, and society, is the central tenet of the entire sustainable develop-ment argument. The focus and consideration of interested parties are moving from the protection of the environment to social sustainability. The future of SD is likely to continue to focus much more on the social pillar and integrate digitalization in implementing the SD concept, especially in the fourth industrial revolution. To promote ethical human behavior and activities worldwide, at national and local levels, decision-makers must be continuously cognizant of the interdepend-encies, direct interactions, and balance between the three core constructs of SD.

Accessing energy in the world is crucial nowadays. Energy is an essential factor to achieve other SDGs including SDG7. However, the determination and evaluation of the relationship between different energy scenarios to achieve SDG 7 and other SDGs have not done yet. This paper seeks to fill this gap by investigating how energy seniors can contribute to achieving SDG 7 and other SDGs. Web of Science, ScienceDirect and Scopus databases were utilized for conduction a systematic review. A total finial 25 from 249 papers were filtered from 2015 to December 2020 via inclusion and exclusion criteria. This review involves six seniors of energy which primary linked to achieving the SDG 7 and other SDGs: modern energy 20% (n = 5/25), energy access 16% (n = 4/20), energy efficiency 8% (n= 2/16), renewable energy 28% (n= 7/14), energy services 8% (n= 2/7), and miscellaneous energy 20% (n= 5/5). This systematic review explores the opportunities, constraints and limitations, recommendations, and new directions. The results show that different energy scenarios contribute to achieving mainly (SDG7) and other SDGs. The outcomes from this systematic review provide a sense of direction for future researchers for future studies in this domain.

As the emission regulations get more and more stringent in the different fields of energy and environmental systems, the electric and fuel cell vehicles (FCV) have attracted growing attention by automakers, governments, and customers. Research and development efforts have been focused on devising novel concepts, low-cost systems, and reliable electric/fuel cell powertrain. In fact, electric and fuel cell vehicles coupled with low-carbon electricity sources offer the potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and exposure to tailpipe emissions from personal transportation. In particular, Pedal Assisted Bicycles (PAB) popularity is rising in urban areas due to their low energy consumption and environmental impact. In fact, when electrically moved, they are zero emission vehicles with very low noise emissions, as well. These positive characteristics could be even improved by coupling a PAB with a fuel cell based power generation system, thus increasing the vehicle autonomy without influencing their emissions and consumption performances. In this paper, four types of vehicles are compared from an environmental and accessibility point of view: conventional car, bus, electric PAB and hydrogen fuel cell PAB; for such vehicles, the respective utilization stages are accounted for, i.e. without considering the manufacturing process. The analysis has been carried out comparing different vehicles performance along different routes of an Italian middle-size city, Viterbo, which represents a very good pilot case as its Municipality is adopting many solutions suggested by European Union (EU) through the planning tool called Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP). The comparison is based on an ad-hoc developed mathematical procedure, which includes environmental (greenhouse gas and air pollution emissions), health (pollutants toxicity levels) and accessibility time (waiting times) indicators. According to this analysis, electric and fuel cell PAB exhibit interesting advantages over the other vehicles. However, the global economic efficiency of electric or fuel cell apparatus depends substantially on the exploited source of electrical energy.

Background (1) In the time of the 4th Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0, a conglomerate of technical and social inventions, political contexts, socio-cultural circumstances, environmental policies, business models, and economic policies has emerged. Sustainability policy in theory and practice aims to deal with the effects of all these factors and to try to make decisions that ensure both social and economic development sustainably. The question is how to familiarize oneself with the current knowledge about the relationship between Industry 4.0 and sustainability?; (2) Methods: This research utilizes an automated content analysis method to analyses scientific journals, newspapers and magazines. The comparison of results of both research group shows that the scientific literature focuses more on changes in business models, production processes and technologies that enable sustainable development; (3) We found that the scientific literature focuses more on changes in business models, production processes and technologies that enable sustainable development. Newspapers and magazines articles write more about sustainable or green investment, sustainable standards and sustainable reporting. Newspapers and magazines articles write more about sustainable or green investment, sustainable standards and sustainable reporting. Newspapers, as well as some latest research journals, include articles of the COVID-19 outbreak and its effect on the economy and the environment. Indeed, the outbreak of the virus brings a new thought to the reorganization of the complex relationships between consumers, businesses and the state; (4) Conclusions: According to the comparison of the analyses of the results, it can is that the analyses of both types of literature, both scientific and professional, shows that there are common topics they write about, which are related to the field of clean production, emissions, renewable energy, climate change, sustainable investments and corporate sustainability. An urgent global issue that extends all over the world is the promotion of energy-saving technologies and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.

In spite of the significant progress towards sustainable cosmetics, mass-produced sustainable packaging has proven to be a challenge. The complexity of environmental, economic, social, technological and policy considerations in conjunction with varying consumer behaviors and corporate goals can make it difficult to select an optimal strategy across heterogeneous supply-chain components spread over the globe; and the cost and effort of developing, testing and validating alternative strategies discourages empirical exploration of potential alternatives. This review discusses the challenges that can be expected in the context of broader sustainability efforts, as well as the experience gained in related fields such as sustainable cosmetics and sustainable packaging, to identify potential pitfalls as well as promising trends towards development of sustainable cosmetics packaging. The findings suggest there may be little to be gained from attempting to induce customers to change their behavior; waiting for a significant increase in global recycling infrastructure; or expecting regulatory constraints to substitute for the lack of technological and business solutions. A research strategy is delineated towards development of sustainable packaging that, with appropriate policy support, could minimize externalities and provide mass-produced packaging that is acceptable to both consumers and producers.

This study aims to identify the factors determining the income of forestry household in South Korea. We examine an empirical analysis using 3-year panel data conducted by the Korea Forest Service charged with maintaining South Korea's forest lands. The hypothesized factors determining the income of forestry household are classified into four types of assets and three types of livelihood strategies. We divided the income of forestry household (IFH) into three elements: forestry income (FI), non-forestry income (NFI), and transfer income (TI). We assessed the influences of household assets and livelihood strategies on each income. A random effect model was used as a statistical analysis with valid 979 of forestry household for three years. We found that household head's age, labor hours, savings, business category, cultivated land size, and region are significantly associated with IFH. Also, FI is influenced by labor capacity, cultivated size, business category, forestry business portfolio, and region while NFI is determined by household head's age, household head's gender, forestry business portfolio, and savings. TI is affected by household head's age, household head's education level, forestry business portfolios, savings, and region. The effect sizes and directions vary across different types of income (IFH, FI, NFI, and TI). The findings show that forestry in South Korea is highly dependent on sustainable assets and strategies. It is therefore expected that the effectiveness of forest policies to increase the income of forestry household would be differed by the source of each income. The results of this study draw attention to the need for an income support policy that should consider the characteristics of household assets and livelihood strategies in order to enhance IFH in South Korea.

Natural tourist destinations stand out as the most preferred choice in Rembang Regency compared to cultural and artificial tourist destinations. However, until now, there have been no standard indicators established to assess the potential for natural tourism in Rembang Regency, which could assist the Culture and Tourism Office in determining potential tourist locations. In this research, the grouping of natural tourism potential indicators will be carried out based on six main aspects, namely Attractions, Amenities, Accommodation, Activities, Accessibility and Ancillary Services, together with environmental aspects and Human Resources. The procedure for determining natural tourism potential will be developed from the results of this grouping using a taxonomic model. Indicators and the weight of each indicator will be determined using the hierarchical analysis method. The results of this research will produce a taxonomy model that can overcome challenges in managing and utilizing information and knowledge, which in turn will facilitate the process of sharing and utilizing information. Furthermore, the procedures developed will enable accurate and efficient determination of natural tourism potential in accordance with established procedures. This research method will also enable the development of a comprehensive knowledge management system at the Rembang Regency Culture and Tourism Service, through the next stages in the designed taxonomy model. This research is expected to contribute to the sustainable management of natural tourism, which can contribute to the preservation of nature while improving the tourist experience.

Colluvial soils play a vital role in the soil composition of western Anatolia, Turkiye, originating from the accumulation of eroded materials at the base of slopes and in closed depressions. It is claimed that colluvial lands are generally unsuitable for agriculture due to slope, shallow soil and nutritional deficiency. However, due to increasing population pressure, agriculture in colluvial lands, which are considered marginal, becomes a necessity as normal agricultural areas are limited in agricultural production. The research hypothesis posits that despite the slope, shallowness of the soil and nutritional deficiency of colluvial lands, if the appropriate plant is selected and the climate and geographical conditions are optimum, strategically important agriculture can be carried out. This study aims to characterize the soil properties of colluvial in western Anatolia, specifically focusing on their agricultural potential for olive, fig, and grape cultivation. Geological origins and topographic features of colluvial were initially assessed, followed by the collection of soil samples from both natural and agricultural areas. Comprehensive analyses were conducted on both colluvial materials and the corresponding soil samples. The findings were statistically evaluated using principal component analysis, with a subsequent discussion on the agricultural sustainability of the soils for the selected plants. The results indicate that the colluvial lands in the study area are generally unsuitable for agriculture due to factors such as slope, erosion risk, shallow soil depth, low soil organic matter, and limited nutritional capacity. However, under favorable climatic conditions, certain specialty crops, such as olives and figs, can thrive, offering economic benefits to the local population. Despite the overall limitations for traditional agriculture, the cultivation of these specific plants contributes to both the economic well-being of the region and the overall sustainability of agriculture in the area.

The growing concern about climate change and global warming has driven greater involvement of international organizations, countries, companies, and society in general in acting and ensur-ing the life of our planet and the sustainability of future generations. Sustainability and finance are two concepts that are intertwined through sustainable finance, serving as an instrument that guides financial resources towards achieving sustainable development. Sustainability allows companies to identify risks and opportunities, being responsible for measuring their social, envi-ronmental, and economic impact under a multi-stakeholder approach. One of the three main cri-teria of sustainability is corporate governance, and the main corporate governance body is the board of directors, where the composition of the board and its supervision and monitoring func-tions improve the ESG performance. A relevant aspect within the board of directors is the ade-quate balance of gender diversity on the board, becoming an aspect regulated by laws and cor-porate governance code. This article develops the main concepts related to sustainability, sus-tainable finance and corporate governance describing the current situation of these topics and their relationship, creating a conceptual framework that allows identifying topics necessary for further empirical research and the implication of regulation in the scope of ESG issues.

