Green Gap Research Articles

Attitudes and preferences of the Chinese public towards products made from recycled materials: A text mining approach

Products made from recycled materials, as an environmentally friendly option, have attracted public attention. Understanding public attitudes and preferences towards such products is crucial for their market development. In order to explore the Chinese residents’ attitude and emotional tendency, we analyzed public discussions and topics on products made from recycled materials from Sina Weibo. Meanwhile, LDA and BERT deep learning models were employed to assess the level of public attention, hot topics, and sentiment tendencies in China. Results show a significant upward trend in public interest in products made from recycled materials. Although the fact that most people have a positive attitude towards the environmental concept of products made from recycled materials and support such products, there is not a significant demand for products made from recycled materials, i.e., there is a green attitude-behaviour gap. Results further reveal that factors such as the price of products made from recycled materials, branding, and public skepticism about the sustainability of the products are the main reasons for the gap between environmental awareness and consumer behaviour. By analyzing the public's cognitive structure and psychological characteristics regarding products made from recycled materials through social media data, this paper can help recycling manufacturers understand consumers' needs and expectations, as well as assist policymakers in formulating better circular economy policies.

Bridging the green gap: Unveiling the complex interplay of national cultural dimensions, management effectiveness and corruption in driving green innovations

The objective of this research is to investigate the relationship between national culture, management score, corruption, and its implication on firms’ green innovation. This paper analyses 2588 firm year data using panel corrected standard errors (PCSE), two stage least regression (2SLS) and Generalized Method of Moments (GMM). This paper also conducts quantile regressions and propensity score matching (probit regression) for the effect of national cultures on country’s corruption. Our initial observation found that national culture of long-term orientation is positively associated with green innovation. But in contrast to earlier findings, green innovation is negatively associated with individualism and indulgence. Nonetheless, when management score is used as a moderating variable for long term orientation national culture, a negative observation is made, likely due to restrictive regulatory compliance, conflict of interest or even inconsistent ideas amongst the management and the employees during the long-term execution of the project.

From Virtual Trees to Real Forests: Public Participation in Virtual Forest Realization Projects in China

With the rapid development of Internet technology, the channels for the public to participate in forest protection and ecological construction have been expanded. In China, virtual forest realization projects have successfully heightened environmental awareness among the public. However, these projects have also faced a “green gap”, characterized by a substantial disconnect between environmental intentions and actual participation behaviors. Based on 69 articles about virtual forest realization projects in China, this paper aims to reveal the roots of the intention–behavior gap, influencing factors, and potential mitigation strategies. Our findings indicate the following: (1) While virtual forest realization initiatives have made progress, they still face multiple challenges such as governmental inefficiencies and platform traffic bottlenecks. (2) The factors influencing public participation in virtual forest realization projects can generally be categorized into three types: external situational factors, internal psychological factors, and demographic variables. Initially, external influences like online word-of-mouth and gamified platforms played a crucial role in attracting the public. Over time, internal factors such as public trust in the platform and perceived enjoyment have become more prominent. Inconsistent findings regarding demographic variables suggest a need for further research. (3) Current solutions primarily focus on macro policies and have not fully addressed existing challenges. This study reveals the reasons and influencing factors of the intention–behavior gap, with the goal of offering valuable insights for future public engagement and project optimization.

The power of silent sustainability: Communication strategies for new sustainable products

Consumers are interested in sustainable products but they exhibit wariness about their efficacy resulting in a reluctance to purchase. Consumers perceive a high level functional risk in utilitarian benefits sustainable alternatives can provide. For that reason, communication strategy is essential for the success of new sustainable products. We analytically investigate the optimal pre-launch communication strategy and specifically, explore the role of third party reviews of new sustainable products. Before launching its new sustainable product, a firm can reach out an expert or an influencer to test it and write an honest review which informs consumers about the green product's quality in the traditional performance dimension. The firm cannot interfere with the content of the review, but can affect the degree of its informativeness by its investment level in pre-launch communication. We find that pre-launch communication is always profitable, but the optimal level of informativeness can be short of full revelation depending on the market conditions. Based on our results, we make suggestions to both firms and policy makers, which will help reduce the green attitude-behavior gap. Then, we investigate how the availability of pre-launch communication via third party testing and reviewing affects firms' sustainability strategy decision. Our analysis reveals that, depending on the market characteristics, the presence of pre-launch communication may encourage firms to be bolder in their sustainability initiatives and engage in high environmental impact strategies without concerning to preserve the conventional functional performance, or conversely, make them more risk averse and pursue mediocre environmental impact strategies with strong caution about the conventional functional performance.

