Resource Depletion Research Articles

Integrated Crop Production Management

Abstract: Integrated Crop Production and Management is an innovative and sustainable approach that combines a variety of farming practices to optimize crop yield, soil health, and environmental sustainability. The approach integrates strategies such as crop rotation, organic fertilization, pest and weed management, water conservation, and soil fertility enhancement into a comprehensive farming system. ICPM would minimize dependency on chemical inputs, promote soil structure, and enhance biodiversity while improving crop tolerance to climatic variability and pests. This paper explores the principles and methodologies behind ICPM, bringing to light how it can promote agricultural productivity and ecological balance at the same time. The paper highlights the potential of IPM, conservation tillage, and agroforestry in promoting farm resilience while reducing environmental degradation. Case studies and field experiments demonstrate the effects of ICPM on crop yield, soil health, and profitability of the farm. The adoption of modern and traditional practices in ICPM not only addresses the immediate needs of crop production but also contributes to long-term sustainability. This research will demonstrate how ICPM can be a viable solution to current challenges in agriculture, such as climate change, food security, and resource depletion, and offer farmers a pathway to more resilient and sustainable agricultural systems.

Transformative Approaches to Agricultural Sustainability: Automation, Smart Greenhouses, and AI

Agricultural sustainability is continually undermined by climate change, resource depletion, and the increasing worldwide need for food. Fundamental technologies, including automation, smart greenhouses, and artificial intelligence (AI), are changing modern agricultural methods by providing novel ways to improve sustainability in farming. This review study examines the significance of these technologies in advancing sustainable agricultural systems, particularly their effects on resource optimization, environmental conservation, and economic efficiency. Automation technologies, such as robots, drones, and autonomous vehicles, enhance farm management by enhancing efficiency and minimizing resource waste. Intelligent greenhouses, fitted with IoT sensors and temperature regulation systems, provide precise management of environmental conditions, therefore improving agricultural output while minimizing water and energy use. AI-driven technologies, including machine learning and predictive analytics, enhance crop health monitoring, pest management, and yield prediction, enabling data-informed decision-making. The research analyses the combination of various technologies, focusing their synergies in developing comprehensive smart agricultural systems that promote enduring sustainability. Despite the apparent promise, challenges like substantial initial investment, technological intricacy, and scalability persist. This review continues by addressing future directions, policy implications, and research requirements for promoting the use of these technologies to enhance global agricultural sustainability.

Future Prospects of Biodegradable Natural Fiber Composites: Innovations and Enhanced Performance in Roofing and Packaging Applications

This paper explores advancements in sustainable composite materials, focusing on biodegradable fibers, recycling innovations, and enhanced performance for packaging and roofing applications. With growing environmental concerns industries are shifting toward materials that reduce ecological footprints without compromising performance. Biodegradable fibers derived from natural sources such as hemp, jute, and flax have gained attention for their potential to replace synthetic fibers in composite manufacturing. These natural fibers offer environmental benefits including reduced carbon emissions, energy savings, and easier disposal. However, challenges remain in optimizing their mechanical properties to match conventional materials. Recycling innovations also play a critical role in achieving sustainability goals in composite manufacturing. Recent advancements in chemical and mechanical recycling processes allow the reuse of composite waste, reducing landfill dependency and resource depletion. Enhanced recycling methods improve material recovery and retain quality extending product life cycles. This research examines how these processes can be effectively applied in packaging and roofing, two sectors with high material demand and waste output. The study assesses the performance of sustainable composites in terms of durability, thermal stability, and resistance to environmental factors, critical for both packaging and roofing. Through a combination of experimental testing and case studies, this thesis demonstrates that sustainable composites can offer viable alternatives to traditional materials supporting a transition to greener construction and packaging solutions. This paper contributes valuable insights into the practical applications of biodegradable and recyclable composites paving the way for more sustainable material choices in industrial sectors