In response to growing environmental concerns and the need for sustainable resources, researchers worldwide are examining how to develop materials that are environmentally friendly and that can be effectively recycled as they reach the end of their useful life. Particularly interesting are polyurethanes (PUs), a broad class of synthetic polymers utilized in several applications. However, because of the high energy consumption and unwanted chemical side reactions, their chemical recycling is challenging. A possible method for recovering PU is biological recycling, which breaks down complex compounds using microbes and enzymes. The biodegradation susceptibility of novel PUs using tree bark extractives as building blocks is examined in this work. The PUs were synthesized with partial or complete substitution of conventional fossil-based polyol (PEG 400) with hydrophilic extractives from black alder bark. Biodegradation experiments in sewage water and compost-enriched soil were conducted over 60 days. Results indicate increased biodegradation in PUs containing bark-based polyols, showing weight losses of up to 15.7% and 15.6% in sewage water and soil, respectively, compared to 9.6% and 12.4% for fossil-based PU. Analytical pyrolysis and FTIR analysis revealed more significant structural changes in extractives-containing PU materials after biodegradation compared to fossil-based PU, indicating the cleavage of covalent bonds mainly in carbohydrate and aromatic constituents of biopolyol. But the urethane bonds revealed the highest stability towards biodegradation compared to others linkages in both fossil-based and bio-based PU. The study demonstrates the potential of using bark-derived polyols to design PU materials suitable for biological recycling, contributing to more environmentally friendly waste management strategies. Further investigations are needed to optimize the conditions for the biological conversion of PU materials synthesized with bark-based polyols.

In the face of persistent soil degradation in Benin due to poor agricultural practices, including excessive use of chemical fertilizers, there is an urgent need to seek solutions that integrate microorganisms of interest. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of combining three strains of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on maize production in northern Benin. The study involved 34 growers in Ouénou, Bagou, and Kokey. The experimental set-up consisted of three elementary plots with three treatments. Growth parameters were measured every 15 days, from the 15th to the 60th day after sowing, on ten plants per plot. Plant nutritional status, grain yield and mycorrhization were measured. Results showed that biostimulant + 50% NPK_Urea had similar positive effects on growth parameters to those induced by the application of 100% NPK_Urea. Gains of 30.25 to 36.35% were recorded in plant height at Kokey. On the other hand, biostimulant+ 50% NPK_Urea induced a better phosphorus uptake of 21.08 to 27.77%. In addition, the grain yield of mycorrhizal plants was 8.37% higher than that of plants receiving 100% NPK_Urea at Ouénou. These results show that this technology could be integrated into the agricultural system to promote sustainable maize growing in Benin.

In the era of disruption, to achieve food sustainability and the SDGs, Indonesia is faced with changes in the values, attitudes, and behavior of the community to be adaptive to environmental and technological changes. This study aims to analyze the factors that influence social transformation in peri-urban communities and their impact on food sustainability and the achievement of SDGs. The research method is a qualitative approach, triangulated by conducting in-depth interviews, field observations, and focus group discussion (FGD) in two districts. The results showed that factors influencing social transformation in peri-urban communities include: strengthening public awareness of the importance of food sustainability, access to information and technology, collaborative synergetic of government, companies, academics, and community participation in decision-making on empowerment programs. This social transformation leads to increased food production and poverty reduction. Private facilitators through CSR programs play a role in achieving food sustainability and achieving several SDG indicators related to poverty. The occurrence of collaborative synergetic between community participation, extension workers, village government, media utilization, academics, and companies contributes significantly to transforming the values, attitudes, and behavior of people managing community resources.

The paper presents a theoretical and empirical assessment of this social phenomenon. The achieved scientific solution-result (Main Finding) is presented a theoretical model of the develop-ment of public citizenship in a sustainable environment has been created for the case of Lithuania. First of all, the paper discusses the conceptual issues of the expression of modernisation of civil society, highlighting and justifying the interaction of social changes and sustainable environment in economic, social, political, environmental and cultural aspects, presenting the case of Lithuania (The Case of Lithuania). On the other hand, following the United Nations Sustainable Development Strategy document, the field of progress and resilience of Lithuanian society in modern society is discussed, identifying and analysing various criteria that have been empirically tested. The authors noted that the democratic cube model was used to create a theoretical model of the development of public citizenship in a harmonious environment, and the HDI (human development index model) was also integrated. The model created by the authors systematically explains the analysis of the relationship between the expression of modernisation changes identified in the research and the formation of civil society; secondly, it substantiates the process of interaction between modernisation changes and public citizenship, discussing four fields of expression. Practical applicability of the model: it will help researchers to conceptually analyse and empirically study public citizenship; will help public policymakers and implementers to manage effectively, ensuring quality changes in society and managing new challenges, and it will also contribute to the conceptual formation of the country's long-term development strategy.

Changing climate conditions coupled with the transformations of cultivation practices and land use in sole crop-based sunflower production may significantly decline yield stability of this oilseed crop. Given that sunflower takes the third place in the world oilseed market, with 45 million tons per year, and in the fourth place in vegetable oil production, it is necessary to adapt production technologies toward sustainable agriculture. Considering that, the goal of the research was to analyze and beneficial sustainable production technology of sunflower in intercropping systems. A four-year trial was conducted in Serbia’s agroecological rain-fed conditions (45°34’23.2"N 19°86’18.9"E) using a split-plot design. Two oil types and one confectionary sunflower hybrid were intercropped with common vetch, red clover and alfalfa. Analyses showed that intercropping of sunflower with common vetch resulted in the decrease in almost all sunflower trait values. Also, sunflower × alfalfa intercropping provided to be the most appropriate. The yield of NS Gricko and Rimi PR were statistically on the same level with sole cropping, while alfalfa biomass had better results when intercropped with NS Gricko as compared to sole cropping. Concerning the general belief that yields are more stable in intercropping than in sole crop, further research in this respect is needed, in addition to the research of time and method of sowing.

This study aims to summarize the literature on sustainable global supply chain management so that researchers and practitioners can see the trends in the area in a single place. Systematic literature review (SLR) or Content analysis is used as a methodology of this literature review, studies that are published within the time frame of 2010 to 2020 are included in this literature. Dimensions to analyze each article includes; year of publications, methodology of research, data collection type, unit of analysis, industry, a country in which data is being collected, respondents’ types, the theory that is used in the study, dimensions of the sustainability and finally the purpose of study either it is to test the already existing theory or building up a new theory. I found that sustainable global supply chain management is an emerging field and there is potential in the area for researchers to explore the area.

Nanoparticles are widely used in the agricultural sector because of their distinctive properties. Studies have shown the influence of nanoparticles on plant growth and production. Nanoparticles act as effective carriers in the delivery of agrochemicals to plants. They provide site targeted delivery of nutrients and thus, prevents wastage of nutrients applied for plant growth and productivity. Bioremediation of pollutants is an emerging technology that provides bio-nano materials for the protection of agriculture from pollution. The aim of this review is to present and focus on the latest techniques used for the reduction of environmental pollution and improved agricultural production. This review speculates about the biosynthesis of nanomaterials from different sources like plants, fungi, and bacteria along with chemical and organic synthesis from carbon, silver, and gold. The role of nanoscience in detecting plant diseases and the removal of heavy metals. Application of Nanoscience in storing, production, processing, and transport of agricultural materials. It is also emphasized that Nanoscience may transform agriculture through the innovation of new techniques like Precision farming, improvement of plants to engross nutrients, targeted use of inputs, detection and control of diseases and withstand environmental pressures. Further, efforts have been made in describing that nanoparticles may act as a better substitute for agricultural plant growth and nutrition improvement by lowering the content of pollutants and pre-detection of diseases in plants. The biosynthetic route of nanomaterial synthesis could emerge as a better and safer option for environmental pollution reduction. Thus, nanoscience may increase agricultural production to feed a huge population in near future.

This paper aims to suggest an integration of dimensions, especially economic, social, environmental, and politics that are embedded in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within a framework called Umran. This Umranic framework hails from the idea of distinguished Muslim philosopher, historian and sociologist Ibn Khaldun, that is based on Islamic doctrines. As the present integration of the dimensions seems to be problematic, an exploration into the integration within Umranic framework is believed to be potentially a contributive endeavor. Based on an overview of literatures and a content analysis, this paper found that integrating dimensions of SDGs within the Umranic framework appears in the triangle of relationship between God, humans, and environment. This triangle exists in the form of an Islamic economic system. In this system, economic activities of natural resource utilization in various types of ownership undertake the sustainability dimension, that is the environmental protection and the promotion of equitable distribution, followed by the implementation of management of ownership and distribution rights according to Islamic rules. The pre-requisite on the part of the players is the high levels of spirituality. The application of this Islamic economic system followed by its political dimension will guarantee the achievement of SDGs even though it needs adjustment to a number of SDGs’ indicators that are not in accordance to Islamic teachings.

Advances in genetic engineering have placed synthetic biology at a prime position to develop new products, materials, and services that could contribute to the 2030 UN Sustainable Development goals. These include novel materials for water purification, new bio-based products to replace toxic industrial chemicals, and engineered organisms for bioremediation. Supporting the development of synthetic biology initiatives in developing countries is needed to ensure these benefits are open to all.

This paper presents a comprehensive study on the application and optimization of automotive thermoelectric generators (ATEGs), focusing on the crucial role of heat exchangers in enhancing energy conversion efficiency. Recognizing the substantial waste of thermal energy in internal combustion engines, our research delves into the potential of TEGs to convert engine waste heat into electrical energy, thereby improving fuel efficiency and reducing environmental impact. We meticulously analyze various heat exchanger designs, assessing their influence on the TEG's output power under different exhaust gas flow rates and temperatures. Furthermore, we explore the impact of TEG material properties on the overall energy conversion effectiveness. Our findings reveal that specific heat exchanger designs significantly enhance the efficiency of waste gas heat exchange, leading to an improved performance of the TEG system. We also highlight the importance of thermal insulation in maximizing TEG output. This study not only contributes to the ongoing efforts to develop more sustainable and efficient vehicles but also provides valuable insights into the practical application of thermoelectric technology in automotive engineering. Through this research, we aim to pave the way for more environmentally friendly transportation solutions, aligning with global efforts to reduce fossil fuel dependence and mitigate environmental pollution.

Technology has transformed aeroponics, providing numerous advantages over traditional soil-based agriculture. However, there remains a need for comprehensive information on the types of technology employed in aeroponics and their impact on the growing process. This paper presents a literature review of 47 studies published between 2012 and 2023 in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. As a result, it identifies the status and tendencies in the usage of technology in aeroponics as well as the main opportunities and challenges. Furthermore, this paper introduces the Technology Adoption and Integration in Sustainable Agriculture (TAISA) model. TAISA is a model that identifies the degree of technology integration in any sustainable agriculture system to determine how technology affects production and quality. Overall, the systematic review suggests that technology can play a vital role in improving the efficiency and sustainability of aeroponic farming. However, careful consideration must be given to the costs and technical requirements associated with using these technologies. Moreover, the TAISA model reveals that technology has primarily been employed in creating new processes that are not possible to implement without the help of technology. Therefore, we conclude that technology use has taken root in aeroponics and can be promoted to improve sustainable agriculture.

