Environmental Strategies Research Articles

Carex parva and Carex scabrirostris adopt diverse response strategies to adapt to low-light conditions.

In recent years, the visible light intensity of lawns has significantly decreased due to obstructions caused by urban shading objects. Carex has a competitive advantage over other turfgrass in low-light conditions and extensive management. Therefore, exploring their survival strategy in low-light environments is of great significance. This study focuses on two species of Carex, Carex parva and Carex scabrirostris, and investigates their response to low-light conditions (150 μmol/m2/s) by simulating urban lawn conditions. Biomass allocation characteristics, leaf anatomical features, biochemical parameters, root morphology and photosynthetic parameters were measured. (a) Peroxidase activity, specific leaf area, and relative water content are key factors influencing the photosynthetic capacity of the two Carex species. (b) Under low-light conditions, photosynthetic parameters, leaf physiological indicators, and biomass allocation of the two Carex species were significantly affected (p<0.05). Both Carex species increased their investment in leaf biomass, maintained lateral root growth, and cleared reactive oxygen species to maintain their physiological balance. (c) In the simulated urban low-light environment, neither C. parva nor C. scabrirostris produced dauciform roots. In terms of response strategies, C. scabrirostris is a high-photosynthesis investing species with high productivity under low-light conditions, whereas C. parva exhibits minimal response, indicating a slow investment. C. scabrirostris has greater potential for application in low-light environments compared to C. parva. These results provide a theoretical basis for the cultivation and application of these two Carex species, as well as the expansion of turfgrass germplasm resources.

Adaptive Energy Management Strategy for Hybrid Electric Vehicles in Dynamic Environments Based on Reinforcement Learning

Energy management strategies typically employ reinforcement learning algorithms in a static state. However, during vehicle operation, the environment is dynamic and laden with uncertainties and unforeseen disruptions. This study proposes an adaptive learning strategy in dynamic environments that adapts actions to changing circumstances, drawing on past experience to enhance future real-world learning. We developed a memory library for dynamic environments, employed Dirichlet clustering for driving conditions, and incorporated the expectation maximization algorithm for timely model updating to fully absorb prior knowledge. The agent swiftly adapts to the dynamic environment and converges quickly, improving hybrid electric vehicle fuel economy by 5–10% while maintaining the final state of charge (SOC). Our algorithm’s engine operating point fluctuates less, and the working state is compact compared with Deep Q-Network (DQN) and Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG) algorithms. This study provides a solution for vehicle agents in dynamic environmental conditions, enabling them to logically evaluate past experiences and carry out situationally appropriate actions.

The Shift Towards Green Construction: A Review of Environmental Management Strategies and Sustainable Materials in Developed Countries

Green materials have proven to be highly effective in managing environmental impacts when implemented in construction activities. The aim of this review paper is to critically examine the shift towards green construction practices in developed countries, with a focus on the integration of environmental management strategies and the use of sustainable materials. Currently, developed countries such as Switzerland, Japan, and China have significantly benefited their local environments by implementing these practices in the construction industry. Authorities and governments in these nations have taken proactive steps to establish standards and policies for the construction sector, encouraging more industries to participate in environmental management and protection efforts. The enforcement of rules and regulations in these developed countries has led the construction industry to prioritize environmental management and protection. The use of green materials in construction projects, including autoclaved aerated concrete blocks and green roof technology, has shown positive trends in advancing environmental protection and management. Developing countries are encouraged to adopt similar initiatives and utilize green materials in their construction industries to help secure the importance of environmental sustainability.

The Levels of Government Environmental Attention and Enterprises’ Green Technological Innovation

This study utilizes data from listed companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges from 2010 to 2023 and employs text analysis methods to investigate the impact of government environmental concerns on corporate green technology innovation and its underlying impact mechanisms. The empirical findings demonstrate that heightened government environmental concerns significantly foster corporate green technology innovation. This relationship remains robust across a series of sensitivity analyses. The impact mechanism analysis reveals that increased government environmental concern leads to a heightened intensity of environmental regulation, drives the intelligent transformation of enterprises, and enhances the implementation of corporate environmental strategies, collectively contributing to the improvement of corporate green technology innovation capabilities. Furthermore, the heterogeneity analysis indicates that the effect of government environmental concerns is more pronounced in state-owned enterprises, mature enterprises, and industries with lower pollution levels. This study underscores that the government’s intensified focus on environmental issues can effectively promote corporate green technology innovation, thereby promoting sustainable economic and social development and supporting the dual goals of environmental protection and economic growth.

