Innovative Environmental Technologies Research Articles

Research of the nature of implementation of environmental innovations as a factor of ensuring competitiveness of hotel hospitality business

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; layout-grid-mode: char; mso-layout-grid-align: none; margin: 12.0pt 0cm 6.0pt 147.4pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">In many countries of the world, sustainable tourism is developing rapidly, and therefore the application of innovative environmental technologies is becoming an integral part of the development strategies of hospitality industry enterprises, especially hotel business. This trend promotes the introduction of new management systems based on the principles of sustainable development, including resource-saving technologies. In the work, the existing environmental management tools are analyzed and comparative studies of the essence of the application of “green” innovations are conducted using the example of the hotel business enterprises of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 120%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Studies have shown that the implementation of such innovations and eco-technologies in hotels demonstrates their commitment to environmental responsibility, improves the guest experience, helps save resources and acts as an additional advertising tool. Technological re-equipment and the use of modern materials aimed at reducing the burden on the environment ensure the economic efficiency of hotel business enterprises and increase their competitiveness.</span></p>

ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF USING THE POTENTIAL OF BIOENERGY CROPS FOR BIOGAS PRODUCTION AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES FOR DIGESTATE APPLICATION

The research examines the prospects for using the potential of the agro-industrial complex of Ukraine to study green technology innovations during economic development under martial law. Based on the study, it is proved that technological innovations in the agricultural sector contribute to economic development and improve the quality of agricultural land. The article analyses the successful implementation of the case of LLC Yuzhef-Mykolayiv Biogas Company, which has successfully restructured the production of a sugar plant and produces biogas and digestate with further processing into electricity and fertiliser. The modern capacities of the studied enterprise are highlighted, which allow to produce 2800 m3 of biogas and ensure the production of 5200 kWh of electricity, while consumption does not exceed 150 kW, at a load of 80%. The volume of digestate produced per year is 100,000 tonnes. In the regional context, innovative environmental technologies aimed at improving the quality of agricultural land have been introduced. An effective mechanism of spatial synergy with adaptation of this practice at most sugar factories through restructuring of production - creation of biogas production facilities on the basis of sugar factories - is proposed. As a long-term development perspective, the paper presents further creation of alcohol production facilities to use excess heat energy from mini-thermal power plants for the production of alcohol and bioethanol. Furthermore, this study confirms the non-linear effect of economic development; a significant result shows that the impact of green technology innovations on improving the quality of agricultural land (soil humus content, amount of mineral and organic fertilisers, pesticides, area of land under organic production, etc.) contributes to the increase in the level of regional economic development of the agricultural sector. The article clarifies the intermediary role of economic development of the agro-industrial complex. The results of the study implement the tasks of sustainable development, such as improving the environment through the innovation of green technologies and achieving regional synergy in green development.

Adoption of environmental technologies in the hotel industry: development of sustainable intelligence and pro-environmental behavior

Innovative environmental technologies such as solar energy, hydroelectricity, waste-to-energy, and rainwater reuse sources have the potential to completely transform the modern world to reduce climate change and dependency on fossil fuels. This study aims to investigate the role of environmental innovative technologies on customers' experiences of hotels with a mediating role of sustainable intelligence. The study theorizes that environmental innovative technologies enhance customers ‘experience and attitude towards hotels. The innovation diffusion theory is utilized as a main theoretical framework to address the research problem. The data was collected from tourists/visitors at top hotels with a usable sample size of 222 respondents. Survey results reveal that innovative technologies in the context of Environmental Responsibility and Economic Responsibility have a significant influence on Pro-Environmental Behaviour with the full mediating role of Sustainable Intelligence. These findings have important implications when implementing innovative technologies in the tourism industry to (1) improve customer satisfaction, experience, and attitude towards the hotels and destinations; (2) provide guidelines in tourism development policy and marketing; (3) help government agencies to effectively use pro-environmental technologies to change consumer attitude. After the investigation, some intriguing theoretical and practical conclusions have been made.

