Sustained Component Research Articles

Social life cycle assessment of green hydrogen production: Evaluating a projected Portuguese industrial production plant

The increase in industrial production and energy consumption has led to excessive exploitation of non-renewable resources, resulting in serious environmental problems such as greenhouse gas emissions. In response, there's a growing investment in renewable energies such as hydroelectric, wind, and solar power. However, these sources are unable to fully meet demand, leading to imbalances between consumption and production. An emerging solution to this challenge is green hydrogen, produced from clean sources, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. The S-LCA methodology presented in the UNEP/SETAC Guidelines for the Social Life Cycle Assessment is applied to the production of green hydrogen via the electrolytic separation of water using a proton exchange electrolyser. The process involves the extraction and processing of raw materials from the electrolyser, BOP and reverse osmosis system, the manufacture of the systems and the production of green hydrogen. The data from each stage is inventoried and entered into the PSILCA v.3.1 and SHDB 2022FV5 databases, integrated into the SimaPro software version 9.3.0.2, enabling a complete analysis of the social impacts associated with the production of green hydrogen. The data was evaluated considering 4 stakeholder categories: workers, value chain actors, society and local community. The results indicate that the extraction and processing of raw materials for the electrolyser was the primary stage responsible for the social impacts in both databases. However, the electrolyser manufacturing stage was the main contributor to the indicators “weekly working hours per employee” and “union density” in the PSILCA database. Nafion® and Iridium were identified as the major contributors among components in both databases. The study highlights the significant role played by countries like China and South Africa in social impacts, particularly in the extraction and processing of raw materials. Despite this, Portugal emerged as the largest contributor to five out of fourteen indicators in the PSILCA database, while its contributions in the SHDB database were less than 7 %. Moreover, a comparison between the two databases revealed that PSILCA exhibited a greater distribution of results across various stages, components, and countries assessed, whereas SHDB showed more centralized results. The observed discrepancies between the results obtained from different databases can be attributed to three main factors: the input-output database utilized in each S-LCA tool, the assumed risk levels for each indicator, and the equivalence between indicators and subcategories. This exploratory study offers valuable insights for guiding strategic decisions regarding the social component of sustainability, providing a detailed understanding of the social impacts associated with the specific case of green hydrogen production in a planned hub in Portugal.

Sustainability of a PICU Situation Awareness Intervention: A Qualitative Study.

We aimed to investigate facilitators and barriers that impact the sustainability of an interprofessional situation awareness bundle. This is a single-center qualitative study at a tertiary care pediatric center examining the sustainability of an interprofessional situation awareness bundle to reduce in-hospital cardiac arrests. The bundle includes an automated clinical decision support tool, twice-daily safety huddles, and a bedside mitigation plan. A trained research staff member interviewed participants in October 2022. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim, and recruitment continued until data saturation. Inductive and deductive analyses were used here. The authors interviewed twelve staff members via individual semistructured interviews: registered nurses (RN, n = 2) and clinicians [(advanced practice providers, n = 2), pediatric critical care fellows, n = 4 and attendings, n = 4)]. Five main themes were identified: (1) the situation awareness bundle is ingrained into daily practice and culture, (2) the bundle has strengthened communication, decision-making, and improved outcomes, (3) standardized processes, stakeholder buy-in, and support of team members are key to adoption and sustainability, (4) variation in processes and fast-changing clinical context remains a challenge for reliable use, and (5) the situation awareness bundle excluded families. The situation awareness bundle has become ingrained, strengthened, and sustained over the last 5 years through integration into daily practice and culture and leveraging standardized processes, tools and technology. It is associated with improved communication and shared decision-making. Understanding the key components for implementation and sustainability is necessary for ongoing spread and improvement in the future.

