Uncovering the hidden value of citizen beach clean-ups: a social media-based assessment in Spain.

Green artificial intelligence in health applications.

ABSTRACT Despite rising environmental awareness, consumer adoption of sustainable innovations like 3D-printed clothing remains low, highlighting a persistent attitude – behavior gap. This study introduces the Dual Norms Model (DNM), which integrates the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory while distinguishing between social norms (perceived expectations) and behavioral norms (observed peer actions). Survey data from 221 participants analyzed using PLS-SEM reveal that behavioral norms – not social norms – significantly mediate the influence of key innovation attributes (e.g. environmental benefit, compatibility, trialability) on adoption intention. These findings address limitations in TPB and DOI and suggest that marketing sustainable innovations should emphasize peer modeling over moral or informational appeals. The DNM offers a stronger framework for understanding sustainable adoption under uncertainty.

This study assessed the implementation of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Communication, Education, and Public Awareness (CEPA) Program in Surigao City and examined its contribution to environmental stewardship among stakeholders. Anchored on Environmental Behavior Theory and Social Learning Theory, the study employed a descriptive-evaluative design using survey data and documentary analysis. The respondents were 100 purposively selected stakeholders from Barangay San Juan, Barangay Sabang, Barangay Washington, and DENR CEPA implementers. Primary data were collected through a researcher-developed, expert-validated questionnaire measuring the implementation of CEPA in terms of communication, education, and public awareness. Secondary data were obtained from DENR reports, accomplishment records, attendance sheets, solid waste management monitoring reports, plastic reduction memorandum, and activity documentation. Results showed that 23 CEPA-related activities were implemented in 2025, consisting of communication activities (f = 10), education initiatives (f = 8), and public awareness activities (f = 5). Communication was highly implemented (M = 3.47), education was moderately implemented (M = 3.32), and public awareness was highly implemented (M = 3.41). Documentary evidence showed that environmental stewardship was observable in proper waste segregation, coastal clean-ups, tree planting, mangrove planting, and community participation, although plastic reduction, sustained participation, and compliance remained inconsistent. The most pressing challenge was limited financial resources (M = 2.96), followed by lack of environmental awareness (M = 2.93), limited environmental training (M = 2.91), low community participation (M = 2.87), and poor stakeholder coordination (M = 2.83). The study concludes that the CEPA Program is visible and active in Surigao City, but its long-term effectiveness depends on stronger environmental education, sustained engagement, better resource support, improved coordination, and monitoring mechanisms. The study recommends enhanced CEPA policy guidelines to strengthen communication, environmental education, public participation, institutional coordination, resource mobilization, and evaluation. Keywords: CEPA Program, DENR, Environmental Stewardship, Environmental Awareness, Communication, Education, Public Awareness, Surigao City

Diabetes care generates substantial volumes of sharp and plastic waste, creating both safety and environmental concerns. We evaluated disposal practices for insulin-related sharps and devices among people with diabetes and assessed their awareness, attitudes, and sense of responsibility regarding appropriate disposal and environmental impact of diabetes-care waste. We conducted a cross-sectional survey at the 2 hospital sites in Singapore. Adults with diabetes using insulin devices were eligible. An anonymized survey collected data on demographics, history and duration of diabetes diagnosis, sharps disposal practices, awareness of recycling and attitudes toward responsibility on safe sharps disposal and environmental sustainability. Descriptive statistics, correlations, and logistic regressions were carried out. Sixty patients (mean age 46.0 ± 13.6 years; 56.7% female) completed the survey. Although 76.7% reported receiving advice on safe sharps disposal, only 6.7% used designated sharps containers for lancets while 25.0% discarded lancets directly into general waste; around half used plastic bottles whereas 20% used plastic bags or discarded insulin needles and syringes directly into general waste. Participants generally acknowledged that improper sharps disposal is a serious safety problem and considered proper disposal their personal responsibility. Receipt of advice from health care professionals was independently associated with safer sharps disposal (~20-fold higher odds, P = .002). Seventy-five percent were unaware that plastics in insulin pens are not recycled, and 55% did not know of available recycling facilities. Despite high perceived personal responsibility, disposal practices and recycling awareness among insulin users remain inadequate. Clearer guidance, structured education, and more accessible disposal and recycling infrastructure are needed.