The influence of digital platform on the implementation of corporate social responsibility: from the perspective of environmental science development to explore its potential role in public health.

This paper aims to explore the intersection of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and public health within the context of digital platforms. Specifically, the paper explores the impact of digital platforms on the sustainable development practices of enterprises, seeking to comprehend how these platforms influence the implementation of environmental protection policies, resource management, and social responsibility initiatives. To assess the impact of digital platforms on corporate environmental behavior, we conducted a questionnaire survey targeting employees in private enterprises. This survey aimed to evaluate the relationship between the adoption of digital platforms and the implementation of environmental protection policies and practices. Analysis of the survey responses revealed a significant positive correlation between the use of digital platforms and the environmental protection behavior of enterprises (), Moreover, the presence of innovative environmental protection technologies on these platforms was found to positively influence the enforcement of environmental policies, with a calculated impact ratio of (). An intermediary analysis highlighted that environmental innovation technology plays a mediating role in this process. Additionally, adjustment analysis showed that enterprises of various sizes and industries respond differently to digital platforms, indicating the need for tailored environmental policies. These findings underscore the pivotal role of digital platforms in enhancing CSR efforts and public health by fostering improved environmental practices among corporations. The mediating effect of environmental innovation technologies suggests that digital platforms not only facilitate direct environmental actions but also enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of such initiatives through technological advances. The variability in response by different enterprises points to the importance of customizable strategies in policy formulation. By offering empirical evidence of digital platforms' potential to advance CSR and public health through environmental initiatives, this paper contributes to the ongoing dialogue on sustainable development goals. It provides practical insights for enterprises and policy implications for governments striving to craft more effective environmental policies and strategies.

A broad wastewater screening and clinical data surveillance for virus-related diseases in the metropolitan Detroit area in Michigan

BackgroundPeriodic bioinformatics-based screening of wastewater for assessing the diversity of potential human viral pathogens circulating in a given community may help to identify novel or potentially emerging infectious diseases. Any identified contigs related to novel or emerging viruses should be confirmed with targeted wastewater and clinical testing.ResultsDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, untreated wastewater samples were collected for a 1-year period from the Great Lakes Water Authority Wastewater Treatment Facility in Detroit, MI, USA, and viral population diversity from both centralized interceptor sites and localized neighborhood sewersheds was investigated. Clinical cases of the diseases caused by human viruses were tabulated and compared with data from viral wastewater monitoring. In addition to Betacoronavirus, comparison using assembled contigs against a custom Swiss-Prot human virus database indicated the potential prevalence of other pathogenic virus genera, including: Orthopoxvirus, Rhadinovirus, Parapoxvirus, Varicellovirus, Hepatovirus, Simplexvirus, Bocaparvovirus, Molluscipoxvirus, Parechovirus, Roseolovirus, Lymphocryptovirus, Alphavirus, Spumavirus, Lentivirus, Deltaretrovirus, Enterovirus, Kobuvirus, Gammaretrovirus, Cardiovirus, Erythroparvovirus, Salivirus, Rubivirus, Orthohepevirus, Cytomegalovirus, Norovirus, and Mamastrovirus. Four nearly complete genomes were recovered from the Astrovirus, Enterovirus, Norovirus and Betapolyomavirus genera and viral species were identified.ConclusionsThe presented findings in wastewater samples are primarily at the genus level and can serve as a preliminary “screening” tool that may serve as indication to initiate further testing for the confirmation of the presence of species that may be associated with human disease. Integrating innovative environmental microbiology technologies like metagenomic sequencing with viral epidemiology offers a significant opportunity to improve the monitoring of, and predictive intelligence for, pathogenic viruses, using wastewater.

