Sustainability Performance Assessment Research Articles

The impact of FinTech/Blockchain Adoption on Corporate ESG and DEI Performance

Monitoring a company's efficiency is one of its primary responsibilities. There are many approaches in our contemporary society that either use IT or the conventional technique. Methods for measuring efficiency fall into three primary categories: parametric, nonparametric, and ratio indicators. We prioritize a firm's inputs and outputs when choosing metrics to measure efficiency. Establishing objectives and goals in entrepreneurship necessitates a thorough comprehension, appreciation, and knowledge of sustainability, and assessing the economic growth quality of a corporation is an essential task for theoretical and empirical sustainability assessment. When measuring the efficiency of entrepreneurship in terms of achieving desired values of macroeconomic indicators (e.g., sustainable economic growth objectives), data envelopment analysis (DEA), a widely used technique in efficiency analysis, has taken into account the economic, environmental, and social impact of entrepreneurship as the three dimensions of sustainability. The objective of this paper is to test the influence of FinTech/Blockchain adoption on corporate ESG and DEI performances using a novel DEA approach for sustainable development assessment. It highlights the significance of using a scalable technique for ESG efficiency study and gives scholars a more thorough viewpoint on the subject. In a collection of 50 enterprises, a DEA model was utilized for the analysis. For sustainable performance assessment using the proposed DEA technique, we defined as inputs six financial metrics, and as outputs 11 ESG/Blockchain adoption, and four DEI quality metrics to measure the firm’s efficiency. The annual business data was gathered between 2017 and 2023. In all country situations we discovered that, when DEI initiatives mediate, there is a strong correlation between ESG corporate performance and the quality of economic growth (particularly in the innovation and integrity blockchain adoption performance success metrics). Our study provides additional in-depth details on the FinTech/blockchain adoption environment in comparison to the findings of previous researchers. The sustainable entrepreneurship performance (a latent variable regarded as a dependent target factor) is calculated using eight (8) factors as observed variables, which is the first to consider the dynamics of ESG/BCA and DEI quality metrics as DEA outputs. The study also examines the mediating role of DEI corporate initiatives. By conducting an empirical investigation, the suggested scalable framework makes it evident which company is more efficient in moving toward sustainability, assisting corporate management in increasing the effectiveness of economic growth.

Sustainability performance assessment of sago industry supply chain using a multi-criteria adaptive fuzzy inference model

Background Sustainable supply chains are more competitive than conventional supply chains. Supply chain sustainability performance needs to be carried out to determine sustainability under current conditions and to design appropriate strategies to increase sustainability. This study aims to design a sustainability performance assessment model for the sago agro-industry supply chain and identify critical indicators for sustainability improvement. Methods The Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) evaluates sustainability on three levels: economic, social, and environmental. The Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) is then used to aggregate the overall sustainability performance. The cosine amplitude method (CAM) was used to analyze key indicators. This study assessed the sustainability performance on industrial- and small-medium-scale sago agro-industry. Results The results show that the supply chain sustainability performance on the industrial scale is 44.25, while it is 48.81 for the small-medium scale with the same status, almost sustainable. Key indicators for improving sago agro-industry supply chain sustainability performance include profit distribution among supply chain actors, institutional support for supply chains, waste utilization (reuse & recycle), and the availability of waste management facilities. The implication of this research for managers regards assessing the current status of sustainability performance and key indicators as a reference for formulating sustainability strategies and practices. Implication The sago agro-industry sustainability performance evaluation methodology uses industry-relevant metrics to assess supply chain sustainability, promoting collaboration among stakeholders and assisting in the creation of sustainable strategies. Conclusions The results of the study will enable supply chain actors to understand the key indicators for improving sustainability performance in the sago agro-industry supply chain, especially in Meranti Islands Regency, Riau Province. The proposed model can be applied to other agro-industries by adjusting the indicators used and assessing data availability and suitability for the research object.

