Relative Environmental Performance Research Articles

Evaluation of wood coating performance and volatile organic compounds

The aim of this study was to evaluate the environment-performance relationship of surface coating applications on data obtained by measuring the emission rates of volatile organic compounds in polyurethane and water-based varnishes. For this purpose, polyurethane and water-based varnishes from five different companies were applied to the test samples of Entandrophragma cylindricum (sapele) and Piptadeniastrum africanum (dabema), both widely used in the production of urban furniture. Volatile organic compound, hardness and adhesion strength were measured during application. When evaluated in terms of performance, polyurethane varnishes showed superior hardness, while water-based varnishes demonstrated better adhesion after the UV test. The hardness values of polyurethane varnishes before and after the UV aging test were 15,9 s and 79,403 s, respectively, while forwater-based varnishes were , the values were 114,92 s and 75,406 s. The adhesion values of water-based varnishes were 2,885 MPa and 1,18 MPa before and after the UV aging test, and for polyurethane varnishes 3,13 MPa and 1,05 MPa for. When the environment-oriented results were evaluated, the ; emission values of volatile organic compounds in polyurethane varnish applications were found to be significantly higher than those in in water-based varnishes applications. While the total emission rate of volatile organic compounds detected in polyurethane varnishes was 53,63 mg/Nm3, while only one brand of water-based varnishes showed a measurable emission value, recorded at 0,0057 mg/Nm3. The volatile organic compounds emission values of other water-based varnishes were below the device detection limit (<0,0035 mg/Nm3), and therefore could not be measured.

Pengaruh Lingkungan Kerja dan Pelatihan Terhadap Kinerja Pegawai di Disdukcapil Kabupaten Sukoharjo

This research investigates the impact of work environment and training on the performance of employees at the Suikoharjo Regency Popuilation and Civil Registration Office. All 50 employees of the office constituited the stuidy popuilation. The stuidy employed work environment, training, and employee performance as key variables. Data collection methods incluided observation, interviews, and quiestionnaires, with data analysis conduicted uising SPSS 26. Findings indicate a positive buit insignificant relationship between work environment and employee performance, a positive and significant relationship between training and employee performance, and a combined influience of both work environment and training on employee performance.

Integrating Green Entrepreneurial Orientation, Green Information Systems, and Management Support with Green Supply Chain Management to Foster Firms’ Environmental Performance

This study examines the mediating role of green entrepreneurship orientation and the green information system on green supply chain management and firms’ environmental performance relationship. It also investigates the moderating role of management support in the above association. The data were gathered from 355 manufacturing employees conveniently via a structured questionnaire administered during the survey. PLS-SEM was employed to analyse the data. Green entrepreneurial orientation and the green information system mediate the green supply chain management and environmental performance relationship. Equally, management support moderates the same association. The mediating role of green entrepreneurial orientation and the green information system and the moderating role of management support are the unique contributions towards green supply chain management and environmental performance association.

Double managerial delegation contracts with relative profit performance and environmental performance incentives under emission taxes

AbstractThis paper examines the strategic relations between emission taxes and firms' managerial delegation contracts, which include incentives based on relative profit performance (RPP) and environmental performance (EP). We demonstrate that under quantity (price) competition, the government imposes higher (lower) emission taxes, while the firm owner sets lower (higher) EP incentives and negative (positive) RPP incentives, which leads to lower (higher) welfare. We also explore an endogenous competition mode game and find that quantity (price) competition emerges when both consumers' green willingness‐to‐pay (WTP) and product differentiation are low (high). Our findings suggest that public education on greenness is crucial for enhancing EP incentives in the design of managerial delegation contracts, while intense product market competition may be detrimental to consumers and society, especially when consumers' green WTP is low.

