Applying Sustainability Principles Research Articles

Sustainable procurement of medical devices in an international context - Part 3

Background and Objectives This article is the third in a series of three manuscripts published in this journal. It aims to describe how sustainable procurement of medical devices (MDs) can be implemented in operational projects in the context of developing countries. It also further details how the biomedical/clinical engineer lead (BCEL) in charge of technical support during the MD procurement process can apply sustainability principles and concepts of value-based procurement. Material and Methods Based on the authors’ experience of more than 20 years in procurement projects and implementation of MDs, the role of the BCEL will be developed from a theoretical point of view with the description of the second and third pillars of a sustainable purchase following the needs assessment: the assessment of existing conditions along with local capacities and the evaluation of the use conditions during the lifetime of the medical equipment. The application of these principles in operational projects will be further discussed by analyzing literature and lessons learned from projects implemented in developing countries. Results/Proposal The BCEL has a key role in the sustainable procurement of MDs to design the technical specifications of the goods, related services, and post-sales conditions to maximize the benefit of the investment. As the specialist can analyze the local existing conditions and capacities while ensuring efficient use of the MDs during their lifespan, they can contribute to a sustainable implementation of MDs in developing countries. The BCEL shall also be able to analyze the local and international markets to find all possible technological solutions that meet the needs, local conditions, and capacities and ensure quality use during the lifespan of the purchased MD. The BCEL shall have competencies in identifying all the risks related to the use of the MD from the safety risks linked to its installation, use, and maintenance to the sustainability risks linked to obtaining the conditions that guarantee the use of the device and maintaining them as long as possible. Examples of these conditions include the presence of qualified and trained users, availability of maintenance and consumable budgets, availability and maintenance of infrastructure conditions (access, electrical power, water, drainage, medical gasses, etc.), and last but not least, presence of patients requiring a diagnosis or treatment using the purchased MD who were identified during the evaluation of the first pillar: a sound needs assessment. Conclusion As an evolution of the BCEL’s traditional biomedical and clinical engineering work, he/she shall assume the responsibility to guarantee the sustainability of the MD purchase. This quality assurance and control role is achieved by a sound theoretical background knowledge based on the three sustainable procurement pillars: the needs, existing and lifetime use conditions assessments, the analysis of the local and international markets, and a broad understanding of sustainability risks.

Forward steps in green medical laboratory practices for a sustainable future

Abstract This paper provides information on the significance of environmental sustainability and the potential benefits of implementing green laboratory processes. Sustainability is a broad concept that includes goals such as conservation of natural resources, energy efficiency, waste management, and reducing environmental footprints. Green laboratories strive to minimise environmental footprints by embedding sustainability principles into their everyday practices. This involves improvements in energy consumption, water usage, chemical waste reduction, and recycling, ultimately, as well as lower waste disposal costs. Implementing green laboratory approaches provides many benefits, such as a smaller environmental footprint, increased energy efficiency, water conservation, and cost savings. Moreover, a rational test ordering process can effectively contribute to reducing environmental impacts in medical laboratories. Rational test ordering provides cost-effectiveness and reduces the carbon footprint. Establishing a green and sustainable laboratory culture in medical laboratories requires a permanent organisation in where all personnel participate. Training of the hospital management teams, clinicians, and laboratory professionals is a vital point. Methodology and quality indicators should be defined by international and national laboratory associations within the framework of a green and sustainable laboratory plan, and data should be collected. In conclusion, adopting green laboratory practices reduces environmental impacts, saves costs, and accelerates innovation processes. Setting quality targets and rational test ordering practices are also essential for sustainability. Applying sustainability principles in laboratory workplaces is an important step towards protecting the environment and leaving a more liveable world for future generations.

