Environmental sustainability management in the foodservice industry: Understanding the antecedents and consequences

The long-term survival and sustenance of every society are contingent on sustainable environmental management. For a country like Nigeria, with a continuous increase in the rate and intensity of environmental degradation, sustainability practices, laws, and institutions are even more critical. Rapid industrialisation, unchecked oil exploration, and ineffective regulatory enforcement have all contributed to this problem. This seemingly perpetual destruction of the environment ought to be addressed effectively, and specifically by using the country’s legal and institutional frameworks to effect some degree of positive change. However, lapses and gaps in the execution of crucial legislation, combined with gross political negligence and unwillingness to act, have hindered any form of progress. This paper examines Nigeria’s existing legal and institutional frameworks, highlights and evaluates challenges that delimit their effectiveness, and offers some insights into their apparent and expected contributions to environmental sustainability. The paper employs a doctrinal method and relies heavily on primary legislation, judicial authorities, and secondary academic sources, particularly studies from expert legal, socio-political, and environmental scholars. The study concludes with a considerable number of recommendations that suggest important areas of improvement in Nigeria’s broader plan for effective environmental management. This research contributes a comprehensive analysis of Nigeria’s constitutional and legislative frameworks for environmental management, identifying legal gaps and proposing actionable reforms to strengthen sustainable environmental governance.

Sustainable energy and good environmental management practices are potent factors that can be used to achieve clean energy and sustainable economic growth. This is a global problem that needs immediate action and intervention to reduce the adverse impact of climate change to humanity. This study investigated the sustainable energy and environmental management practices in the recreation and tourism industries in Nsukka metropolis of Enugu State. The descriptive research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study consisted of 209 recreation and tourism service providers in Nsukka Metropolis. Instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire which was validated by three experts from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The instrument has a reliability coefficient of 0.81. Frequency and percentages were used to determine level of sustainable energy and environmental management practices, while phi coefficient was used to determine relationship between sustainable energy and environmental management practices. Findings showed that recreation and tourism possess very low level of knowledge of sustainable energy use. They however showed positive attitude towards sustainable energy through the adoption of energy saving devices like energy bulbs, solar PVs etc. There is strong positive relationship between knowledge of sustainable energy and environmental management practices. The researchers recommended that government should improve on its effort to create awareness of sustainable energy use and environmental management practices among the populace if the problem of climate change is to be abated.

Environmental sustainability (ES) emerged in response to the felt negative consequences of overexploitation of the environment and natural resources. ES has gained momentum in recent decades in areas of social policy, means of production, development, economy and everyday individual behaviours. The drive towards ES has been firmly based in scientific research which has been dominated by Western developed countries. For a tiny developing country like Nepal, its overall contribution to global environmental pollution and degradation is minimal; however, it has been disproportionately negatively affected by global warming, pollution, etc. There is sparse research on the various measures or state of environmental sustainability standards, policies or behaviours in Nepal. In this quantitative cross-sectional study, five types of Service Sector Institutions (SSI) from Kathmandu, Nepal were studied for their environmental sustainability (ES) and environment management (EM) measures in place at their facilities. SSIs were chosen because they have the distinct characteristic of being directly involved with large sections of populations, and hence hold the potential to pioneer innovative and effective solutions towards fostering environmental sustainability. ES was defined in terms of three measures related to sustainable freshwater use, energy use and waste management. The measures for EM included organizational capacity building and attitudes towards ES. Data was collected directly from representatives of the SSIs through self-report interviews or forms. The 104 SSIs included 25 schools, 26 restaurants, 16 hotels/lodges, 18 banks and 17 health care organizations. Based on frequency distributions and ANOVA tests, it was found that the overall extent of ES and EM practices among the 102 SSIs was dismally low in Kathmandu, Nepal. As given in the figure, educational institutions performed significantly better across all five ES and EM measures indicating highest prevalence of sustainability measures and practices. Banks performed significantly worst across all categories compared to the four other SSIs, indicating least amount of efforts in ES and EM. All five measures of environmental sustainability (ES) and environmental management (EM) were also strongly positively correlated amongst each other. A huge amount of effort is still required to revamp the existing ES and EM policies and organizational norms in Nepal. Moreover, it remaining challenging to change people’s attitudes and behaviours in order to effect lasting positive changes in the future and conserve the local environment better.Graphical

