Environmental Criteria Research Articles

HTA290 Environmental Sustainability in HTA: Are HTA Bodies Applying Environmental Criteria in Their Decision-Making?

HTA290 Environmental Sustainability in HTA: Are HTA Bodies Applying Environmental Criteria in Their Decision-Making?

The integration of environmental, social and governance criteria in portfolio optimization: An empirical analysis

AbstractThe increasing interest of investors in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues has prompted asset managers to develop new approaches to strategic asset allocation that can effectively integrate ESG factors into the optimization process. This study reviews the main techniques of the most recent ESG‐efficient portfolio optimization models. Furthermore, this study conducts an empirical investigation to identify the impact of ESG constraints on mean–variance efficient allocations, and extends existing approaches by incorporating a downside risk framework. Our findings reveal that social and combined ESG ratings mitigate the negative skewness of portfolio returns, and that ESG rating, environmental rating, social rating, and combined ESG rating allow the sustainable investor to incur lower transaction costs.

Eco-efficiency analysis of rainfed and irrigated maize systems in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract This study evaluated the eco-efficiency of rainfed and irrigated maize production in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Environmental impact assessments were performed through energy, carbon footprint, and water scarcity footprint analysis. For economic analysis, gross and net returns and benefit–cost ratios were calculated. Eco-efficiency was measured by the ratio between the net return and environmental criteria. The findings indicate that the transition from rainfed to irrigated maize cultivation per unit of land results in a 53.7% higher yield and gross value of production, but also a 69.8% increase in energy input, a 22% rise in greenhouse gas emissions, and a 3.6-fold increase in the water scarcity footprint. While a positive link exists in irrigated maize between higher yield and lower carbon footprint per unit of product, rainfed systems outperform in energy efficiency, productivity, profitability, water scarcity footprint, and overall eco-efficiency. Both systems rely heavily on nonrenewable energy sources, with fertilization (affecting energy and carbon footprint), mechanization (affecting carbon footprint), and irrigation (exacerbating water scarcity) as the main contributors to the negative environmental impacts. The implementation of optimization strategies for these inputs is of paramount importance to reduce environmental impacts and promote sustainability in maize farming in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Determination of soil environment criteria for ecological safety of benzo[a]pyrene in soil based on the species sensitivity distribution approach

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a highly carcinogenic organic pollutant. Its distinct toxic effects have raised significant concerns among regulators and researchers. However, the absence of established soil environmental criteria for ecological safety of BaP has led to a lack of evidence in the current risk assessment for soil ecological security. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive study to investigate the toxicity of BaP using multiple soil organisms, including rice, wheat, lettuce, rape, cucumber, tomato, leonurus, and earthworm. The toxicity data obtained were applied to the species sensitivity distribution (SSD) approach, and the soil environment criteria for ecological safety of BaP under different land use types were derived. The soil environmental criteria for ecological safety of BaP were estimated to be 1.07 (Natural reserve and agricultural land), 1.63 (Parkland), 3.84 (Residential land) and 6.46 (Commercial service and industrial land) mg·kg−1, respectively. This study is the first to conduct toxicity testing and derive soil environmental criteria of BaP in terrestrial ecosystems. These findings are effective supplement for the current soil environmental quality standards and will function as the basis for ecological risk assessment of BaP.

Evaluation of the surface water quality using global water quality index (WQI) models: perspective of river water pollution