GREEN FINANCE: THEORETICAL ASPECT AND FEATURES OF FUNCTIONING IN UKRAINE

The article analyzes the concept of "green finance", which is the concept and practice of financial instruments and resources aimed at supporting projects and initiatives that promote environmental sustainability, as well as social and economic well-being. It can cover a wide variety of financial products, from loans and investments to debt and insurance, aimed at reducing the impact of human activities on the environment. The main idea is to promote sustainable development, preserve natural resources and improve the quality of life, while ensuring economic development. The main components of the green finance structure are identified: green bonds, green loans and credits, specialized insurance services, green investment funds, financing of green startups, etc. Green loans and credits issued by banks promote energy saving projects and the use of renewable energy sources. Green bonds issued by governments and companies attract investments for environmental initiatives. Investment funds focused on green technologies and sustainable construction are characterized by specialization. Socially responsible investments include sustainability and environmental responsibility criteria. Specialized insurance products cover risks associated with climate change. Green startup financing supports the development of innovative environmental technologies. This diversity reflects the growing interest in sustainability and environmental finance. Based on the analysis, the importance of theoretical substantiation of the concept of green finance in the context of Ukraine's European integration processes is proved. Strategies for overcoming the difficulties associated with the application of green finance in Ukraine are proposed. As for the strategies to overcome the difficulties, it is important to develop common standards and definitions for green finance, which will help to unify the understanding and application of this concept. In addition, engaging government agencies and international institutions to create a favorable legislative and regulatory environment is an important aspect. Financial barriers can be reduced through the development of incentives, subsidies, and other instruments aimed at green investments. Finally, it is important to promote education and awareness campaigns to raise awareness of the benefits and opportunities of green finance among all stakeholders.

Using clustering to predict the effectiveness of innovative environmental protection technologies

The article examines the role of innovations in the development of the national economy. The dynamics of budgetary financing of strategic priorities of innovation and technology transfer activities in Ukraine for 2019-2021 is analyzed. The priorities, the support of which is increasing annually, and the priorities where funding is decreasing, are identified. It is proposed to carry out a predictive assessment of innovative projects using the clustering procedure. The implementation of the proposal is highlighted on the example of innovative developments in the strategic priority area "Widespread use of cleaner production technologies and environmental protection". A point system for expert evaluation of the planned scientific results of the innovation and the scientific potential of the performers is shown. The indicators that have the greatest impact on the forecast efficiency are identified. The results of clustering of innovative developments according to certain indicators are presented. The statistical indicators of average scores in each cluster are analyzed. Significant differences between the clusters have been determined using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. The carried out clustering provides reasonable recommendations on the feasibility of financing an innovative project based on predictive expert assessments.

COMPLEX SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF INNOVATIVE DECISIONS IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Systematic approaches to the selection of innovative technologies for environmental protection are investigated. The features and directions of ensuring environmental safety are considered by means of a substantiated method of selecting innovative technologies. A method is used that substantiates the procedure for determining the relative importance of criteria and indicators of environmental protection technologies and methods using the program-analytical method. The basic and fundamental principles of project activities are well developed by specialists, but the practical orientation, application of aspects and algorithms for the implementation of these innovative decision support systems at the level of project activities at the regional level need further development. Decision support systems in the design of innovative environmental protection technologies will increase the complexity and effectiveness of solutions to improve environmental safety. According to the developed approach, criteria formulated as influencing groups of factors. Relevant experts, relying on various types of information on the specific purpose and innovative ecological solutions, give their own judgments regarding the priority of the advantages of the specified criteria. Expert judgments are processed according to the formal procedure of the MAI, which is implemented on a computer, and is the basis for decision-making when choosing the innovative ecological solutions in specific conditions. The criteria hierarchical structure of innovative ecological solutions is represented by a sequence of actions that include the following stages: development of elements of a methodical approach; verification of the consistency of the proposed hierarchical structure for determining priority technologies based on the input data of several objects of settlements; obtaining data on the priority of innovative ecological solutions for implementation on these objects. The advantages of the proposed methodical approach should include the possibility to link to a single algorithm for the justification of the required decision data that differ both in their content and in the form of presentation. Implementation of complex support systems for making innovative decisions in nature protection activities will increase the complexity and effectiveness of decisions to ensure environmental safety. Keywords: environmental safety, system analysis, innovative solutions, environmental protection tools and technologies, sustainable development.