With the implementation of plastic restriction policies and increasing environmental awareness, there is an urgent demand for starch-based straws as alternatives to traditional plastic straws. In this study, three cationic polysaccharides, namely chitosan (CTS), chitosan oligosaccharide (COS), and cationic guar gum (CGG), were selected to prepare starch straws via thermoplastic extrusion. The results indicated that cationic polysaccharides enhanced the mechanical properties, hydrophobicity, compatibility, and short-range order of the starch straws. Mechanistic analyses revealed the presence of hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions between starch and polysaccharides. Gaussian fitting indicated that the hydrogen bonding was dominated by OH⋯O. Among the samples, S-COS exhibited the highest interaction energy (-58.94 kcal mol-1), complex index (598.3 g kg-1), and inter-strand hydrogen bond energy (9.805 kcal mol-1). Consequently, S-COS displayed the highest flexural strength, optimal flexural strain at break, and lower water absorption rate and swelling degree. S-CGG demonstrated better flexibility and lowest water absorption. Additionally, after 150 days of storage, the surface of the starch-polysaccharide straws remained uniform without cracks. Our results demonstrated that starch-polysaccharide straws possessed excellent mechanical properties and water resistance, providing a theoretical basis for the development and industrial application of high-performance starch-based materials. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

How do climate risk disclosure peer effects propel corporate green innovation?

The transition toward sustainability has become the major challenge of the twenty-first century. The transport sector is responsible for nearly one-quarter of carbon dioxide emissions, and the core of current decarbonization strategies is electrification. This study develops an analytical model to explain how fleet operators determine the optimal mix of internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicles (EVs) under various policy and behavioral influences. Unlike classical firm models focusing solely on profit maximization, the proposed framework reflects the evolving corporate behavior in the sustainability era, where firms derive utility from both economic performance and their environmental and social standing. By extending a risk-adjusted Cobb–Douglas utility function to incorporate environmental awareness and uncertainty, the model explains how carbon taxation, decarbonization subsidies, perceived risk influence fleet composition. The results indicate that carbon taxes discourage ICE usage, subsidies and infrastructure investments accelerate electrification, environmental awareness amplifies these effects. Beyond economic incentives, the findings highlight the strategic importance of ESG commitments and risk management in corporate decision-making during the Sustainability era. This model contributes by developing a theoretical framework that integrates microeconomic optimization, behavioral economics, and policy design, providing guidance for both firms and regulators in advancing sustainable transportation systems.

The growing environmental awareness has driven material industries to seek sustainable alternatives to synthetic fibers. Abaca fiber ( Musa textilis ), a superior natural fiber with excellent tensile strength and seawater resistance, presents significant potential for sandwich composite applications. This review paper aims to synthesize recent advancements in utilizing abaca fiber as a core and face sheet material in sandwich composite structures. A systematic literature review of indexed journal articles from the last decade was conducted. The review identifies that chemical treatments and hybrid configurations with other fibers significantly enhance the mechanical properties and moisture resistance of abaca-based sandwich composites. Furthermore, this paper analyzes the prospects and challenges of integrating this material into the shipbuilding industry, particularly for interior panels, partitions, and lightweight non-structural components. The analysis shows that while promising, widespread adoption in marine applications requires further research on long-term durability, material standardization, and life cycle analysis to comprehensively demonstrate its economic and environmental advantages.

The digital era has transformed environmental social movements by reshaping how environmental awareness is fostered, collective action is mobilized, and environmental issues are advocated through social media platforms. This study aims to analyze the development of scientific literature on the transformation of environmental social movements in social media using a bibliometric approach. The dataset consists of 298 Scopus-indexed articles published between 2015 and 2025, selected following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The data were analyzed using the Bibliometrix package through Biblioshiny in R to identify publication trends, the most relevant sources and authors, and the thematic structure of the field. The findings reveal a growing number of publications, indicating increasing scholarly interest in the relationship between social movements, social media, and environmental issues. Co-occurrence analysis shows that the literature is centered on the interconnected themes of social movement, social media, and climate change, supported by topics such as sustainability, environmental justice, citizenship, environmental policy, and collective action. The study demonstrates that the transformation of environmental social movements is reflected in the shift of issues toward climate change and sustainability, the emergence of digital network-based mobilization mechanisms, and the growing orientation of movements toward policy advocacy and environmental governance. These findings highlight the role of social media as a crucial infrastructure for collective identity formation, digital resource mobilization, and broader public participation in contemporary environmental social movements.

Promoting the transition toward green and low-carbon lifestyles is essential for advancing sustainable consumption and environmental sustainability. Based on 6903 valid survey responses from 19 digital household pilot regions in China, this study examines the relationship between household digitalization and green and low-carbon lifestyles. A household digitalization level (HDL) index is constructed using the entropy method across five dimensions: digital network services, digital infrastructure, digital literacy, digital skills, and digital applications. The empirical results show that higher HDL is positively associated with the adoption of green and low-carbon lifestyles, and this association remains robust across a series of sensitivity analyses. Exploratory mechanism analysis indicates that HDL is linked to green and low-carbon lifestyles through improved satisfaction with digital smart technologies and enhanced environmental awareness. Heterogeneity analysis shows that this association is stronger among larger households, urban and suburban households, and households with development-oriented consumption, but weaker among smaller, rural, and subsistence-oriented households. These findings provide micro-level evidence supporting the exploration of the linkage between household digitalization and sustainable household consumption and the coordinated development of digitalization and environmental sustainability.