Supply chain management: Balancing efficiency and environmental responsibility

Supply chain management (SCM) is a cornerstone of global commerce, driving efficiency and cost-effectiveness in production and distribution networks. However, the rising urgency of environmental sustainability has placed traditional SCM practices under scrutiny, as their reliance on linear models often leads to resource depletion, carbon emissions, and waste generation. Balancing efficiency with environmental responsibility requires a paradigm shift toward sustainable supply chain practices that integrate economic, social, and ecological goals. This approach emphasizes optimizing resource utilization, minimizing waste, and reducing the environmental footprint without compromising operational efficiency. This article explores the multifaceted challenges and opportunities of aligning supply chain efficiency with sustainability. It examines key practices such as green procurement, waste reduction, and the adoption of circular economy principles that promote recycling, reuse, and resource regeneration. The role of technology, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, and IoT, in enhancing supply chain transparency and efficiency is also discussed. Additionally, the article highlights the importance of collaboration among stakeholders—suppliers, manufacturers, policymakers, and consumers—in fostering sustainable supply chains. Global examples and case studies from industries such as manufacturing, retail, and agriculture illustrate the feasibility and benefits of sustainable SCM. Metrics for assessing success, barriers to scaling sustainable practices, and future directions for innovation and policy are examined. By integrating efficiency with environmental responsibility, sustainable supply chain management emerges as a vital strategy for achieving long-term economic resilience and environmental stewardship.

Sustainable supply chain practices: Driving efficiency, reducing waste, and promoting circular economy models

As the world increasingly focuses on sustainability, supply chain management has become a vital lever for the realization of environmental, social, and economic goals. Also, linear supply chain models that are traditional in nature (such as extract, consume, and dispose) lead to serious environmental degradation along with an enormous amount of resource depletion. On the other hand, sustainable supply chain initiatives focus on waste reduction, resource efficiency, and circular economy approaches that prioritize reuse, recycling, and recovery. Integrating sustainability into these supply chain strategies can improve operational efficiency, drive costs down, and meet stakeholder expectations for business environmental stewardship. These strategies involve implementing green procurement practices, optimizing logistics to minimize their carbon footprints, and incorporating new technological solutions (like IoT and blockchain) to improve sustainability transparency and traceability. These practices allow organizations to trace materials throughout their lifecycle, support accountability, and promote closed-loop systems supporting circularity. In addition, the collaboration between stakeholders will determine sustainable initiatives; suppliers, manufacturers, and consumers to name a few. Implementing sustainable supply chain practices is not without its challenges, including high initial costs, technological barriers, and complex regulatory landscapes. Solving for these issues takes policy incentives, investment in innovation, and stakeholder engagement. The role of the key findings and challenges of sustainable strategies for supply chain practices in the development of a circular economy model. By examining case studies as well as emerging trends, it provides key takeaways for organizations striving to navigate the delicate balance between efficiency and sustainability, with the end goal of fostering a resilient and eco-conscious future for all.

Sustainability Reporting Awards and Market Reaction: The Sustainability Awareness of Investors on the Vietnam Stock Market

ABSTRACTIn recent years, the global emphasis on sustainable business practices has grown, driven by the urgent need to address environmental and social challenges such as climate change, resource depletion, and inequality. This shift has intensified demands from stakeholders for greater corporate transparency and accountability, leading to the widespread adoption of sustainability reporting to demonstrate organizational commitment to sustainability. In Vietnam, the Sustainability Reporting Award (SRA), launched in 2013 by the stock market regulator and key stakeholders, seeks to enhance the quality of sustainability reporting. Using an event study methodology, this research investigates the impact of the SRA on market reactions in the Vietnamese stock market between 2013 and 2022. The findings reveal that award‐winning companies achieve significantly higher average abnormal returns, particularly within the 5 days following the announcement, reflecting a strong positive market response. However, this effect diminishes post‐COVID‐19, underscoring the pandemic's influence on market dynamics. The study supports signaling theory by demonstrating that sustainability awards act as credible signals of a firm's commitment to sustainable practices, thereby strengthening investor confidence. These results underscore the strategic value of sustainability initiatives for firms and offer actionable insights for policymakers aiming to promote sustainability reporting and drive sustainable growth.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Environmental Emissions from Trenchless CIPP and Excavation Technologies for Sanitary Sewers