Application of various high- density organic materials in soil promotes germination and increases nutrient content of wheat

In the arid and semi-arid areas in China, the emergence rate of crops is usually reduced by the undecomposed residues, as the areas are characterized in low temperature and insufficient soil moisture. Thus, an innovative method of straw returning is needed to solve the above problems. In this study, high-density organic matter (HDOM) was made of chopped wheat straw (CWS). The HDOM of wheat straw (HDOM- W) without exogenous addition is one treatment, the HDOM- W containing 10% wheat straw biochar (HDOM- WB) and elemental sulfur (HDOM- WS) in weight categorized as two other treatments. The effects of HDOM on soil and crop growth were systematically evaluated through field in situ and laboratory incubation experiments. The results showed that compared to CWS, wheat germination rate was not significantly decreased in the HDOM- W treatment; the biomass, total N and P concentrations of wheat in HDOM- WS were increased by 137.9%, 137.1%, and 141.8%, respectively (P < 0.05); wheat K concentration in HDOM- WB was significantly increased by 39.7% (P < 0.05). Therefore, application of HDOM in soils can improve seed bed, promote crop growth and increase nutrient content, which eventually elevating soil fertility. Organic materials like crop straws, tree branches, grasses off the farmland, abandoned wood furniture, etc. can be all returned to the field as HDOM to elevate soil fertility. The application of HDOM can be used as an innovative environmental protection technology to tackle the problem of organic waste disposal and sustainably maintain soil quality.

Revolutionizing the Building Envelope: A Comprehensive Scientific Review of Innovative Technologies for Reduced Emissions

The energy and thermal performance of buildings is heavily dependent on the building envelope. As such, innovative environmental building envelope technologies are being developed to improve building energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the latest environmental building envelope technologies, such as phase-change materials (PCM), aerogel, and active and adaptive systems, to offer an overview of the current state-of-the-art in the field and identify future research directions. PCM technology has the potential to improve thermal comfort and reduce energy consumption by reducing peak heating and cooling loads. Paraffin wax is the most reliable PCM for use in building envelopes, and studies have shown that it can reduce heating and cooling energy consumption by up to 20 % compared to traditional insulation materials. Aerogel is a low-density and highly insulating material that has been shown to enhance thermal insulation and reduce heat transfer in buildings. Silica aerogel can provide thermal performance up to 2–4 times higher than traditional insulation materials, resulting in significant energy savings of up to 50 %. Active and adaptive systems, such as smart windows and dynamic insulation, allow for real-time control of building envelope performance, further improving energy efficiency and indoor comfort. Smart windows can lead to energy savings of up to 20–30 % compared to traditional windows, while dynamic insulation systems can provide energy savings of up to 50 % compared to traditional insulation materials. The review assesses various adaptive facade solutions based on their suitability for diverse climate zones, versatility in application, global availability of materials used, and energy efficiency. Despite the challenges and limitations of these technologies, including high costs, lack of widespread adoption, and limited understanding of long-term performance, the authors conclude that continued development and implementation of these technologies have the potential to make significant contributions to improving building energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This review provides a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners working in the field of building envelopes and offers insights into the future research directions necessary to further advance the field.