Integrated and sustainable performance evaluation of urban rail transit systems using fuzzy sustainability index

The complexity of prominent dimensions in urban rail transportation sector arises from the involvement of several stakeholders and the various interacting variables for evaluating transportation performance. This study uses a fuzzy logic-based method to present an index-based framework for sustainable performance assessment. The proposed framework presents 4 main indicators which include environmental, economic, financial and social sustainability, 14 sub-indicators, 4 main indicators for transportation system effectiveness with 13 sub-indicators and 1 main indicator for multi modal integration with 6 sub-indicators. The performance ratings and importance weights of the transport sustainability attributes are evaluated using a fuzzy logic approach. A numerical illustration is provided to demonstrate the applicability of the approach. The results show that system capacity (passenger capacity of a route), comfort and customer service (passenger environment and ride quality, maintenance cycle) and multimodal integration (park and ride facilities) were found to be weaker attributes. The proposed methodology facilitates the systematic understanding of the prominent attributes for achieving integrated and sustainable transport performance by using the ‘Fuzzy Transport Sustainability Index’.

Assessing the Sustainability Reporting Transparency and Engagement of European Energy Companies

Energy companies are facing increasing pressure from institutional and industry stakeholders to prioritize their responsibility to the environment and society, including providing accurate, reliable, and comprehensive reports on their sustainability practices. Three metrics were developed in this study: the average sustainability reporting score and two sustainability performance reporting indices based on two different performance measurement methodologies. These were designed to assess the effect of mandatory non-financial disclosure on sustainability reporting and the level of transparency and engagement of energy companies. The study also examined the relationship between the level of sustainability reporting and sustainability performance in the period of 2016–2019 by correlating these metrics. The analysis sheds light on the effectiveness of non-financial disclosure regulations in promoting sustainability practices in the energy industry. The results revealed no difference in metric scores prior to, or even following, the adoption of Directive 2014/95/EU. Energy companies performed better in terms of sustainability when more indicators were reported. Their primary focus was on the economic aspect of sustainability, particularly corruption. They gave less importance to the environmental aspect, mainly reporting on emissions. The social aspect received the least attention, although indicators for employee education and training were mentioned most frequently. The analysis showed that the metrics are statistically significantly correlated and complement each other, highlighting the need to consider a variety of metrics when assessing sustainability performance in the energy industry.

A hybrid multi-criteria decision-making approach for hospital sustainability performance assessment

PurposeNowadays, the sustainability of healthcare services is of increasing importance. In particular, hospitals have ceased to be only treatment-oriented institutions and have begun to operate on the principles of sustainability in their environmental, economic and social dimensions. In this context, a comprehensive method is required to evaluate and improve the performance of hospitals.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, it is recommended to combine D-DEMATEL (D number theory and decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory methods) and objectives matrix (OMAX) methods, which are two important methods in determining hospital performance. D-DEMATEL is a technique used to analyze complex relationships and interactions that reduces subjective judgments because it is based on the opinions of many decision-makers and can be applied even in cases of incomplete information. OMAX, on the other hand, provides a comprehensive framework for measuring performance and allows different performance indicators to be evaluated together.FindingsThe novel performance assessment model is applied to a hospital in real life. Its performance value, according to 36 determined performance indicators, is calculated at 56.91%. The indicators of the hospital that need improvement are defined by the traffic light system method. The performance indicator importance ranking of D-DEMATEL is compared to the ranking obtained by the fuzzy DEMATEL method.Originality/value Important indicators to be used in later sustainable hospital performance evaluation studies were determined. Also, an integrated D-DEMATEL and OMAX method for evaluating sustainable hospital performance is presented.

Advances in Phosphogypsum Calcination and Decomposition Processes in Circulating Fluidized Beds.