Bridging the green gap: How digital financial inclusion affects corporate ESG greenwashing

We examine whether and how the development of digital financial inclusion (DFI) affects firm environmental, social, and governance (ESG) greenwashing. Our findings indicate that local DFI prohibits firms' greenwashing behaviors. These conclusions are supported through robust analysis using a multidimensional fixed-effects model, alternative measures, and an instrumental variable approach. Our research provides compelling evidence that DFI dampens corporate greenwashing by easing financial constraints and reducing information asymmetry. Additionally, DFI promotes genuine corporate engagement in ESG activities, though it does not influence ESG disclosure practices. Notably, the effects are more pronounced in firms with limited analyst coverage and increased government supervision.

Advancing on-chip Kerr optical parametric oscillation towards coherent applications covering the green gap

Optical parametric oscillation (OPO) in Kerr microresonators can efficiently transfer near-infrared laser light into the visible spectrum. To date, however, chromatic dispersion has mostly limited output wavelengths to >560 nm, and robust access to the whole green light spectrum has not been demonstrated. In fact, wavelengths between 532 nm and 633 nm, commonly referred to as the “green gap”, are especially challenging to produce with conventional laser gain. Hence, there is motivation to extend the Kerr OPO wavelength range and develop reliable device designs. Here, we experimentally show how to robustly access the entire green gap with Kerr OPO in silicon nitride microrings pumped near 780 nm. Our microring geometries are optimized for green-gap emission; in particular, we introduce a dispersion engineering technique, based on partially undercutting the microring, which not only expands wavelength access but also proves robust to variations in resonator dimensions. Using just four devices, we generate >150 wavelengths evenly distributed throughout the green gap, as predicted by our dispersion simulations. Moreover, we establish the usefulness of Kerr OPO to coherent applications by demonstrating continuous frequency tuning (>50 GHz) and narrow optical linewidths (<1 MHz). Our work represents an important step in the quest to bring nonlinear nanophotonics and its advantages to the visible spectrum.

Властивості вихідних та опромінених фосфідо-галієвих світлодіодів

Spectral features of the original and irradiated with electrons with E = 2 MeV GaP light emitting diodes (LEDs) were studied. Recombination lines of the exciton bound on the N isoelectronic center and on the pair complexes NN1 were detected. The change in the spectral composition of radiation when passing through a section of negative differential resistance is analyzed. Dose dependences of luminescence intensity were obtained for green GaP(N) and red GaP(Zn-O) LEDs. The maximum critical radiation dose was established, after which the LEDs lost their characteristic exciton emission mechanism. The results of the annealing of irradiated LEDs are given.

Improving luminescence response in ZnGeN2/GaN superlattices: defect reduction through composition control

Color-mixed (cm) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are theoretically the most efficient white light emitters, projected to improve white light luminous efficacy by 34% compared to incumbent phosphor converted LEDs. Since white light technology is pervasive and essential, small improvements in LED technology can result in energy savings. However, cm-LEDs are not yet realized due to poor efficacy in green and amber emitting materials, a spectral region colloquially referred to as the Green Gap. ZnGeN2 is nearly isostructural and closely lattice-matched to GaN and can be heteroepitaxially integrated with existing GaN devices; ZnGeN2/GaN hybrid structures are theorized to emit green (~530 nn) light with a spontaneous emission rate 4.6–4.9 times higher than traditional InGaN LEDs when incorporated into III-N LED structures. In this report we demonstrate the molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) growth of GaN and ZnGeN2 superlattices, an important step towards realizing multiple quantum well structures required for efficient LEDs. Elemental analysis, including atom probe tomography, shows that Ga and Ge are observed in both ZnGeN2 and GaN layers, degrading the structural uniformity. The lack of elemental abruptness also leads to increased defect luminescence and reabsorption of band edge luminescence. The source of unintentional Ga distributed throughout the ZnGeN2 layers was identified as excess flux escaping from around the closed MBE shutter. The source of unintentional Ge, which tended to incorporate as a single delta-doped layer in GaN, was identified as Ge riding along the cyclical metal-rich Ga adlayer used for high quality GaN, incorporating during subsequent nitrogen-rich growth step. Modifying the growth strategy results in improved structural quality, elemental abruptness, and luminescence response. This realization of structurally and elementally abrupt interfaces demonstrates the potential of heteroepitaxially integrated binary and ternary nitrides for energy-relevant devices.