Going green, going strong: maximising restaurant performance with sustainable practices

ABSTRACT The food and services sector contributes to global carbon emissions, impacting climate change. This study, organised in a developing country, aims to explore how restaurants in the hospitality industry can enhance their environmental and financial performance through corporate social responsibility (CSR), green orientation, green innovation and environmental strategies. Using partial least squares structural equation modelling, data from 283 restaurant employees were examined. The findings show that CSR and green orientation directly enrich both environmental and financial performance. Moreover, green innovation mediates the association with CSR, green orientation and performance outcomes, with the influence of green innovation on performance further moderated by environmental strategies. These results show that incorporating CSR, green orientation, green innovation and environmental strategies can substantially benefit restaurant performance. This study offers constructive insights into the distinctive challenges and opportunities for sustainability in the food and services industry in the context of a developing country, where short-term economic pressures often dominate long-term sustainability goals.

Construction of nickel foam-supported carbon spheres doped with copper nanoparticles for efficient nitrophenol reduction

The efficient removal of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) from wastewater is critical due to its environmental and health hazards. This study presents the synthesis and evaluation of a novel composite membrane for this purpose. By integrating nickel foam (NiF) with carbon spheres (CS) derived from eco-friendly jackfruit seeds and copper nanoparticles (CuNPs), the catalyst membrane (NiF/CS/Cu) leverages the unique advantages of each component. The NiF provides excellent electrical conductivity and structural support, while the CS enhances stability and dispersion of CuNPs. The NiF/CS/Cu membrane exhibited high stability, efficient electron transfer, and superior catalytic activity. The catalyst achieved an outstanding 98.49 % reduction efficiency in converting 4-NP to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) within just 15 minutes, with a high rate constant of 0.201 min⁻¹. Radical scavenger experiments revealed that the reduction mechanism primarily involves electron transfer, with superoxide and hydroxyl radicals playing significant roles. The NiF/CS/Cu composite demonstrated robust performance across multiple cycles, maintaining 92.18 % efficiency, and showed stable structural integrity, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analyses. This study highlights the synergistic effects of combining NiF, CS, and CuNPs, offering a practical and effective solution for 4-NP removal and contributing valuable insights into environmental remediation strategies.

How is ISO14001:2015 boosting the spread of product‐oriented environmental management practices?

AbstractThis research sheds light on the impact of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001:2015 standard, particularly in its role in driving life cycle perspective (LCP) and effectively integrating product‐oriented environmental management practices (POEMPs) within manufacturing sectors. Addressing this research gap, our analysis utilizes a worldwide sample of 1951 medium and large enterprises from the Thomson Reuters environmental, social and governance (ESG) database to compare the integration of POEMPs, in certified and non‐certified companies, before and after the ISO14001 standard update with a quantitative approach. The findings reveal a higher adoption rate of the seven POEMPs analyzed among certified companies before the publication of the standard. However, its LCP‐focused revision elevates only the implementation of three of them. This highlights a predominant selection effect over the intended treatment effect of the new standard and challenges the assumption that certification to the new version represents an advance in companies' product‐related environmental strategies. The originality of this research lies in its critical analysis of the practical outcomes of ISO14001:2015, pointing the disconnection between certification and the incorporation of POEMPs into environmental management systems. It highlights the need to strengthen implementation mechanisms and provides a nuanced understanding of the role of the standard in driving environmental progress.