Phosphogypsum (PG) is an industrial hazardous waste product discharged during wet-process phosphoric acid production. Once crystallized, the byproduct PG is filtered and separated from the liquid-phase product and sluiced to the disposal area near the production site for storage, seriously threatening the harmonious symbiosis between humans and nature. Therefore, devising effective solid waste management and cleaner production programs to contain and eliminate PG is of interest to researchers. In this study, the utilization status of PG is comprehensively reviewed, and a feasibility pathway for resourceful recovery of PG is proposed. The key challenges and countermeasures for the high-temperature calcination and decomposition of PG are analyzed and discussed. The visualization analysis based on bibliometrics reveals that the maximum recovery of abundant calcium (as CaO) and sulfur (as SO2) in PG and their utilization for the copreparation of calcium-based materials and sulfuric acid are the most suitable solutions for the large-scale application of PG. Five challenges that restrict the commercial promotion of PG calcination and decomposition processes are perfecting the calcium-sulfur conversion mechanism, establishing a process strengthening strategy, developing value-added technology routes, mastering unit scale-up regularity, and conducting sustainable performance assessment. Industrial applications are expected within 10-15 years.

Circles of port sustainability: A novel method combining global comparability and local relatability in performance assessment

Ports are increasingly ‘greening’ operations to protect their ‘license to operate’ by integrating social-environmental considerations into their management and reporting on their sustainability performance. In this research, we develop a novel method for port sustainability performance (PSP) assessment that combines science-based knowledge with place-based contextualisation. Specifically, we address a recognised challenge of combining global (‘top-down’) techno-scientifically oriented indicators with place-based locally relatable (‘bottom-up’) contexts in sustainability performance, in addition to addressing limitations encountered in empirical verification. First, a critical evaluation of the international literature on port sustainability assessments is undertaken to distil commonalities in global performance indicators, and to identify typical frames used in the design of sustainability performance indices. We apply this learning, together with place-based experiential knowledge, to develop a science-based framework for a Port Sustainability Performance (PSP) Index that is explicitly aligned with the Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs). We then apply a co-design process to demonstrate local customisation of the index to derive place-based quantifiable measures and targets. Further, for easy-to-use empirical verification, a simple spreadsheet is applied to develop a flexible weighted scoring matrix. The matrix uses place-based rating systems for selected measures and associated targets, and aggregates allocated scores into informative outputs. Finally, the concept of Circles of Sustainability is adapted for ports to visually display sustainability performance, in alignment with related SDGs. This research contributes to bridging the science-practice divide in reporting on port sustainability performance.

Assessing Sustainability Performance of Community-based Fish Farming Cooperatives: A Comprehensive Checklist

Cooperative fisheries are increasingly recognized as a promising approach for small-scale fisheries management. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence on the key elements that drive sustainability within these cooperatives. This survey study aims to develop a sustainability performance checklist tailored for fisheries cooperatives throughout their lifecycle. Initially, a preliminary list of five-point Likert scale sustainability factors was created and reviewed through interviews with experts from both fisheries academic and executive sectors. Their feedback contributed to refining the checklist, ensuring its relevance, clarity, and simplicity. Experts from both the academic and executive sectors of fisheries cooperatives have confirmed the content validity of the economic, social, and environmental criteria included in the checklist. The data collected across 61 cooperatives. To identify the key factors influencing the sustainability performance of fisheries cooperatives throughout their lifecycle, a factor analysis was performed, employing the Varimax rotation method. The findings indicate that economic considerations are the primary focus during the initial establishment of fisheries cooperatives. As these cooperatives evolve through the growth and consolidation phases, social factors become increasingly significant. Additionally, the study highlights the essential role of environmental aspects in maintaining the stability and balance of these cooperatives. The research underscores the interdependence of economic, social, and environmental elements in fostering the sustainability of fisheries cooperatives. These insights are particularly relevant for policymakers, managers, and stakeholders in fisheries management. Furthermore, the developed sustainability performance checklist and weighting system can effectively assist in assessing and enhancing the sustainability of fisheries cooperatives.