The renewal of underground infrastructure is an emerging challenge for most municipalities in the United States. As compared to trenchless cured-in-place pipes (CIPPs), excavation technologies (ETs) have adverse impacts on the environment. Due to its lower ecological impact, trenchless technology is preferred in comparison to conventional pipe replacement. The selection of the most appropriate method depends on factors such as the existing sewer network, traffic disruption, soil conditions, and environmental safety. Recent concerns pertaining to environmental impact have increased the demand for reduced carbon footprints. The objectives of this paper are the following: (1) to present a comprehensive review on the achievements achieved over the years in understanding the factors influencing environmental emissions from the use of CIPP and ETs and (2) to analyze and compare the environmental emissions produced from CIPPs and ETs for 8-inch-, 10-inch-, and 12-inch-diameter pipes. Published papers from 1990 through 2024 have been included, which reported emissions from both alternatives. A comparison of total environmental emissions produced from both the processes is presented. The literature review and analysis suggest that higher emissions are a result of higher fuel consumption, material use, and input allocation. The emissions of pipeline renewal methods were evaluated using USEPA’s TRACI 2.1 methodology within SimaPro software. The analysis showed that CIPP renewal greatly reduced carbon emissions when compared with ET. CIPPs exhibited approximately 70% less ecological impact, 75% less impact on human health, and 60% less depletion of resources. CIPPs reduced carbon emissions by 78–100% in comparison to ETs. The recycling materials used in CIPPs potentially reduce the environmental impact by 10%, making them highly sustainable. The installation phase should therefore be carefully analyzed for factors like the pipe material and the pipes’ external diameter in view of achieving the greatest sustainability of these methods, as these characteristics affect emissions. It can be inferred that the comparison of the emissions of both alternatives is extremely vital for sustainable underground infrastructure development.

Techno-Economic and Feasibility Assessment of Membrane-Based Wastewater Treatment and Reuse in the Automotive Industry

The gradual increase in water scarcity due to depletion and/or inadequate use of water resources has affected the automotive sector. In this context, possibilities for water reuse in the pre-treatment tunnel in an automotive painting process were studied and compared with the primary goal of finding the most appropriate and economically viable water recovery solutions, considering a circular economy metric approach. To this end, an experimental campaign of aqueous effluent characterization, with determinations of most relevant chemical and physical parameters, was conducted in a company in the automotive industry sector. To reduce alkalinity and remove surfactants from the effluent of the washing phase, a cation exchange on a weak-acid-based resin was proposed along with a microfiltration membrane system with a recovery efficiency of 88%. The inclusion of subsequent ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis steps proved to be the most suitable for removing salts and biocides from the water of the cooling towers, treating approximately 68% of the water. The techno-economic feasibility was comprehensively evaluated according to the type of treatment used. A cost of EUR 245 thousand was estimated for the treatment of water from the degreasing washing phase (EUR 1.06 per manufactured car), and a cost of EUR 582 thousand was estimated for the treatment of the cooling towers’ water (EUR 2.52 per car). The estimated water income after the treatment systems’ implementation was estimated to be equal to EUR 0.07 per car for the washing stage and EUR 0.13 per car for the cooling towers. Ultimately, this study clearly demonstrated the beneficial contribution of using membrane treatment in the automotive sector’s environmental policy, leading to water reuse and much lower effluent discharge according to the principles of the circular economy.