РОЛЬ СОЦІАЛЬНО ВІДПОВІДАЛЬНОГО БІЗНЕСУ В РЕАЛІЗАЦІЇ ЦІЛЕЙ СТАЛОГО РОЗВИТКУ

The article focuses on the role of socially responsible business in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Ukraine, particularly in the context of post-war economic recovery. The authors highlight that the russian federation’s military aggression has caused extensive damage to the country’s infrastructure, severely hindering the implementation of environmental, social, and economic goals. Businesses that adopt socially responsible practices are seen as key players in rebuilding processes, job creation, poverty alleviation, and integrating innovative environmental technologies. In addition, the article discusses various examples of how Ukrainian businesses are implementing corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices to support sustainable development. These include efforts to modernise industrial processes, reduce carbon footprints, promote renewable energy, and provide social support to war-affected populations. The role of CSR in enhancing business competitiveness in national and international markets is also addressed. The authors argue that businesses must comply with regulatory frameworks and take proactive measures to ensure that their operations contribute to long-term economic stability and social welfare. The study further examines the contribution of businesses to specific SDGs, such as poverty reduction, hunger alleviation, and clean water access, by creating quality jobs, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and implementing water conservation technologies. The paper highlights the potential of the private sector to significantly improve social and environmental conditions in regions affected by the war. In this context, the authors suggest that social responsibility initiatives must be integrated into core business strategies, allowing for a broader impact on the achievement of the SDGs. Moreover, the article stresses that the role of socially responsible businesses is not limited to national-level initiatives. Companies can also contribute to global SDGs by addressing pressing international issues, such as climate change, through their CSR projects. However, due to the immediate challenges posed by the war, the authors suggest focusing on national priorities for the foreseeable future. Ukrainian businesses must prioritize economic survival and recovery during the war and post-war periods, but their actions will also have long-term implications for global sustainability efforts. The authors conclude by proposing that further research should focus on developing mechanisms to stimulate businesses to engage more actively in CSR initiatives aimed at achieving the SDGs. The findings of the study underline the importance of creating a supportive environment that encourages businesses to invest in socially responsible projects, thereby contributing to the country’s recovery and sustainable growth.

Development and justification of new technologies purification of water environments from pollution by heavy metals

An actual trend in applied ecology is the development and implementation of innovative environmental protection technologies. Modern methods for extracting heavy metal ions from industrial wastewater are quite diverse. The purpose of the study was to develop and justify new technologies for purification of aqueous media, including adsorption purification, from heavy metal ions (by the example of Ni2+ and Cd2+ ions). Laboratory studies have established that the degree of adsorption extraction of Ni2+ ions by the sorption material from bentonite modified with carbon nanotubes and fired at a temperature of 550 °C increases by 13-14% due to its activation with 18% HCl solution and 38% CaCl2 solution, and the degree of adsorption extraction of Cd2+ ions with this activation of the sorbent, it increases by 16-17%. A technological scheme of a water purification station is proposed, which includes highly efficient adsorption filters with sorption material from bentonite of the specified modification and acid-salt activation.

Challenges in preparing for Environmental Technology Verification in a demonstration project: A case study of three innovative water treatment technologies

The European Union's Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) program aims to foster innovative environmental technologies to reach the market and reassure potential users. This paper presents an investigation of using ETV for three technologies, being developed within the EU Zero Brine research and innovation project. The technologies were designed to recover high quality water, salts and minerals from brine solutions. The technologies in focus are the forward feed MED evaporator, the Multi Feed – Plug Flow Reactor Crystalliser and Eutectic Freeze Crystallization. The study sought to understand the challenges of the ETV process, the readiness and eligibility of technologies, and possible preparations within the project lifetime. Challenges identified included: understanding what sufficient market readiness is, and achieving this within the duration of a project (also linked to funding allocation for the ETV process); and developing suitable performance claims, supported with sufficient levels of test data. A simple framework is presented to aid the integration of ETV into the development process. It promotes the use of life cycle assessment to understand the environmental added value of the technology and aid the development of performance claims.