Assessing Sustainability Performance at Farm Level in the Kingdom of Bahrain

Crop production in Bahrain is facing many challenges that may undermine farm's sustainability. Farmers are an important player and assessing farm’s sustainability to identify performance gaps is essential. This study aims to measures farm sustainability in Bahrain using Response-Inducing Sustainability Evaluation (RISE) tool accompanied by field visit observations. The assessment was carried out on 29 farms and applied on 8 themes. The study contributed by configuring RISE's regional data to match Bahrain's conditions through the adjustment of some evaluation functions. The application of RISE showed that the average score of the 29 farms was (63 points) which indicates the requirement of additional improvement. Farms fared well in five themes (quality of life, water use, working conditions, soil use, and farm management). Whereas it performed low in three themes (Material Use, Biodiversity & Economic viability). Quality of life theme received the highest score (76 points), while biodiversity was the lowest (34 points). RISE application was successful; however, land tenure needs to be considered to improve local sustainability. Despite the presence of lands that are classified as agriculture but unexploited, it is suggested to encourage landowners exploiting the lands or rent them out to other farmers. In addition, the development of good agricultural practises guidelines is vital.

The Emerging Hemp Industry: A Review of Industrial Hemp Materials and Product Manufacturing

There is a growing need for resilient and renewable materials to aid society in global sustainability. It is incumbent upon the agricultural and manufacturing industries to work together to achieve this vision. In particular, the hemp plant has been identified as an emerging industrial crop that will be pivotal in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. However, this nascent industry has received an influx of research and development activity, resulting in various methods and practices globally, challenging the repeatability of results, research advancement, standards development, and sustainability assessment. A systematic literature review is conducted to identify and document (1) the various practices for harvesting and converting industrial hemp into materials and products and (2) existing hemp-derived products and those under development. Using the PRISMA methodology, 5295 articles were identified, and 109 articles were included for review. Unlike prior reviews focusing on specific hemp plant components, materials, or products, this study systematically evaluates the utilization pathways of the whole plant (stalk, flower, leaf, and seed) to traditional, industrial, and emerging products. Further, myriad opportunities for hemp material and product applications, sustainability performance assessment, and future research are discussed. This review will benefit future hemp research, advancing process technologies, developing novel products, establishing policies and standards, and assessing sustainability performance.

Sustainability evaluation and life cycle assessment of concretes including pozzolanic by-products and alkali-activated binders

The construction industry's top priorities for achieving a sustainable future include minimizing the use of non-renewable resources, managing waste generation, and reducing related gas emissions. This fact emphasizes the need for using natural materials such as pozzolan as a substitute or supplemental component in the production of Portland cement concrete. This study presents a review of evaluating the sustainability performance and life cycle assessment of pozzolan-based concrete compared with ordinary Portland cement concrete using the preference selection index approach and evaluating CO2 gas emissions during material life cycle stages. Furthermore, the durability and environmental effects of using pozzolan in concrete were comprehensively investigated. The advantages of using Pozzolans-based concrete in the development of sustainability aspects have been precisely predicted through the application of the PSI method, which depends on several criteria based on the properties of different cement types. It was discovered that substituting pozzolanic material for a portion of Portland cement when producing concrete significantly reduces the environmental effects (i.e., energy use and carbon dioxide emissions).

Quantitative indicators for environmental and social sustainability performance assessment of the supply chain

AbstractIn the era of globalization, supply chains are becoming less transparent, facing pressing sustainability challenges such as the inappropriate use of natural resources, poor working conditions, and environmental degradation. This paper addresses these issues by presenting a pioneering sustainability assessment framework aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in global supply chains. Emerging from a systematic literature review and insights from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the framework comprises 91 robust performance indicators: 36 environmental and 55 social. These indicators, a mix of quantitative and semi-quantitative measures, provide a comprehensive tool for assessing the sustainability performance of supply chain actors across a range of sectors. The framework not only facilitates companies in measuring their own and their suppliers’ sustainability performance but also enhances their capacity to effectively communicate their environmental and social progress to stakeholders. Additionally, it is designed to seamlessly integrate with Industry 4.0 technologies, enabling more dynamic assessments.