A Framework for Sustainability of Small and Medium-scale Businesses in Nigeria Amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on small and medium-scale businesses in Nigeria has exposed the ill-preparedness of business owners and government in guarding against the collapse of these critical assets of the economy and, subsequently, saving livelihoods. Nigeria suffers from a colossal infrastructure inadequacy (for example, power supply and access to the internet are two critical inputs of business), and this problem has for a long time impeded the growth of most companies that cannot afford to run their constant operations on generators and expensive internet. These utilities would have, to a substantial extent, cushioned the effects of lockdowns and enabled e-commerce to thrive, rather than the reliance on the traditional face-to-face approach of doing business. The sustainability principle must be brought to bear on all aspects of life in Nigeria so that the thinking of efficient utilization of available resources will ensure the availability of the same resources in the future; long-term planning by small and medium-scale businesses are anchored on the sustainability concept; business mindsets must change to reflect the reality that it is not business as usual. Managers must begin to see the importance of applying sustainability principles in business, which will positively impact the short and long-term cycle of their business. This paper will peruse the different strategies necessary to keep small and medium-scale businesses afloat in the COVID-19 pandemic period and beyond; it will dissect all the avenues required to navigate the muddy waters occasioned by the advent of the Novel Coronavirus disease to safeguard businesses and jobs in the future in the event of another problematic situation.

Enabling simultaneous valorization of tannery effluent and waste plastic via sustainable preparation of Cr-BDC MOFs for water adsorption

Advanced materials undergo a complex and lengthy process of maturation for scaling up and deployment, mainly due to the high cost of their precursors. Therefore, it is highly desirable to fabricate highly valuable advanced porous solid-state materials, with proven applicability, by sustainably combining organic and inorganic waste materials as precursors. This study successfully demonstrates the preparation of Cr-terephthalate Metal–Organic Frameworks (Cr-BDC MOFs) by combining metal salt and organic linker extracted from tannery effluent and waste plastic bottles. The waste from tanneries was used as the source of Cr(III), while terephthalic acid was obtained from the alkaline hydrolysis of plastic bottles. Appropriate extraction and assembly processes led to the functional Cr-BDC MOFs, MIL-101(Cr) and MIL-53(Cr). The prepared MOFs showed similar properties (surface area, hydrolytic and thermal stability, and water adsorption performance) to similar MOFs synthesized from pure commercial-grade precursors, as confirmed by N2 sorption, XRD, TGA, and water adsorption experiments. The advancements made in this study represent significant progress in overcoming the bottleneck of MOF production cost efficiency via applying sustainability principles and pave the way for easy scaling-up and maturation of MOF-based processes, for air dehumidification and water harvesting as a case study.

Overcoming sustainability barriers in facilities management by a project management framework for project governance

The world needs to transform in sustainable ways, in large part due to the environmental hazards caused by and negative effects of the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. The AEC industry, including facilities management (FM), is a key stakeholder in sustainability issues and responsible for a large part (40% on average) of climate gas emissions. This concern has led to growing interest among academics and practitioners in the AEC and FM fields in the topic of sustainability. Nevertheless, many barriers to applying sustainability principles in practice remain, rendering their application difficult in fields such as project management (PM), where it has moved from the fringes toward the centre of traditional practice. This paper aims to explore a theoretical PM framework to analyse barriers to sustainability encountered in organisations with direct applications to the AEC and FM sectors through the perspective of project governance. Our findings derive from a literature review (97 articles published between 2003 and 2021) categorising types of barriers related to sustainability implementation and grouping their components. The study showcases the main factors hampering organisations in the incorporation of sustainability principles and how these can be overcome to move toward sustainable development. A total of seven categories of barriers to sustainability resulted from the study; here, we analyse two categories in detail.

Improving Antimicrobial Use to Protect the Environment: What Is the Role of Infection Specialists?