Driving EU sustainability: Promoting the circular economy through municipal waste efficiency

The need to balance ecosystems and ensure the well-being of all people underlines the urgency of closing product life cycles. In recent years, the circular economy (CE) has emerged as one of the most relevant factors in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This paper presents a systematic literature review (SLR) of waste management efficiency at the European level. Furthermore, it presents a standard data envelopment analysis (DEA) of 27 European countries over the period 2017–2021, focused on municipal waste. Three models (i.e., economic, technical, sustainable) are proposed to optimise the rates of municipal waste recycling and circular material use.The SLR, based on an initial set of 216 articles that was subsequently refined through double screening to 31, highlights the strategic role of the waste management, recycling and municipal solid waste triangle. The results of the DEA indicate stronger synergy between technical and sustainability dimensions than between economic and sustainability components. Moreover, they highlight fragmented performance in Europe, with distinct clusters of countries emerging as top performers in each of the three models, and the Netherlands, Slovenia, France, Italy, Germany and Sweden demonstrating superior performance for both CE outcomes and sustainable performance. Overall, the results emphasise the strategic role played by technology in facilitating an efficient circular model of municipal waste management to minimise landfilling and other environmentally detrimental practices, thereby stimulating the development of sustainable communities for optimised waste management, in line with broader sustainability objectives.

Exploring the potentials of urban crop farming and the question of environmental sustainability

As part of efforts to promote urban green spaces in increasingly urbanized cities of Africa, urban crop farming (UCF) has become a necessary pillar of urban environmental sustainability. Beyond the primary functions of food security and employment, UCF contributes to greening the urban environment and provides valuable options for urban regeneration within the broad components of environmental, social, and economic sustainability. We draw on interviews and focus group discussions in Tamale, a rapidly urbanizing Ghanaian metropolis, to examine the potential of UCF and the question of urban environmental sustainability. Our findings revealed the tremendous contributions of UCF to the provision of greenery, beautiful scenery, healthy spaces, socio-economic inclusion, and environmental restoration. We argue that reflecting and incorporating these findings in policy will be helpful for urban landscape planning and management.

Towards 2050: Evaluating the Role of Energy Transformation for Sustainable Energy Growth in Serbia

This paper aims to investigate the outlook of energy generation by means of transformation within the context of sustainable energy development. An analysis is conducted to assess the stability of energy systems so to implement cutting-edge energy production models at the national level, with a focus on a contemporary approach to energy modeling. Considering the energy transition and the existing constraints within the energy industry, the model assesses the feasibility of the practical advancement of renewable energy sources. The bottom-up energy model was used to determine how the components of energy development sustainability can be applied until the year 2050. To perform comparison testing with the reference state scenario, the LEAP energy model was used. This instrument was selected because of its ability to provide flexible and advanced options for selecting suitable parameters for energy transformation prediction. A progressive reduction in environmental pollution can be achieved by the deployment of current methods of energy generation by transformation until the year 2050 in Serbia, as indicated by the findings. The research highlights the significance of utilizing green energy sources for the continuing development of energy and the gradual reduction in environmental pollution through value co-creation.

Electrofluids with Tailored Rheoelectrical Properties: Liquid Composites with Tunable Network Structures as Stretchable Conductors.

Flexible and stretchable electronics require both sensing elements and stretching-insensitive electrical connections. Conductive polymer composites and liquid metals are highly deformable but change their conductivity upon elongation and/or contain rare metals. Solid conductive composites are limited in mechanoelectrical properties and are often combined with macroscopic Kirigami structures, but their use is limited by geometrical restraints. Here, we introduce "Electrofluids", concentrated conductive particle suspensions with transient particle contacts that flow under shear that bridge the gap between classic solid composites and liquid metals. We show how Carbon Black (CB) forms large agglomerates when using incompatible solvents that reduce the electrical percolation threshold by 1 order of magnitude compared to more compatible solvents, where CB is well-dispersed. We analyze the correlation between stiffness and electrical conductivity to create a figure of merit of first electrofluids. Sealed elastomeric tubes containing different types of electrofluids were characterized under uniaxial tensile strain, and their electrical resistance was monitored. We found a dependency of the piezoresistivity with the solvent compatibility. Electrofluids enable the rational design of sustainable soft electronics components by simple solvent choice and can be used both as sensor and electrode materials, as we demonstrate.