The Use of DEA for ESG Activities and DEI Initiatives Considered as “Pillar of Sustainability” for Economic Growth Assessment in Western Balkans

Data envelopment analysis (DEA), which is frequently used in efficiency analysis, has also been applied to the measurement of entrepreneurial efficiency for the attainment of desired values of macroeconomic indicators (such as the objectives of sustainable economic growth). For this application, DEA takes into account the economic, environmental, and social impact of entrepreneurship as the three dimensions of sustainability. This paper aimed to investigate the potential for a scalable (in diversity, equity, and inclusion dimensions) DEA application in sustainable entrepreneurship performance (SEP) assessment through three channels (assessing SEP without ESG activities; ESG→SEP; ESG (DEI)→SEP) and present an empirical study related to economic growth assessment and its environmental, social, and governance (ESG), and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) determinants across selected Western Balkans (WB) and European Union (EU) companies, based on the use of the proposed scalable DEA. It highlights how crucial a scalable nonparametric approach to macroeconomic efficiency analysis is and provides a more comprehensive perspective to the researchers on this issue. This study used a non-oriented DEA model with variable return-to-scale in a group of 60 WB and 60 EU companies, all of which adopted ICT/Blockchain (BC) technologies (the 11 ESG metrics). The annual corporate data was collected for seven years from 2017 until 2023. We projected the selected data to three country particularities (mass acceptance, adoption, and implementation of ICT/BC; mass labor force return from overseas; and ethnic, cultural, and religious particularities) and performed statistical analysis. Our findings estimate the influence of these three particularities on economic growth potential. In all countries’ cases, we found a statistically sound (significant, positive) correlation between ESG and SEP’s economic growth quality performance. Particularly, when corporate social and DEI initiatives mediate (channel III), SEP’s economic growth gains the best performance (+18%) in countries with ethnic, cultural, and religious particularities (BiH, NM), a +17% in countries enjoying massive labor force return from overseas (AL) and performs well in quality (particularly in the innovation and integrity) SEP performance success dimensions (all WB and EU countries). The proposed scalable DEA shows clearly, by performing an empirical analysis, which modern business (adopting ICT/BC) is the most effective in achieving sustainability projected to country particularities, helping corporate management to improve economic growth efficiency.

Exploring the Relationship between Sustainability Performance, Sustainable Competitive Advantages, and Firm Performance in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises of Pakistan

Small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) play a critical role in every economy, contributing significantly to gross domestic product (GDP) and employment creation. However, tackling the negative environmental effect of SMEs is critical to their overall performance. Achieving sustained success necessitates a mix of elements that create a competitive advantage and assist the accomplishment of triple-bottom-line objectives. While previous research has explored business performance and sustainability individually, there is minimal understanding of how sustainability performance impacts firm performance, with sustainable competitive advantages serving as a mediator. Our continuing research aims to fill this knowledge gap by investigating the influence of sustainability performance on firm performance, particularly in SMEs businesses, and by investigating the possible mediating role of sustainable competitive advantages. We assess sustainability performance across three dimensions: economic, environmental, and social. Financial and market performance, quality performance, and innovation performance are used to evaluate firm performance. We use partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze data from 370 SMEs firms in Pakistan. Our findings give empirical support for the Resource-Based Theory stressing dynamic capacities and provide useful insights for SMEs on effective resource allocation and the implementation of sustainable practices. However, this study has limitations, including its focus on SMEs in Pakistan, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other regions and sectors. Future research should consider broader geographic and industry contexts to validate these results. This work makes a theoretical and managerial contribution to improving corporate performance.