Identification of problems in industrial waste management on the regional level

The article offers a solution to the problem of legal regulation of industrial waste concept and its separation from the general concept of waste and industrial waste management due to delegated competences on national, regional, and local levels of the current administrative-territorial structure of Ukraine. The main sources of generation/accumulation of large industrial waste volumes are outlined. The article reveals that they include the mining and career development enterprises in the Donetsk-Dnipro area and Lviv-Volyn coal basin, as well as processing industry enterprises, and to a lesser extent, energy, gas, steam, conditioned air, and water supply and sewerage enterprises. In sectoral breakdown, the enterprises are from mining, mining-chemical industry, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, chemical, petrochemical, and allied industries, machinery and metal processing, forestry and wood processing, food and light industries, and energy. Based on the results of the research, the ranges of areas of industrial waste accumulation in organized storages/landfills and the territory of enterprises are outlined, divided into classification groups, and mapped. The article reveals that the shares of industrial waste accumulation by economic entities in mining and career development within the Donetsk coal basin and Dnipro brown coal basins and extraction of manganese and iron ores in their total volumes in Ukraine are the highest. The share in Poltavska oblast amounts to 99.16 %, Kirovohradska – 97.04 %, Dnipropetrovska – 90.16, and Donetska – 62.23 %. The article of the regional operator of industrial waste management system selected by competition regardless of ownership form is substantiated. Currently, the regional strategies of responsible natural resources management by introduction of innovative environmental technologies in production and minimization of the industrial waste generation and environmental threats risk reduction are the top priority.

The relationship between green operation and sustainable quality performance: the mediation role of environmental technology

This study examines the relationship between green operations and sustainable quality performance, by incorporating environmental technology as a mediator. Using a sample of 124 firms in Malaysia’s industrial products and service companies, a proposed set of hypotheses are tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling, which allows for consistent analysis. The results show that green operations positively impact environmental technology. Likewise, both these constructs have a significant relationship with sustainable quality performance. Moreover, environmental technology positively mediates the relationship between both green operation and sustainable quality performance of firms. These specific findings can be insightful for technical and operational managers when they respond to multiple stakeholders’ specific environmental and competitive expectations. The findings provide empirical evidence for policymakers, technical and operational managers in advancing green operations with specific operational functions and responsive to the importance of integrating innovative environmental technology toward sustainable quality performance.

Aspects of ecological engineering as an innovative technology for architecture and construction sphere development

The article discusses the aspect of environmental engineering as an innovative technology for architecture and construction development of and Russia as a whole, determining directions to optimize the existing “green” standards. Innovation and greening are currently the most important trends in the development of any state economy, which cannot be achieved without the corresponding development of green certification systems aimed at ensuring sustainable growth and environmental protection. It is proved that environmental engineering issues are especially important for Russia in view of the prioritization of the innovative development vector and the actualization of the role of green innovations in architecture and construction as a prerequisite for our country to join the ranks of developed countries. Based on the evolution analysis of Russian “green” standards, factors were identified that determined the “imperfection” of their formation. Comparison of the structure and goals of existing Russian certification systems made it possible to identify their main characteristics and specifics, both contributing and leveling processes of sustainable development. Based on the research data obtained, directions for optimizing “green” standards are proposed, which implementation ensures the effective implementation of innovative environmental engineering technologies, with the latter contributing to the creation of favorable conditions for the development of the state as a whole.

Реализация инновационных природоохранных агромелиоративных технологий в рисоводстве Кубани

Реализация инновационных природоохранных агромелиоративных технологий в рисоводстве Кубани