The social implications of the vital city model: measuring the impact of urban vitality on neighbourhood sustainability

ABSTRACT Previous studies have identified vital urban spaces through the concentration of people, the diversity of land uses and buildings, accessibility, and the existence of a compact urban fabric. However, the relationship between urban vitality and social sustainability has not been studied in these terms. This paper seeks to analyse the social implications of the vital city model for residents in the context of a Latin American city: Santiago de Chile. To do so, we use the JANE index to measure the formal conditions of the built environment for urban vitality, and the Longitudinal Social Study of Chile to measure urban social sustainability. We first use a PCA technique to reveal six core components of urban social sustainability: Sense of belonging, Safety, Sociability, Well-being, Satisfaction with housing, and Conservation of the neighbourhood. We then test the associations between the strength of these six core components and the conditions for urban vitality by means of a multiple linear regression model. Significant associations between urban vitality conditions and urban social sustainability suggest that socially sustainable neighbourhoods are found in sectors with the presence of old buildings, accessibility to public transportation, and far from mega infrastructures.

Sustainable, eco-friendly, and cost-effective energy generation based on coffee grounds for self-powered devices and alarm systems

The Internet of Things (IoT) requires non-pollution energy sources to power small electronic devices. These energy sources can be harvested using triboelectric nanogenerators formed by lightweight and eco-friendly components. Herein, we develop a novel triboelectric layer of coffee grounds for a triboelectric nanogenerator with ability to harvest the vibration energy and transform it into electrical energy. This layer of coffee grounds has a simple electromechanical configuration that simplifies the collocation of the nanogenerator on irregular topologies of vibration sources. This device uses sustainable and eco-friendly components, achieving a stable electromechanical behavior close to 22500 operating cycles. With a load resistance of 39.97 MΩ, our device can generate an output power density of 75.48 mWm−2 under vibration of 3 g at 25 Hz. This device lighted 116 blue commercial LEDs and powered a thermohydrometer and a digital chronometer. Furthermore, an emergency alarm button with Arduino was implemented using the nanogenerator. The proposed device can be used to generate low-cost sustainable energy for applications in IoT devices.

Urban territorial planning and integrated watershed management in comparative perspective. the Mendoza (Argentina) and Aconcagua (Chile) rivers

Extreme weather phenomena (heat waves, forest fires, melting glaciers, rising sea levels, warmer and more acidic oceans, hurricanes, droughts and floods, etc.), which are changing and intensifying as a result of climate change, are seriously affecting the lives of people in both urban and rural areas. One of the most urgent problems to be solved is water scarcity.It has been demonstrated that part of this meteorological drought is due to human actions and that the water variable must be integrated into urban and land use planning.The hypothesis of this research is that factors of different nature do not allow achieving territorial planning based on integrated watershed management,in the two investigated case studies: the Mendoza River Basin in Argentina and the Aconcagua River Basin in Chile.The objective of this study was to analyze the regulatory, institutional, governance, sustainability, and climate change components that hinder integrated water resource managementthrough a qualitative methodology. Both case studies reveal obstacles to achieving territorial planning based on integrated watershed management. The Chilean case presents even greater difficulties due to a regulatory and legal framework that still centers on private ownership of water.

Mechanical Properties of Eco-Friendly, Lightweight Flax and Hybrid Basalt/Flax Foam Core Sandwich Panels.

Greener materials, particularly in sandwich panels, are in increasing demand in the transportation and building sectors to reduce environmental impacts. This shift is driven by strict environmental legislation and the need to reduce material costs and fuel consumption, necessitating the utilisation of more sustainable components in the transportation and construction sectors, with improved load-bearing capabilities and diminished ecological footprints. Therefore, this study aims to analyse and evaluate the structural performance of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) core and flax or basalt/flax FRP sandwich panels as an alternative to conventional synthetic materials. The novel eco-friendly sandwich panels were manufactured using the co-curing technique. Four-point bending, edgewise compression and core shear tests were performed and insights into how the skin properties affect the strength, stiffness and failure mode of specimens were provided. The stress-strain behaviour, facing modulus and strength, flexural rigidity, core shear strength and failure modes were evaluated. The flexural facing modulus of the flax and flax/basalt sandwich skins were found to be 5.1 GPa and 9.8 GPa, respectively. The flexural rigidity of the eco-friendly sandwich panel was compared with published results and demonstrated a promising structural performance. The environmental benefits and challenges were outlined and critically evaluated focusing on transportation and construction applications.