Systemic sustainability assessment: Analyzing environmental and social impacts of actions on sustainable development

An improved sustainability performance of one system does not automatically lead to an improved sustainability performance of larger systems (society and nature). A reliable sustainability assessment must be carried out to improve environmental and social sustainability performance for whole systems. It is necessary to show how a system of interest at any scale should (and can) improve sustainability performance. An examination of the literature on sustainability assessment highlights a lack of a systems perspective in most sustainability assessment frameworks. The aim of this paper is, therefore, to provide a framework that enables an assessment of environmental and social sustainability performance, taking systemic aspects into account. This assessment framework is based on a definition of first- and second-order sustainability performance. The former focuses on narrow efficiency issues, while second-order sustainability performance focuses on systemic effectiveness and covers sustainability impacts on society and nature. Improving the first-order level (narrow perspective) will not automatically lead to an improved second-order sustainability performance (systemic perspective). Thus, systemic effectiveness is not automatically increased in the case of first-order sustainability performance. Therefore, three essential dimensions have been identified and combined in an assessment framework, i.e., the dimension of scale, the decision horizon, and sustainability principles. The conceptualized assessment framework allows to analyze whether an action of a system of interest (e.g., corporate action, any process, project, or policy) contributes to global sustainable development.

A sustainability-oriented approach for performance assessment of existing buildings and a case study

The practice of sustainable buildings has become a general trend in urban development. Yet, with the rapid development of urban renewal, the performance of existing buildings often fails to meet the actual needs of sustainable urban development. To improve the performance of existing buildings, it is urgently needed to transform the existing structures and upgrade their functions and facilities. However, the pertinent guidelines have often been unclear for assessing the performance of existing structures, and a sounder and quantitative sustainable performance assessment approach has been lacking to guide decisions on the restoration, protection, or demolition of existing buildings. Based on a multi-expert consultation methodology, we proposed a revised flexible comprehensive assessment system and a comprehensive sustainability assessment approach. The system includes 4 categories, 7 quantitative and 47 qualitative indicators. Specifically, the assessment system involves a series of steps: 1) building a hierarchical model, 2) defining assessment indicators/items and constructing a judgment matrix, 3) determining the weight coefficients of the indicators, 4) collecting/calculating quantitative and qualitative data, 5) analyzing the data and results, and 6) drawing the assessment conclusions. A case study was presented to demonstrate the application of the approach. Compared to current practices, this comprehensive assessment system may serve as a scientifically sounder and quantitative approach to guide sustainable development of existing urban buildings.

Dual Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Index for Corporate Sustainability Assessment Using Blockchain Technology

Investors are increasingly relying on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) indexes to obtain a third-party assessment of corporate sustainability performance. Various ESG indexes are, therefore, released by prominent rating agencies, including MSCI, Sustainalytics, Refinitiv, etc. However, existing ESG indexes overvalue the usage of massive ESG metrics while ignoring various ESG disclosure levels, leading to critical issues such as limited company coverage, inflexible ESG framework, and obscure assessment processes. This paper proposes a novel Dual ESG Index (DESGI) model using blockchain technology to provide a flexible and transparent corporate sustainability assessment. Firstly, the DESGI model is developed by analogy to the rationale and concepts of the academic credit system due to its advantages of scalability and flexibility. Secondly, blockchain is used to build a transparent environment for ESG assessment. Thirdly, the smart contract and crypto token, as the core blockchain constructs, are used to achieve the dual-dimensional ESG depth and width assessment using ESG GPA and ESG credit, respectively. Finally, a case study is carried out to validate the DESGI by using real-life ESG data and comparing it with four existing ESG indexes. Several managerial implications are also found: (1) DESGI can expand the scope of companies evaluated by ESG criteria regardless of company size or scale; (2) DESGI provides a good potential to fight against greenwashing through the blockchain-based traceability; (3) DESGI can identify the ESG elites who disclose fewer ESG metrics but with excellent ESG performances, which can hardly be achieved using traditional ESG indexes.