Digitalization is widely recognized as a transformative power for sustainable development. Careful alignment of progress made by digitalization with the globally acknowledged Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is crucial for inclusive and holistic sustainable development in the digital era. However, limited reference has been made in SDGs about harnessing the opportunities offered by digitalization capabilities. Moreover, research on inhibiting or enabling effects of digitalization considering its multi-faceted interlinkages with the SDGs and their targets is fragmented. There are only limited instances in the literature examining and categorizing the impact of digitalization on sustainable development. To overcome this gap, this paper introduces a new Digitainability Assessment Framework (DAF) for context-aware practical assessment of the impact of the digitalization intervention on the SDGs. The DAF facilitates in-depth assessment of the many diverse technical, social, ethical, and environmental aspects of a digital intervention by systematically examining its impact on the SDG indicators. Our approach draws on and adapts concepts of the Theory of Change (ToC). The DAF should support developers, users as well policymakers by providing a 360-degree perspective on the impact of digital services or products, as well as providing hints for its possible improvement. We demonstrate the application of the DAF with the three test case studies illustrating how it supports in providing a holistic view of the relation between digitalization and SDGs.

The driving force behind adopting the idea of ​​sustainable development are producers and retailers. Unfortunately, when preparing their product range for consumers, many of them still only pay attention to the size of the customers’ earnings, how often they shop and how much they buy when shopping. In consumer segmentation, sustainable values ​​that consumers apply when making their purchasing decisions are rarely taken into account. The aim of this article is to show that values ​​such as environmental protection, the ethical behaviour of producers, fair trade or maximising the utility function of consumption are so important in the purchasing process in the coffee market that they can be used as segmentation variables. The Polish coffee market was selected to carry out segmentation taking into account the consumers' sustainable values. The main source of the article is the results of a standardized online survey conducted on a nationwide sample of 800 coffee consumers in July 2018. Multi-dimensional analyses such as extrapolative factor analysis (EFA) and cluster analysis (CA) were used to describe the obtained results. As a result, six segments of coffee consumers were identified and described: “responsible, aspiring to be connoisseurs”, “loyal coffee enthusiasts”, “pragmatic users”, “coffee laypersons”, “sophisticated connoisseurs”, “consumerists, connoisseurs, but not at any price”. Among the identified segments, the sustainable consumption values ​​most often mentioned refer to "responsible, aspiring to be connoisseurs", and the least often - ”consumerists, connoisseurs, but not at any price”. The conclusions presented in the last part of the article may be used by manufacturing and trade enterprises, operating on the coffee market, in order to respond to the identified needs and expectations of consumers and by governmental and social organisations so as to determine the directions of pro-ecological education of consumers.

The term sustainable energy is very familiar to all of us yet its exact definition or meaning has so far been vague. To date the widely adopted definition of sustainable energy has been inspired by the definition of sustainable development formulated more than 30 years ago in the Our Common Future - the UN’s Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development. The current definition conceals the true spirit of the Report and this has some ramifications. It raises the question as to whether we have put too much emphasis on attaining the future dimension of sustainability in the middle of the situation where the energy survivability is in fact the real issue in many parts of the world. In this paper the role of energy in sustaining livelihoods of low income communities is discussed. Existing definition of sustainable energy that the whole world seems to have embraced is looked at critically and its downsides exposed. The identified pillars of sustainable energy and the associated issues is discussed and the need for an additional pillar, i.e. affordability is discussed and called for. This paper will argue that global definition of sustainable energy seems inappropriate and should be jettisoned and a more realistic definition should be formulated, adopted and embraced at local (i.e. national or regional) level taking into account local attributes and factors. The current push for a transition from the reliance on conventional energy sources to ‘cleaner’ energy sources (generally associated with renewable energy) has further exacerbated the issue of energy affordability that has made the conditions even more dire for so many groups of the world population. In the midst of this situation, those who push for a rushed energy transition seem to be those who also produce unsustainably high carbon footprint but who can easily offset their carbon foot-print through the ‘net-zero’ concept.

This transdisciplinary review of research about international cooperation on social and environmental change builds the case for replacing Sustainable Development as the dominant framework for an era of increasing crises and disasters. The review is the output of an intentional exploration of recent studies in multiple subject areas, based on the authors’ decades of work in related fields since the Rio Earth Summit 30 years ago (rather than a keyword search of databases). It summarizes the research which documents failure to progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Consequently, the extensive scholarship critiquing the conceptual framework behind those ‘Global Goals’, and the economic ideology they arose from and support, is used to explain that failure. Although the pandemic set back the SDGs, it further revealed the inappropriate strategy behind those goals. This suggests the Global Goals constitute an ‘own-goal’ scored against people and nature. From this conclusion, alternative frameworks for organizing action on social and environmental issues become more important and are therefore briefly reviewed. It is argued that such a future framework must relate a new eco-social contract between citizen and state, and engage existing organizations and capabilities that are relevant to an increasingly disrupted world. Therefore, the case is made for considering an upgraded form of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) as an overarching framework. The proposed upgrades include detaching from economic ideologies, and recognizing that a wider metadisaster from climate chaos may reduce the future availability of external support. Therefore, self-reliant resilience and locally-led adaptation are identified as important to the future of DRM. Some options for professionals continuing to use the term sustainability, such as this journal, are discussed.

Investors are currently obliged to take ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) issues into consideration as part of their fiduciary duty. As such, it becomes increasingly important to identify sustainable investments that hold financial value as well. A sector where this is especially underdeveloped is real estate. This has a lot to do with the obfuscated conceptualization of ESG. The article identifies key gaps in literature and practice, and provides a framework to further the understanding of how ESG factors can add societal and financial value in the real estate sector. A key premise of the article is that the user in the building is grossly overlooked. Drawing on insights from behavioral social science and environmental psychology, the paper explains the role of the user in improving buildings’ ESG, also taking into account the investment value. To conclude, the article makes the case that the transition to user-centered smart real estate is the solution to improving both the environmental (E) and social (S) sustainability of buildings, as well as their investment value. Therefore, practitioners and academics are encouraged to critically evaluate and contextualize the ESG framework they are using, as well as the extent to which users are considered and smart technology is employed.

When examining the crucial role of civic competence in fostering sustainable societies, economies, and ecosystems, its significance for cultivating responsible and engaged citizens in our ever more interconnected global landscape must be recognized. Notably, education influences the development of civic competence throughout the learning experience at all levels of education. This research aims to explore the evolution of students’ self-assessment in terms of civic competence and its three sub-competences. The objective is to comprehend the present status of students’ self-assessments and explore their potential impact on the formation of a sustainable society. Data were collected for this study using an assessment tool elaborated in the ESF project “Development and Implementation of the Education Quality Monitoring System” for students’ generic competences. The tool, presented in a digital form using the QuestionPro platform, measures six generic competences, including civic competence. A total of 1,166 bachelor students and 354 Master’s students participated in the study, representing 22 Latvian higher education institutions. The study’s findings indicate that civic competence in the sample is considerably lower than the other generic competences measured, with a greater dispersion of results. The results also highlight specific areas within universities that require improvement during the learning process to cultivate individuals who are sustainable and socially responsible members of society.

In Nigeria, the adoption of sustainable biomass for energy generation is on the rise. One crucial factor that affects the efficiency of Biomass utilization is the moisture content. This study investigates the economic impact of moisture at different stages of the wood biomass distribution chain, considering the entire chain. The methodology employed includes a comprehensive literature review, interviews, and economic calculations. By analyzing these factors, this research aims to provide valuable insights into the economics of moisture in wood biomass, contributing to the sustainable development of the Biomass energy sector in Nigeria. Based on the outcomes of this investigation, it has been discovered that the costs associated with moisture content in Nigeria amount to approximately ₦500,000,00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira only). Utilizing wood Biomass with a moisture content of 32% weight, as opposed to 18% weight, has proven to be more costly. Transportation contributes to a significant portion of this increase, while the reduction in burning efficiency accounts for the remaining half. To further elaborate on these findings, it is crucial to understand that the transportation costs are impacted by the additional weight and volume of biomass with higher moisture content. This necessitates the use of more fuel and resources during transportation, resulting in increased expenses. Additionally, the decreased burning efficiency associated with higher moisture content poses a challenge. It leads to reduced energy output and increased fuel consumption, ultimately impacting the overall economic viability of wood biomass as an energy source. By identifying these factors, this study aims to provide insights into the economic implications of moisture content in the wood biomass distribution chain in Nigeria. These findings can serve as a basis for developing strategies to optimize the use of biomass, reduce costs, and enhance the sustainability of the energy generation process. One of the most convenient and cost-effective solutions to reduce transportation expenses and improve combustion efficiency is through planned air drying of wood biomass. Large-scale power plants typically prefer utilizing wood biomass that has undergone air drying, resulting in a moisture content ranging from 18% to 36% by weight. By implementing planned air-drying techniques, the moisture content of wood biomass can be significantly reduced, thereby decreasing transportation costs. As the biomass becomes lighter and less bulky, transportation requirements are optimized, leading to enhanced efficiency and reduced expenses. Moreover, air-dried wood biomass offers improved combustion characteristics. The reduced moisture content allows for better heat transfer during the combustion process, resulting in higher energy output and increased fuel efficiency. This not only improves the overall economics of utilizing wood biomass but also contributes to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy generation system. The application of planned air drying in the wood biomass distribution chain in Nigeria can serve as a practical solution to address the economic challenges associated with moisture content. By adopting this approach, stakeholders can maximize the potential of wood biomass as a renewable energy resource while minimizing costs and promoting sustainable practices.