Defining green gap in environmental physiotherapy: challenges, advocacies and solutions

Defining green gap in environmental physiotherapy: challenges, advocacies and solutions

Bridging the Green Gap in Homesharing: How Platforms Can Increase Hosts’ Sustainability Intentions and Behavior

Homesharing platforms are under substantive pressure to become more environmentally sustainable. Key to this challenge is these platforms’ homesharing hosts, who have the opportunity to introduce new sustainability innovations (e.g., water-saving measures). However, knowledge of what drives hosts’ sustainability behavior is currently limited. We address this gap and investigate antecedents for hosts’ sustainability intentions. Our study is based on a survey in Europe (conducted in 12 languages), resulting in a sample of 1,392 hosts. Building on the theory of planned behavior, we perform three analyses: (a) quantitative and theory testing, (b) quantitative and explorative, and (c) qualitative and explorative. Notably, we find that attitude and norms, as well as financial resources and time, are the main drivers of hosts’ sustainability intentions. In addition, the presence of local service offices (i.e., a platform business model that internalizes service operations from hosts) moderates the effects of sustainability antecedents.

Bridging the green talent gap: a case study of product design education

AbstractThis research examines how sustainable product design education can address the deficit in green talent. It presents a framework for a structured curriculum in product design, with hands-on activities, industry-specific case studies, and best practices in alternative design development. The impact of technologies like additive manufacturing on design is considered. Findings demonstrate that knowledge of technological capabilities, industry specific understanding, and proficiency in analytical tools such as Life Cycle Assessments contribute to sustainable designs mitigating a green talent gap.

Exploring Green Consumption Intention-Behavior Gap in Vietnam: An Extended TPB Approach

Exploring Green Consumption Intention-Behavior Gap in Vietnam: An Extended TPB Approach

Bridging the green gap: Do green finance and digital transformation influence sustainable development?

Understanding the complex socio-economic factors that impact climate change is crucial for developing strategies to reduce their negative environmental impacts. Therefore, the present study explores the association that exists among green finance, digital transformation, and consumption-based carbon emissions, with a specific focus on selected OECD economies from 1995 to 2020. In this study, we have divided digital transformation into two categories, namely digital technology exploration and digital technology readiness. The results of the investigation underscore the key role of green finance in limiting carbon emissions and highlight the role of digital technology readiness in boosting the quality of the environment. In contrast, digital technology exploration positively influences and enhances carbon emissions in OECD economies. Furthermore, the findings also indicate that exports reduce carbon emissions, while imports and economic growth are significantly associated with an increase in carbon emissions. The findings of this study have significant policy implications, advocating for a comprehensive strategy to promote green finance, encourage digital transformation, and support environmentally friendly organizations.

From cart to door: Unravelling consumer behaviour through attitudinal sustainability profiles

In the evolving landscape of the retail industry, e-commerce has reshaped consumer behaviour, including the last mile delivery. Despite consumers typically having the final say when it comes to delivery requirements, research on last mile deliveries frequently overlooks consumer behaviour. Addressing this gap, this study explores consumer attitudes towards sustainability in last mile deliveries and assesses their impact on behavior and travel patterns. Utilizing an online survey of 2105 e-consumers, four distinct attitudinal profiles are identified —positive, neutral (due to knowledge or interest gaps), and negative attitude, shedding light on parcel weight preferences and travel patterns. The study uncovers a green attitude-behavior gap, emphasizing the need for interventions that bridge intention and action. By unraveling these complexities, this research contributes essential insights for retailers and researchers, guiding the development of targeted strategies to promote sustainable practices in the evolving landscape of e-commerce.