Stimulating Acidimicrobium sp. Strain A6 in iron-rich, acidic sediments from AFFF-impacted sites for PFAS defluorination

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent and bioaccumulative contaminants that are widely used in industrial applications and consumer products and pose significant risks to ecosystems and human health. Acidimicrobium sp. Strain A6 (A6), which is common in acidic, and iron rich soils and sediments is capable of both anaerobic ammonium (NH4+) oxidation under iron reduction (Feammox) and defluorination of perfluorinated alkyl substances, such as perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs). This study investigates the potential for biostimulating A6 via the supply of NH4+ and ferric iron (Fe(III)) with the goal of defluorinating PFAAs. Sediment samples from acidic, iron-rich, AFFF (aqueous film forming foam) impacted sites were collected and incubated with added Fe(III) and NH4+. Quantitative PCR was used to track A6 numbers as well as dehalogenase and F− ion transporter genes during these incubations; changes in the microbial community structure were tracked through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The findings reveal that the addition of Fe(III) and NH4+ stimulated the Feammox reaction and A6 growth and enhanced the degradation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). Results also show a significant presence and activity of the above-mentioned genes in these incubations. The insights gained from this study could inform bioremediation strategies for PFAS-contaminated environments, especially in geochemical settings that favor the presence of A6.

A multi-disciplinary approach based on chemical characterization of foreshore sediments, ecotoxicity assessment and statistical analyses for environmental monitoring of marine-coastal areas

The present work aims at providing a multi-disciplinary approach for environmental monitoring in marine-coastal areas. A monitoring campaign of 13 months (October 2022–October 2023) was carried out on sandy foreshore sediments (SFSs). The SFSs were analysed for potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and rare earth elements (REEs) content determination. In the investigated area, variable contamination trends were assessed through Friedman and Nemenyi tests. Further results also indicated the usefulness of statistical data elaboration in the identification of potential contamination sources. In fact, from Spearman test, significant positive correlations (between 0.650 and 0.981) were observed among PTEs of possible anthropogenic origin (such as Co, Cr, Cu, Pb, V, and Zn). For REEs, La and Nd showed strong correlations with Ce (0.909 and 0.920, respectively). The study also integrated luminescence inhibition (Aliivibrio fischeri), algal growth inhibition (Phaeodactylum tricornutum), and embryotoxicity assessment (Paracentrotus lividus) on sediment elutriates showing varying degrees of toxicity. Also these data were analysed through statistics in order to highlight possible correlations between contaminants and observed ecotoxicological effects on the involved bioindicators. The results outline an approach useful for more comprehensive monitoring of marine areas quality and identification of suitable environmental restoration strategies.

Editorial: Environmental remediation strategies of new and emerging chemical contaminants

Editorial: Environmental remediation strategies of new and emerging chemical contaminants

Investigating the role of biomass energy consumption and forest products trade on the forest footprint in Finland: an environmental Kuznets curve analysis

AbstractForests are essential in mitigating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide and maintaining ecosystems, mainly through preserving biodiversity. For this reason, the sustainability of forests is essential for human life. This paper examines the role of biomass energy consumption, forest product trade, and economic growth on Finland’s forest footprint from 1970 to 2018. By employing Fourier-based unit root and cointegration tests, we confirm the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis, demonstrating a long-term relationship in which economic growth first raises, then reduces the forest footprint. Biomass energy consumption and forest products trade show an insignificant long-term effect on the forest footprint. We found unidirectional causality from the forest footprint to biomass energy consumption and economic growth. This research fills a gap by focusing on the under-researched forest footprint within the EKC framework, particularly in Finland’s context of stringent forestry policies. Our findings emphasize the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance environmental policy and sustainability practices. We further contribute to the broader literature on sustainable forest management and offer actionable policy recommendations for enhancing Finland’s environmental strategies.

Extensive Genomic Rearrangement of Catalase-Less Cyanobloom-Forming Microcystis aeruginosa in Freshwater Ecosystems.

Many of the world's freshwater ecosystems suffer from cyanobacteria-mediated blooms and their toxins. However, a mechanistic understanding of why and how Microcystis aeruginosa dominates over other freshwater cyanobacteria during warmer summers is lacking. This paper utilizes comparative genomics with other cyanobacteria and literature reviews to predict the gene functions and genomic architectures of M. aeruginosa based on complete genomes. The primary aim is to understand this species' survival and competitive strategies in warmer freshwater environments. M. aeruginosa strains exhibiting a high proportion of insertion sequences (~ 11%) possess genomic structures with low synteny across different strains. This indicates the occurrence of extensive genomic rearrangements and the presence of many possible diverse genotypes that result in greater population heterogeneities than those in other cyanobacteria in order to increase survivability during rapidly changing and threatening environmental challenges. Catalase-less M. aeruginosa strains are even vulnerable to low light intensity in freshwater environments with strong ultraviolet radiation. However, they can continuously grow with the help of various defense genes (e.g., egtBD, cruA, and mysABCD) and associated bacteria. The strong defense strategies against biological threats (e.g., antagonistic bacteria, protozoa, and cyanophages) are attributed to dense exopolysaccharide (EPS)-mediated aggregate formation with efficient buoyancy and the secondary metabolites of M. aeruginosa cells. Our review with extensive genome analysis suggests that the ecological vulnerability of M. aeruginosa cells can be overcome by diverse genotypes, secondary defense metabolites, reinforced EPS, and associated bacteria.