Rapid industrialization, urbanization, global warming, and climate change are compromising surface water quality across the globe. Consequently, water conservation is essential for both environmental sustainability and human survival. This study assesses the water quality of the Jamuna River in Bangladesh at five distinct sites during wet and dry seasons. It employs six global water quality indices (WQIs) and contrasts the results with Bangladesh's Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) and the Department of Environment (DoE) criteria. The WQI models used are the Weighted Arithmetic WQI (WAWQI), British Columbia WQI (BCWQI), Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment WQI (CWQI), Assigned WQI (AWQI), Malaysian WQI (MWQI), and Oregon WQI (OWQI). Fifteen physicochemical parameters were analyzed according to each WQI model's guidelines. The findings reveal that most parameters surpass the standard permissible values. The WQI model results indicate that the average water quality across the five sites falls into the lowest category. A comparison of the WQI models suggests potential correlations between WAWQI and AWQI, as well as between MWQI and OWQI. The straightforward presentation of the WQI models indicates that while the river water requires treatment for household and drinking use, it remains suitable for irrigation. The decline in water quality is likely attributable to human activities, urbanization, municipal waste disposal, and industrial effluents. Authorities must prioritize regular monitoring and assessment of water quality to address the identified challenges. Restoring the water to an acceptable standard will become increasingly difficult without proactive measures.

How do environmental flows impact on water availability under climate change scenarios in European basins?

Environmental flows (Qeco) facilitate a good ecological status of fluvial ecosystems, but they usually represent a constraint for water uses. Qeco flow regime should not only be based on the minimum flows, but it should also account their variability. It is expected that climate change impact on some hydrological systems diminishing the natural water resources and stressing the river ecosystems. In this context, the balance between ecosystems conservation and human water needs becomes even more difficult to manage. We performed a comprehensive analysis over European territory to assess the behaviour of basins regarding different criteria for environmental flow determination under climate change scenarios. We used a water allocation model, WAAPA, to estimate the water availability (WA). In this study, WA represents the maximum demand that can be supplied at a certain point of the river network with a given reliability criteria, considering drinking and irrigation water supply. We considered two methods for calculating Qeco, Qeco1 based on mean monthly flow (MMF) and Qeco2 based on mean annual runoff (MAF). We analyzed the current scenario (historical from 1960 to 2000) and 40 future projections, which combine short and long term (from 2020 to 2059, and from 2060 to 2099, respectively), four emission scenarios (RCP2.6 to RCP8.5) and five climate models. Expected changes on MAF due to climate change are not uniform through Europe and also vary regarding the specific climate scenario. >70 % of basins show a trend to reduce their MAF under severe emission scenarios. Conservative values of Qeco represent a heavy constraint for WA and stress the water systems similarly than climate change impacts. The study also highlights that regulation capacity helps on buffering the effects of both climate change and environmental requirements. This study provides a good insight for understanding basin response in terms of WA, regarding environmental criteria and climate change effects.

Determining the main directions to ensure the sustainable development of the Arctic zone by reducing natural risks and technological hazards

Subject. The article considers climate changes, demographic and economic features of the Arctic territories. Objectives. The aim is to analyze the specific features of implementing the principles of sustainable development in a harsh climate. Methods. We employ economic and mathematical methods. Results. The paper determined that to assess prospects for sustainable development of the Arctic territories, it is necessary to use an integrated approach that involves consideration of economic, social, environmental, and technical criteria. Conclusions. The findings can be used to design programs for development of transport and other infrastructure in hard-to-reach areas.

Bioaccumulation of potentially toxic trace elements (As, Cd, Hg, In, Ni, Pb, Se, Zn) and methylmercury in an Indian tarantula Thrigmopoeus truculentus (Pocock 1899) of the Western Ghats

ABSTRACT Spiders are good bioindicators of ecological contamination by potentially toxic trace elements such as As, Cd, Hg, In, Ni, Pb, Se Zn and methylmercury (MeHg). Here, we investigated their bioaccumulation in an Indian tarantula, Theraphosidae spider Thrigmopoeus truculentus inhabiting mud embankments along a national highway in the Western Ghats mountains, and the soil contamination. Concentrations in soil were higher than the soil environmental quality criteria of different countries for Cd, Zn and Ni. Concentrations in whole-body of tarantulas (n = 7) were Zn > Se > [Cd, As, Pb, Ni] > In > total mercury (THg) > MeHg. Concentrations of Zn, Cd, Se, THg and MeHg were significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared to soil, suggesting biomagnification. Our work and the review of past data suggest that spiders can biomagnify Zn, Cd, Se, THg and MeHg; but not Pb, As, In and Ni. For As, Zn, Se, Cd, In and THg, correlations between concentrations in tarantula appendages and whole-body were significant (p < 0.05), suggesting that a non-lethal approach be explored where only appendages of larger tarantulas are analysed. Overall, the Theraphosidae species showed the potential to be used as an indicator of bioaccumulation, and their usefulness should be further explored.