Energy market price volatility and an upward trajectory of prices per unit of electricity have sent all industrial sectors and many economies to the brink of recession. Alongside the urgent need for decarbonisation of all industries, achieving a higher level of energy independence across all sectors seems imperative. A multi-disciplinary approach with a proposed system of CO₂ emissions reduction and capture technologies has the potential for short-term emissions reduction to near-zero in absolute terms. The findings of this research showed CO₂ emissions reduction of ~30% from 977t of CO_2e to 684t in one single blast furnace production cycle, by switching the energy provider generating energy exclusively from renewable sources. Replacing coal with biomass (BECCS), resulted in an additional reduction of ~30%, to CO_2e to 479t CO_2e. Installing solar PV panels for energy generation on site resulted in a further ~30% reduction, to 335 tonnes CO_2e. Finally, the installation of CO₂ filters reduced the CO₂ emissions to near-zero. Simultaneously, energy-saving and process improvement measures implementation (up to 60% efficiency increase), excess heat recovery (<30% of energy savings), and retrofitting renewable energy technology resulted in an energy independence of 88%. Short-term engineering solutions, partly subsidised in the UK, are readily available.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of incorporating Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) into a production brick mixture in order to mitigate difficulties encountered in the production environment. Three distinct tests were conducted to assess the preparation process. The first test served as a reference, utilizing 100% clay material without RDF. The second test involved the inclusion of 10% RDF, obtained from a waste factory, with a grain size less than 20mm. In the third test, the RDF was mixed with silica sand after undergoing hammer milling with a 2mm sieve, followed by a 10% incorporation into the mixture. The primary objective was to comprehend the behavior of these mixtures in two critical stages: extrusion and drying. Extrusion performance was evaluated by examining the shaping process from the mold, vacuum conditions within the extruder, and the cutting of wet sample bricks. Furthermore, the drying procedure was assessed in terms of shrinkage, drying sensitivity, and appearance. Comparisons were made among the three test scenarios to identify the influence of RDF on these key parameters. Preliminary results indicate that the inclusion of RDF impacted the extrusion process. The addition of RDF resulted in variations in the flow characteristics of the mixture, affecting the shape formation from the mold and the vacuum conditions within the extruder. Additionally, the cutting of wet sample bricks exhibited some differences compared to the reference test. Concerning the drying phase, the presence of RDF influenced shrinkage behavior and drying sensitivity. The mixture with RDF showed different shrinkage patterns compared to the reference, and its drying sensitivity was altered. Moreover, the appearance of the bricks after drying exhibited notable variations due to the incorporation of RDF. In conclusion, incorporating RDF in the brick mixture introduces changes in both the extrusion and drying stages. The alteration in flow characteristics and vacuum conditions during extrusion, as well as the variations in shrinkage, drying sensitivity, and appearance during drying, suggest that further investigation is necessary to optimize the incorporation of RDF for improved brick production. These findings contribute to the understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with the utilization of RDF in brick manufacturing processes.

The intricate relationship between physical and social environments within organizations plays a pivotal role in shaping sustainable innovation endeavors. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of two key dynamics that have garnered substantial scholarly attention for promoting sustainable innovation: the physical environment and the organizational climate. To elucidate the intricate interplay between these dynamics, we propose a novel three-dimensional framework that guides the modeling of the intricate processes through which the physical environment and innovation climate synergistically influence innovation outcomes. Building on this framework, we delve into an in-depth literature review concerning physical environments that exert a significant impact on innovation. Through this review, we identify and elaborate on four pivotal elements of the physical environment: communality, personalization, comfort, and healthiness. Leveraging insights gleaned from this review, we outline two promising avenues for future research in the realm of the physical environment's interaction with the innovation climate. Furthermore, we underscore the critical importance of adopting an interdisciplinary approach that seamlessly integrates insights from both the physical and social domains to comprehensively understand the sustainable innovation landscape.

Sustainable diet behaviour is crucial in ensuring food security and healthy life with low environmental impacts, for the present and future generations. However, sustainable diet is a new concept both globally as well as in Malaysia. Therefore, this study aimed to adapt and validate a questionnaire on sustainable diet behaviours, as well as to assess the levels and willingness of sustainable diet behaviour and its association with socio-demographic characteristics among university students in a public university in Malaysia. The final questionnaire resulted in three factors (perceived effectiveness, local/ seasonal food and behavioural control). The questionnaire displayed acceptable factor loadings (0.57 - 0.79) with total variance of 50.4% in the Exploratory Factor Analysis and demonstrated relative fitness in the Confirmatory Factor Analysis. These findings showed that the adapted questionnaire was valid and could be used in the assessment of sustainable diet behaviour among young adults. In the survey, the participants showed moderate positive sustainable diet behaviour. Females and Indian participants were more likely to purchase seasonal / local foods and choose sustainable food products (p<0.05). Participants in the preparation and action stage for sustainable diet behaviour had higher scores in all three factors individually or combined. The findings should be used as the basis for future studies among the general population and intervention programs in promoting sustainable diet behaviour in the country.

Forests are a large reservoir of biodiversity on which riparian populations frequently rely. Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are an important source of income for millions of people living in forest-adjacent communities. This study aims at characterizing the types and uses of NTFPs in order to determine whether their exploitation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is sustainable. Interviews and direct observation were carried out with NTFP stakeholders (harvesters, sellers, and consumers) in Kalonge, near the Kahuzi-Biega National Park. The results showed that 40 NTFPs of plant origin and 10 NTFPs of animal origin are commonly exploited and used in food and traditional medicine. The most common NTFP harvesting techniques are debarking, picking, digging up, felling, and wine extraction, which are all tailored to the plant part. A significant relationship (p-value&lt; 0.001) has been established between the types of NTFPs used and harvesting methods as well as between the types of NTFPs used and organs retrieved. NTFP products are mainly obtained from the natural forest KBNP but also in the woodland, trees grown outside of forest or through domestication. Their abundance, however, is hampered by the extraction of wood for charcoal, energy, and timber, as well as agricultural expansion. The supply of NTFPs is determined by the market demand for the products, the nature of the product, and the ease of disposal. The NTFPs value chain in Kalonge is important to the local economy, however exploitation of NTFP products remains uncontrolled and should be well managed to ensure sustainability.

Environmental literate citizenship is a lifelong learning process that aims to develop citizens who have the knowledge, skills, and commitment to make responsible decisions that will affect the quality of the environment. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the environmental literacy levels of nursing students in terms of sustainable environmental by considering the dimensions of environmental literacy. It was also aimed at understanding the correlation among dimensions of environmental literacy and revealing the factors affecting the dimensions of environmental literacy. This research was designed as a descriptive study in the survey model. A total of 278 nursing students participated in this research. It was revealed that students obtained a high score for use and concern from the dimensions of environmental literacy, their attitudes towards the environment were moderate; however, nursing students took the lowest points for the environmental knowledge component, which indicates that students need support in environmental knowledge. It was put forward that there were statistically significant differences based on gender and taking environmental related courses with dimensions of environmental literacy. All dimensions of environmental literacy were found to be positively correlated with each other, ranging from low to moderate relations.

As a result of an increasing population of aged people in sub-Saharan Africa, dementia is predicted to surge up to 90% by 2030. This review is set to assess the prevalence of dementia, for 65+ aged population in sub-Saharan states and particularly in Tanzania. Subsequently, the review will identify the possible risks factors – age, gender, level of education, cardiovascular problems, diabetes and mild cognitive impairment – and will lay out the challenges of reducing the dementia burden in Tanzania. Additionally, the review explores the current approaches in solving dementia disorders, including a general view of the public understanding of dementia. Also, the review recognises the gaps in government funding to mental health, a barrier to service access and the need for further research on Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Lastly, the review links the sustainable development goals (SDGs) addressed and appreciate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the fight against dementia.

Plastics are extensively used due to their versatility, durability, and low cost. PET stands for Polyethylene terephthalate. PET plastic is widely used all over the world and has many applications ranging from water bottles to fabrics like polyester and many things in between. But its unrestrained use in every field is resulting in heaps and piles of non-biodegradable materials causing damage to the environment and causing pollution. The idea being proposed is to degrade the PET plastic biologically using different bacteria. The bacteria used in this process are Ideonella sakaiensis, Acetobacterium woodii, Pelotomaculum and Methanospirillum hungatei. PET plastic is degraded, yielding Terephthalic Acid (TPA) and Ethylene Glycol (EG) by the action of the bacterium I. sakaiensis. Degradation of EG by A. woodii results in the formation of acetate and ethanol. TPA is degraded by the action of the coculture of Pelotomaculum and M. hungatei thereby yielding methane and acetate. All these products formed have significant commercial uses in various industries. The complete process that is to be carried out can help in achieving sustainability by fulfilling various Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations.

The research study examines the Digital government strategies of different countries and compare it with the Digital Pakistan Policy 2018. Different countries focus on the different factors/themes as per requirement of their countries and need of their citizens. Therefore, a requirement for re-search that compares the different digital government strategies has been identified. Secondary data on eGovernment strategies of different governments have been examined to investigate best practices in other countries. The qualitative data analysis software program NVivo has been used to facilitate code-based analysis of different digital government strategies. The findings and recommendations can be successfully utilized for the improvement of digital government strate-gies and its alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.

Various colors of clothing originating from synthetic dyes are presently causing serious environmental pollution problems, whereas natural dyes extracted from natural indigo plants help reduce the harm to the environment and extend the sustainable use of clothing. This study focuses on the relation between indigo dyeing colors and the environment on the basis of sustainable design. The results reveal that light colors are considered to conform to the sustainable spirit more than dark colors in different indigo colors. In fact, the recyclable light-colored indigo dyeing t-shirt is beneficial in its reuse. Indigo dyeing fabric can be decomposed by a variety of microorganisms; however, the light-colored indigo dyeing takes a short time. Light colored indigo dyeing is more resource-saving when considering dye, water and electricity costs. The results of colors and environmental protection provide scheme references to consumers or industry for clothing collocation of different indigo dyeing colors for a series of blue clothing and carry out the ideal of the sustainability and co-existence between clothing and natural resources.

The focus of this study is to identify whether resilience and sustainable development can be used as an image for strategic planning of the city marketing. Resilience is about building and planning for future proof the cities. How urban challenges and crisis have the lowest impact and the maximum of bounce back and evolution. Resilience is part of the sustainable development. Thus, it is important for the decision-makers to define the mission on their strategic planning in a holistically way taking into consideration the basic assets of a city, the environment, the economy and the society and how can all of them can be combined to marketing the city and take into consideration the internal and external environment. As the past few years’ city marketing has become an important tool for the urban development. The main goal is to show how city marketing can be applied on a city that tries to be more resilient and more sustainable by using strategic urban planning to set the vision, to identify the challenges and the problematic areas and to set new goals and objectives in order to plan and build to future proof the complexity of an urban system. For answering the questions of this article we use two case studies Rotterdam (Netherlands) and Thessaloniki (Greece), using a literature review and researches conducted alongside with a benchmarking of their resilient strategies as both of the cities are members of the Resilient Cities Network. From a different perspective of resilient thinking, both of the cities have managed to use resilience as a marketing image for further sustainable development.

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are capable to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers input cost of farmer. Keeping in view the study was designed to investigate and evaluate inoculation effect of indigenous rhizospheric bacteria on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under in vitro and in vivo conditions using different treatments. Ten potential strains were selected on the basis of their ACC deaminase activity, siderophore production, P-solubilization and production of indole acetic acid (IAA). Further these strains were tested in three different experiments (growth chamber, pot and field). We found significant increase in crop growth response to the inoculants in comparison with un-inoculated control. In pot and field trial we tested PGPR with recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers. The results of present study revealed that inoculation of bacterial strains with wheat seeds significantly increased plant growth and improved crop yield. Results of present study reveal that these strains could be employed in different combinations and can get higher yield in case of half recommended doses of inorganic fertilizers along with consortium of strains in comparison with sole application of recommended dose of fertilizer and with consortium of strains. These strains were further identified by 16Sr RNA gene sequencing, fatty acid profile and biolog. It can be concluded that inoculated bacteria have more potential and contributes in good crop quality, increased yield when they are applied in combination, thus have potential to minimize use of chemical fertilizers.