Exploring Circular Economy Strategies in Buildings: Evaluating Feasibility, Stakeholders Influence, and the Role of the Building Lifecycle in Effective Adoption

The concept of circular economy (CE) has emerged as an effective strategy for addressing resource depletion, waste generation, and environmental challenges, offering a promising path towards a more sustainable future. In the building sector, adopting CE principles can significantly mitigate environmental impacts, minimize lifecycle costs, and promote sustainability throughout a building’s lifecycle. Using a mixed-method approach via a pre-interview questionnaire and semi-structured interviews with 10 sustainability experts, this study analyses the significance of 15 CE strategies in building construction projects, assessing their importance and ranking their potential for adoption. Furthermore, this study evaluates the feasibility of applying CE principles to different building types, including storage, industrial, commercial, residential, business, and healthcare facilities. The role of lifecycle stages including initiation and planning, design, procurement, construction, operation and maintenance, and end of life is examined to identify phases with the highest potential for successfully embracing CE principles. The role of stakeholders in driving change is also analyzed. The outcomes of this study reveal that the most feasible strategies include the use of renewable energy, design for durability and longevity, prefabrication, and offsite construction. The study findings indicate that storage, industrial, and business (office) buildings are the most feasible for CE application, while the initiation and planning and design stages are identified as critical phases for embracing CE adoption. Owners and designers emerge as the stakeholders with the greatest influence on CE implementation. The results of this study provide a comprehensive overview of the feasibility of CE adoption in the building sector. These findings offer valuable insights that can inform the development of targeted strategies to support the effective adoption of CE principles.

Knowledge and Awareness on Sustainable Development Among University Students

Sustainable development has attracted great attention lately. As the human population increases, the demand for natural resources for development increases, and this has caused the depletion of non-renewable resources and damage to the environment. Therefore, there is a clear need for global action to create a more sustainable future. The future depends on the students at present because they are the future leaders. The main objective of this study was to determine the level of knowledge and awareness of the concept of sustainable development among the students at the University of Malaysia Sabah (UMS). A set of questionnaires was developed for this preliminary survey. 158 students were randomly engaged to be involved in this study. Based on the findings, the students’ knowledge and awareness level is considered high, and the average values range from approximately 70% to 91%. Findings also showed that terms such as “Eco-Campus,” “Earth Hour,” “Earth Day,” and “Green Energy” are keywords that most of the respondents are familiar with. It was interesting to note that there were still a handful of students unaware of the term “Sustainable Development Goals” at the time of the study (the year 2019). In conclusion, generally, the students have sufficient knowledge and awareness of sustainable development.

Impacting Investment Capital Attraction on Sustainable Development: A Case Study in Vietnam

Vietnam and several countries worldwide are experiencing unprecedented impacts of climate change, the gradual depletion of natural resources, and the global Covid-19 pandemic; in addition, sustainable development has become an essential requirement and an inevitable path in the progression of human society. Objective: This paper analyzes the key factors affecting investment capital attraction and sustainable development, providing recommendations for improving this process. Methodology: The study utilized two methodologies: qualitative research conducted through interviews and focused on 15 discussions with economic experts to adapt the content of observable parameters to correspond with the firm's characteristics. A quantitative study was performed on 800 representative managers from three provinces and one city in Vietnam to assess the model and research hypotheses. Result: The findings reveal five factors affecting the allure of investment capital, with a significance level of five percent, and the attraction of investment capital influencing sustainable development in Vietnam. This contribution augments academic value and is a reference for future research on sustainable development in Vietnam. There are five policy implications and contributions to promoting sustainable development in Vietnam, encouraging innovation and excitement. Conclusion: This study's innovation asserts that sustainable development will enhance Vietnam's working and living conditions by promoting sustainable economic growth, a prosperous and equitable society, stable cultural diversity, a pristine environment, and the sustainable preservation of resources. Unique contribution: The novelty of this study was to supplement and complete the system of criteria for the framework of ethical principles for sustainable development, including the notions of sustainability within the economic, social, and environmental spheres. Key recommendation: The authors proposed recommendations for policymakers and investors to improve technology based on the results. Technology (TEC) emerges as the most influential factor, exerting the most substantial impact on investment capital attraction and sustainable development.