LNG AND CLIMATE CHANGE: EVALUATING ITS CARBON FOOTPRINT IN COMPARISON TO OTHER FOSSIL FUELS

The increasing global demand for energy, coupled with growing concerns about climate change, has prompted a critical examination of the environmental impact of various energy sources. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) has emerged as a significant player in the energy landscape, touted for its potential as a cleaner alternative to traditional fossil fuels. This review provides a concise overview of a comprehensive evaluation that assesses the carbon footprint of LNG in comparison to other fossil fuels. The research delves into the lifecycle analysis of LNG, scrutinizing its carbon emissions from extraction and production to transportation and combustion. This holistic approach seeks to unravel the nuanced environmental implications associated with LNG utilization. Comparative analyses with conventional fossil fuels such as coal and oil are conducted, aiming to offer a comprehensive understanding of LNG's relative environmental performance. Key aspects covered include the environmental considerations throughout the LNG supply chain, encompassing extraction, liquefaction, shipping, regasification, and combustion. Special attention is given to technological advancements and innovations that influence the carbon intensity of LNG operations. The assessment incorporates recent data and insights, providing an up-to-date perspective on the evolving landscape of LNG's carbon footprint. The review highlights the significance of evaluating the entire spectrum of emissions associated with different fossil fuels, acknowledging the varying impacts on global warming potential. Additionally, the research considers regional and geopolitical factors influencing the sourcing and consumption of LNG, contributing to a nuanced understanding of its carbon profile in diverse contexts. As the world navigates the transition towards a more sustainable energy future, this research aims to contribute valuable insights into the role of LNG in mitigating climate change. The findings have implications for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and environmental advocates, offering a basis for informed decision-making and strategic planning in the pursuit of a low-carbon energy paradigm.
 Keywords: LNG, Climate, Carbon, Footprint, Fossil Fuels.

Green IT/IS adoption and environmental performance: The synergistic roles of IT–business strategic alignment and environmental motivation

Drawing on the resource-based view, this study investigates the interactive effects of green information technologies/systems (IT/IS) adoption, environmental motivation, and IT–business strategic alignment on organizations’ perceived relative environmental performance. We use data from a field study of 587 firms in China to test our hypotheses. The results confirm that green IT/IS positively affects the perceived relative environmental performance of organizations and that the interaction of IT–business strategic alignment and environmental motivation positively moderates the relationship between green IT/IS adoption and organizations’ perceived relative environmental performance. The theoretical and managerial implications of these findings are also discussed.

Life Cycle Assessment of Bacterial, Algal, and Synthetic Approaches for Astaxanthin Production at a Laboratory Scale: Comparative Environmental Analysis and Sensitivity of Energy Sources

Astaxanthin, a highly valuable natural pigment with potent antioxidant properties, is widely used in various industries, including food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. The demand for astaxanthin has led to the development of multiple production methods, including algal, bacterial, and synthetic approaches. Understanding the environmental implications of these production processes is crucial for sustainable decision-making in the astaxanthin industry. This research paper presents a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) comparing the environmental impacts of algal, bacterial, and synthetic astaxanthin production methods. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis is conducted, focusing on the source of energy used during production, and the shift from conventional to renewable energy sources is explored. The environmental importance of natural astaxanthin production is highlighted, considering the potential benefits of reducing dependence on synthetic production methods that rely on non-renewable resources. The results of the LCA, for the production of 1 g astaxanthin, reveal the relative environmental performance of each production process, identifying hotspots and potential areas for improvement. On average, the environmental impacts indicate that chemical synthesis is the best solution for the production of the pigment, followed by the bacterial extraction process and lastly by algae extraction. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis demonstrates the significant influence of energy sources on the overall environmental footprint. Shifting towards renewable energy sources presents an opportunity for mitigating environmental impacts and enhancing the sustainability of astaxanthin production.

Life cycle assessment of fermentative production of lactic acid from bread waste based on process modelling using pinch technology

Bread waste (BW), a rich source of fermentable carbohydrates, has the potential to be a sustainable feedstock for the production of lactic acid (LA). In our previous work, the LA concentration of 155.4 g/L was achieved from BW via enzymatic hydrolysis, which was followed by a techno-economic analysis of the bioprocess. This work evaluates the relative environmental performance of two scenarios - neutral and low pH fermentation processes for polymer-grade LA production from BW using a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA). The LCA was based on an industrial-scale biorefinery process handling 100 metric tons BW per day modelled using Aspen Plus. The LCA results depicted that wastewater from anaerobic digestion (AD) (42.3–51 %) and cooling water utility (34.6–39.5 %), majorly from esterification, were the critical environmental hotspots for LA production. Low pH fermentation yielded the best results compared to neutral pH fermentation, with 11.4–11.5 % reduction in the overall environmental footprint. Moreover, process integration by pinch technology, which enhanced thermal efficiency and heat recovery within the process, led to a further reduction in the impacts by 7.2–7.34 %. Scenario and sensitivity analyses depicted that substituting ultrapure water with completely softened water and sustainable management of AD wastewater could further improve the environmental performance of the processes.