This paper sets out three visions for the year 2035 which bring about a radical change in the level of walking, cycling and public transport in Turkish urban areas. A participatory visioning technique was structured according to a three-stage technique: (i) Extensive online comprehensive survey. In which potential transport measures were researched for their relevance to promoting sustainable transport in future Turkish urban areas; (ii) Semi-structured interviews. Where transport strategy suggestions were developed in the context of the possible imaginary urban areas and their associated contextual description of the imaginary urban areas for each vision; (iii) Participatory workshops. Where an innovative method was developed to explore various creative future choices and alternatives. Overall, this paper indicates that the content of the visions was reasonable, but such visions need a considerable degree of consensus and radical approaches to tackling them.

The field of controlled polymerization is growing and evolving at unprecedented rates, facilitating polymer scientists to engineer the structure and property of polymer materials for a variety of applications. However, the lack of degradability, particularly in vinyl polymers, is a general concern for not only environmental sustainability but also biomedical applications. In recent years, there has been a significant effort to develop reversible polymerization approaches in those well-established controlled polymerization systems. Reversible polymerization typically involves two steps including (i) forward polymerization which converts small monomers into macromolecules, and (ii) depolymerization capable of regenerating original monomers. Furthermore, recycled monomers can be repolymerized into new polymers. In this perspective, we highlight recent developments of reversible polymerization in those controlled polymerization systems and offer insight into the promise and utility of reversible polymerization systems. More importantly, the current challenges and future directions to solve those problems are discussed. We hope this perspective can serve as an “initiator” to promote continuing innovations in this fairly new area.

As the demand for a more sustainable society increases, adopting a sustainable banking approach serves as a competitive advantage for banks that are focused on attaining bank loyalty. This study revolves around understanding the role of sustainable banking practices on bank loyalty, while exploring the mediating effect of corporate image in the relationship between sustainable banking practices and bank loyalty. 511 data derived from customers of the banking sector was adopted for this study. Result from the structural equation modeling shows that sustainable banking practices positively and directly affects bank loyalty and corporate image, corporate image directly and positively affect bank loyalty, and also mediates in the relationship between sustainable banking practices and bank loyalty.

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) had become a priority in many school systems. Geography has a tradition of investigating human-environment interactions and geography education is vital in order to make sense of sustainable development (SD). In this paper, the authors aimed to contribute to the implementation of ESD and SD in middle school geography, in The People’s Republic of China. This research employed a series of methods to analyze the content in (SD) in middle school geography standards and textbooks. The research surveyed geography teachers (n=237) and assessed geography students (n=246). Results exemplified both positive and negative conclusions from the data. Primarily, the findings suggested that geography education was important to ESD implementation, although the requirements for SD are low in Chinese middle schools. The SD content was reflected clearly in the content standards and textbooks, but it was not evenly distributed in geography education. Many geography teachers in China have ample geography and interdisciplinary knowledge and they can use textbooks and other teaching methods to teach SD. The students’ performance, in a sample of four key schools, was considered “OK”, however there was still room for improvement. Most students were familiar with people, resources, environmental problems and climate change, however most were unable to grasp the factual knowledge about SD, such as international events and documents, latest predicted data and research on global warming, as well as the indicators used in the specific SD assessment. Suggestions include providing students with more practical activities and a chance to do hands-on experiments, as well as building student organizations and clubs; improve Teachers’ knowledge and understanding through teacher training program and build a platform for communicating ideas of SD through modern communication technology. Ideas of SD should be integrated into students’ daily life.

The community of farmers in land tenure have different institutional in terms of mastery of the land. In Indonesia there were generally institutional governing the utilization of land for mastery permanently, but there were also institutional governing dominion land in turn. This research aimed to chart institutional pattern characteristic mastery of the land inheritance system passes in, andanalyzeits contribution to sustainability of agriculture in the economic, social and ecological. Research method using case studies, with unit case a subdistrict in Gowa, South Sulawesi province, Indonesia. The results showed that institutional land pattern mastery system passes the inheritance patterns of alternation that has in effect hereditary, pattern rotation established by the heir land management patterns, depending on the number of beneficiaries, as well as not having managed to land fragmentation, so the scale of farming land, conditions can be maintained , the land was slanted so given a terracing, planting process was carried out by means of mutual. Neither found that institutional land pattern mastery system passes the inheritance had been contributing the sustainability of agriculture in social and ecological, but have yet to fully contribute to the sustainability of agriculture in economy.

This study aims to assess food security status of rural, peri-urban and urban households and role of socio-economic factors in ensuring food security. A survey was conducted to collect primary (quantitative) data from 630 respondents using proportionate sampling technique from Punjab, Pakistan. Cronbach’s Alpha reveals stability (>0.75) of data scale items. Using Dietary Intake Assessment (DIA), findings reveal urban households as highly food-secure whereas rural household as most vulnerable to food security at 2450kcal/day per person. Study indicates food price increase as the leading factor in preventing food security among households. Contrary, study identifies risk factors associated to food quality under the abundant availability and access as the new dimension to household food insecurity. Further, results of binary logit model show that socio-economic factors such as monthly income, total number of earners, education of household head and access to market are positively related with food security status whereas, social isolation, volatility in food prices and risk factors in food quality are negatively related with household food security. Therefore, study proposes educational orientation and entrepreneurial development as sustainable solution to ensure food security among masses. Besides, further country level researches are advised to deep delve the mounting menace of food security.

There is a large potential for cost-effective solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to improve the sustainability of the transport sector that is yet unexploited, in particular in the urban context. Considering the cost-effectiveness and the potential for co-benefits, it is hard to understand why energy gains and mitigation action in the transport sector is still lagging behind the potential. Particularly interesting is the fact that there is substantial difference among countries with relatively similar economic performances, such as the OECD countries in the development of their transport CO2 emission over the past thirty years despite the fact that these countries had relatively similar access to efficient technologies and vehicles. This study aims to apply some well established political science theories on the particular example of climate change mitigation in the transport sector in order to identify some of the factors that could help explain the variations in success of policies and strategies in this sector. The analysis suggests that institutional arrangements that contribute to consensus building in the political process provide a high level of political and policy stability which is vital to long-term changes in energy end-use sectors that rely on long-term investments. However, there is no direct correlation between institutional structures, e.g. corporatism and success in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector. Environmental objectives need to be built into the consensus-based policy structure before actual policy progress can be observed. This usually takes longer in consensus democracies than in politically more agile majoritarian policy environments, but the policy stability that builds on corporatist institutional structures is likely to experience changes over a longer-term, in this case to a shift towards low-carbon transport that endures.

This research aims to explore factors that influence sustainable music education from a psychological perspective, and innovatively constructs a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches. For first time, combines stochastic nonlinear system of control theory and identifies relevant factors affecting sustainable music learning by establishing a data system for questionnaire answering and a quantitative model for actual academic performance. Existing research mainly looks at several factors that affect fragmented music education from perspective of teachers' teaching rules, emphasizing phased teaching state and learning goals of teachers as main body, thus ignoring sustainable music education and students, who are a large group of music learning objects. The research fills gap in this type of research object, focusing on sustainable music education from an emotional perspective and students who occupy a dominant position in music learning, so as to more accurately explore impact of their emotional influencing factors on sustainable music learning. The most prominent innovation of this study lies in construction of stochastic nonlinear system for psychological influencing factors of sustainable student music learning and a quantitative model for actual learning effect. Through analysis of nonlinear system, weight values of several negative emotions on sustainable music learning are obtained.

In the decarbonization of the steel, cement, and chemical industry in Germany, green hydrogen is expected to play a crucial role. The utilization of green hydrogen in the production processes of said industries requires organizations to modify their business model, requiring sustainable business model innovation (SBMI). Numerous tools and frameworks that support organizations in the process of SBMI have been proposed in the literature in recent years. However, the applicability of these tools and frameworks for steel, cement, and chemical companies that intend to utilize green hydrogen to produce their goods remains unexplored. By conducting a systematic literature review on tools and frameworks for SBMI, a literature and practice review to identify and analyze existing green hydrogen projects of steel, cement, and chemical companies, and an evaluation of the identified tools and frameworks in an evaluation matrix, this paper aims to assess the suitability of SBMI tools and frameworks for steel, cement, and chemical companies that plan to use green hydrogen to produce their goods. Based on the evaluation, the Cambridge Business Model Innovation Process (CBMIP) was identified as the most suitable SBMI framework.

This paper discusses how Marsascala, a coastal town in Malta, has been urbanized over the years, with particular attention to the development of the tourist industry. In this regard, Bruce Young’s (1983) “general model of the process of ‘touristization’ and landscape change” is engaged with in conjunction with other conceptualisations of tourism and urban development. This paper contributes to the following sustainable development goals respectively, 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing); 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth); 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities); 14 (Life Below Water); and 15 (Life on Land), in particular with respect to quality of life, urbanization and respective social, environmental, and economic impacts, and through respective recommendations for a sustainable tourism in Marsascala and similar localities.

In the sustainable economy, consumer preferences are gradually coming to prioritise environmentally friendly products and services. A sustainable economy is directly linked to the growth of consumer welfare and environmental culture. The success of environmental projects is largely determined by approaches to the management of complex interconnected objects. Technological integration and the value chain from raw material extraction to the marketing of environmentally friendly products add to the growth factors. In this regard, we formulate the purpose of this study: to generalise the approaches and improve the mechanism of the ecological branding of the industrial complex of a region through conscious ESG transformation. For this purpose, we studied statistics and principles of management systems of Kazakh companies and their stakeholders. We analysed the situation of industrial complexes and their partners in the external environment to identify barriers to the development and implementation of eco-branding tools. The theoretical significance of the study helps to reveal the influence of ecological principles of modern production organisation on the speed of transition to green technologies. Its practical significance is seen in the formation of a system for measuring the level of readiness of companies to promote the ecological branding of a region’s industry outside its country.

This study, which was supported by a quantitative research paradigm with two experiment and two control groups of 4x4 quasi-experimental design, aimed to find out the impact of a sustainable progressive STEAM (SP-STEAM Model) application model on 5th grade primary school students critical thinking dispositions and mathematic achievements in Northern Cyprus. The treatment model was applied to experimental groups for 14 weeks of time. Split-plot multiple group analysis of variance (Split-plot ANOVA) statistical technique was used to calculate between and within group significances regarding exogenous variable. SPSS24 software package was used for the analysis. Pre-test and post-test results derived from experiment and control groups revealed significant effect of SP-STEAM Model on 5th grade primary school students’ critical thinking dispositions as measured with CCTDI and mathematic achievements as measured with a dedicated ex-am. The results were discussed in detail under the light of related literature and suggestions for further studies were proposed.