Impact of Consumer Subsidy Considering Subsidy Threshold on New Energy Vehicle Firms and Environmental Benefits

This paper investigates a competitive market consisting of two new energy vehicle (NEV) firms with a technology gap and consumers with green preferences. By employing a Hotelling model, we obtain the equilibrium outcomes of two competing firms without and with segmented consumer subsidy (SCS) following Nash game theory. We further explore the incentive effect, effective scope of SCS policy and the impacts of subsidy threshold and technology improvement on it, which fills the gap in the literature and provides managerial insights. We find that SCS can only play a role when the threshold is intermediate, and the government can expand the effective scope of subsidies by cultivating consumers’ green preferences and strengthening the intensity of subsidies. Moreover, the government can change the competitiveness and green level gap of two firms through the threshold. When threshold is small (large), increasing it can narrow (expand) the green level gap between two firms but widen (narrow) the market gap. We also find that implementing an SCS policy has a positive impact on environmental benefits and technological improvement is more likely to cause environmental damage. However, the government can effectively decrease the degree and probability of damage by raising the subsidy threshold and reducing the subsidy amount.

Empowering housewives through green marketing: Fostering eco-friendly household products for sustainable consumption

The escalating concern over the green gap phenomenon, which underscores a discord between consumers' environmental concerns and purchasing behaviours, has accentuated the importance of exploring eco-friendly consumption patterns. This study delves into the multifaceted factors influencing the purchasing behaviour of eco-friendly household products, focusing on the dynamic interplay among consumer knowledge, values, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control. Specifically, it aims to elucidate how these variables collectively inform housewives' attitudes towards eco-friendly products and purchasing behaviours. The research gathered data from 300 respondents across Jambi City and Sungai Penuh City within Jambi Province, employing principal component analysis and structural equation modelling to scrutinize the hypothesized relationships between the constructs. The findings underscore consumer values, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control significantly and positively influence consumer attitudes towards eco-friendly household products. Moreover, a pronounced positive correlation between consumer attitudes and eco-friendly purchasing behaviour was identified, whereas the impact of consumer knowledge on consumer attitudes emerged as negligible. This research enriches the theoretical discourse on eco-friendly purchasing behaviour, particularly concerning household products. It offers critical insights for marketers, policymakers, and environmental advocates aiming to foster sustainable consumption practices by pinpointing the pivotal factors that shape consumer attitudes and behaviours. Additionally, the study lays a robust groundwork for subsequent research endeavours to bridge the green gap and advance environmental sustainability through enlightened consumer decisions.

Readiness for green transformation process in healthcare organizations

PurposeGreen transformation is more than simply a trend; it is a way of life, a set of habits, a field of knowledge and a dedication to resource conservation. Going green is surely a creative and transformative process for both individuals and organizations. This paper aims to “identify,” “analyse” and “categorise” the readiness factors for green transformation process in health care using total interpretive structural modelling (TISM) and neutrosophic-MICMAC.Design/methodology/approachTo address the study objectives, the study used TISM and neutrosophic-MICMAC analysis. To identify the readiness factors, a literature study was conducted, and the factors were face-validated by the healthcare experts. The factors influence on one another were captured by using a scheduled interview with a closed ended questionnaire. The TISM addressed the identification and analysing of factors and the categorization and ranking the readiness factors is addressed by using neutrosophic-MICMAC analysis.FindingsThis study identified 11 green transformation process readiness factors for healthcare organizations. The study states that the key factors or driving factors are awareness of green governance principle, environment leadership and management, green gap analysis, information and communication technology and innovation dynamics.Research limitations/implicationsThe factor ranking is sensitive to the respondents’ ratings. The study relied on the past literature and experts’ opinion may result in the subjective biases. The complex nature of healthcare ecosystem challenges to capture all the factors. The study focussed on Indian hospitals.Practical implicationsStudy significantly impacts the healthcare practitioners, academicians and policymakers by providing critical insights into the readiness factors required for the healthcare green transformation process. The study offers a better understanding of the crucial or key or driving factors that aid in embracing green and sustainable practices.Originality/valueIdentifying a gap in conceptual and theoretical frameworks for green transformation readiness factors in healthcare organizations and in Indian context. The study addresses this gap by aiming to create a thorough theoretical framework and highlighted by its focus on Indian hospitals.

