Environmental Aspects Of Sustainability Research Articles

Environmental Sustainability Aspects in Short Food Supply Chains: the Views of Organic Farmers and Consumers

Abstract Globally, food systems are the most significant cause of environmental change; therefore, efforts to create more environmentally sustainable food systems are presented. One of the directions is strengthening the local actors and short food supply chains. Simultaneously, changes in farming systems are needed, and organic agriculture is one of the ways to make food systems more environmentally sustainable. Despite the abundance of research on the environmental consciousness of consumers in short food supply chains, the question is raised whether local food chain farmers are also committed to environmental sustainability. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the importance of environmental sustainability to organic short food supply chain actors. More specifically, the research depicts the views of organic farmers and consumers and their relation to the actual environmental sustainability of short food supply chains. During the research, a specific short food supply chain – a direct purchasing network – was explored. A qualitative approach was applied to reach the aim. Thus, in-depth interviews and observations were used as a research method. The research results demonstrated the views of farmers and consumers of the specific network regarding environmental sustainability aspects in the network. In the research, such environmental aspects as the circularity of resources, biodiversity, chemicals in the environment, seasonality and locality of diets, and the distance (food miles) were admitted as crucial ones by the specific short food supply chain actors. The differences in opinions of consumers and farmers emerged when thinking about the scale of their views.

Environmental Sustainability Analysis: A Theoretical Review of Emissions and Sanitation Management in Realizing Sustainable Tourism at Turtle Tourism Beaches in West Sumatra, Indonesia

The importance of sanitation and management of emission waste in realizing environmental sustainability is a must, especially in tourism areas. Creating the concept of sustainable tourism, one of the leading indicators, must pay attention to aspects of environmental sustainability. The purpose of this research is to analyze environmental sustainability in realizing sustainable tourism in terms of sanitation waste management and emissions in the turtle beach tourism object area in Nagari Ampiang Parak, West Sumatra. The methodology uses a qualitative approach with a descriptive type. Data collection through interviews, documentation studies, and field observations. Determinate informants using a purposive sampling technique (organizer/manager informants) and snowball sampling (tour visitor informants and the surrounding community). Data were analyzed using source triangulation. The results of the study show that sanitation waste management using communal septic tanks can have a positive impact on environmental sustainability and the sustainability of turtle hatchery. Meanwhile, emission problems can be minimized by reforestation and improving the environment around coastal tourism areas by planting ketapang trees, mangroves, and sea cypress. The activities mentioned above have proven to positively impact environmental sustainability in the turtle beach tourism area of West Sumatra, Indonesia.

GENERATING GREEN ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDE

In line with the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs), environmentally friendly business is a new challenge in carrying out entrepreneurial activities. Research on the relationship between environmental attitudes and the formation of student intentions in green entrepreneurship is necessary. Entrepreneurship students at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Tarumanagara, were involved as respondents (n = 280) using a convenience sampling technique. The purpose of this study was to determine students' intentions in green entrepreneurship activities by considering environmental attitude variables proxied through the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) in the preparation of instruments. The results of the validity test showed that only 10 indicators could be maintained as a measure of environmental attitudes with a Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.892 and a composite reliability of 0.911 so that both were in the satisfactory category. The results of structural regression testing show a significant effect of environmental attitudes on green entrepreneurship intentions at a significance level of 5 percent. R-square of 24.60 percent indicates the large contribution of environmental attitudes to this intention. The mechanism of the relationship between attitudes and intentions is in accordance with the theory of planned behavior while the transformation in the aspect of environmental sustainability is in line with the triple bottom line theory. Based on these results, it can be adapted to an educational approach or involving stakeholders in an entrepreneurship learning approach as a support for achieving Indonesia's SDGs in 2030.

Designing digital solutions for sustainability: Navigating conflicting stakeholder requirements with dignity in mind

This teaching case examines the challenges of designing a digital solution to address complex sustainability problems. The case follows the vice president for innovation of a mid-sized European digital agency involved in a project dedicated to designing a digital application that connects climate-conscious investors, banks, and homeowners in need of loans for green house renovations. In this case, students need to navigate stakeholders’ conflicting needs and consider broader aspects of environmental, social, and economic sustainability in the design of digital applications. At the same time, this digital solution should seek to promote stakeholders’ dignity.