Globally, non-timber forest products (NTFPs) continue to contribute vastly to addressing the food, poverty reduction, income, and livelihood requirements of people in rural areas. However, as at now, there is no specific existing data highlighting periodic contributions of NTFPs to the economy of the Eastern region and the country. The study analyses the contribution of NTFPs towards economic development in the Eastern region and the achievement of SDGs in Ghana. Through Focus Group Discussions and qualitative analysis, it was concluded that NTFPs contribute immensely towards the economic development of the Eastern region and the country through employment and direct taxes. Ultimately, it is evident from the study that the destruction of the Atiwa forest reserve for the purpose of bauxite mining will widely hinder the country’s achievement of the SDGs. Also, the study found out that residents will continue to exploit forest resources if the core concerns of institutional deficiencies and rural poverty are not addressed. To curb this situation, there should be sustainable, regulated, and authorized harvesting of NTFPs/NWFPs, community/user empowerment, sectoral education and training programmes, etc. Even though these are common solutions, the study found them extremely rare in the study area.

The goal of Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme is to support sustainable development through effective management, innovative technologies, policy suggestion and governance. Today, the concept of Biosphere Reserves plays an important role in scientific investigations, generating knowledge, and experiences to link socio-economic development and biodiversity conservation for human well-being. This research, through an independent study which takes place in the Hungarian Biosphere Reserves of Pilis and Kiskunság aims at identifying practical sustainable business models which are suitable for supporting livelihood of locals. In this research, the two Biosphere Reserves serve as the learning sites under the light of global principles and state-of-the-art-of knowledge on sustainable development and sustainable business models. To do so, the state-of-the-art-of sustainable business model has been investigated through a comprehensive academic research. The lessons that learned from this investigation are used to support the data gathering method and planning the field trips to identify the sustainable business models currently in use at the Biosphere Reserves. This research particularly had been interested in small-sized sustainable business models practiced by small communities or families in various zones of Biosphere Reserves. First set of interviews and questionnaires designed to identify the business models in practice. The results identify foraging the wild plants in the buffer zone and transition areas as a potential sustainable business model in practice. Further interviews and surveys were conducted with foragers shows the beneficial of their practice on the local ecosystem and in increasing awareness on the deep connection with the ecosystems. The sustainable business model of foraging in addition to providing a sustainable livelihood for the locals maintains a spiritual connection between people and land. The identified sustainable business model can further be educational and practical for other 685 biosphere reserves.

The increasing social pressure for decarbonization has placed businesses under considerable scrutiny to actively reduce carbon emissions. A critical step towards achieving this objective is to shift conventional production and consumption systems to more sustainable alternatives. Thus, there is the emergent need to understand the patterns and drivers of the transformative business models (BMs) that underpin that shift. This study adopts a mixed-methods approach that integrates different literature streams--including Sustainability Transitions Theory (STT), Strategic Niche Management (SNM), and the Business Models approach--and stakeholders’ interviews to investigate the key elements of business models that lead towards sustainable practices. This research examines the organizational arrangements of European start-ups operating between 2014 and 2020. The transformation towards decarbonized production and consumption is characterized by efficient combination of business strategies that incorporate advanced technologies (ATs), such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and its algorithms, along with sustainable elements, resulting in transformative business models. By exploring the driving elements behind the transition to low-carbon approaches, this study fills a significant gap in the existing literature on business models. The findings from this research also hold relevance for policymakers to promote decarbonization.

In pursuit of sustainable human survival, the effective utilization of renewable energy has become critical to technological advancement. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) technology, which generates electricity by leveraging the temperature differential between surface and deep ocean waters, enables stable power generation around the clock. In this domain, the combination of thermoelectric generators (TEGs) and heat exchangers has exhibited immense potential for ameliorating the deficiencies of conventional OTEC. This study uses numerical simulation to investigate the fluid dynamics characteristics of heat exchangers with flat fins and different types of longitudinal vortex generators (LVGs) under the same number of fins. The research encompasses heat exchangers with rectangular, triangular, and trapezoidal LVGs. Concurrently, the analysis examines how the vortices generated by the LVGs influence the thermoelectric performance of the TEGs. The results demonstrate that heat exchangers integrating flat fins and LVGs can enhance the power generation efficiency of TEGs. However, the pumping power required by the LVGs constrains the thermoelectric conversion efficiency. Compared to rectangular and triangular LVGs, trapezoidal LVGs achieve a superior balance between output and pumping power. Heat exchangers utilizing trapezoidal LVGs can attain the highest TEG thermoelectric conversion efficiency with a specific seawater flow velocity. Overall, these findings provide valuable reference information for applying TEGs and heat exchangers in OTEC design.

Considering citizens' perceptions of their living environment is very helpful in making the right decisions for city planners who intend to build a sustainable society. Mental map analyses are widely used in understanding the level of perception of individuals regarding the surrounding environment. The present study introduces Aram Mental Map Analyzer (AMMA), an open-source program, which allows researchers to use special features and new analytical methods to receive outputs in numerical data and analytical maps with greater accuracy and speed. AMMA performance is contingent upon two principles of accuracy and complexity, the accuracy of the program is measured by Accuracy Placed Landmarks (APL) and General Orientation (GO), which respectively analyses the landmark placement accuracy and the main route mapping accuracy. Also, the complexity section is examined through two analyses Cell Percentage (CP) and General Structure (GS), which calculates the complexity of citizens’ perception of space based on the criteria derived from previous studies. AMMA examines all the dimensions and features of the graphic maps, and its outputs have a wide range of valid and differentiated information, which is tailored to the research and information subject matter that is required.

This study presents an innovative approach for the utilization of industrial by-products and municipal waste in the production of sustainable and environmentally friendly cement mortar. We explored stabilized stainless-steel reduced slag (SSRS) and polyethylene (PE) plastic waste as partial replacements for aggregates. Various engineering properties of the resulting cement mortar specimens, including slump, slump flow, compressive strength, flexural strength, tensile strength, water absorption, and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), were investigated through comprehensive experimental tests. The influence of different water-cement (w/c) ratios and substitution amounts on the engineering properties of the cement mortar samples was thoroughly examined. The findings revealed that an increase in PE substitution adversely affected the overall workability of the cement mortar mixtures, whereas an increase in SSRS amount contributed to enhanced workability. As for the hardened properties, a consistent trend was observed for both cases, with higher w/c ratios and substitution amounts leading to reduced mechanical properties. Water absorption and UPV test results validated the increased formation of porosity with higher w/c ratios and substitution amounts. This study proposes a promising method to effectively repurpose industrial by-products and municipal wastes, transforming them into sustainable construction and building materials. Additionally, a comparative analysis of transportation costs and carbon footprint emissions between SSRS-cement mortar and PE-cement mortar was conducted to assess their environmental impact and sustainability. Generally, higher w/c ratios and replacement levels corresponded to reduced carbon footprint. The geographical location of the source of SSRS and PE remains a challenge and studies to overcome this challenge must be further explored.

Meloidogyne nematodes, commonly known as root-knot nematodes, pose a considerable threat to crop yields, resulting in significant economic losses due to their intricate biology and limited control methods. In line with the European Union's focus on promoting organic farming and soil health to encourage sustainable agricultural practices, this study explores the efficacy of two characterized bacterial communities obtained from compost, namely SynCom1 and SynCom2, against Meloidogyne javanica in tomato plants. Through pot experiments, it is demonstrated that both bacterial communities effectively suppress nematode reproduction and root infections while simultaneously enhancing various growth parameters in tomatoes. These findings underscore the potential of synthetic bacterial communities as promising tools for organic or integrated pest management, thereby supporting sustainable agricultural practices and contributing to improved crop yields.

With global climate change and resource constraints looming large, sustainable design has become a focus of attention for all industries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes and behavioural intentions of undergraduate fashion design students towards sustainable fashion practices. Undergraduate fashion design students (n = 441) from three universities in Guangdong Province, China, participated in this survey. By constructing different scales of environmental knowledge, attitude towards sustainable fashion practice and behavioural intention towards sustainable fashion practice, and by using structural equation modelling to analyse the relationship between environmental knowledge and sustainable fashion practice, the following conclusions were drawn: (1) environmental knowledge has a positive effect on attitude towards sustainable fashion practice (p＜0.05); (2) environmental knowledge has a positive effect on behavioural intention towards sustainable fashion practice (p＜0.05); (3) Subjective norms has a positive effect on behavioural intention towards sustainable fashion practice (p＜0.05). (4) Attitudes towards sustainable fashion practice play a mediating role in the relationship between environmental knowledge and intentions towards sustainable fashion practice behaviour (p＜0.05). The findings of this study have implications for environmental education for undergraduate fashion design students and for sustainable production in companies.

Agricultural intensification increased crop productivity but simplified production with lower diversity of cropping systems, higher genetic uniformity, and a higher uniformity of agricultural landscapes. Associated detrimental effects on the environment and biodiversity as well as the resilience and adaptability of cropping systems to climate change are of growing concern. Crop diversification may stabilize productivity of cropping systems and reduce negative environmental impacts and loss of biodiversity, but a shared understanding of crop diversification including approaches towards a more systematic research is lacking. The current review highlights the use of Cropping Systems Diversification as an Approach to Enhancing Crop Productivity. Crop diversification can be considered as an attempt to increase the diversity of crops through, e.g. crop rotation, multiple cropping or intercropping, compared to specialized farming with the aim to improve the productivity, stability and delivery of ecosystem services. It can be one measure to develop more sustainable production systems, develop value-chains for minor crops. Crop diversification practices can include higher crop diversity, more diverse crop, mixed cropping; cultivation of grain legumes in otherwise cereal dominated systems, perennial leys or grassland and regionally adapted varieties or variety mixtures. Crop diversification and/or additional diversification measures like variation of seeding time or changing cropping patterns have the potential to lead to higher and more stable yields, increase profitability and lead to greater resilience of agro-ecosystems in the long term. These practices have the potential to make cropping systems more diverse in space, time and genetics. Through a balanced portfolio approach to agricultural sustainability, cropping system performance can be optimized in multiple dimensions, including food and biomass production, profit, energy use, pest management, and environmental impacts.

This paper evaluates the global sustainable competitiveness of three blocks of power (US, China and EU) based on OGT (Organic Growth Theory) structure. In addition, a sensitivity analysis of COVID-19 on three measures of global sustainable competitiveness, economy, environment and social is also presented. OGT is a well-thought-through and standard framework for evaluation of any type of organiza-tion in their pathway to experience truly sustainable growth. GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is used as an economic measure; total carbon emissions equivalent is used as an environmental measure and HMI (Human Development Index) as a social measure. It is concluded that the pandemic has paused the evolution of countries to be truly world centric countries. However, the recovery plans seem to be highly aligned with the OGT scores and it is expected that the scores to improve dramatically.