Spatial and time-resolved properties of emission enhancement in polar/semi-polar InGaN/GaN by surface plasmon resonance

Abstract Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are widely used as next-generation light sources because of their various advantages. However, their luminous efficiency is remarkably low at the green-emission wavelength. The luminous efficiencies of InGaN/GaN quantum wells (QWs) significantly decrease with increasing indium content in the green wavelength region, mainly owing to the quantum-confined Stark effect (QCSE). This green gap problem can be solved using QWs grown on semi-polar GaN substrates, such as the {11–22} planes, to reduce the QCSE. We propose that the use of surface plasmons (SPs) is a promising way to improve the light emission efficiency of light-emitting materials such as InGaN/GaN QWs. SP resonance increases the spontaneous emission rates of the excited states, causes a relative reduction in non-radiative relaxation, and ultimately increases the internal quantum efficiencies. In this study, the light emissions of InGaN/GaN QWs grown on polar and semi-polar GaN were investigated using micro-photoluminescence (PL). We successfully enhanced the light emission of semi-polar GaN via SP resonance. The PL peak intensities and wavelengths were mapped and compared to determine the underlying mechanisms. We also measured the emission lifetimes by time-resolved PL and interpreted the detailed mechanism of SP-enhanced emissions. It was found that SP resonances can control not only the emission efficiency but also the exciton dynamics, such as exciton localization effects, QCSE screening, and defect level saturation. We conclude that the green gap problem can be solved by SP-enhanced light emission in semipolar InGaN/GaN.

Does the presentation of true costs at the point of purchase nudge consumers toward sustainable product options?

Do true cost campaigns (TCCs)—which display prices at the point of purchase that include social and environmental negative externalities—nudge consumers toward more expensive sustainable products? From a theoretical point of view, the answer is promising: Communicating true costs means introducing external reference prices that provide a benchmark for consumers to assess price acceptability. Showing true costs triggers a general reference to the price of sustainability, and the higher price of sustainable products becomes at least partially explained by their lower “hidden costs” (i.e., costs to compensate for all environmental and social impacts). In two empirical studies, we demonstrate that for TCCs to be effective, the hidden costs for the sustainable products must be lower than those for the conventional alternatives. Interestingly, under this condition, TCCs have an effect in markets characterized by a larger (study 1) and a smaller (study 2) green gap. In both studies, we find that increased perceived price fairness explains the effect of TCCs, as measured by the relative preference for the sustainable compared to the conventional product. In addition, we see that the price difference between the two products plays a significant role in forming this preference judgment, independent of other factors included in the model and especially independent of TCC.

Green Finance Barriers and Solution Strategies for Emerging Economies: The Case of India

The need to increase green developers&#x2019; access to finance is critical and urgent for emerging economies that are currently facing an annual green financing gap of &#x0024;2.5&#x00A0;trillion. This article investigates barriers and strategies for promoting green finance (hereafter GF) in India which is one of the fastest emerging economies globally. The article uses a two-phase methodology. In the first phase, an exhaustive literature survey followed by a three-round modified Delphi method is used to extract significant barriers and solution strategies for GF adoption. In the second phase, the best worst method is used to rank the barriers using their relative weights, and the solution strategies by utilizing global weights as input. The article finds that policy, economic, and knowledge barriers are the top three barriers for GF adoption. Clear green policies and risk assessment frameworks; credit enhancement mechanisms for green developers; low-cost refinancing and securitization markets for green technology and products; and combining directed finance with incentivized finance, public finance with private finance, and financial markets with technology are some of the most important strategies obtained from this article for promoting GF adoption.