Blockchain technology as an enabler for sustainable business ecosystems: A comprehensive roadmap for socioenvironmental and economic sustainability

AbstractBlockchain technology is a core technology expected to play a highly instrumental role in competing with socioenvironmental challenges. The literature hypothesizes various blockchain functions for building a sustainable business ecosystem. This study unifies these diverse perspectives into an interpretive strategy roadmap that provides a holistic overview of how blockchain should be leveraged to deliver sustainability functions optimally. The study first identified the sustainability functions of blockchain through a content‐centric literature review. The study applied interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and drew on experts' opinions to model how and in which order blockchain delivers these sustainability functions. The study further drew on the ISM output and interpretive logic‐knowledge base to develop the promised roadmap. Results revealed that blockchain promotes a decentralized decision system that facilitates automation and real‐time information sharing (RIS) across supply chains. Blockchain introduces traceability and transparency into supply chain operations. These conditions offer monitoring of business operations and the development of trust across value‐chain stakeholders. These driver functions lead to value chain optimization and circularity integration into business and supply chain operations. When these necessary functional conditions are met, businesses can further draw on blockchain to promote economic and environmental aspects of sustainability through more complex functions enabling resource efficiency, cost reduction, pollution prevention, and higher profit margins. The order in which businesses can leverage these functions would define blockchain sustainability performance. Each function is uniquely valuable to sustainability, and none of them can be overlooked.

Should Brands Talk about Environmental Sustainability Aspects That “Really Hurt”? Exploring the Consequences of Disclosing Highly Relevant Negative CSR Information

When communicating their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) activities many companies predominantly release positive information. However, relying solely on positive information holds potential risks. Brands are consequently confronted with the dilemma of whether to exclusively disclose positive details about their environmental CSR activities (i.e., one-sided messages) or opt for voluntary disclosure of positive and negative information (i.e., two-sided messages). Existing literature distinguishes moderately and highly relevant types of negative information. However, prior research has predominantly overlooked the investigation of highly relevant negative CSR information. Therefore, our primary objective is to explore the impact of two-sided messages encompassing highly relevant negative CSR information in comparison to one-sided messages. We conducted four online experiments in two countries with different brands (study 1 (Germany, Mercedes-Benz, n = 457); study 2 (Germany, Porsche, n = 431); study 3 (USA, Mercedes-Benz, n = 468) and study 4 (USA, Tesla, n = 465)). The results reveal that two-sided messages with the disclosure of highly relevant negative CSR information lead to negative effects in comparison to one-sided messages with only positive information. Consequently, brands should exercise caution in communicating highly relevant negative CSR aspects. Our findings offer notable theoretical insights and practical implications.

A Comprehensive BIM Platform Development Based on Sustainable Construction Concept

In recent times, sustainable development has been recognized as a pressing need for the construction industry. It involves balancing economic, environmental, and social factors to promote healthy and stable growth while regulating industry behavior. Building Information Modelling (BIM) has emerged as a revolutionary tool for the industry, primarily focusing on economic and environmental aspects of sustainability. However, the social aspect of sustainability, encompassing the well-being and safety of construction personnel, has not received enough attention. Strengthening attention and reform of social factors in the industry is crucial for promoting the sound development of the construction industry. This study proposes a comprehensive BIM platform based on sustainable construction that takes into account environmental, economic, and social factors. By integrating social factors into BIM, we can promote a culture of safety, improve working conditions, and enhance the quality of life for construction personnel. This will not only benefit workers but also lead to better project outcomes, increased efficiency, and long-term sustainability for the construction industry as a whole.

Exploring Indicators for Sustainable Shovel-Ready Projects: A Systematic Literature Review

This paper presents a rapid systematic review of the indicators and taxonomies of the best practices and governance for construction professionals within small and medium enterprises (SMEs) concerning the management of the sustainability goals of shovel-ready projects and infrastructure stimulus packages. The literature in this field is voluminous and reasonable evidence supports its importance. However, many unknowns exist concerning the association between the sustainability agenda and indicators that are linked to stimulus objectives during the current economic slowdown. This research employed a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed articles. It analysed 660 articles and found that 186 met the study criteria. The research focused on two thematic indicators of sustainability goals in shovel-ready projects, i.e., job creation and environmental aspects. The study primarily examined practices and indicators related to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) addressing sustainability and shovel-ready project objectives. The results suggest that SMEs are more vulnerable during economic downturns and financial crises than larger enterprises. The study also argues that engaging in sustainability objectives or aspects is a competitive strategy for SMEs. Due to time constraints, the article search was limited to peer-reviewed journals published in two academic databases from 2000 to 2021, i.e., Scopus and EBSCO, and considered aspects of job creation and environmental sustainability. Important areas for further research are highlighted as part of the study outcomes. The developed indicators can be tested and verified for construction SMEs to improve sustainability practices concerning shovel-ready project goals and their implementation.