Anthropogenic environmental changes are causing severe damage to the natural and social systems on which human health depends. The environmental impacts of the manufacture, use, and disposal of antimicrobials cannot be underestimated. This article explores the meaning of environmental sustainability and four sustainability principles (prevention, patient engagement, lean service delivery, and low carbon alternatives) that infection specialists can apply to support environmental sustainability in health systems. To prevent inappropriate use of antimicrobials and consequent antimicrobial resistance (AMR) requires international, national, and local surveillance plans and action supporting antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). Engaging patients in addressing environmental sustainability, for example through public awareness campaigns about the appropriate disposal of unused and expired antimicrobials, could drive environmentally sustainable changes. Streamlining service delivery may include using innovative methods such as C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), or genotype-guided point of care testing (POCT) to reduce unnecessary antimicrobial prescribing and risk of adverse effects. Infection specialists can assess and advise on lower carbon alternatives such as choosing oral (PO) over intravenous (IV) antimicrobials where clinically appropriate. By applying sustainability principles, infection specialists can promote the effective use of healthcare resources, improve care quality, protect the environment, and prevent harm to current and future generations.

Informatic Analysis and Review of Literature on the Optimum Selection of Sustainable Materials Used in Construction Projects

The dramatic increase in urban population has led to rapid infrastructure development worldwide and the construction industry has become one of the most progressive sectors in the world today. As a result, the construction process and its related stages play a significant role in the environment's impact, both directly (via resource and energy consumption as well as the production of contamination and waste) and indirectly (through intense pressure on inadequate infrastructures). Consequently, there is a global drive to develop “environmental-friendly and sustainable, “green” and carbon reducing buildings”. Implementing sustainability can improve the quality of our life, granting us a healthy life and promoting economic, social, and environmental circumstances. The optimal selection of sustainable building materials is acknowledged as the most fundamental way for designers to apply sustainability principles to construction projects. This Paper provides a comprehensive literature review for sustainability maximization through the material selection process. The paper performs an analysis of the previous studies related to sustainable material selectionto identify the critical factors and knowledge gaps that should be considered in the material selection process. Finally, the paper concludes that the current literature in the building domain lacks a standard method that could help decision-makers selectthe appropriate materials by considering all factors that arise in the decision-making process to maximize sustainability in buildings. Furthermore, a need exists to fill the gap between designers and decision-makers in the sustainable construction industry for improving the selection process of sustainable building materials while at the same time looking at the accomplishment of environmental goals and meeting design and budget requirements

IN PURSUIT OF SUSTAINABILITY: TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE FUTURE THROUGH EDUCATION

Higher Education Institutions increasingly include sustainable development concepts in their programs to teach their students about sustainability. This tendency is encouraged by the Sustainable Development Goals. Today’s technological age implies concerns about sustainability including ethical decision-making and responsible behavior of organizations and leaders. Moreover, the Covid-19 pandemic impacted sustainable development and highlighted the need for a more sustainable future. Sustainability can positively change value culture, the environment, and improve the quality of life. Although incorporating sustainability into the curriculum creates challenges for universities, it can also offer opportunities for educational institutions. Universities have an important role to play in the transition towards sustainability. They must not only incorporate the concept into research and teaching but also implement it on campus. This review article provides a brief overview of sustainable development in higher education institutions and discusses how universities adopt and apply sustainability principles. It also explores how sustainability can be integrated into various disciplines and sheds light on students’ and academics’ attitudes toward Education for Sustainability.

PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS AT WORK AND OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES BY IMPLEMENTATION OF ERGONOMICS

The paper deals with the connection between accidents and occupational diseases due to the weak application of ergonomics in business practice. Applying the principles of ergonomics in the day-to-day running of companies in primary prevention makes it possible to prevent the occurrence and exacerbation of difficulties in the musculoskeletal system of the employees concerned, which can ultimately avert the development of occupational diseases and increase occupational accidents. Ergonomics primarily addresses work environment factors that are cumulatively pathogenic, so their impact on employees will only become apparent after a specific exposure time. In contrast, occupational safety and health focus primarily on thermal and traumatogenic factors of the work environment, which can cause an employee an occupational injury of varying severity or result in death. To comprehensively cover the effects of all work environment factors on employees, the work environment and the work activity itself must be assessed from both occupational health and safety and ergonomics. The observance of ergonomic principles in the solution of workplaces makes it possible to prevent many different costs related to the occurrence of accidents at work and occupational diseases. In most cases, however, these are cost-effective solutions whose effect is not immediately visible, so they are more likely to be reached by companies that apply sustainability principles or have a positive experience of the past. The article focuses on the need to implement ergonomic principles in business practice, such as preventing occupational accidents and developing occupational diseases.