Examining Sustainability Alignment of Supplier Selection Criteria during Industrial Revolutions

Suppliers have evolved alongside industrial revolutions induced by their selection criteria for over two centuries. While sustainability has remained a pledge in their inter-creditor agreements, the claims of 11,000 scientists regarding the Earth’s colossal pollution and the calls of 196 nations to reach net-zero emissions by 2030 have accentuated concerns regarding the sustainability of supply selection criteria. Twenty supply selection criteria and seventy associated indicators were identified in industrial revolutions. The identified criteria and indicators were forwarded to 250 volunteers with expertise in the supply chain across six industries. Maintaining confidentiality, the volunteers were first requested to rank the criteria and related indicators concerning the three pillars of sustainability, the environmental, economic, and social, using The second request was to mark the percentage of influence of economic criteria and the related indicators on environmental and social sustainability. The third request was to state their professional views on sustainability during the industrial revolutions. Statistical analyses of the responses suggested that the identified supplier selection criteria were not equally driven by economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Supply chain professionals supported the statistical analysis and confirmed that the economic indicators dominating the selection of suppliers were significantly higher than the environmental and social criteria. They also confirmed that economic indicators have negatively impacted environmental and social sustainability during industrial revolutions. They recommended that transitioning into sustainable supply chains requires shifting emphasis from economic to environmental and social sustainability.

Resetting Priorities of Near-Zero Emission Energy Projects: Multi-Criteria Analysis

ABSTRACT Egypt’s national development plan aims to diversity energy resources and expand near-zero emission energy (NZEE) generation technologies. The target for NZEE’s share in the Egyptian energy basket is 20% by year 2030. There is a set of NZEE projects on the agenda of the decision-makers that needs reconsideration. This study goal is to assist decision-makers and stakeholders in reprioritising the implementation of these projects based on technical, economic, environmental, and social criteria. Multi-criteria analysis (MCA) was employed to rank five specific projects categorised under pumped storage hydropower, nuclear, clean coal, solar, and wind. The results showed that, for the non-biased set of weights, El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant took the first rank. It has been also given the first priority according to environment activists’ biased weights. For the social biased weights, Benban Solar Park outranked all the other projects.

The effect of green supply chain management practices on corporate environmental performance: Does supply chain competitive advantage matter?

AbstractThis paper examines the impact of institutional pressure (IP), top management support (TMS), green supply chain management practices (GSCM), and supply chain competitive advantage (SCCA) on corporate environmental performance (EP). We also analyze the mediation effect of GSCM on the interplay between TMS and EP. Additionally, the paper also provides an analysis of the moderating role of SCCA between IP and EP. To attain the objective of this research, we assembled data from 710 business entities within the Shaanxi province of China utilizing a survey design approach. The structural equation model (SEM) was applied to test and assess the hypothetical outline. The study outcomes empirically show that TMS, GSCM, and SCCA positively and significantly impact EP. Interestingly, our study found an insignificant association between IP and EP. The study's results also demonstrate that IP directly relates to top management support. Moreover, the study's empirical findings reveal that GSCM positively mediates IP and EP. The study findings show that SCCA shapes IP and EP's connection. Accordingly, the practical implications of our study's findings suggest that business managers, investors, and government agencies must know the importance of adopting sustainable practices within the supply chain. Business managers must take action to integrate environmental criteria into supplier selection, evaluate suppliers' EP, and collaborate with eco‐friendly suppliers. Hence, government agencies, stakeholders, and business managers can use this information to shape regulations and policies that encourage businesses to adopt sustainable supply chain practices. Offering incentives such as tax benefits or grants for sustainability initiatives can also promote adoption. The study recommends that a business culture that targets improving EP due to IP and top management support is essential in achieving GSCM practices, thereby promising competitive advantage.