Sustainable Powder-Based Additive Manufacturing Technology

A thorough exploration of sustainability in powder-based additive manufacturing (AM) is presented. This review focuses particularly on the design of sustainable alloys for AM. Environmental, economic, and social aspects of sustainability are covered. The importance of life cycle assessment (LCA) in evaluating environmental impact is discussed. LCA tools are used to analyse factors such as energy consumption, waste management, and air pollution, providing a comprehensive view of AM’s environmental footprint. Additionally, the economic dimension of sustainability is addressed through life cycle costing analysis. Production costs, energy use, and waste management are scrutinised, showcasing AM’s potential cost savings. Social life cycle assessment is introduced to assess societal impacts, focusing on worker welfare, community engagement, and overall societal well-being. A forward-looking concept of predicting sustainability before printing, using a product sustainability index, is presented. The approach emphasises environmentally responsible material selection, considering factors such as global warming potential in alloy design. This study offers a holistic approach to designing sustainable alloys and optimising AM processes through a sustainable materials science paradigm to establish the relationship amongst processing, microstructure, properties, sustainability, and performance.

Green Industry as a Tourism-Based MSME Development Strategy in Supporting a Sustainable Future (Case Study in Cowindo Sendang District, Tulungagung District, East Java)

Indonesia’s efforts to contribute as a member of the G20 are to maximize domestic economic development. One of the important problems faced in economic development is between meeting development needs and efforts to maintain aspects of environmental sustainability. Environmental problems are a contemporary issue that does not only occur at the macro level. However, at a micro level, the world is trying to get to know the issues of environmentally friendly products or what is known as Green Business or Green Industry. The impact of the existence of the green industry is that the global market trend is increasingly moving towards environmentally friendly products (eco-products). This condition is an obstacle and opportunity that needs to be immediately anticipated and utilized. For this reason, the government created a policy to help MSMEs through the Center for the Study of Green Industry and the Environment of the Ministry of Industry (2011), namely by developing environmentally friendly industries or green industries that can produce green products. MSMEs from the tourism sector in Tulungagung, East Java are Cowindo. Cowindo is one of the educational tours in Sendang District, Tulungagung Regency, East Java. Starting from local wisdom, it became known as a quality milk-producing area, then educational tourism was opened in 2018 and a sustainable production process was officially developed in 2020. In supporting sustainability at the domestic level, biogas is one of the strategies to make it happen. Apart from that, there are several implementations carried out by Cowindo as a form of green business, namely Bio-Slurry, the use of banana leaves as an alternative to reducing the use of soap and water, as well as processing lemongrass distillate for cows to drink as additional nutrition for the cows.

Unlocking sustainable success: exploring the impact of transformational leadership, organizational culture, and CSR performance on financial performance in the Italian manufacturing sector

PurposeThis study aims to investigate how organizational culture (OC) and transformational leadership (TL) affect corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance (environmental performance and social performance) and financial performance (FP) in the context of the Italian manufacturing sector. Grounded in resource-based view theory, this study explores how these factors influence sustainable firm performance.Design/methodology/approachData gathered from 260 employees were analyzed to examine the multidimensional aspects of CSR, encompassing social and environmental sustainability.FindingsThe findings highlight the pressing need for sustainable firm performance in the existing environment, supporting the hypothesis that firms achieve sustainable and FP through the recognition of TL and OC. Moreover, a positive and significant relationship between CSR performance and FP was established, underscoring the strategic importance of integrating CSR initiatives into core business practices. This study offers valuable insights for both academia and firms, providing theoretical and practical implications that underscore the importance of cultivating a robust OC to drive performance enhancements.Originality/valueThis study is novel because it is one of the first, to the best of the author’s knowledge, to analyze the relationships between TL, OC and performance components associated with CSR.