Энергоэффективность трубопрокатных предприятий РФ в экономической безопасности государства

The article reveals the importance of energy security for the pipe-rolling industry of the Russian Federation, which is strategically important for the state. Energy efficiency of enterprises is presented not only as an important aspect of their functioning, but also as a key factor affecting the economic security of the country as a whole. It is revealed that the introduction of modern technologies and resource management methods allows not only to reduce production costs, but also to withstand new challenges, which is an important aspect for achieving high economic performance and sustainable development. It is disclosed that pipe rolling companies are confronting global climate change, depletion of natural resources and negative impact on the environment through the introduction of innovative approaches to production. The importance of close cooperation between government agencies and business communities to achieve common goals of energy security is shown.

Artificial Intelligence Impact on the Sustainable Entrepreneurial Process

In the face of pressing socio-economic and environmental challenges, such as climate change, resource depletion, and social inequality, entrepreneurs are increasingly compelled to embrace innovative strategies that harmonize profitability with social and environmental stewardship. Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds promise in facilitating such solutions but requires careful examination to ensure its effective and ethical deployment in pursuit of sustainability objectives. The primary goal of this study was to ascertain whether AI significantly influences the sustainable entrepreneurial process. This comprehensive research framework integrates concepts from entrepreneurship, stakeholder theory, and digital technology, offering a multifaceted perspective. We employed the multiple regression analysis to examine data gathered from 40 entrepreneurs operating within the Bosnia and Herzegovina settings. The study's outcomes revealed that AI positively and significantly impacts the sustainable entrepreneurial process and its five sub-dimensions: “idea generation, opportunity recognition, opportunity development, venture launch, and positive impact”. This study enriches the literature on AI and sustainable entrepreneurship by offering empirical support for the impact of AI on the sustainable entrepreneurial process while also introducing and validating measurement tools for the sustainable entrepreneurial process. Additionally, entrepreneurs can utilize the findings of this research to strategically incorporate AI into their business processes and product/service innovation, improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, mitigate risks, enhance decision-making, foster collaboration across stakeholders, and capitalize on opportunities effectively.

Study of the Influence of Desert Sand-Mineral Admixture on the Abrasion Resistance of Concrete.

The incorporation of desert sand-mineral admixture improves the abrasion resistance of concrete. To prolong the service life of assembled concrete channels and mitigate the depletion of river sand resources, the effects of fly ash (FA), silica fume (SF), desert sand (DS), and basalt fiber (BF) on the mechanical properties and the abrasion resistance of concrete were examined, alongside an analysis of their microstructures to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of influence. The results indicated that the abrasion resistance strength of concrete mixed with 10% FA and 0.05% BF alone increased by 80.19% and 81.59%, respectively, compared with ordinary concrete (OC). When SF was added to the concrete at a dosage of 10%, it improved the mechanical properties and the abrasion resistance of the concrete. Furthermore, adding SF resulted in a 12.50% increase in compressive strength and a 12.27% increase in abrasion resistance strength compared to OC. The addition of DS did not significantly enhance the concrete's abrasion resistance. The combination of ingredients for desert sand concrete (DSC) that provides excellent abrasion resistance was determined using an orthogonal experiment. The optimal mixture consisted of 10% FA content, 10% SF content, 40% DS content, and 0.05% BF content, which increased the abrasion resistance strength by 112.95% compared to OC. Through microscopic analysis, it is found that the width of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) is an important factor in determining the abrasion resistance of concrete, and a narrower ITZ enhances the concrete's abrasion resistance. The study's findings could function as a theoretical reference for the engineering design of DSC.