Projecting More Sustainable Product and Service Designs

Product and service development based on sustainable criteria is one of the poles of innovation in design activity. Public policies, consumer preferences, and corporate social responsibility lead to the growing importance of applying sustainability principles in the current design process. However, to make this practice widespread, sustainability assessment must be included in the curricula of bachelor’s and master’s degrees in design, so that the graduates have the precise tools to use when they start their professional careers. Furthermore, sustainable design methods have mainly been applied to improve only the environmental behavior of products. In this work, a methodology that simultaneously evaluates environmental, economic, and social aspects was applied to project more sustainable designs of products and services. This approach was implemented in higher education to develop Bachelor’s and Master’s degree final projects by design engineering students. Collaboration with different companies and institutions allowed the study of a number of cases. The production process of a cash management machine, the service provided by a public nursery school, and the development of an itinerary exhibition were addressed. In each case, product and service requirements were analyzed, sustainability indicators were obtained, and more sustainable designs could be proposed. This experience is also part of a global strategy at the University of Zaragoza to support the implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, enhancing sustainability education. The intention of this paper is to present a methodology for more sustainable design, and examples of its application that other teachers can easily follow when teaching design of products or services.

Is sustainability challenging in Indonesia’s energy provision? Fuel type vs. externalities in electricity cost analysis

This study aims to reveal the challenging sustainability within Indonesia’s energy provision by studying the electricity generating cost (GC) formation, externalities’ effect, and current Indonesia’s electricity and budget condition. In studying GC formation, two variables thought to have remarkable influence are fuel price (represented by Fuel Cost/FC) and operating time, which indicates the power plant’s type (represented by Capacity Factor/CF). The regression results indicate that CF has a greater impact on GC than FC; GC increases as FC increases but decreases as CF increases. FC contributes by 10%-86% of GC, subject to fuel prices and CF. Since coal is the cheapest, GCCoal < GCGas < GCDiesel, but internalizing the externalities triples the GCCoal and doubles the GCDiesel. However, its internalization is challenging as it affects the producers’ and consumers’ welfare. Sustainable energy provision is challenging due to two factors. First, there is a dilemma between applying sustainability principles and providing energy immediately. The fastest route, which is the lowest price orientation, is preferable, indicated by coal domination in the electricity mix. Second, sustainability is not the priority yet, indicated by the environment programs is outside the top ten priority development programs.