Consumer Perception of Environmental Protection to Promote Mindful Consumption Behaviour through Mindfulness and Ascription of Responsibility

The fast fashion business under fire for its detrimental effects on the environment, and the economy. A lot of companies are taking ethical marketing tactics to urge consumers to be more responsible and conscious while making purchases. Study measure the impact of consumer ethical marketing perception environmental protection on mindful consumption through mindfulness and ascription of responsibility. Quantitative cross-sectional survey approach used. Test model used 321 final responses. Variance-based partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to examine the survey data. The outcomes indicated that fostering a mindful consumption behavior marketing tactics can play significant role. Consumer perception of environmental protection strategies can enhance the consumer responsibilities and their mindful mindset. Which ultimately influence their behavior. The research offers insightful information on ethical marketing tactics that local markets may use to promote mindful behavior and to support sustainable policies and practices in the fashion industry.

Eco-friendly strategic goals and the performance of innovative green processes: The impact of green intellectual capital

The purpose of this study is to check the intellectual capital's role in shaping green process innovation. This article contends the company's capacity to create, possess, incorporate, and implement environmentally friendly intellectual assets in its activities will result in a higher degree of performance in terms of innovative green processes. This performance serves as an indicator of the company's enduring dedication to an environmentally conscious strategy. The industries chosen for this study comprised textile, chemical, pharmaceutical, and steel based in Mexico. The random sampling technique was used to gather data. Upon analyzing the gathered data, we used only 253 questionnaires for analysis, representing a response rate of 42.7%. Findings indicate green strategic intent significantly influences three components of intellectual capital: human, relational, and organizational capital. Three components of intellectual capital significantly influence green process innovation. A green strategy can be successfully implemented by the implementation of intangible resources. Mere tangible resources are insufficient to gain superior green innovation performance; the interaction of these two resources (tangible and intangible) is complementary. Companies are adopting environmental strategies to mitigate the environment's harmful impact and meet stakeholders' demands. The study’s practical implications aim to improve companies’ environmental performance, specifically their green performance, through the implementation of green innovation.

Environmental Management Strategies for Cost-Effective Waste Management in Hospitals

General background: Waste management in hospitals is crucial due to its environmental impact. Specific background: RSU Al Islam HM Mawardi Krian struggles with waste management while adhering to PSAP No. 1 of 2010 and maintaining efficiency. Knowledge gap: Limited research exists on applying environmental management accounting and operational strategies for hospital waste management in line with accounting standards. Aims: This study analyzes the impact of environmental management accounting and strategies on waste management costs at RSU Al Islam HM Mawardi Krian, assessing compliance with PSAP standards. Results: The hospital has implemented processes of identification, recognition, measurement, recording, presentation, and disclosure per PSAP No. 1 of 2010, managing waste effectively and incurring environmental costs. Novelty: Offers insights into aligning hospital environmental cost management with government standards. Implications: Structured environmental accounting and strategies can enhance waste management, improve hospital reputation, ensure regulatory compliance, and potentially increase revenue. Highlights: RSU Al Islam HM Mawardi complies with PSAP No. 1 of 2010 in managing waste costs. Proper environmental accounting improves transparency and operational efficiency. Structured strategies can boost hospital reputation and revenue. Keywords: Environmental Management Accounting, Operational Strategies, Waste Management Costs, Hospital Compliance

«Зелёный» маркетинг как инструмент создания устойчивого конкурентного преимущества компании

The article is devoted to the study of the concept of “green” marketing, the need to change marketing tools in accordance with the principles of sustainable development in the marketing plan of companies. The article discusses the formation of environmental marketing strategies and changes in the marketing mix (4Ps) in accordance with these strategies. In addition, it analyzes the possibilities and benefits of introducing environmental marketing tools in companies for creating a sustainable competitive advantage.