Big Data Analytics-based life cycle sustainability assessment for sustainable manufacturing enterprises evaluation

Recently, governments and organizations have repeatedly pressed manufacturing enterprises to promote the ethical and transparent use of natural resources, lessen their negative effects on national and international ecosystems, and safeguard people and the environment. In this context, enhancing the various stages of the product/service life cycle to fulfill sustainability requirements and foster sustainable value creation is a key area of interest for researchers and professionals. This emphasis reflects the growing recognition of the importance of minimizing the environmental impact of products and services, while also maximizing their positive contributions to society, economy, and environment. To this end, this research work addresses how manufacturing enterprises benefit from life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) thinking to incorporate the environmental and social criteria into the product/service life cycle strategies. To do so, a novel approach based on environmental priority strategy (EPS) as an LCSA method for impacts monetization coupling with Big Data Analytics (BDA) techniques and tools is developed to evaluate and analyze the manufacturing enterprises’ impacts on the environment and society. Moreover, the developed approach evaluates manufacturing enterprises’ progress toward sustainable development goals (SDGs). Finally, to demonstrate the applicability of the developed approach, a case study from the corporate environmental impact database is used, and the obtained numerical results are analyzed showing its efficiency and added value.

The Selection of Suppliers with Environmental Criteria in Small Companies in the City of Durán, Ecuador

Sustainable, efficient, and competitive supply chain management implies a change of perspective in small companies: moving from purchasing as an operational and routine function to strategic management of procuring and selecting suitable suppliers. In other words, supplier selection is a multi-criteria decision problem. The methodology used in this research refers to a mixed descriptive approach. The information necessary for the study was obtained through surveys and group work with the participation of owners of 27 small businesses in the city of Durán. The expert method, Saaty’s hierarchical analysis and the technique of order preference by similarity to the ideal solution (TOPSIS) were applied in this study. The results obtained helped to identify the main weaknesses in procurement management in the small companies studied, the selection of sustainable suppliers, and possible actions for improvement. The study found that small companies have shortcomings in supply chain management and selecting suitable suppliers to meet sustainability objectives. The shortcomings were financial, cultural, and market management.&#x0D; Keywords: supply chain management, supplier selection, multi-criteria decision.&#x0D; Resumen &#x0D; La gestión de la cadena de suministros sostenible, eficiente y competitiva supone un cambio de perspectiva en las pequeñas empresas: pasar de la compra como una función operativa y rutinaria a una gestión estratégica de los aprovisionamientos y la selección idónea de los proveedores. En otras palabras, la selección de proveedores es un problema de decisión multicriterio. La metodología utilizada en la investigación refiere un enfoque mixto, de tipo descriptiva. La información necesaria para el estudio se obtuvo a través de encuestas y trabajo en grupo con la participación de propietarios de 27 pequeñas empresas de la ciudad de Durán. En el estudio se aplicó el método de expertos, análisis jerárquico de Saaty y la técnica de Preferencia de Pedidos por Similitud a la Solución Ideal (TOPSIS). Los resultados obtenidos permitieron identificar las principales insuficiencias de la gestión de aprovisionamientos en las pequeñas empresas estudiadas, la selección de proveedores sostenibles y posibles acciones de mejora. El estudio constató que las pequeñas empresas tienen insuficiencias en la gestión de la cadena de suministros y selección de proveedores idóneos cumplir con objetivos de sostenibilidad. Las insuficiencias son de tipo financiero, cultural y de gestión en el mercado.&#x0D; Palabras Clave: gestión de la cadena de suministros, selección de proveedores, decisión multicriterio.

