Drivers of sustainable cleaner production and sustainable energy options

Abstract

Economic growth and the development of global markets have been coupled with energy use, which have caused an increase in global energy demand and created pressure on the supply of energy resources. This special volume section reports advances being made towards sustainable cleaner production and sustainable energy options. The section presents a selection of papers that show leading examples of the application of sustainable management, green production, and renewable energy. An overview framework is proposed to categorise the papers and to show key actors, factors and technologies for resource efficiency, cleaner production and sustainable energy. The themes covered by the papers include drivers of such sustainable practices. Five of these papers focus on the role of technology, regulatory framework, and customers' efforts in fostering the development and adoption of greener technologies. Another group of seven papers gives examples of on how to use green chemistry and cleaner energy sources such as biomass to foster transition to sustainable production. The last paper addresses the effect of environmental practices on firm's performance. The special volume section highlights the importance of multidisciplinary approaches that integrate social and technological perspectives to solve current sustainability problems and to promote the development of sustainable energy and sustainable production.