Sustainability has become one of the top priorities in the foodservice industry. With an increase in consumer interest in sustainability and educational opportunities in higher education, it is important to know what sustainable practices are implemented in campus dining and how sustainable practices affect consumers' responses. This study aims to identify the key sustainable practices in the campus dining context, and investigate the relationship by applying the stimulus-organism-response framework to determine whether the key sustainable practices influence consumers' perception and behavioral intentions. The self-administered online survey was distributed to college students in 8 dining halls at a large southeastern university in the United States from September 20-October 10, 2019. A total of 382 valid questionnaires were collected, and factor analysis and multiple regressions were utilized to test the research model. This study identified 4 dimensions of campus sustainability with a total of sustainable practices: sustainable food, waste management, energy/water conservation, and recycling/reuse. Three dimensions of sustainable campus practices (i.e., sustainable food, waste management, recycling/reuse) played a significant role in consumers forming a perceived value while energy/water conservation did not significantly influence the consumers' perceived value toward the campus dining. Waste management was identified as the most important practice to enhance consumers' perceived value (β = 0.330). Using sustainable food and recycling/reuse were ranked second and third, respectively (β = 0.262, β = 0.154). The findings confirmed the significant positive relationship between perceived value and revisit intentions. The findings support the inclusion of dining sustainability as a critical component in explaining college students' perceived value and revisit intention toward campus dining. Furthermore, this study provides practical implications for university administrators and foodservice operators to consider the key sustainable practices to meet the consumers' value and revisit intentions.

Intergenerational transmission of sustainable consumption practices: Dyadic dynamics of green receptivity, subjective knowledge, peer conformity, and intra-family communication.

Purpose: The paper presents empirical evidence of sustainable practices adopted by rural tourism stakeholders. It explores the concept and meaning of sustainable practices and what motivates rural tourism stakeholders to adopt sustainable tourism practices as well as recommendations to enhance sustainable rural tourism practices. Design/methodology/approach: This paper describes an exploratory qualitative research project designed to investigate sustainable tourism practices of the rural tourism stakeholders. An inductive approach was adopted to address the research objectives. Specifically, this paper focuses on individuals' subjectivity and understanding of sustainable tourism practices in terms of meaning, motivations, and areas of improvement. The respondents' opinions were collected through semi-structured interviews. A total of 29 rural tourism operators participated in the data collection from the two rural tourism associations in Sabah, Malaysia. The data collection was held at Kota Marudu and Kuala Penyu from April to May 2022. Findings: The findings revealed that sustainable tourism practices relate to conservation and preservation, economic benefits, collaboration and protection, environmental impact, future growth, awareness, knowledge, and improvement. Interestingly, the meaning of sustainable tourism practices is strongly connected to the term “fairness”, to competitive products and quality attractions, and to meeting tourists' needs. This implies the meaning of sustainable tourism practices is not limited to economic, environmental, and sociocultural impacts; it also relates to quality tourism products and the needs of tourists. Key drivers for sustainability practices include economic, social, environmental, and government support. Relevant approaches for improving sustainable rural tourism practices include greater participation and collaboration among rural tourism operators, conservation and preservation, destination uniqueness, long-term growth, and 3Rs practices (reduce, reuse, and recycle). Research limitations/implications: Findings implicate sustainable rural tourism destination management and the rural tourism stakeholders to adopt and enhance the sustainability of the rural sites and destination. It also extends the scope of existing literature on the meaning, motivation and sustainability practices of rural tourist destinations. Originality/value: This study focuses on the importance of sustainability in rural tourism in Sabah, Malaysia, an area on which limited empirical research has been done. The study provides an in-depth understanding of the meaning and drivers of sustainable practices from the rural tourism operators' perspectives. Additionally, it proposes sound strategies for sustainable rural tourism practices. Such practices and development are attributed to an individual's understanding of the concept of and motives for adopting sustainable development practices, government support, and core infrastructure. Finally, this study offers practical implications for sustainable development of rural tourism.