Multiobjective particles swarm optimization and multicriteria decision making of improved cumene production process including economic, environmental, and safety criteria

AbstractCumene is one of the five chemicals with the highest production in the world. In this work, the design by Flegiel was improved to increase the production rate of the cumene process by adding a trans‐alkylation reactor, then multi‐objective optimization (MOO) using the particles swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is used to improve the process design. Furthermore, seven multicriteria decision‐making (MCDM) methods for selecting an optimal solution from the Pareto‐optimal front related to two MOO problems were performed. In this optimization, conflicting objectives such as total capital cost (TCC), energy cost, wastage rate, and safety target are simultaneously minimized in the format of trade‐offs. Finally, the results of this work were compared with those reported designs. The optimal solution chosen by MCDM methods is at TCC = 5589, damage index (DI) = 0.044, and material loss = 0.0005.

An artificial bee colony algorithm for medical goods distribution and pharmacological waste collection by hybrid vehicles considering environmental criteria

PurposeThis paper aims to focus on a medical goods distribution problem and pharmacological waste collection by plug-in hybrid vehicles with some real-world restrictions. In this research, considering alternative energy sources and simultaneous pickup and delivery led to a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions and distribution costs, respectively.Design/methodology/approachHere, this problem has been modeled as mixed-integer linear programming with the traveling and energy consumption costs objective function. The GAMS was used for model-solving in small-size instances. Because the problem in this research is an NP-hard problem and solving real-size problems in a reasonable time is impossible, in this study, the artificial bee colony algorithm is used.FindingsThen, the algorithm results are compared with a simulated annealing algorithm that recently was proposed in the literature. Finally, the results obtained from the exact solution and metaheuristic algorithms are compared, analyzed and reported. The results showed that the artificial bee colony algorithm has a good performance.Originality/valueIn this paper, medical goods distribution with pharmacological waste collection is studied. The paper was focused on plug-in hybrid vehicles with simultaneous pickup and delivery. The problem was modeled with environmental criteria. The traveling and energy consumption costs are considered as an objective function.

Sustainable solutions for the wood and paper industry: A comprehensive assessment of the rural environment impact

Industries in underdeveloped areas can have a substantial impact on the socio-cultural, economic, and environmental development of the surrounding regions. Thus, evaluating the positive and negative effects of these industries on the local environment is essential. In this research, the impact of the wood and paper industry on rural areas was evaluated, considering the issue of sustainability in three scenarios. First, using the fuzzy Delphi method, effective criteria in the evaluation of villages were identified and determined, considering the establishment of the industry in the surrounding environment. Then, using the Best Worst Method (BWM), improvement and challenging criteria in the rural environment were weighted. Additionally, Geographic Information System (GIS) was employed to extract data and assess the study area's geographical information, while also prioritizing research options using the Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluations (PROMETHEE (. Investigating the impact of the industry on rural areas with regard to the issue of sustainability in three different scenarios, identifying the positive and negative effects of economic, social, and environmental criteria, and evaluating stability and reactivity to analyze the impact of each criterion on other criteria were some of the contributions of this research. The results showed that economic criteria (improvement) had the most positive effect with 34% and environmental criteria (challenge) had the most negative effect with 31%. Also, the results indicated that the criteria of groundwater pollution with an impact factor of 14%, increasing job opportunities with an impact factor of 9%, and increasing consumerism of the people with an impact factor of 7% were among the most important criteria that increased or decreased the impact percentage of each criterion the ranking results and the impact percentage of other criteria also change. According to the evaluation results of the positive and negative effects of the criteria in relation to each other and to the surrounding areas, corrective measures can be taken to reduce or eliminate the challenging factors so that the positive effects are maximized, and the amount of negative effects on the surrounding areas is reduced.