Unleashing the role of greenwashing in the relationship of environmental sustainability thoughts and environmental performance: exploring the importance of generative leadership

Unleashing the role of greenwashing in the relationship of environmental sustainability thoughts and environmental performance: exploring the importance of generative leadership

How Internet of Things can influence the sustainability performance of logistics industries – A Chinese case study

The introduction of new information technologies has started reshaping global industrial sectors and supply chains. Due to the introduction of the Internet of Things (IoT) real-time management strategies have been adopted by the global logistics industry, turning the branch into an intelligent service supplier. This paper assesses the influence of IoT on the Chinese logistics sector and related environmental performance between 2011 and 2018. This paper establishes an evaluation framework for the logistics performance under social, economic and environmental dimensions by using time entropy weighting. Using a grey correlation approach, we identify a strong positive correlation between the logistics performance and the IoT market scale. We further find a significant and increasing correlation trend for an expansion of the IoT market and the reduction of carbon and PM 2.5 intensity. The environmental regulation though positively correlated with logistics sustainability, shows less potential to directly improve economic and social performance. It also indirectly promotes sustainability performance of the logistics industry through support for technological innovation. High investment in IoT is estimated to limit the potential of small and medium-sized enterprises to increase their labor compensation and expand the scale of employment. Finally, we project China’s IoT market developments for 2021–2025 using a grey forecasting model considering the influence of investment confidence and COVID-19. The results indicate that China’s share of the global IoT market will likely rise from 18% to 30% by 2025.

Relationship of banking sector and environmental performance in Turkey

Purpose- With the global financial crisis in 2008, financial institutions have brought up the importance of the evaluation of the relationship between the environment and financial performance and its role in its development. In particular, examining the effects of environmental policies on the factors such as financial development, economic growth and financial performance is among the research subjects of researchers. In this respect, the aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the financial performance of the banking sector and environmental performance in Turkey. Methodology- While examining the effect of environmental performance on the financial performance of the banking sector, annual data for the period between 1990-2019 have been used, and short- and long-term relationships between the variables have been established by the ARDL bound test and the causality relationship has been established by the Toda-Yamamoto causality test. Return on assets (ROA) has been used as the financial performance indicator of the banking sector and carbon dioxide emission (CO2) as the environmental performance indicator in the study. In addition, deposits, loans and liquid assets have been used as control variables in the study. Findings- In the model established with the ARDL cointegration test in the study, it has been first investigated whether the variables are cointegrated in the long-term, and it has been concluded that the variables are cointegrated in the long-term. In the established ARDL model, it has been determined that carbon dioxide emissions have a positive effect on the financial performance of the banking sector in the long-term, but not in the short-term. In addition, it has been determined that deposits and liquid assets, the control variables, have a positive effect on financial performance both in the short- and long-term, while loans do not have any effect. The findings from the results of the Toda-Yamamoto causality test reveal a one-way positive causality relationship from carbon dioxide emissions and deposits to banking financial performance. Moreover, while a positive two-way causality relationship has been established between financial performance and liquid assets, no causality relationship has been found with loans. Conclusion- The results of the cointegration test and the causality test confirm each other. The findings show that an increase in CO2 emissions will lead a positive effect on the financial performance of banks. Consequently, it is thought that developing countries such as Turkey are increasingly addicted to non-renewable energy consumption and adopt a more flexible environmental policy and so that they provide a higher financial performance. With this result, the opinion that the Pollution Paradise hypothesis is valid for Turkey is supported. Keywords: Financial performance, environmental performance, ARDL, Toda-Yamamoto JEL Codes: C32, G21, O13

Firm environmental, social, governance and financial performance relationship contradictions: Insights from institutional environment mediation

Empirical studies examining firm environmental, social, governance [ESG] and financial performance have provided contradictory results. The institutional difference hypothesis (Julian and Ofori-Dankwa, 2013) has portrayed that embedded legal, cultural, social, and economic institutional environment could be behind such results. Therefore, our motivation in this study is to examine whether country-specific legal origin (civil vs. common law), investors protection rights (strong vs. weak), national culture (ESG-averse vs. ESG-seeking), and corruption level (low vs. high) play a mediating role in nourishing firm ESG performance to strengthen or weaken its financial performance around the world. Our findings show that common law countries firms, firms from ESG-seeking national culture, and firms operating in high corruption environment undertake more ESG performance to improve their financial performance. Furthermore, strong investors protection rights negatively mediate firm ESG and financial performance relationship. Economic status of a country takes an important role only in case of emerging economies firms.