Greening the composite industry: Evaluating Lantana camara Verbenaceae fiber as a promising substitute for lightweight polymer matrix composites

Presently, researchers are engaged in investigations with the aim of developing novel products that exhibit biodegradability and subsequent environmental friendliness. As products, biofiber-based composites are gaining popularity in various industries. Consequently, this investigation successfully identified a unique cellulosic stem fiber from Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae) plant. As the fiber was unique, sustainable, and abundantly available throughout all seasons, it was selected for the comprehensive characterization investigation to find its potential use as a lightweight bio-based composite material substitute for synthetic fibers. Physiochemical examination revealed that the Lantana camara Verbenaceae fiber had a greater cellulose concentration (61.23±8.42 %) and density (1167±60 kg/m3), measured to be very less compared to synthetic fiber, making a perfect choice for producing lightweight composites with higher strength. The presence of cellulose Iβ and the ordered character of the crystallites were verified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction method. Thermogravimetric study showed the maximum degradation temperature of 323 °C, a thermal stability of 242 °C, and a kinetic activation energy of 66.11 kJ/mol. The maximum tensile strength, strain-to-failure percent, and Young’s modulus were observed for 50-mm-length fibers. Detailed analysis of the longitudinal section of the fiber from atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy study revealed that the fiber had a rough surface, which improves the bonding behavior when reinforced. The aforementioned properties showed that L. camara L. fibers are an excellent, greener alternative reinforcement for composite materials, allowing for the cleaner, more sustainable components.

A study on the impact of diet supplementation of fermented dried seaweed powder (Kappaphycus alvarezii) on healthy cat gut performance, skin and hair coat conditions, and behaviour.

One of the key goals the feed industry emphasizes when exploring the incorporation of novel substances into animal diets is to enhance feed utilization efficiency, to bolster animal health and well-being. Fermented seaweed powder holds promise as a valuable and sustainable component of animal feed, owing to its rich nutrient profile and purported benefits for livestock and aquaculture species. This study provides some interesting and original preliminary data regarding the benefits of supplementing cats' diets with fermented dried seaweed. Using a broad investigative approach to measure and analyse multiple health benefits of feeding fermented dried macroalgae to cats as a nutritional supplement, the results of this 8-week study identified several positive health attributes related to body coat quality, nutrient digestibility, behavioural changes, a healthy gut microbiota ratio, and enhanced immunity. There were no adverse effects observed in the cats after supplementation with the fermented seaweed powder. The sample size in this study with cats should be increased, but this preliminary work showed that the seaweed-supplemented cats exhibited improvements in the measured health parameters over the control cats. As a result of this 8-week trial, key information has been provided regarding future research direction focusing on skin health application which is essential to the overall animal wellbeing.

Traffic safety implementation at local level in line with 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: synergies, challenges and enablers

This study explores how traffic safety implementation at local level in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is characterised. By investigating interactions between traffic safety and other sustainability goals (synergies), as well as identifying contradictions between goals and conflicting interests (challenges), the study aims to pinpoint the main enablers for implementing traffic safety as part of sustainability. The emphasis lies on local authorities in Sweden representing a mature traffic safety context when viewed globally. To delve into this issue, interviews were conducted with 37 municipal employees from the city of Gothenburg, encompassing diverse roles that exemplify the significant influence Swedish local authorities wield in shaping traffic safety: as road manager and planner, in maintenance and construction phases, as employer and purchaser, and as influencer of behaviour. The study reveals several synergies between traffic safety and other sustainability goals, as well as contradictions between goals and conflicting interests posing challenges to traffic safety implementation. Main enablers for implementation of traffic safety as part of sustainability at the local level concern, for example, an integrated approach on strategic level where traffic safety could be handled as either a prerequisite (e.g. for active mobility) or a framework condition (e.g. for green cars). The necessity to bridge gaps between strategic and operational levels is also emphasised. Contradicting goals and interests are inevitable and must be managed. The study identifies the traffic strategy and strategic analyses, in the European context referred to as Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning, as a platform for traffic safety implementation as part of sustainability. Such platform highlights implementation areas in common for different target areas. The significance of integrating traffic safety in relevant activities and processes, alongside fostering horizontal collaborations across target areas, becomes apparent when striving to embed traffic safety in a wider sustainability context. While Swedish municipalities may not always recognize traffic safety as part of the sustainability agenda, existing platforms within municipalities serve as a foundation for adopting an integrated approach to traffic safety implementation. However, there is a need for a central coordinating function to ensure robust leadership in integrating traffic safety as a vital component of sustainability.