Green electrospinning for biomaterials and biofabrication

Green manufacturing has emerged across industries, propelled by a growing awareness of the negative environmental and health impacts associated with traditional practices. In the biomaterials industry, electrospinning is a ubiquitous fabrication method for producing nano- to micro-scale fibrous meshes that resemble native tissues, but this process traditionally utilizes solvents that are environmentally hazardous and pose a significant barrier to industrial scale-up and clinical translation. Applying sustainability principles to biomaterial production, we have developed a ‘green electrospinning’ process by systematically testing biologically benign solvents (U.S. Food and Drug Administration Q3C Class 3), and have identified acetic acid as a green solvent that exhibits low ecological impact (global warming potential (GWP) = 1.40 CO2 eq. kg/L) and supports a stable electrospinning jet under routine fabrication conditions. By tuning electrospinning parameters, such as needle-plate distance and flow rate, we updated the fabrication of widely utilized biomedical polymers (e.g. poly-α-hydroxyesters, collagen), polymer blends, polymer-ceramic composites, and growth factor delivery systems. Resulting ‘green’ fibers and composites are comparable to traditional meshes in terms of composition, chemistry, architecture, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility. Interestingly, material properties of green synthetic fibers are more biomimetic than those of traditionally electrospun fibers, doubling in ductility (91.86 ± 35.65 vs. 45 ± 15.07%, n = 10, p < 0.05) without compromising yield strength (1.32 ± 0.26 vs. 1.38 ± 0.32 MPa) or ultimate tensile strength (2.49 ± 0.55 vs. 2.36 ± 0.45 MPa). Most importantly, green electrospinning proves advantageous for biofabrication, rendering a greater protection of growth factors during fiber formation (72.30 ± 1.94 vs. 62.87 ± 2.49% alpha helical content, n = 3, p < 0.05) and recapitulating native ECM mechanics in the fabrication of biopolymer-based meshes (16.57 ± 3.92% ductility, 33.38 ± 30.26 MPa elastic modulus, 1.30 ± 0.19 MPa yield strength, and 2.13 ± 0.36 MPa ultimate tensile strength, n = 10). The eco-conscious approach demonstrated here represents a paradigm shift in biofabrication, and will accelerate the translation of scalable biomaterials and biomimetic scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Embedding Sustainability in Interdisciplinary Pedagogy for Planning and Design Studios

Sustainability literacy should be embedded in built environment higher education. We explored the contribution of interdisciplinary studios to students’ sustainability literacy. We ran a studio with Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture students, focused on a coastal brownfield renewal in Victoria, Australia. Studio activities and assessments were designed based on constructivist and experiential learning principles. Students’ learning experiences were evaluated through surveys and focus group interviews, and analyzed against an integrated framework. Results show that simulating real-world situations, game-based and role-playing activities, and applying sustainability principles to a complex site encourage creativity, shared control, and negotiation, which foster experiential sustainability learning.

A cohort study of sustainability education in nursing

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess the contribution of scenario-based learning aimed at raising awareness of sustainability in health-care practitioners. The Lancet Countdown on Climate Change calls for urgent action on health and climate change; this requires appropriate knowledge, skills and competencies that can be gained through undergraduate education. The International Council of Nurses calls for leadership in nursing for sustainability; however, climate change and health are given little attention in nursing and health-care curricula.Design/methodology/approachA cohort of nursing and midwifery students was introduced to sustainability and climate change in the context of health care through scenario-based learning sessions in each of their three years of undergraduate education. Questionnaires were used to collect data on participant’s attitudes toward sustainability and climate change, how useful the educational sessions were and the extent to which their clinical practice had changed.FindingsSignificant differences were found between scores in Years 1 and 2 suggesting greater awareness of the importance of sustainability in nursing education and practice. Comparison of Years 2 and 3 scores found participants more likely to apply sustainability principles in clinical practice and challenge unsustainable practices in the work environment.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research is required to explore sustainability practice in postgraduate nurses/midwives. However, this study supports the need for sustainability education to be embedded within health-care professional degrees through applied and participatory pedagogical approaches.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate sustainability education and its impact on nursing attitudes towards practice.

Introducing sustainability principles into the procurement of construction works – case of Indonesian developers

The construction sector plays an important role in sustainable development, for example, through sustainable procurement of construction works. However, procuring for construction works in such a way has been particularly challenging. The objective of this research was to identify the owners’ potential of applying sustainability principles into their construction works procurement. Data were collected using questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and additional review on the relevant documents, involving 6 public and 14 private developers of green buildings, located in major provinces. The scope of study focused on: (i) technical specifications, (ii) evaluation criteria and (iii) procurement processes conducted by the organization. The assessment of potential implementation was mainly based on the frequency of responses of ‘Awareness’, ‘Willingness’ and ‘Implementation’. Further analysis identified the so-called Degree of Unwillingness and the Degree of Difficulty. Results show that the developers were more ready to implement sustainability into the technical specifications. Meanwhile, among the two other aspects of procurements, the most challenging issue was to introduce sustainable principles into the processes conducted within the procurement organization.