Environmental degradation has emerged as a critical global issue, significantly impacting ecosystems and human health, particularly in low and middle-income countries like Nigeria. The need for comprehensive and sustainable environmental management practices is paramount to address these challenges effectively. This study aims to assess the current state of environmental degradation in Bayelsa State, Nigeria, and evaluate the effectiveness of initiatives undertaken during World Environment Day (WED) 2024 to promote environmental stewardship and sustainable practices. The study employed a mixed-method approach, including field observations, community surveys, and analysis of environmental data. Activities during WED 2024, such as tree planting, educational lectures, and site visits, were evaluated to determine their impact on raising environmental awareness and promoting sustainable practices. The activities conducted during WED 2024 significantly increased community awareness about environmental issues and the importance of sustainable practices. The planting of 500 native saplings contributed to combating deforestation and soil erosion, while educational lectures and site visits provided residents with practical knowledge and insights into environmental conservation. The initiatives undertaken during WED 2024 in Bayelsa State have laid a strong foundation for fostering a culture of environmental stewardship. By engaging the community and promoting sustainable practices, these efforts have set a positive precedent for future conservation activities, contributing to a more resilient and sustainable environment. To build on the success of these initiatives, it is recommended that the Bayelsa State Government enact stricter environmental laws and regulations. Increased environmental advocacy by the Nigerian Environmental Society and other stakeholders is crucial, along with adopting sustainable agricultural practices and improving waste management systems. This study highlights the critical role of community engagement and education in promoting environmental conservation. The findings demonstrate that targeted initiatives, such as those undertaken during WED 2024, can significantly enhance environmental awareness and drive sustainable practices, contributing to the overall resilience and sustainability of ecosystems in Bayelsa State and beyond.

Non-technical summary Tourism significantly boosts a nation's economic growth, but unrestrained practices can cause serious environmental damage. As an essential part of the tourism industry, hotels meet the fundamental needs of tourists. This study examines the sustainable environmental management practices of hotels in Malaysia. It finds that hotels prioritize cost-saving and short-term benefits over long-term environmental gains. The study also reveals variations in sustainable practices based on hotel location and star rating. These insights are useful for various stakeholders in developing strategies and initiatives to achieve sustainable development goals. Technical summary Sustainable environmental management practices (SEMP) are essential to pave the way toward achieving a net-zero emission sustainable future. This study explores the level of SEMP among hotels in Malaysia based on distinct categorizations of location and star ranking. The findings show that hotels in Malaysia adopt higher basic SEMPs but less advanced practices. However, the level of basic and advanced SEMPs in hotels differ according to their geographical locations and star ranking. The findings also suggest that hotels in Malaysia prioritize cost-saving practices and short-term benefits over the long-term benefits of sustainable practices. The study contributes to the existing literature by highlighting the variations in the sustainable practices among different categories of hotels. Further, the findings are helpful for practitioners and policymakers in designing tools and measures, and promoting initiatives that best suit different types of hotels. Such efforts are crucial to promote and accelerate the engagement of sustainability practices in hotels.