Empowered, Smaller Families Are Better for the Planet: How to Talk about Family Planning and Environmental Sustainability

Despite their complex and nonlinear relationship, reproductive rights and environmental sustainability likely have a synergistic relationship. Social movement theory suggests that reframing reproductive rights in this light can strengthen and benefit them by diversifying their moral appeal and support base. Yet despite increasing scientific evidence demonstrating ways in which population size, growth, and distribution tend to undermine various aspects of environmental sustainability, and increasing public awareness and concern for environmental degradation, linking these issues remains a contested and polarised enterprise. In this article, we explore the marginalisation processes at play surrounding this linkage and introduce the concept of population reductionism. We review advice and normative trends on communicating messages linking the fulfilment of reproductive rights with improved environmental sustainability. We elaborate a strategic communication roadmap to promote the operationalisation of the family planning and environmental sustainability linkage, centred on individual empowerment, and propose a global rallying cry—‘empowered, smaller families are better for the planet’.

The impact of artisanal gold mining on the sustainability of Ghana's river basins: The case of the Pra basin

The study examined the critical factors influencing the sustainability of the Pra river basin in Ghana, with a focus on water pollution incidents caused by illegal mining (galamsey) activities. The study followed a quantitative research approach using data collected from 156 respondents in the Amansie Central district of Ghana. Generally, Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats (SWOT), Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) as a multi-criteria technique in two stages of discrete and continuous sustainability analysis and descriptive statistics were the methods of analysis. The study revealed that licensing procedures that do not address environmental impacts, government ban on illegal mining (galamsey) activities as well as poor capacity and financial constraints greatly influence the sustainability of the Pra river basin. Also, self-cleansing capacity of the river basin as well as protection of the ecological status of water in the basin were respondents’ lowest priority. The results revealed that all criteria are currently within a sustainable range with a maximum score indicating a weak sustainability level of the basin due to the pollution incidents. Building on this empirical understanding calls for defensive strategies to be employed. The study therefore recommends amongst other things that revisiting the ban on illegal mining (galamsey) activities, and at this time, within the buffer zones of the basin area is critical for implementation. This, however, calls for a strong collaboration between government, civil society organizations and local communities towards addressing the environmental, economic and human aspects of water security, sustainability and management for the basin.

Value stream analysis of a waste picker cooperative

Purpose: This article aims to propose improvements to a solid waste cooperative’s value stream from social, environmental, and economic aspects of sustainability and within the scope of lean philosophy. Design/Methodology/Approach: An empirical piece of research was developed to obtain an overview of the productive process of a cooperative located in the city of Florianópolis, in Southern Brazil, starting with the application of Value Stream Mapping (VSM) in a case study. Results: Some sustainability challenges in waste management were identified in the studied cooperative’s reality, such as: Urban Solid Waste (USW) inefficient management; lack of resources to help with basic expenses, which jeopardizes the individual income earned by pickers; risks to workers when carrying out activities without personal protective equipment and instructions on how to perform tasks properly, in addition to the disorganized environment, which results in high piles of waste and puts the workers’ health at risk. Research Limitations: As limitations, it is possible to list the focus on a single material flow for better applicability of VSM and non-implementation of the improvements proposed. Practical Implications: Results contributed to the cooperative analyzed in this study by identifying the main waste that compromise the organization’s operational and sustainable efficiency. Originality/Value: There is a research gap on the thematic axes of this study in the context of waste picker cooperatives; this article is therefore original for addressing the application of VSM with a sustainable bias in reverse logistics of solid waste.

Social Housing Assessment for Sustainable Model Development: Case Study Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

Objective: This study discusses the requirements of social housing that are adaptable to the local culture, affordable, resilient, and inclusive by proposing a prototype of a social housing unit. Method: Through observation in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates (UAE), evaluation of the social housing conditions, authors design criteria for culturally adaptive social housing that is affordable, resilient and inclusive and compare the existing social housing against the designed criteria. Results: As a result of the research, model of social housing that considers the environmental, economic, and social aspects of sustainability is suggested to comply with Emirate’s strategy to enhance the sector of social housing. Conclusion: The study concludes with the following recommendations: Accessibility to information related to the study, evaluation of the existing housing conditions, governmental support to the private sector implementing affordable housing projects, and predictions for upcoming work in the field of affordable and sustainable housing are important for the transition to more sustainable housing programs. This study creates a database and forms a base for future research in the field of sustainable housing programs in the UAE.