Relationship of environmental strategy and performance: role of green human resource management

Relationship of environmental strategy and performance: role of green human resource management

Value-retained vs. impacts avoided: the differentiated contributions of remanufacturing, refurbishment, repair, and reuse within a circular economy

Value-retention processes (VRPs), a collective term that includes practices of direct reuse, repair, refurbishment, and remanufacturing, can facilitate the cycling of products and components within a circular economy (CE). VRPs are often presented as alternatives to conventional manufacturing and consumption, and as mechanisms for avoiding negative environmental impacts (e.g., landfill) and mitigating issues of material scarcity. However, these practices are typically lumped together under generic ‘reuse’ strategies within sustainable materials management programs and policies. Further, there is a lack of clarity and data regarding how VRPs differ, and the extent to which they contribute to the avoidance of negative environmental and economic impacts. Using novel integrated product-, process, and economy-level models, we quantify select environmental and economic impact metrics for VRPs and conventional manufacturing across six case study products, in two industrialized economies (USA and China). Using this novel methodology, we demonstrate a basis for clear differentiation of VRPs as distinct strategies within a CE, and show that each VRP offers differing forms of value (e.g. cost reduction, labor opportunity, and material retention) and differing degrees of environmental and economic impacts (e.g., primary material requirement, embodied emissions, process emissions). In all cases, the product- and process-level comparative analyses indicate that VRPs present a clear opportunity for significantly reduced environmental impacts, relative to conventional manufacturing. This novel methodology provides an adaptive, comprehensive model that can support the decision of whether or not to engage in VRPs. By quantifying and evaluating VRPs in terms of their relative environmental and economic performance, the distinct avenues, expectations and outcomes for CE can be better integrated across diverse industry and product portfolios (International Resource Panel [29]).

A framework for environmental evaluation of business models: A test case of solar energy in Kenya

Business models have the potential to deliver environmental sustainability in companies through innovative approaches to creating and delivering value. Business model innovation has been shown as a means to integrate circular economy principles into companies' operations. Several frameworks have been created to guide the transition from traditional to circular business models. However, there is a need for a framework that quantitatively evaluates business models to inform the transition based on their relative environmental performance in creating and delivering value. This study presents a new framework for evaluating the Environmental performance of Business Models (EBuM). The EBuM framework consists of sequential steps of life cycle assessment, participatory decision-making, and business model innovation. It enables organisations to integrate environmental considerations in their decisions and operations. The framework was applied to solar energy companies in Kenya. Life cycle assessments of the photovoltaic systems were conducted through the lens of business models of participating companies to provide insights into the hotspots of environmental impacts. Each company participated in two workshops to evaluate the potential of business model innovation in mitigating the environmental impacts of their activities. Findings showed that the environmental impacts of incumbent business models were generally higher than of their circular economy-oriented substitutes. Business model innovation could, for example, lower the climate change potential by 12 %–55 % and the metal depletion potential by 40 %–70 %. While the framework has been applied to solar energy companies, it can be applied to other business models in different sectors.

Environmental ethics, green innovation, and sustainable performance: Exploring the role of environmental leadership and environmental strategy

The environmental pollution and degradation of natural resources issues are worsening with every passing day and companies need to take immediate action to save the environment. Due to this reason, the current study intended to explore the mediating role of green innovation in corporate environmental ethics and sustainable performance relationship. Additionally, multiple moderating effects 1). Environmental leadership in corporate environmental ethics and green innovation relationship, 2). Environmental strategy in green innovation and sustainable performance nexus was also explored. The multisource data (N = 404) were collected from the managerial-level employees of manufacturing companies in Pakistan using the survey method. We used the “structural equation modeling” technique to examine the proposed hypotheses. The results demonstrated that green innovation mediates the relationship between corporate environmental ethics and sustainable performance (social, economic, and environmental). In addition, environmental leadership positively moderates corporate environmental ethics and green innovation nexus. Furthermore, environmental strategy strengthens the green innovation effect on environmental and economic performance. Overall, the study findings supported almost all direct, indirect, and moderating hypotheses and provided some novel theoretical and practical implications.