The accumulation of shellfish waste in Segorotambak Village due to increased seafood processing activities causes environmental problems such as bad odors, dirty environments, and polluting the coastal environment. The lack of education and understanding of the people of Segorotambak Village about processed shellshell waste products has resulted in a higher accumulation of shellfish waste. To overcome this problem, socialization and training in the manufacture of organic solid fertilizer from shellfish waste, organic waste, rice husk ash, and black soldier fly larvae (BSF) assistance as decomposition agents are important to be implemented. The implementation method includes coordination and surveys with village officials, socialization and training in making organic solid fertilizers, as well as evaluation of the effectiveness of socialization and training activities. The results of the evaluation from pre-test, post-test, and participatory observation showed that socialization and training activities succeeded in increasing the understanding of the Segorotambak village community to 94%. Cheap, easy to obtain, and simple methods cause this innovation to be easy to follow and apply by the people of Segorotambak Village. The socialization and training program for organic solid fertilizer innovation from shellfish waste not only plays a role in reducing the accumulation of organic waste, but also supports increasing soil fertility, strengthening community environmental awareness, and creating new economic opportunities.

Abstract. Azerbaijan’s soil resources constitute a vital part of the country’s natural capital, playing a key role in maintaining ecological balance, supporting agricultural productivity, and ensuring sustainable development. However, growing anthropogenic pressures, ongoing land degradation, and climate-related impacts have increasingly threatened soil quality and functionality. This study explores soil protection as a strategic focus within the activities of the Soil Museum operating under the Institute of Geography. Although soil conservation has been among the museum’s primary objectives since its establishment, its integration into the institutional framework of the Institute has significantly expanded its scope. Today, the museum functions not merely as a storage space for soil monoliths and scientific collections, but also as a scientific, educational, and informational center where soil is presented as an integral element of the geographical environment. The research particularly emphasizes that soil, as a fundamental component of geographical systems, is closely interconnected with climate, relief, water resources, vegetation, and human activities. This integrated geographical approach enhances the scientific value of the museum by enabling the study of soil diversity within the broader context of natural-territorial interactions that shape landscapes and ecological processes across Azerbaijan. Soil monoliths serve as effective tools for demonstrating soil diversity, environmental conditions, and degradation patterns. The results indicate that soil protection is not only a scientific concern but also a key element of environmental education, public awareness, and sustainable land use. From a geographical perspective, degradation levels vary across regions depending on relief, climate, irrigation practices, and human influence.

Preterm birth (PTB), or birth before 37 weeks of gestation, remains a significant public health issue in the United States, particularly in Detroit, Michigan. Growing evidence suggests that volatile organic compounds (VOCs), aromatic or chlorinated organic compounds that vaporize readily, may influence PTB risk. However, much of this prior work is limited by indirect VOC exposure estimates (eg, assignment based on maternal residential address), single-point or cumulative exposure estimates during pregnancy, or limited consideration of potential mechanistic factors. The Center for Leadership in Environmental Awareness and Research (CLEAR) birth cohort has been designed to test the hypotheses that prenatal VOC exposures, measured as VOC metabolites in maternal urine, increase the risk of PTB; that VOC exposures are associated with maternal inflammation and placental function measures; that associations between prenatal VOC exposures and PTB may be mediated by these maternal inflammation and placental function measures; and that there are neighborhood-level factors that may increase the risk of VOC exposure during pregnancy. A prospective cohort of 1075 pregnant patients receiving prenatal care at Henry Ford Health will be recruited. Pregnant patients residing in Detroit or receiving prenatal care at a Detroit-based Henry Ford Health women's health clinic are eligible. Pregnant patients are followed until delivery. Up to 3 urine and blood samples (collected during early, mid, and late pregnancy) are obtained for measurement of VOC metabolites and inflammatory biomarkers, respectively. The placenta is obtained after delivery for epigenomic and transcriptomic measurement. Surveys are administered to pregnant participants to assess a variety of lifestyle, psychosocial, medical, residential, and other factors. Address information collected from both surveys and electronic medical records across pregnancy will be used to identify potential sources of VOC exposure. The electronic medical record is used to obtain medical and delivery data, including infant sex, date of delivery, and gestational age (GA) at delivery. PTB, the primary study outcome, is defined as GA at delivery <37 weeks. A nested case-control approach (frequency matching PTB cases 1:1 with full-term controls [GA at delivery ≥37 weeks] based on infant sex and maternal race) will be applied. Statistical methods, including logistic regression, linear mixed methods, and geographically weighted regression models, as well as chemical mixture approaches, will be used. Funding began September 2022 and recruitment commenced November 2023. Through April 22, 2026, a total of 468 pregnant patients have consented to participate in the CLEAR birth cohort, and recruitment is ongoing. The CLEAR cohort will provide novel data on the role of VOCs during pregnancy in the risk of PTB. Additionally, the role of VOC exposures during pregnancy in maternal inflammation and placental function will be examined. Finally, potential sources of VOC exposures, which could be targets for environmental remediation, will be identified.