Persepsi Pengguna terhadap Kontena Sebagai Alternatif Bangunan Komersial di Malaysia I: Kerangka dan Kaedah Kajian

On an overall scale, this study was conducted to identify the perception of users towards containers as an alternative choice to commercial buildings in Malaysia and also the environmental design criterias that could contribute towards the thermal comfort of a container. This paper, which is the first of two parts, focuses on the development of the research framework and approach used for the techniques and methodologies to conduct the research. It describes the development of the research methodology which brought to the adoption of mixed methods as the appropriate method to answer the objectives of the study. Based on this method, the research technique begins with the development of a closed-ended questionnaire which will then be distributed to guests and users of the selected locations to identify user perceptions. This is followed by the second step, which was to develop a series of case studies based on the three selected locations. Subsequently is the third step, which is also the final step; a brief observation and analysis of the findings taken from the data collection from all three locations. This process ultimately aims to identify environmental design criteria that can contribute to the thermal comfort of a container. This research framework will later guide the data collection and analysis process for this study and the results are expected to function as a reference in understanding user’s perception of thermal comfort in containers as well as designing the container environment as a commercial building space suitable for tropical climate.

Persepsi Pengguna Terhadap Kontena Sebagai Alternatif Bangunan Komersial di Malaysia II: Kajian Kes

This study, which is the second of two parts, was conducted to identify the perception of users towards containers as an alternative to commercial buildings in Malaysia and also the environmental design criterias that could contribute towards the thermal comfort of a container. The methodology used for this study was a mixed method approach. The context of this research includes three existing container projects in the Klang Valley. The first research technique was a closed-ended questionnaire survey that was distributed to users to identify user perceptions. Subsequently, the second research technique involved developing case studies and observing the physical condition of all the three selected locations. Finally, an analysis was made based on the findings from the closed-ended questionnaire survey and physical observation of all the three container projects in order to identify the environmental design criteria that can contribute to thermal comfort in the container. The findings from the results of this study show that the majority of users relatively feel comfortable staying and carrying out activities in the three container buildings and the container building that is said to have the highest level of comfort is surrounded by soft landscaping and has an ideal orientation position to the angle of the sun’s path. The result of this study is a document that can be used as a reference in understanding the perception of users towards thermal comfort of containers as well as designing a container environment as a commercial building space that is suitable for a tropical climate. This article gives focus on results and analysis of the conducted case studies.

Using spatial elimination and ranking methods in the renewable energy investment parcel search process

The study presents a framework for an elimination algorithm aimed at determining potential investment locations for photovoltaic farms in three separate counties located in northeastern Poland. The research focuses on identifying environmental and economic criteria for solar farm locations, establishing boundary values, and discussing the outcomes of multi-criteria decision support using the Boolean method and Borda ranking methods. Through the amalgamation of the elimination algorithm and a multi-criteria decision-making model, ten different location variants were derived, ranging from the best (Variant 1) to the worst (Variant 10), out of a total of 1024 variants. The results highlight five critical criteria that persisted after the elimination algorithm: distance from medium voltage lines, distance from roads, parcel shape, average parcel width, and average slope. The analysis revealed that the analysed counties have between 150 and 1336 optimal locations (depending on the analysed area) that satisfy all the specified conditions. This method, which enables the swift and reproducible identification of suitable areas for photovoltaic farm construction, can be applied in various European regions.

The Conceptual Model of the BIM4NZEB-DS System for Selecting Technological Variants of Rational Passive Energy Efficiency Measures for a Sustainable Building

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Implementing sustainable solutions in building design is one of the significant elements in achieving the transition to sustainability. The diversity of structural elements, construction materials, and the various preferences of interested parties complicate the decision-making process. Building Information Modeling (BIM) provides a wide range of available technological solutions and methods for automated decision support and can make decision-making more efficient. This study presents the conceptual model for BIM4NZEB-DS system for the automated selection of rational variants of passive energy efficiency measures. The algorithm of this system will integrate the solutions for data transfer from the BIM model and multi-criteria methods for the analysis of variants. The assessment of variants is based on economic and environmental criteria. The purpose of the system is to increase the reliability of the assessment, optimise the technological and human resources required, and minimise the time of decision-making. The developed system will be validated using the BIM model of real-case building&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;