The intersection between sustainability and project management has received significant attention as organizations recognize the criticality of incorporating sustainability practices into their projects. However, incorporating sustainability considerations presents some challenges, requiring the development and adoption of methods, tools and techniques tailored to address sustainability at the project level. Against this backdrop, this study endeavors to develop an understanding of the effective incorporation of sustainability within projects through the micro-level perspective of practices. An online survey was developed based on a comprehensive literature review of which a total of 107 valid responses were collected and analyzed. The results show the most useful sustainable project management practices perceived by experienced project professionals, including ‘Sustainability team management’, ‘Lessons learned towards sustainability’ and ‘Sustainability risk register’, among others. However, a data analysis reveals a prevailing trend marked by the limited perceived usefulness of sustainability practices in the context of project management. Furthermore, through exploratory factor analysis, a clear classification of sustainable project management practices was identified, according to the specific phases of the common project management lifecycle: ‘Initiation and planning’, ‘Execution, monitoring, controlling and replanning’ and ‘Closure’. By providing a set of sustainable project management practices and identifying the underlying factors that elucidate the incorporation of sustainable project management practices across the project management lifecycle, this study extends a guiding hand to practitioners in pursuing successful sustainability integration in their projects. It vividly illustrates that sustainability can be readily incorporated into project-management processes, delivering sustainable products and/or services in a sustainable way, combining both the ‘sustainability of the project’ and ‘sustainability by the project’ perspectives.

Sustainable manufacturing is a popular topic due to its importance. Green manufacturing practices have been widely applied in Asia. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on sustainable manufacturing practices in Asia, with a particular emphasis on green manufacturing practices. Based on the systematic literature review using VOSViewer software to analyze the content of the published articles, the literature on sustainable manufacturing practices can be classified into three main categories, which are Sustainable manufacturing, Sustainability practices, and Environmental management. Most of the literature related to Green & sustainable science & technology, Environmental Science, Engineering, Manufacturing, Engineering, Environmental, and Environmental Studies that is accounted by 18.84%, 17.39%, 10.41%, 10.41% and 8.70% of the total documents included in the review, respectively.

Purpose: This study investigates the relationships between sustainable personnel management practices, employee engagement, organizational commitment, and organizational performance in the hospitality industry, focusing on hotels and restaurants. Methodology: A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative surveys of 500 hospitality employees with qualitative interviews of 20 HR managers and sustainability officers. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the quantitative data, while thematic analysis was applied to the qualitative data. Results: The study identifies key drivers of sustainability in personnel management, including employee training and involvement in green initiatives. Implementing sustainable personnel management practices is associated with improved employee engagement, organizational commitment, and organizational performance. The research also highlights challenges and opportunities in implementing sustainable practices in the hospitality industry. Theoretical contribution: This study extends the existing literature by demonstrating the mediating roles of employee engagement and organizational commitment in the relationship between sustainable personnel management and organizational performance in the hospitality context. Practical implications: The research provides a step-by-step implementation guide and timeline for hospitality managers to integrate sustainable practices into their personnel management systems. It also highlights the importance of technology in supporting sustainable HR practices and overcoming implementation challenges such as resource constraints and lack of awareness. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities; SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

This paper discusses the impact of sustainable practices in food supply chains. Practices are identified from the literature and their implementation maturity level by companies is assessed. Through a systematic literature review, current best sustainable practices about supply chain management in the food industry are identified. Then, a questionnaire survey is administered to professionals, and the results are quantitatively analysed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Twenty-five best sustainable supply chain management practices are considered. Among these, some practices appear to be well established on both the academic and industrial sides, such as sustainable supplier management practices. On the contrary, other practices widely discussed in the literature, such as green shipping and distribution, or collaborative practices are still rarely adopted. Moreover, some practices appear to have a direct influence on the economic, environmental, and social dimensions a business should be accountable for. This work includes the point of view of professionals that are increasingly dealing with the sustainability issue.