ABSTRACT The International Outdoor Education Research Conference (IOERC) series connects outdoor educators across the globe and continues to progress in impact and reach. This paper aims to summarise key insights from the 10th IOERC and foster continued growth and collaboration with international outdoor education authors. IOERC 10 brought together 187 delegates from 24 countries, with 138 abstracts received from 19 countries. The themes emerged as (A-Z): 1) Cultural and social outdoor education dimensions; 2) Environmental awareness and place-based learning; 3) Outdoor education in formal education; 4) Personal development; and 5) Technology and innovation. We emphasise the importance of expanding international outdoor education research connections, addressing less common themes but also recognise the limitation that many researchers were unable to attend IOERC10 due to a number of continuing post-pandemic factors. Personal author reflections are offered, and we discuss significant insights into the evolving landscape of the global outdoor education community.

Eco-pedagogical content's impact on EFL learners' environmental attitudes and behaviors: A structural equation modeling study.

Psychological and cultural determinants of intentions toward environmentally responsible behavior: A cross-cultural study in the tourism context.

Environmental pollution represents an important threat to women's health due to its potential effects on reproductive, maternal, hormonal, and general health outcomes. This study aimed to develop the Environmental Pollution Awareness Scale for Women's Health (EPAS-WH) and evaluate its psychometric properties. This methodological study was conducted with three independent samples consisting of a total of 760 women (Sample A: M age = 24.4 ± 7.8; Sample B: M age = 25.4 ± 8.7; Sample C: M age = 24.6 ± 8.2). The scale development process included item generation, expert evaluation, content validity analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), reliability analyses, test-retest reliability, and criterion-related validity assessment. Content validity was evaluated using the Lawshe technique. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficients, while criterion-related validity was examined through correlations with the Eco-Anxiety Scale. Content validity analysis supported the relevance of the scale items (CVI = 0.889). EFA revealed a unidimensional structure consisting of 8 items, explaining 66.5% of the total variance. CFA confirmed the single-factor structure and demonstrated good model fit. The EPAS-WH showed excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.940; McDonald's ω = 0.932), strong construct reliability (CR = 0.93), and adequate convergent validity (AVE = 0.63). Test-retest analysis demonstrated good temporal stability (ICC = 0.87). In addition, significant positive correlations between EPAS-WH and eco-anxiety scores supported criterion-related validity. The EPAS-WH is a valid, reliable, and psychometrically robust measurement instrument for assessing women's awareness of environmental pollution-related health risks. The scale may be used in research, public health practices, and educational interventions aimed at evaluating and improving environmental health awareness among women.

Global ecological deterioration necessitates transforming environmental awareness into sustainable action. Although social norms effectively promote green behavior, limited attention has been paid to the alignment between government advocates and social norm framing, particularly in the context of virtual government advocates. Drawing on norm focus theory, the Heuristic–Systematic Model, and processing fluency theory, this study examines how government advocates (real human vs. virtual influencer) interact with social norms (injunctive vs. descriptive) to influence consumers’ green behavioral intentions. Across four scenario-based experiments, results reveal a congruence effect: real government advocates are more persuasive when paired with injunctive norms, whereas virtual government advocates are more persuasive when paired with descriptive norms. This interaction effect is mediated by processing fluency and moderated by perceived power and information richness. The findings advance research on digital governance and environmental communication by identifying an advocate–norm congruence framework and its underlying mechanisms and boundary conditions.

ABSTRACT Greenwashing in the apparel industry involves deceptive marketing practices where companies misrepresent products as environmentally friendly by fabricating or withholding details about their content or manufacturing processes. Given consumers’ reliance on advertisements and company-provided information, this study assessed young adults’ ability to differentiate genuine green apparel products from greenwashed ones. A survey was conducted with 66 college students aged 18–31, featuring advertisements for two women’s apparel items and one handbag under fictitious brand names. Participants’ perceived environmental knowledge (PEK), environmental concern (EC), green purchasing attitudes (GPA), and perceived greenwashing (eco-score) were analyzed using a mixed-effects model. Results revealed high scores across scales, indicating strong environmental knowledge and awareness. However, participants exhibited skepticism, with an average eco-score of 4.297 (p < .001) for eco-friendly ads. GPA significantly influenced eco-scores (b = – 0.226, p < .001), highlighting the need for consumer education to foster critical thinking, eco-literacy, and informed green purchasing decisions.