Genetic mapping of stripe rust resistance in a geographically diverse barley collection and selected biparental populations.

Barley stripe or yellow rust (BYR) caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei (Psh) is a significant constraint to barley production. The disease is best controlled by genetic resistance, which is considered the most economical and sustainable component of integrated disease management. In this study, we assessed the diversity of resistance to Psh in a panel of international barley genotypes (n = 266) under multiple disease environments (Ecuador, India, and Mexico) using genome-wide association studies (GWASs). Four quantitative trait loci (QTLs) (three on chromosome 1H and one on 7H) associated with resistance to Psh were identified. The QTLs were validated by mapping resistance to Psh in five biparental populations, which detected key genomic regions on chromosomes 1H (populations Pompadour/Zhoungdamei, Pompadour/Zug161, and CI9214/Baudin), 3H (Ricardo/Gus), and 7H (Fumai8/Baronesse). The QTL RpshQ.GWA.1H.1 detected by GWAS and RpshQ.Bau.1H detected using biparental mapping populations co-located were the most consistent and stable across environments and are likely the same resistance region. RpshQ.Bau.1H was saturated using population CI9214/Baudin by enriching the target region, which placed the resistance locus between 7.9 and 8.1 Mbp (flanked by markers sun_B1H_03, 0.7 cM proximal to Rpsh_1H and sun_B1H_KASP_02, 3.2 cM distal on 1HS) in the Morex reference genome v.2. A Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) marker sun_B1H_KASP_01 that co-segregated for RpshQ.Bau.1H was developed. The marker was validated on 50 Australian barley cultivars, showing well-defined allelic discrimination and presence in six genotypes (Baudin, Fathom, Flagship, Grout, Sakurastar, and Shepherd). This marker can be used for reliable marker-assisted selection and pyramiding of resistance to Psh and in diversifying the genetic base of resistance to stripe rust.

Sustainable innovations in food packaging: Antioxidant basil-enriched cassava starch films with UV protection and enhanced water and mechanical resistance

Degradation of food during transportation or storage poses a significant threat to its shelf life. Developing functional materials using sustainable components can serve as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional food packaging, which contributes negatively to climate change. In this endeavor, carboxymethyl cassava starch-based films with various compositions of basil extract, available in aqueous (B) or freeze-dried (BS) forms, were obtained by extrusion. The inclusion of these extracts provided the starch film's antioxidant potential and contributed to increased tensile toughness. The highest concentration of BS yielded materials with outstanding UV protection capabilities and water resistance, showcasing remarkable improvements in hydrophobicity. The polyphenol release kinetic curves of the films with B at 15 % w/w and with BS, evaluated by the Weibull model, showed a Fick diffusion mechanism, underscoring the potential utility of these films as biodegradable and edible active packaging for lipophilic and acidic foods.

Improved social equity learning in an introduction to sustainability course

Purpose This paper aims to examine the impact on diverse students’ social equity outcome measures that result from incorporating social justice education and inclusive practices into an introductory course on sustainability offered online asynchronously, online synchronously and in-person. Design/methodology/approach From fall 2020 to fall 2021, 706 students took “Introduction to Sustainability” at Michigan State University. A revised curriculum increased inclusive practices and social justice content centered on race and other social identities; institutional, individual and implicit bias; interrupting bias; socialization; and spheres of influence. Students’ self-reported change was examined using a retrospective pre/post survey. Findings Students reported significant growth in social equity understanding and practice across teaching modes with in-person instruction associated with the largest reported growth. Students reported growth regardless of their racial/ethnic identity or gender, with instructor effects varying in expected ways. The gap in social equity understanding between students with low precourse ratings (on outcome measures) and those with high precourse ratings was significantly smaller after the course. Research limitations/implications This study is not without limitations. First, the authors were limited in the student-specific information that they could collect. Second, the authors did not have access to an alternative course that could serve as a control. Third, the authors did not have the resources to also conduct an in-depth, thorough qualitative study. Furthermore, the authors did not conduct their investigation during “normal” campus life because it took place during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic was a factor that could not be accounted for and might have impacted the outcomes. Originality/value This study is novel in identifying and incorporating specific social justice education material, tools and practices for improved teaching of social equity components of sustainability.