This review article conducts an in-depth analysis of the role of next-generation technologies in soilless vegetable production, highlighting their groundbreaking potential to revolutionize yield, efficiency, and sustainability. These technologies, such as AI-driven monitoring systems and precision farming methods, offer unparalleled accuracy in monitoring critical variables like nutrient concentrations and pH levels. However, the paper also addresses the multifaceted challenges that hinder the widespread adoption of these technologies. The high initial investment costs pose a significant barrier, particularly for small and medium-scale farmers, thereby risking the creation of a technological divide in the industry. Additionally, the technical complexity of these systems demands specialized expertise, potentially exacerbating knowledge gaps among farmers. Ethical considerations are scrutinized, including data privacy concerns and potential job displacement due to automation. Regulatory challenges, such as international trade regulations and policy frameworks, are discussed as they may need revision to accommodate these new technologies. The paper concludes by emphasizing that while these sustainable technologies offer transformative benefits, their potential for broad adoption is constrained by a complex interplay of financial, technical, ethical, regulatory, and social factors. Comprehensive, multi-faceted solutions are therefore essential for their ethical and equitable implementation.

During the last years the desire and the need for green buildings have been increased. The rise of energy cost, the higher transportation expenses and the international challenges along with the climate change are related with the green buildings market but are also affecting the cost of construction. The aim of this research is to discover and confirm the increased request of green properties and to investigate whether this is related to a new need or just a desire of the buyers. Moreover, the paper examines the people’s knowledge of greenness and sustainability and their wish to live and work in sustainable buildings. Finally, do the buyers will to pay extra in order to purchase a sustainable property and how sustainability can affect the market value and the construction industry. The participants who took part in this research were people that are living and working in Cyprus. One of the significant outcomes was the fact that people who have the knowledge and awareness related to sustainability are willing to pay extra to purchase green properties.

Nowadays, higher education students play an active role in the realization of sustainable development goals (SDGs) for global citizenship. However, some important issues such as how much students know about these goals can play a role in achieving these goals are not yet clear. The aim of this study is to establish a fundamental study for determining the level of knowledge on the higher education students about SDGs. An open-ended questionnaire was conducted with the qualitative research methods on 54 higher education students after pandemic of COVID-19. As a result of the research, the goals of quality education, gender equality, health and quality of life, reduction of inequalities and peace, justice and strong institutions are the most frequently mentioned by the students. In addition, the opinions of the students on the subject of “sustainable cities and communities” are sequentially; the themes include ensuring socio-economic development, preserving cultural heritage identity, safe environment and durable buildings, as well as modern irrigation and waste methods, and reducing air pollution. On the other hand, they agreed on the need for global citizenship to have universal qualifications. In conclusion, global citizenship contributes directly to the SDGs and human-oriented production should be given more importance.

This study delves into the intricate dynamics of sustainable fisheries through the lens of mathematical modeling, specifically employing the Lotka-Volterra equations. The Lotka-Volterra equations, originally conceived to understand predator-prey interactions, offer a potent framework to model and predict fish population dynamics within aquatic ecosystems. The aim of this research is to demonstrate the applicability and efficacy of the Lotka-Volterra equations in understanding the delicate balance of fish populations and aiding sustainable fisheries management. Through this mathematical approach, we seek to provide a structured methodology and present results that showcase the potential of this model in predicting and managing fish populations. In our analysis, we adjust the parameters of the Lotka-Volterra equations to simulate various scenarios, enabling a comprehensive understanding of sustainable fishing practices. Our findings underscore the significance of mathematical models, particularly the Lotka-Volterra equations, in informing strategies to maintain fish populations in a sustainable and ecologically balanced manner, thereby ensuring the longevity of marine ecosystems and the fisheries thatrely upon them.

Urban parks play a pivotal role in fostering the development of sustainable and smart cities, encompassing multifaceted dimensions of environmental, social, and economic significance. To effectively manage these urban parks, it is imperative to undertake an in-depth investigation of their environmental, social, and economic conditions, as well as their level of sustainability. However, there is currently a lack of readily applicable methodologies that comprehensively measure these benefits and provide a sustainability rating for urban parks. In this study, we propose a valuable tool that employs effective and affordable measures for the daily management of these green spaces. Our methodology is rooted in the three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social, and economic. Within these pillars, we have defined 19 indicators and 50 criteria, enabling a comprehensive assessment of park sustainability. This methodology is developed through the characterization and systematic documentation of the park’s day-to-day operations. To validate our methodology, we present a case study of Cárcamos Park, situated in the state of Guanajuato in Mexico, utilizing accurate operational data collected from January to December 2020. Through this real-life scenario, we demonstrate the high applicability and effectiveness of our methodology. The sustainability assessment of Cárcamos Park reveals a sustainability level of 57%, placing it within the medium sustainability range. Importantly, our methodology can also be incorporated during the design phase of new urban green spaces, offering flexibility and ease of application tailored to the unique characteristics of each park. Park managers can use our procedure and apply it to any park, evaluate their sustainability status and detect areas of opportunity. Our approach provides a comprehensive and practical tool for measuring and improving the sustainability of urban parks. Its simplicity and applicability make it accessible to anyone interested in creating a greener and more sustainable urban environment.

TiO2-based building materials have air purification, auto-cleaning and sterilization functions, and these innovative green building materials have great potential for energy-saving and emission reduction applications in the future. However, there are still great challenges in improving photocatalytic efficiency and stability from laboratory to practical applications. In recent years, researchers have done a lot of work to improve the efficiency and stability of TiO2-based building materials. This paper briefly discussed the air purification principle by photocatalytic building, and the preparation techniques of TiO2-based building materials and the strategies to improve the efficiency of TiO2. Moreover, this paper has outlined the key factors that affect the photocatalytic building performance in practical applications, and analyzed the limitations and future development trends. Finally, we proposed some suggestions for further research on photocatalytic buildings and its application in practice, aiming to provide an efficient reference for developing highly efficient and stable photocatalytic building materials. The aim of this paper is to provide effective guidance for the application of TiO2-based photo-catalysts in the field of green buildings, helping to develop more efficient and stable low-carbon buildings for the development of sustainable cities.

The participation of the public in the decision, use and maintenance of the heritage structures in the cities brings positive results to that city. Istanbul Kadikoy-Hasanpasa Gasworks was closed in 1993 and lost its function, and in 2021, it was reopened for use as a culture and art center. In the transformation decisions of the gasworks, the Gasworks Environmental Volunteers, consisting of the people of the environment, have played an active role for 27 years and continue to play a role after the transformation. This study examines the impact and efforts of Gasworks Environmental Volunteers before and after the transformation and describes a collective struggle in the participatory management of heritage. As a result of face-to-face interviews, observations, and literature research conducted with a qualitative research method, the effects of non-governmental organizations on heritage sites were examined. The data obtained will increase the awareness of the society on the heritage areas and contribute to the fact that the society will be a factor in the transformation decisions by protecting the heritage.

The importance of agricultural programs in reducing poverty, improving livelihoods, and increasing productivity cannot be overstated. Poverty and unemployment remain the most pressing developmental concerns in rural communities of Africa in general and South Africa in particular. The study was derived from the contribution of the agricultural development programs and sought to discover how the Fortune 40 initiative impacted rural livelihoods of youth in Bushbuckridge Local Municipality. Primary data using cross-sectional research design was collected from beneficiaries of the Fortune 40 program, through use of a questionnaire. An ordered probit model was used to analyse the impact of Fortune 40 initiative to rural livelihoods. Empirical results revealed that age of beneficiaries, household size, type of farming, credit access and land size were the factors with the likelihood to influence the impact of the Fortune 40 program. Therefore, it can be concluded that the land size for production should increase or expanded to enhance production of vegetables; provision of credit facilities for youths in agriculture through micro-finance and rural commercial banks is essential; also, youth, such as agricultural graduates looking for practical experience and on-farm training, should be considered in the program.

This article presents a comprehensive review of the relationship in sustainable tourism and blockchain technology. The aim of this research is to explore the potential of blockchain to promote sustainable tourism, as well as to evaluate the current state of research and practical implementations in this field. The findings demonstrate the potential of blockchain in enhancing sustainability practices in tourism, while also highlighting the challenges and limitations. The study provides valuable insights for policymakers, industry practitioners, and researchers, and proposes future research directions to further advance the field.

A number of sustainable and environmental issues are caused by consumer's behavior. Consumers' consumption pattern plays an increasingly important role in environmental conservation and adopting to a more sustainable community. This study used planned behavior theory and structural equation model to quantifies individual purchasing behavior of electronic vehicles based on perceived health risk cased by air pollution in Kunming, China. The findings showed that (1)for residents in Kunming, the perceived air pollution risk, the willingness to purchase new energy vehicles, and actual purchase behavior are low; (2) perception of health risks has a significant positive impact on purchase willingness, behavioral attitude and subjective norms play a significant positive mediating role between perception of health risks and purchase willingness, and perception of behavioral control plays a significant negative role, purchase willingness has significant positive impact on purchase behavior, the direct effect of perceived behavioral control on purchase behavior is insignificant; (3) for highly educated groups, risk controllability has a significant impact on the perception of health risk, subjective norms and behavioral attitude have significant impacts on purchase willingness, while for low-income gourp, risk controllability has significant impacts on the perception of health risk.

For the agricultural sector to develop sustainably in the future, progress toward more environmentally friendly technologies and methods is crucial. It is necessary to increase output while reducing the demand for energy, agrochemicals, and water resources. Although greenhouses can be utilized successfully for this purpose, significant technical advancements are required, especially when it comes to heating, to lower the use of fossil fuels and boost energy efficiency. Infrared waves and microwaves, for instance, can warm plants without having to heat the entire greenhouse volume, which takes a significant amount of energy to compensate for heat loss to the outdoor environment. In this paper, through a thorough examination of the state of the art, a general overview of novel greenhouse heating systems based on radiation is reported. First, infrared heating of greenhouses is analyzed, then the strengths and weaknesses of microwave and dielectric heating are discussed, and finally the use of microwaves for soil sterilization is examined. All outcomes suggest these irradiation-based technologies can contribute significantly to an agriculture that is energetically sustainable.