European eel (Anguilla anguilla) survival modeling based on a 22-year capture-mark-recapture survey of a Mediterranean subpopulation.

Since the 1980s, the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) has declined by over 90% in recruitment across its European and North African distribution area. This diadromous fish spawns at sea and migrates into continental waters, where it grows for three to more than 30 years, depending on habitat conditions and location. During their growth, different habitat use tactics can locally influence the life-history traits of eels, including their survival rates. Thus, the spatio-temporal dimension of this species is crucial for management. Based on a rare Mediterranean long-term survey of more than 20 years (2001-2022) in an artificial drainage canal connected to a vast brackish lagoon (the Vaccarès lagoon), we aimed to study the dynamics of one subpopulation's life-history traits. We used Bayesian multistate capture-mark-recapture (CMR) models to assess the temporal variability in survival and abundance at both seasonal and inter-annual scales, considering life-stage structure. High survival rates and low detection probabilities were found for the undifferentiated and female yellow stages. In contrast, female silver eels exhibited lower survival rates and higher capture probabilities. Estimating detection probabilities and survival rates enabled accurate assessment of relative abundance across different life stages and time periods. Our findings indicated a substantial decrease in the abundance of undifferentiated and female yellow eels in the early 2000s, whereas the abundance of female silver eels remained consistently low yet stable throughout the study period. Considering the life stage seemed essential to study the dynamics of the eel during its continental growing period. The present results will provide key elements to propose and implement suitable sustainable environmental management strategies for eel conservation.

Sociological impacts of energy management at Tema Oil Refinery

The study at Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) analyzes how gender, age, and educational qualifications impact energy management. Established in 1963 and state-owned since 1977, TOR’s capabilities have notably grown post-1996 reforms. Analyzing 200 employees across key departments with a Likert-scale questionnaire and SPSS, the study finds significant gender differences in energy management views, advocating for inclusive and tailored communication. It highlights age and education's role in shaping perceptions, suggesting targeted engagement and training. The optimism of newer employees underscores the need for continuous engagement. The study recommends TOR tailor its energy management and environmental strategies to its diverse workforce demographics to improve sustainability initiative effectiveness and acceptance.

The place of strategic ecological communications in change management (based on the national project “Ecological Well-Being”)

Comprehensive improvement of the state of the environment is currently the subject of government decisions, programs and projects in Russia. This affects the interests of various audiences: business, the public, federal and regional influence groups, and hence requires strategic communications aimed at explaining, expanding the number of supporters, uniting efforts, legitimizing the governmental decisions, and changing the behavior of the audiences. The purpose of the study is to analyze the place of strategic environmental communications in the action program for the implementation of state environmental strategies. The author relies on theoretical studies of Russian and foreign authors on this issue. In the practical part, she analyzes communications in the process of forming the national project “Ecological Well-Being”. The results of the conducted study of the media and official resources of state authorities allow to consider several communicative models of behavior: public and non-public. The stage of formation of the national project is accompanied by non-public communication, which creates certain risks when information is released into the public space, since criticism and disagreement with the adoption of relevant decisions may arise from various groups. The author offers a list of possible conflict topics and examines the features of the formation of strategic environmental communications, based on M. Harvell’s matrix.

Non-invasive vision-based personal comfort model using thermographic images and deep learning

An efficient method for predicting occupants' thermal comfort is crucial for developing optimal environmental control strategies while minimizing energy consumption in buildings. This paper presents a non-invasive vision-based personal comfort model that integrates thermographic images and deep learning. Unlike previous studies, the entire thermographic image of the upper body is directly used during model training, minimizing complex data processing and maximizing the use of rich skin temperature distribution. The proposed method is validated using thermographic images and corresponding thermal sensation votes (TSV) from 10 participants under different experimental conditions. Results show that the model based on a 3-point TSV scale achieves exceptional classification performance with an average accuracy of 99.51 %, outperforming existing models. The model performance using a 7-point TSV scale is slightly lower, with an average accuracy of 89.90 %. This method offers potential for integrating thermal comfort models into real-time building environmental control, optimizing occupant comfort and energy consumption.