From waste to resource: A life cycle assessment of biochar from agricultural residue

AbstractIn recent years, biochar has emerged as a versatile product. Producing biochar from agricultural residue is an environmentally friendly alternative to in‐situ burning, reducing the requirement for chemical fertilizers. This study presents a comprehensive assessment of the environmental impact of biochar production. Four feedstocks are compared – rice straw, palm shell, corn stover, and mixed crop residue. The cradle‐to‐gate system boundary comprises all stages of biochar production – feedstock acquisition, transport and pre‐treatment, and biochar production. Results show that the main hotspots are emissions and electricity consumption during production. The palm shell had the highest impact on human health (4.889 kg PM2.5 eq) and ecosystem quality due to high terrestrial and aquatic acidification potential (159.600 kg SO2 eq). Mixed crop residue had the greatest global warming potential (281.884 kg CO2 eq) and resource consumption. Corn stover and rice straw had moderate impacts, with corn stover contributing significantly to ecotoxicity (2.2E+04 kg TEG water) and rice straw impacting respiratory inorganics (3.545 kg PM2.5 eq), and causes severe depletion of resources, consuming 4339.672 MJ of non‐renewable energy. These findings emphasize the importance of selecting low‐impact feedstocks for biochar production. While corn stover has high impacts in midpoint categories like carcinogens, non‐carcinogens, ionizing radiation, aquatic and terrestrial toxicity, and eutrophication, it has the lowest GWP. Rice straw has the lowest impact on human health and resources. Finally, uncertainty analysis using Monte Carlo Simulation shows that the coefficient of variation for impact categories is within ±10%, indicating that the results are reliable.

Effects of Leading-edge Tubercles on the Aerodynamic Performance of Rectangular Blades for low-speed Wind Turbine Applications

The rapid depletion of conventional energy resources like fossil fuels has harmed the environment. Hence, there is an urgent need to seek alternative and sustainable energy sources. Wind energy is considered one of the efficient sources of energy that can be converted to a useful form of electrical energy. Though the field of wind engineering has developed in recent years there is still scope for improvement in the effective utilization of energy. The turbine blades' aerodynamics and the turbulent fluid flow characteristics largely determine the wind turbine's energy efficiency. Hence, in the present studies, we investigated the improvement of small wind turbine blade design by incorporating bioinspired tubercles into blades. One of the issues of small wind turbines is the low-capacity factor in power. The wind in such circumstances under buildings and other adjacent obstructions for small turbines is normally weak, unstable, and turbulent in wind speed and direction. Thus, the design of small turbines needs to be improved to capture low wind speeds and to respond quickly to turbulent wind resource areas. Biomimetics is a science that helps us adapt designs from nature to solve modern problems. The wing-like flipper of the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) has a morphology with potential for aerodynamic applications. The humpback whale flipper has several sinusoidal rounded bumps, called tubercles which modify the flow over the blade surface, creating vortices between the tubercles. Therefore, we conducted an XFOIL analysis of symmetrical NACA airfoils and we observed that NACA0012 could produce the best lift/drag ratio. The airfoil was then validated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis in which the results were found comparable to that of the published data. Finally, CFD analysis was conducted for tubercles with a different pitch-to-amplitude ratio (p/A) and the tubercled airfoil with p/A of 6 provided the best result.

Time thieves? Adopting a resource-based perspective to investigate the association between workaholism and procrastination at work

ABSTRACT Despite being recognized as a detrimental behaviour with negative repercussions for performance and well-being, research on workplace procrastination is limited, with most studies focusing on students. Drawing on the Conservation of Resources Theory and the Effort-Recovery Model, this study expands the literature on procrastination at work by proposing workaholism as an additional triggering factor. Moreover, it investigates the processes that could drive (i.e. lack of psychological detachment) or reduce this relationship (i.e. employee welfare, namely the extent to which employees perceive their organizations as valuing and caring for them). We collected data on 795 employees by administering a survey in three waves, each separated by a one-month interval. A longitudinal moderated-mediation model analysis revealed that a) lack of psychological detachment, as an indicator of resource depletion, mediates the association between workaholism and procrastination; moreover, b) this relationship is moderated by employee welfare. Specifically, the links between workaholism and lack of psychological detachment, as well as workaholism and procrastination via lack of psychological detachment, are weaker when employee welfare is high. Organizations should adopt supportive actions to help workaholics in promoting post-work recovery and enhancing employee well-being. These actions can help prevent resource depletion, and, in turn, reduce procrastination at work.