Conceptual framework of sustainable interior design (SID) criteria and components to hotel’s operational performance effectiveness

Conceptual framework of sustainable interior design (SID) criteria and components to hotel’s operational performance effectiveness

Międzynarodowe uwarunkowania rozminowywania terytoriów w kontekście zrównoważonego rozwoju: perspektywa ekonomiczna

The problem of landmines is becoming increasingly prevalent, with a growing impact on all spheres of society and a consequent slowing down of sustainable development planning at the international, national and local levels. Since February 2022, the issue of mine clearance has become even more relevant for Ukraine, where active hostilities are still ongoing, which requires a thorough study of the economic, social and environmental aspects of this process. In order to mitigate the negative impact of the war and possibly speed up the clearance of mines and other explosive hazards, it is important to analyse the key results of international experience in this area, which has already been gained by a significant number of countries. In order to expand on the subject of this study the example of demining territories of the seven most heavily mined countries in the world were chosen: Albania, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Croatia and Turkey. The authors concentrated on identifying problems and highlighting the potential for further research into the sustainable dimension of demining, which is considered in this study to be the initial stage of territorial rehabilitation. In this context, the authors focus on the key results of demining through the prism of sustainable development, with particular emphasis on the economic component, as it affects the possibility of rapid resumption of economic and other peaceful use of the territories affected by armed conflicts. This formed the basis of the conclusions, where the authors substantiated ways to implement international demining experience in Ukrainian practice that lies in the inclusion of sustainable development components in strategic and operational documents at the national level. This is to lay a solid foundation for restoring the economic, social and environmental potential of territories in the context of war and post-war recovery.

The Equity in Sustainability: Unravelling Financial Realities and Global South Perspective on Mitigating Carbon Emission

The economics of environmental sustainability is embedded in several tragic dilemmas, underscoring the inefficiency of contemporary socio-economic structure that has failed to provide prior consideration to the issues related to protecting the socially excluded and marginalized community. The study scrutinizes how corporate giants favour the commercial aspects of development, promoting a mercantile logic of meritocracy and capitalistic zeal of accumulating wealth, neglecting the social component of sustainability and subsistence. Emphasizing the symbiotic nature of environmental sustainability, the article advocates the significance of constructing a value system that transcends instrumental reasoning to support an intrinsic value of ecologism – focusing on the innate correlation between nature and human civilization, demanding not only the transformation of the financial and economic pattern of consumption but also coercing us to rethink our value system in favour of prioritizing the subsistence rights of poor and marginalized societies. Therefore, the primary objective of the article is to analyze the financial aspects of reducing carbon emissions along with evaluating the perspective of the global south in restoring the balance between sustainability and material inequality, adopting an interpretive approach to evolve a deep and nuanced understanding of the phenomenon of our discussion.

The new frontier of urban mobility: a scenario-based analysis of autonomous vehicles adoption in urban transportation

ABSTRACT Urban mobility, as a critical component of urban development and sustainability, is on the brink of a major revolution with the advent and widespread adoption of autonomous vehicles (AVs). However, the ambitious vision of a transformative shared economic future and decreased car ownership conflicts with the notion that car dependency will be worsened, leading to significant uncertainties and potential challenges surrounding AVs, particularly in developing countries. In this context, this study contributes to the literature by addressing these uncertainties, through an empirical examination of preferences toward four distinct modes of transportation: “public transport”, “conventional private car”, “autonomous private car”, and “shared autonomous taxi”. To accomplish this, a scenario-based stated preference survey was administered in Istanbul, Turkey, as an example of a megacity in a developing country. The collected data were analyzed using discrete choice models (multinomial and random parameter (mixed) logit models) to reveal the preferences of the survey participants. The findings indicate that considering the social status and significance associated with private vehicle ownership, the challenges of popularizing shared and on-demand AV modes should not be underestimated.