The effect of green supply chain practices on the firm performance: an empirical research

Environmental dimensions have been included in every area of life and every activity with the increasing environmental sensitivity and the concern to leave resources for future generations. This strategic path and strategic decisions gained an environmental dimension under the name of green supply chain management and green supplier selection, and attracted great attention in both academic and corporate life. New strategies such as green principles and related environmental performance are imperative and very important for companies, with increasing awareness of environmental issues and increasing concerns for future generations and our world. In order to address the growing environmental concerns of various stakeholders, companies have focused on external partners in the supply chain. The purpose of the current study is to investigate the effect of green supply chain practices on firm performance. To this end, a survey was conducted with the managers of 120 large-scale firms operating in Turkey in order to measure this effect. Explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses, correlation analysis and multiple regression estimators were used in the empirical analysis. Since all items of the Green Supply Chain Applications Scale and Firm Performance Scale had factor loads (>60), all items remained in the analysis. In DFA, item factor weight values with 3 sub-dimensions are in the range (0.73; 0.90). According to these results, the internal and external supply chain practices have a positive and significant effect on all the indicators of firm performance that are reduction of pollutants, reduction of green costs and firm competitiveness. Similarly, reduction of pollutants and reduction of green costs, two indicators of green performance, positively affect firm competitiveness.

The role of board capital in driving green innovation: Evidence from China

Despite the strategic significance of green innovation and the substantial role of board capital in corporate decision-making, no prior study has deeply investigated the relationship between board capital and green innovation. By combining the agency and resource dependence perspectives, we propose that board capital facets (i.e. human and social capital) influence the green innovation performance. The dataset of 2064 Chinese listed firms (2010–2018) is employed. Consistent with our expectations, we find that board capital positively affects green innovation. The findings also indicate that absorptive capacity mediates this relationship. Further, while exploring the interrelationships among board capital, green innovation and firm’s environmental performance, we identified the mediating role of green innovation on the board capital–environmental performance relationship. The study has implications for academicians, practitioners, and policy-makers as they should consider the education level, expertise, and interlocking relationships of potential and existing directors to enhance their ability for correct strategic decisions, particularly related to environmental outcomes such as green innovation.

Environmental performance and environmental disclosure relationship: the moderating effects of environmental cost disclosure in emerging Asian countries

PurposeThis paper aims to analyze the effect of environmental performance (EP) on environmental disclosure (ED) and determine whether environmental costs (ECs) moderate this relationship. This paper extends legitimacy theory that focuses on the commonly assumed interaction between companies and community, with the effect of quantitative information that can summarize a large amount of narrative disclosure and its effect on narrative ED.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses regression analysis on 492 unbalanced panel data of emerging Asian countries' publicly listed companies between 2006 and 2019.FindingsResults show that EP has a positive effect on ED. EC weakens the effect of EP and ED.Originality/valueExtending the incentives to signal EP through disclosure, this cross-country study tests how quantitative EC information can summarize the narrative and reduce the level of disclosure. This paper also proves the summarization effect of environmental cost diminution in countries with low market sophistication.

Greening the workforce in higher educational institutions: The pursuance of environmental performance.

The research aims to examine the role of green human resource management (GHRM) in the university's environmental performance. Furthermore, this research also focuses on the mediating effect of green commitment and pro-environmental behavior. It also aims to check how green self-efficacy moderates the relationship between green commitment and pro-environmental behavior. The paper opted for a quantitative design using the convenience sampling technique/approach by collecting the data through a structured questionnaire on 208 academic staff currently employed in the university. The data were collected from August until December 2021 on two campuses (Gujranwala, Jhelum) of the University of Punjab in Pakistan. The current study results give empirical insights that show how green human resource management practices lead to environmental performance at a greater level in a university setting. Study results proposed that change in behavior of employees through human resource management practices can ultimately affect the organization's environmental performance. Further results also demonstrate that green self-efficacy moderates the relationship between green commitment and pro-environmental behavior. This study highlights the role of the university staff's level of commitment and self-efficacy, which are beneficial for enhancing the university's environmental performance. The originality of this study fills the gap in how green commitment mediates the relationship of green human resource management and environmental performance further; it fulfills the gap of green self-efficacy that moderates the relationship of pro-environmental behavior and green commitment. The study sheds light on green human resource management practices in the higher education sector. It emphasizes the vital role of academic staff's environmentally conscious behavior in enhancing a university's environmental performance. The further study highlighted the increasing concept of green human resource management as a set of building the ability, enhancing motivation, and providing opportunities to influence workers' pro-environmental behaviors. The conclusion of the current research was capable of validating the positive concerns of green GHRM, behaviors, and commitments for environmental performance.