A prerequisite for achieving the objectives of sustainable development is knowledge of the nature, extent, geographical distribution, along with the potentials and limits of natural resources. The mapping, monitoring, measuring, and management of many elements of the built, natural, and biophysical environments are all made possible through satellite remote sensing. Remote sensing is a crucial tool for advancing solutions and offers useful insights into urgent environmental concerns. Thus, data collection for efficient resource management in Ghana has shown to be greatly aided by remote sensing, which may also be used for environmental monitoring and management. Because of this, it is crucial for remote sensing technology to progress in order to acquire data more effectively and efficiently, which helps with rapid change detection, sustainable environmental management, and sustainability. This review's goal was to provide a thorough analysis of the literature on Ghana's use of remote sensing for environmental management and sustainability. Wiley, Taylor & Francis, Science Direct (Elsevier), and Scopus (Elsevier) were a few of the databases used for the review. The findings indicate that there are numerous remote sensing applications for sustainable environmental management in Ghana, including environmental impact assessments of various projects, analyses of changes in land use and land cover, mapping of watersheds and hydrologic features, estimation of soil loss, management of water resources, management of forestry resources, and management of natural disasters. The outcomes also demonstrate that natural, biophysical, and constructed ecosystems might be appropriately monitored and sustainably managed for the benefit of both the present and future generations with the use of remote sensing technology. Governments, municipal managers, environmentalists, and planners may develop useful plans and strategies for sustainable development and effective environmental management with the aid of the information supplied by remote sensing. Keywords: Ghana, Sustainable Management, Environment, Remote Sensing.

Sustainability in the livestock industry has been a significant focus in recent years, specifically in areas of environmental impact and animal welfare. However, research into how producers define sustainability or how to achieve it seems limited. Considering the amount of research and advancement in on-farm sustainable applications and management practices, it is important for Extension workers to assess the level of awareness, understanding and usage among beef producers of varied technologies, information, and practices. To align educational programming with areas of need or facilitate change in behavior and practices toward a more sustainable direction, it is important to understand producers’ willingness to interact with sustainable messaging and practices. An objective of our research study was to assess Alabama beef producers’ opinions of sustainability, sustainable practices within the industry, and their implementation rate of those practices. An IRB approved online survey with 36 questions was developed and distributed to Alabama beef producers from July to November 2024. Questions probed producer opinions on the importance of resources and their views about environmental impact and sustainability, knowledge of Climate-Smart Commodities programs, implementation of certain sustainable practices, and what tools or resources are considered necessary for their operation to adopt and/or further improve sustainability practices. Over one-hundred primarily cow-calf producers from 42 of the 67 counties in Alabama had varying implementation rates (~9-90%) of practices that can increase sustainability and resource management, specifically grazing management plans, growth promoting technologies, and animal handling and welfare training. Further research into sustainable practices and financial information are important for continuing sustainability practice implementation. Providing producers with financial information or counseling on decision making could increase adoption of sustainability practices. Extension educators may use results from this research to guide development of financial advisory programming and sustainability resource management information for producers.

Sustainable management practices such as lean and visual management can be directly linked successfully to facilities management practices. This was acknowledged during an exploratory case study that assessed the leanness of a university’s transformation, evaluating their lean and value-added approach to enhancing workflow efficiencies. The research study was limited to one UK university estates and property services lean journey. Design science research methodology with an action research approach was applied. In conjunction with qualitative methods such as interviews, questionnaires, and participatory observations in action that included a workshop. The literature review surmised that there is a lack of data demonstrating the correlation between lean visual management and sustainable management practices especially in facilities management services. Additionally, combining sustainable management and change management methods is also not widely researched. When sustainable management practices that include lean and visual management are implemented in facilities practices customer expectations are improved, waste eliminated, color coding and labelling implemented, and known sustainable practices such as recycling of furniture, fixtures and equipment occur adding value and reallocating financial resources. It is recommended that change management be introduced to better understand workplace culture when executing transformation directives. Subsequently, management will become better equipped at contending with employee’s attitudes, work ethics, and behaviours. The originality of this research exploration illustrates that facilities management departments should embrace sustainable management practices that include lean visual management methods combined with change management. Consequently, improving employee experience, return on investment and acknowledgment from customers, senior leadership, and the C-suite.