A novel approach for analysing environmental sustainability aspects of combine harvesters through telematics data. Part II: an IT tool for comparative analysis

A novel approach for analysing environmental sustainability aspects of combine harvesters through telematics data. Part II: an IT tool for comparative analysis

A novel approach for analysing environmental sustainability aspects of combine harvester through telematics data. Part I: evaluation and analysis of field tests

A novel approach for analysing environmental sustainability aspects of combine harvester through telematics data. Part I: evaluation and analysis of field tests

Economic and risk analysis of sustainable practice adoption among U.S. corn growers

CONTEXTAgricultural sustainability has three main pillars: a healthy environment, economic profitability, and social equity. Most programs, however, focus on environmental benefits when establishing protocols for farms, de-emphasizing or ignoring the economic and social aspects. This focus on the environmental aspects of agricultural sustainability misses the importance of economic factors that are commonly found to be key determinants of farmer adoption of best management practices. More research on the economic effects of sustainability practices on farm income and risk would improve understanding and facilitate communication with farmers about the tradeoffs and risks when using the protocols. OBJECTIVESOur study has two primary objectives. First, we quantify the effects of sustainable practice adoption on the mean, variance, and skewness of yield for U.S. corn farmers. Second, based on the estimated yield risk model, we quantify the effects of sustainable practice adoption on farmer returns and the cost of risk to better understand the impacts of sustainability on farmer welfare. METHODSUsing the 2010 Agricultural Resource Management Survey, we construct a composite indicator proxying the intensity of sustainable practice adoption for 73 practices mostly intended to reduce soil erosion and improve nutrient and pest management. We use this indicator in a flexible moment-based approach to analyze field-level corn yield data. Estimation results are used to quantify expected farmer returns and the cost of risk (the risk premium). The cost of risk is decomposed into costs from variance (symmetric variation around the mean) and from skewness (downside risk from unusually low yields). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSResults indicate that substantial opportunities exist for US corn growers to increase sustainable practice adoption. Increased sustainable practice adoption significantly increased mean yield and decreased yield variance and skewness. In addition, increased adoption of sustainable practices increased expected farmer returns and, in most cases, also increased the cost of risk mostly from increased costs from lower skewness (greater downside risk). The positive effect of increased expected income always dominated the negative effect of increased costs of risk, so that on average farmer welfare increased with higher levels of sustainable practice adoption. SIGNIFICANCEOur study helps fill a literature gap by evaluating the economic aspects of sustainability, specifically farm income and the cost of risk. The results provide critical information for policy making and program establishing.

Using the Soil Texture Triangle to Evaluate the Effect of Soil Texture on Water Flow: A Review

Abstract: Water flow through soil is a critical process that affects many aspects of soil health and environmental sustainability. Soil texture, which is the relative proportion of sand, silt, and clay particles in soil, plays a significant role in regulating water flow through soils. The soil texture triangle is a widely used tool for classifying soil texture based on the proportions of sand, silt, and clay particles. This review paper aims to evaluate the effect of soil texture on water flow through soils using the soil texture triangle. The paper presents an overview of the soil texture triangle and its applications in soil texture classification, followed by a discussion of the relationship between soil texture and water flow. The paper reviews existing literature on the impact of soil texture on water flow and summarizes the key findings. The review highlights the importance of soil texture in regulating water flow through soils and discusses the implications for soil management and environmental sustainability. The paper concludes by identifying areas for future research to improve our understanding of the relationship between soil texture and water flow.

Development of a Qualitative Tool for Sustainability Assessment and Application of the Tool to Benchmark Electronic Smart Labels

This paper presents a sustainability benchmarking tool, the GreenTool, to compare different electronic product concepts, specifically printed ones, with each other from the sustainability perspective. The purpose is to increase awareness of different aspects of sustainability and support the design of more sustainable electronics. This tool is built on European and global sustainability regulations and recommendations, and it considers environmental, economic, and social sustainability aspects in seven different criteria, each with several sub-criteria that are the actual categories used in the comparison. The tool uses scientific and industrial information as input, as well as a technical understanding of the new and baseline concepts to be compared to properly support sustainability benchmarking. In this paper, we further present an example comparison of four smart label product concepts, one of which is the commercial baseline concept, and the other three are developmental concepts. The biggest differences among the product concepts were found in the categories of ‘raw materials’, ‘manufacturing’, and ‘logistics’ criteria, where the developmental concepts based on manufacturing by printing and bio-based materials gave environmental benefits over the baseline. In the other criteria, the differences were smaller, but the developmental concepts also provided slight improvements in sustainability. The GreenTool can be considered suitable for qualitative sustainability comparisons in product concept design.