Sustainability performance assessment of freight transportation modes using an integrated decision-making framework based on m-generalized q-neutrosophic sets

The freight transport industry is one of the primary sectors responsible for excessive energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Restructuring international and domestic freight transport chains based on sustainability and green transportation is critical for practitioners and policymakers to reduce pressure on the logistics and transportation industries. This study aims to develop a mathematical model for selecting the most appropriate transportation type, and accordingly, the optimal route in transportation operations to improve the sustainability performance of the freight transportation industry. Therefore, the main goal is to choose the most suitable route and transportation type which contributes to create a more eco-friendly and sustainable transportation system. For this purpose, Neutrosophic Number-based Delphi (NN-Delphi), m-Generalized q-Neutrosophic Sets (mGqNSs)-based Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (MGqNS-SWARA) and mGqNSs-based Additive Ratio Assessment (mGqNS-ARAS) are developed and implemented to set the influential criteria, compute the weights of these criteria, and identify the sustainability performance of the freight mode variants, respectively. According to the final results, "Cargo security" and "Accident rates" are the most important criteria with a relative importance score of 0.0237, contributing to the sustainability of load transport modes. Moreover, "Maritime Transport Mode" is identified as the most sustainable transportation type with a relative importance score of 0.7895. Finally, it is revealed that there is a positive relationship between maritime transport and sustainability.

Lean and sustainability assessment in the sawmill industry using Sus-VSM: A case study in the context of Fiji

Waste from the perspective of lean manufacturing and sustainability has a huge influence on economic, environmental, and societal aspects. The inefficiency of the current manufacturing systems poses a huge risk to small and medium size sawmills going out of business as current prices of fossil fuel and associated emissions continue to rise at an alarming rate. In this case study, a local sawmill has been investigated to improve process efficiency using sustainable value stream mapping in the context of Fiji. The produced timber with the highest demand is selected as the product and a complete assessment is done on the downstream operation to compile data and develop the current state map. The current state map incorporates sustainability pillars to address the lacking factors such as energy and water consumption, raw material usage, labor physical load, and workspace noise level along with standard lean manufacturing time-based metrics. Sustainable value stream mapping allowed the research team along with a panel of experts to identify processor 2 as the root cause of bottlenecking, unnecessary material movement/transportation, and high physical load index score. Implementing a multi-blade horizontal bandsaw in place of processor 2 reduces; energy consumption for transport, energy consumption for processing, VAT, NVAT, process water consumption, raw material usage, and carbon emission by; 34.9%, 8.72%, 6.37%, 20%, 24.71%, 3.05%, and 10.33% respectively without compromising productivity. The findings of this research suggest evaluating and assessing sustainability performance using Sus-VSM in the sawmill industry unveils potential economic, environmental, and societal benefits.

Sustainability and operational performance assessment of supermarket air-conditioning architectures using secondary fluids and slurries

Secondary loop architectures and phase change material (PCM) slurries could reduce the environmental impact of refrigeration and air-conditioning systems by lowering significantly the amount of primary refrigerants. However, there is a barrier to their industrial development due to the lack of studies on their behaviour in operational scenarios. The present work analyses the behaviour of different secondary loop systems in an industrial context, here the air conditioning of a supermarket in France. For this purpose, a generic approach, developed in previous work, is proposed to assess their potential of adoption. This modelling approach is able to describe the sustainability and operational performance (energy, environmental, economic, social) of refrigeration systems. After validation of the model on real architecture and components, five standard or new architectures were tested: centralized direct expansion system; secondary loop system with ethylene glycol water; secondary loop system with ice slurries, TBPB hydrate slurries or CO2 hydrate slurries. The main results of this study show that new secondary systems using hydrate slurries have better cooling energy performance than direct expansion or classical brine / ice slurry secondary systems. Moreover, even including pumping power, the life cycle climate performance of secondary loop systems is much better than that of direct expansion systems. However, the total cost of ownership of direct expansion systems is lower than that of secondary systems, but with little differences for smaller pipes. Finally, trade-offs between several performances can be proposed. For example, some architectures with suitable pipe diameters could meet TCO/LCCP-based and CAPEX/pumping-based trade-offs.