The Global Food System and Its Environmental Impact: A Call for Sustainable Transformation

The modern global food system—spanning production, processing, distribution, and consumption—has emerged as a significant contributor to environmental degradation. It drives greenhouse gas emissions, land and water degradation, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion. Sustainable nutrition, which integrates environmental considerations into dietary choices, has become a key concern, emphasizing plant-based proteins, seasonal food consumption, and minimal ecological impact. With the global population projected to reach 10 billion by 2050, ensuring food security while minimizing environmental harm is crucial. Agriculture accounts for about 24% of global greenhouse gas emissions, driven by methane from livestock and nitrous oxide from fertilizers. Land use changes for agriculture contribute to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and soil degradation, exacerbating climate change. Water use in agriculture, the largest consumer of freshwater, further strains ecosystems, while pollution from agricultural runoff causes eutrophication. Effective strategies for sustainable transformation include agroecology, regenerative agriculture, dietary shifts, reducing food waste, and technological innovations. Practices like crop rotation and managed grazing improve soil health and sequester carbon. Transitioning to plant-based diets and reducing food waste could significantly lower emissions. Precision agriculture and alternative protein sources offer promising advancements. Holistic approaches involving policy reform, innovation, and behavioral change are needed to create a resilient, environmentally friendly food system that sustains both human and planetary health.

Scientific Literacy to Address Sustainability: A Study on Deep-Sea Mining Education with Adolescents from a Social Care Institution

Pursuing sustainable development is increasingly urgent due to resource depletion and environmental degradation, compounded by the need for a green energy transition requiring significant mineral resources. Traditional mining practices result in several environmental impacts, prompting the exploration of alternatives, like mining the ocean floor. This method offers a potentially less invasive way to obtain critical minerals. Notwithstanding, our understanding of the ocean ecosystem, which is crucial to Earth’s life support system, is still too limited. This study aimed to assess an educational intervention on sea mining for polymetallic nodules while improving scientific literacy and system thinking and supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4, 13, and 14. A pre-/post-intervention design was implemented with 17 adolescents (aged 12–16 years) from an underprivileged non-formal context. The mixed-methods approach involved role-playing and modelling activities focused on the question: “Do you agree with mining polymetallic nodules in deep-sea waters”? The Wilcoxon test revealed that the intervention changed participants’ opinions about the theme, showing a statistically significant difference in student responses before and after the intervention (Z = −2.165; p = 0.030). A content analysis showed enhanced argumentation, understanding of Earth’s subsystems, and decision-making abilities. These findings suggest that the educational resource positively impacted students’ scientific literacy on the topic. This approach can be extended to other contexts and inform future investigations.

Drivers of Purchase Intentions of Generation Z on Eco-Products

Concerns about environmental protection and sustainable consumption increased among Generation Z, as a consequence of more perceived risks emerging in the context of climate change and depletion of natural resources. The aim of the present research was to identify the main factors that influence the intention to purchase eco-products among the young generation. Quantitative marketing research was carried out on a sample of 269 Gen Z. The research results proved that purchasing intention for eco-products is strongly influenced by the perceived quality of environmentally friendly products, consumer consciousness about eco-products, perceived value of green products, and consumer trust in ecological products. Lower influences were recorded in terms of perceived price and perceived availability of eco-products, with improved total effects when considering the mediating role of eco-trust. Consequently, the provision of eco-products could lead to image benefits for organizations.