Corporate social responsibility: Applying sustainability principles in stakeholder engagement

There is a strong ethical case to redress poverty and inequality in South Africa. The South African corporate sector has been called upon to take responsibility for the ways their operations impact societies. There has been considerable change in the way the corporate sector concerns themselves with applying sustainability principles to the ways in which they conduct their business specifically in their social interactions with stakeholders. This sees the South African corporate sector investing millions to support sustainable community development and social programs. The total corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditure in South Africa was estimated to amount to R8.2 billion in 2013/2014 (Trialogue, 2014). Although major South African and multinational companies have had ample opportunity to express and communicate their views on the potential of CSR, the voices of communities continue to be thwarted and stifled when they should logically lie at the heart of effective change management interventions. Business has the obligation, and also the resources, to make a contribution to communities in which they operate. This article investigates the South African business sectors involvement in stakeholder engagement and describes two cases of major South African companies and their increased value for a stakeholder governance model.

Competency Framework for the Property Management Industry

Property management is a very complex and challenging profession due to its nature and coverage of work in managing not just the four walls but what inside and outside the four walls. In addition, the task also requires monitoring of 24/7 and 365 days. The team of property management consists of various backgrounds to ensure that it can cater the needs and requirements of each building. Thus, to deliver quality services would require a minimum competency according to their scope and area of work. This research is aim to develop the property management competency framework that is applicable in the Malaysian property management service delivery. The method used is using focus group consists of the experts in the industry either private organizations or public institutions; nationally and internationally. Findings reveal that the knowledge base and technical skills required of today's property management professional have changed significantly. The competency requirements for a professional property manager include advanced technical knowledge, a good grasp of business operations and a working knowledge of the real estate business environment. The ability to integrate different business concepts, apply sustainability principles, to be cost effective and a strong ethical foundation is an essential element of a successful professional property manager. Hence, it is crucial to have the minimum competency level as a basis to deliver excellent quality service as well as to be adapted and adaptable to the environment, the stakeholders and the buildings.© 2016. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning &amp; Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.Keywords: Property management, competency framework, property management industry

Developing Future Engineers: Case Study on the Incorporation of Sustainable Design in an Undergraduate Civil Engineering Curriculum

AbstractTo better prepare students to tackle the challenges of real-world problems, the authors developed a strategic approach to incorporate sustainable-design principles in the undergraduate curriculum to set a foundation of sustainability on which students could build throughout their academic careers. The plan through the four-year undergraduate curriculum involves creating an awareness of sustainable design in a required freshman introduction-to-design course and describing the science of sustainability and how students can apply sustainability principles in a new required sophomore-level course. The students are then prepared to consider sustainability in their civil engineering technical design courses during the third-year curriculum. In their fourth year, students apply sustainability principles in developing and evaluating design solutions during their senior capstone design course. Assessment of student learning showed improvement in students’ abilities to comprehend principles of sustainable d...

Special Issue on Sustainability Engineering Education: Keeping Up with the World!

Special Issue on Sustainability Engineering Education: Keeping Up with the World!

Towards the Quadruple Bottom Line: Corporate Governance and Sustainability in the 21st Century – A South African Perspective

Companies are being called upon to take responsibility for the ways in which their operations impact societies and the natural environment in which it operates. This involves applying sustainability principles to the ways in which they conduct their business. In the rapidly changing economic environment of the 21st century, companies that continues to operate on short-term high alert instead of a long-term evolutionary and strategic perspective will find that the issues surrounding sustainability is going to become a significant financial burden and even a threat to the company’s survival. Companies wishing to remain profitable and sustainable in the 21st century must incorporate the principles of sustainable development in an anticipatory governance framework embracing a strategic and long-term view of the company’s future and its stakeholders – quadruple bottom line.