With the disruption of digital technologies, customers have emerged as co-producers in order to reduce costs and enhance productivity. Customer-driven business logic recognizes customer capabilities and sustainable innovation as key factors in the performance of customized manufacturing enterprises. The potential relationship between customers and producers has become a new area of inquiry. Existing research rarely delves into the impact of customer predictive ability on the process of customized production activities, particularly in relation to sustainable innovation, which remains inadequately characterized. Ships serve as a typical representation of customized enterprises. This study explores the underlying drivers of sustainable innovation through customer demand orientation by examining 20-year historical patterns in the global shipping and shipbuilding markets, considering the environmental dependency and temporal correlation characteristics of the shipbuilding market (producers) and the shipping market (consumers). By employing time series and panel data in a machine learning algorithm, specifically the random forest model, the study reveals a strong and statistically significant correlation between new ship deliveries and the Baltic Dry Index (BDI), with larger value ships having a more pronounced impact on the consumer market. The correlation analysis confirms that these two variables, in combination, can comprehensively reflect customer predictive ability and serve as crucial decision criteria for customer investment in new ship production. Furthermore, based on principal component analysis of customer predictive ability and ship innovation levels, as well as Granger causality tests, the study demonstrates that customer predictive ability is a Granger cause of sustainable innovation in customized production. Customer predictive ability influences sustainable innovation in customized enterprises to varying degrees. This research provides valuable insights for shipbuilding companies in terms of engaging in sustainable innovation in international markets and understanding the value of international market customers.

This research aims to examine the level of readiness of the community to carry out sustainable tourism development, especially community-based tourism on small islands, such as Lombok Island, Indonesia. More specifically, the objectives of this study are as follows: (1) Knowing the level of community readiness in carrying out sustainable tourism development. (2) Knowing the various dimensions that influence sustainable tourism development. (3) Knowing the role of stakeholders in sustainable tourism development. The method applied in this research is mixed methods, a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches. Quantitative methods are used to determine community readiness for sustainable tourism development. A qualitative approach is used to determine the various factors that influence the development of community-based tourism and to determine the role of stakeholders in the development of community-based tourism. The level of community readiness for sustainable tourism development is high in terms of economic, social, cultural, environmental, and symbolic capital aspects. Aspects that influence the development of sustainable tourism are economic, social, and cultural. Stakeholders who play a role in developing sustainable tourism in the research area are the government, the private sector, universities, non-governmental organizations, and the media.

Microfinance institutions (MFIs) play an significant role in financial inclusion and poverty alleviation activities. A critical challenge facing MFIs is how on all to build its own capacity for sustainable and healthy development. By using the data from the pilot survey of 65 microcredit companies in Zhejiang of China, this paper explores the factors affecting MFIs activities by principal component analysis and analyzes the key Influencing factors and sustainable development performance with the analysis of variance and multi-regression model.The results indicate that four key factors of operational technology, external environment, financial condition and institution size have a significant positive effect on the economic sustainability performance of MFIs, while the adjusted institution size is insignificant positive effect on operational sustainability performance,which means that key factors of MFIs sustainability have a greater impact on economic sustainability performance than operational sustainability performance.

As a form of protection, a nature park is often created to protect and valorise natural and cultural heritage in peripheral rural areas. However, in terms of multi-functionality, new nature parks are incorporated into traditional productive activities, such as recreational and tourist activities, which sometimes compromise sustainability. The research objective is to study the relationship between tourism and sustainability in the Nature Parks of “Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche”, “Sierra Norte de Sevilla” and “Sierra de Hornachuelos” that makes up the Dehesas de Sierra Morena Biosphere Reserve in Andalusia, Spain. Therefore, selective interviews have been carried out with the stakeholders to establish their perception of sustainable tourism and the presence of dominant discourses. The main conclusions indicate (1) the presence of different dominant discourses on sustainability, namely the conservationist and mercantilist ones, with the prevalence of the economic dimension; (2) poor awareness and adaptation to the context of global change; and (3) the presence of competitive relationships that generate difficulties for the governance of sustainable tourism.

As the scarcity of potable water increases, recycling of treated wastewater is increasing. Small-scale, decentralized treatment can be implemented to serve local populations by keeping water within their boundaries and within reach for reuse, particularly in less dense, non-urban communities. Availability of cellular networks and high-speed internet connectivity, along with significant reduction in cost, allows ongoing monitoring of decentralized treatment systems at a central location. In this paper a decentralized treatment system using micro nanobubble aeration, moving media and membranes is able to produce reusable water with low energy consumption, thereby allowing the use of solar energy in places with unreliable electrical supply. The treatment system, which uses no external chemicals, is able to operate unattended and deliver clear, disinfected water with non-detect suspended solids, BOD5 less than 10 mg/L and nutrients below 5 mg/L.

The excess use of unsafe pesticides and mineral fertilizers in agriculture has led to serious health problems and environmental pollution. Nanotechnology has been solving these problems by providing nanoparticles (NPs) with excellent performance. By green synthesis of nanoparticles from plants, animals, and microbes, the use of hazardous and toxic chemicals has become limited. Nanoparticles have excellent performance in many fields such as electronics, cosmetics, automobiles, catalysis, biosensors, bioengineering, etc. NPs also showed excellent performance in agriculture by improving crop production and food quality. Various nano-based agroparticles that have conducted many smart and efficient agricultural systems involving nanopesticides, nanofertilizers, nanoherbicides etc. Apart from enhancing the food production, these materials operate some other functions like as identifying disease in plants, control release of nutrients, delivery of nutrients at target sites, etc. various nanofertilizers such as Fe, Mn, N, K, Mo, P, CNTs and P showed excellent targeted delivery performance. Nanopesticides and many nanoformulations have showed excellent pest protection performance. Here we reviewed the sources of nanomaterials and their excellent performance in agriculture.

Climate change is a major threat to agricultural food production globally and locally. It poses both direct and indirect effects on soil functions. Thus, agricultural management practices has evolved to adaptation strategies in order to mitigate the risks and threats from climate change. The study concludes with a recommendation the coconut farmers should explore the idea of soil biodiversity in a bid to mitigate the potential negative impact of climate related risk on the farming. The study proffers the need for adopting sustainable agricultural practices to boost local coconut production. This can contribute to the simultaneous realisation of two of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations: SDG 2 on food security and sustainable agriculture and SDG 13 on action to combat climate change and its impacts. The study findings has implications for tackling climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa and in particular Nigeria in order to boost local agricultural production and coconut in particular without negative environmental consequences and an ability to cope with climate change related risks.

China is gradually and steadily shifting towards more sustainable development and the local governments are increasingly promoting sustainable spatial planning practices. The article debates the potential contradiction between the goal of a growing urban population and the reduced consumption of land planned by the sustainable development strategy of the city of Suzhou in the Yangtse River Delta region. The article explores the opportunities of densification of the residential urban environment as a possible solution for this contradiction. The article presents some Chinese examples of densification for land use efficiency and identifies in the resettlement communities of Suzhou some of the sites that can be efficiently redeveloped for their obsolescent conditions that do not correspond to the increasingly middle-class status of the residents in the region. The article investigates the different options of densification possible in the resettlement communities in the frame of the policies of urban renewal promoted in China in recent years for improving the urban quality of cities.

The article discusses the role of humanistic values in the contemporary configuration of cities. Today's times put us in a privileged position as we can observe deep and clear changes happening very quickly. Visible changes are reflected not only in society and culture, but also in the space of developing cities, towns, and metropolises. While characterizing contemporary urban trends and ideas, the philosophical trends that contribute to them and the values on which they are based were discussed. Corrections are also shown, which usually start with slight dissonances and initially slight differences in the content of theses, and as a result lead to completely different views on the world. Contemporary determinants of postmodernism, deconstructivism, ecological ideas, sustainable development, social integration and participation, high-tech, digital, and smart city are discussed in detail.

The paper comes from the need to search for criteria useful for the valorization of heritage towns, located in rural and/or inland areas of Italy, now affected to depression and depopulation process. To this end, the authors point out how territorial identity can constitute the theoretical foundation to influence the development policies and, in particular, the tourism development for sustainability process It was therefore decided to interview a number of stakeholders who could contribute with their professionalism and expertise to identify possible paths and processes for the enhancement of these areas for tourism development. The methodology was based on be to be interviews with open questions, which allowed to identify a SWOT analysis, offering a guideline for a correct governance of these rural areas for their tourist enhancement, in terms of sustainability of development and tourist attractiveness. The study is an observatory that will monitor the implementation of sustainable tourism enhancement of the borghi, heritage town

(1) Background: Show caves are unique natural attractions and touristic traffic can trigger their degradation within a very short time. There are no universal solutions to counter the effects of the touristic impact upon cave environment and both protection protocols and management plans have to be established on a case-by-case basis; (2) Methods: The study includes four show caves from the Romanian Carpathians, where monitoring of the number of visitors, paralleled by the monitoring of the main physico-chemical parameters of the air and water (CO2, temperature, humidity, drip rate, conductivity, and pH) was implemented; (3) Results and Conclusions: The results of the study has: (i) established a monitoring protocol to be applied to each of the four show caves; (ii) established a set of basic principles to be enforced by the management of show caves; (iii) issued a set of preventive measures and instructions to be followed by the personnel and stakeholders of the caves.

Italian floriculture is facing structural changes. Possible options to maintain competitiveness of the involved companies include promotion of added values, from local productions to environmental sustainability. To quantify value and benefits of cleaner production processes and choices, a holistic view is necessary, and could be provided by life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. Previous studies on ornamental products generally focused on data from one company or a small sample. The aim of this study was a gate-to-gate life cycle assessment of two ornamental species (Cyclamen persicum Mill. and Pelargonium ×hortorum Bailey) using data from a sample of 20 companies belonging to a floriculture district in Treviso, Veneto region. We also assessed the potential benefits for the environmental impact of the selected species of alternative management choices regarding plant protection and reuse of composted waste biomass. Life cycle impact assessment showed the higher impact scores for the zonal geranium, mainly as a consequence of greenhouse heating with fossil fuels. This factor, along with higher uniformity of production practices and technological level of equipment, translated in lower variability observed in comparison with cyclamen production, which shows a wider results range, in particular for eutrophication, acidification and human toxicity potentials. The application of integrated pest management had significant benefits in terms of impact reduction for acidification and human toxicity of cyclamen, while reduced use of mineral nutrients through compost amendment of growing media resulted in a reduced eutrophication potential. The achievable benefits for zonal geranium were not observable because of the dominant contribution of energy inputs.

Italy is the leading European producer of rice. The transition to organic farming could represent a solution for environmental protection, as well as for the economic sustainability of farms, consumer safety and as a measure of climate mitigation, but it currently displays several weaknesses in the control and certification system. The objective of the current study is to propose advice for improving the control and certification scheme in the organic rice sector. To achieve this aim, we adopted a qualitative methodology based on participant observation at stakeholders’ meetings, focus groups, community-led workshops and deep interviews with relevant local actors. Findings show that there are some solutions to mitigate the weakness of the Italian certification scheme. The study also produces managerial implications to improve the Italian organic rice system.