LEADING PRACTICES OF INTRODUCTION OF MECHANISMS OF ECOLOGICAL PROGRESS OF NATIONAL ECONOMY

The article is devoted to the analysis of leading practices of introduction of mechanisms of ecological progress of national economy. It is established that ecological progress is carried out by reducing the level of greenhouse gas emissions, the introduction of programs to preserve the environment and the viability of ecosystems, increase the consumption of renewable energy. As the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Ukraine are industry, energy and transport, it is important to implement mechanisms for ecological progress of the national economy, taking into account the successful world experience, which will allow to adapt effective mechanisms in Ukraine. The purpose of the article is to determine the effective mechanisms of ecological progress of the national economy and the formation of recommendations for its provision, taking into account the experience of leading countries. To achieve this goal, the following tasks were set: to identify indicators of environmental progress, to analyze indicators of indicators of environmental progress in Ukraine and leading countries, to explore effective measures to ensure environmental progress of leading national economies. The main methods used in the study - systematization, comparison, analysis, synthesis, generalization. To compare the ecological progress of national economies around the world, we chose the main indicators that provide an opportunity to assess the ecological progress of the national economy, namely: the index of environmental efficiency, total greenhouse gas emissions per $ 1,000. GDP, Environmental Index, Ecosystem Viability Index, Share of Renewable Energy Consumption, Existing Environmental Agreements. According to the results of the study of state policy of the leading countries of the world, the main measures of the state authorities of Ukraine and the leading countries of the world in the direction of ecological progress have been determined. According to the results of the study of measures on ecological breakthrough in the leading countries, a number of recommendations have been formed for Ukraine on the formation (formation) of components of ecological progress in the economy, taking into account the functions and responsibilities of public authorities. These recommendations should be used in the process of forming state policy to ensure sustainable development, stimulate and support the introduction of innovative environmental technologies in the economy.

Quality Assurance in Environmental Technology Verification (ETV): Analysis and Impact on the EU ETV Pilot Programme Performance

Abstract Many innovative environmental technologies never reach the market because they are new and cannot demonstrate a successful track record of previous applications. This fact is a serious obstacle on their way to the market. Lack of credible data on the performance of a technology causes mistrust of investors in innovations, especially from public sector, who seek effective solutions however without compromising the technical and financial risks associated with their implementation. Environmental technology verification (ETV) offers a credible, robust and transparent process that results in a third party confirmation of the claims made by the providers about the performance of the novel environmental technologies. Verifications of performance are supported by high quality, independent test data. In that way ETV as a tool helps establish vendor credibility and buyer confidence. Several countries across the world have implemented ETV in the form of national or regional programmes. ETV in the European Union was implemented as a voluntary scheme if a form of a pilot programme. The European Commission launched the Environmental Technology Pilot Programme of the European Union (EU ETV) in 2011. The paper describes the European model of ETV set up and put to operation under the Pilot Programme of Environmental Technologies Verification of the European Union. The goal, objectives, technological scope, involved entities are presented. An attempt has been made to summarise the results of the EU ETV scheme performance available for the period of 2012 when the programme has become fully operational until the first half of 2016. The study was aimed at analysing the overall organisation and efficiency of the EU ETV Pilot Programme. The study was based on the analysis of the documents the operation of the EU ETV system. For this purpose, a relevant statistical analysis of the data on the performance of the EU ETV system provided by the European Commission was carried out.

Performance of an integrated system combining microalgae and vertical flow constructed wetlands for urban wastewater treatment.

The present study investigated the performance of an integrated system, combining the sequential use of microalgae (MA) and vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW) for the treatment of wastewaters produced at a university campus. Ecotoxicity and phytotoxicity assays were performed using respectively Daphnia magna and Lactuca sativa, whereas the genotoxicity of the wastewaters was assessed by using D. magna and Allium cepa. The results revealed that the major environmental impacts of the studied wastewaters are associated with the high eutrophication potential, due to high N-NH3 (68.8±25.7mgL-1), total P (7.71±2.5mgL-1), and BOD5 (526.4±177mgL-1) values, pathogenic load, and genototoxicity (p<0.0001). The results also showed that the integrated system (MA+VFCW) was not able to satisfactory reduce the total p values (only 4%). Nevertheless, the MA+VFCW system achieved very promising results for the nitrogen removal, with emphasis on N-NH3 removal (100%) and the highest BOD5 removal (57%). Neither the raw wastewaters nor the treated wastewaters were phytotoxic. The integrated system completely eliminated the ecotoxicity (100%) and genotoxicity (n.s.) of the raw wastewater and showed decontamination potential. Thus, the integrated system emerges as an innovative environmental technology and, with minor adjustments, might be efficiently used in large scale and eventually replace conventional wastewater treatment systems.