Sustainable Communication Research Articles

Enhancing port preparedness in Germany in the event of infectious diseases – a best practice study

Abstract Background The maritime sector is exposed to specific risks in the area of communicable diseases. In Germany, five ports are designated to enforce the International Health Regulations (IHR) and must have certain core capacities to respond immediately to cross-border health threats. A joint external evaluation conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed a need to reinforce central structures in Germany. The overarching objective of the study is to harmonize and consolidate the requisite capacities for maritime health security. Methods Qualitative interviews (n = 35) at baseline were conducted with various stakeholders, including port medical services, port authorities and other stakeholders. The parameters to be analysed included specific activities and interfaces during infectious incidents, experience with past infection incidents, training and exercise, and the need for action. Furthermore, a document analysis was conducted, during which the existing contingency plans and standard operating procedures were reviewed. Results In essence, the initial challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic have led to the establishment of well-defined procedures and interfaces between the various stakeholders involved. There is a necessity for enhanced interpersonal communication between the various stakeholders and the implementation of sustainable training practices. Furthermore, greater transparency and standardisation of regulations in international health emergencies is desired. Conclusions Given the infrequency of cross-border infection incidents on board ships, targeted preparation within stakeholders is often given a lower priority than other work priorities. The participatory study design is intended to develop comprehensive concepts in collaboration with the IHR ports in the ongoing project. Subsequently, these concepts will be tested in tabletop exercises and incorporated into training formats for public health actors. Key messages • The qualitative interview study at baseline revealed a substantial need for sustained communication and training practices among stakeholders for infectious disease preparedness in German IHR ports. • The document analysis revealed relevant differences in the extent and scope of contingency plans of German ports designated under the International Health Regulations.

Corporate sustainability communication to promote pro-environmental behaviour: lessons learned from Balinese women in Indonesia

PurposeThis study aims to (1) examine corporate sustainability communication that promotes pro-environmental behaviour and (2) explore women’s experiences and expectations in relation to sustainability communication. Based on the findings, the study proposes a sustainability communication model that can facilitate the needs of both companies and women.Design/methodology/approachA case study was conducted to examine sustainability communication within the support waste management project of one company in Bali, Indonesia. Following the appreciative inquiry method, focus group discussions involving Balinese women and in-depth interviews were conducted to discover the best experiences and most appropriate ways to participate in waste management initiatives.FindingsThe findings show a gap between women’s understanding of sustainability issues and the information provided by the company. The company and women construct their own understandings of sustainability issues, and each has different capacities, needs, interests and values. This study contends sustainability communication as a process for co-creating meaning. It should begin by using the livelihoods and tangible impacts on women groups as the entry point.Research limitations/implicationsThe proposed framework suggests communication intervention that acknowledges the importance of community participation and empowerment as well as three levels of impact: for themselves, their environment, and their communities. This study also recommends further studies in different contexts, as this study was conducted in collectivist rural communities.Originality/valueThe proposed framework accentuates the value of communication processes and management as well as sustainability outcomes, and considers women as actors, rather than as objects.

Social Mobile Learning with 21st Century Learning for Thailand Education 4.0

The Thailand 4.0 initiative aims to transform the country into a digital economy, with education reform being a crucial component. Social mobile learning has the potential to support this transformation. However, engagement with social mobile learning varies among different groups. This paper examines the relationship between education reform, the Thailand 4.0 initiative, and social mobile learning. It explores the challenges of communication for sustainability, the importance of reflection in understanding complexity, the role of design thinking in teaching sustainability, and examples of teaching for sustainable development within the context of Thailand 4.0 and social mobile learning. The study's findings suggest that while social mobile learning can support education reform and the Thailand 4.0 initiative, effective engagement varies. Incorporating sustainable development teaching into Thailand 4.0's education system can help promote a culture of sustainability.

Sustainability Communication in Higher Education Institutions: Scale Development and Validation Study

This article aims to develop and validate the Sustainability Communication Scale in higher education institutions. An eight-step process proposed by DeVellis (2022) was applied to develop the scale, which consists of 32 items capable of measuring the level of sustainability communication in Turkish universities. A total of 1291 participants, comprising 109 academics and 1182 students, participated in the study. Expert opinion analysis, KMO and Barlett tests, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, Cronbach's alpha, composite reliability, and partial correlation analyses were all used to check the scale's validity and reliability. According to the results of the exploratory factor analysis using the principal components method, the scale consists of 4 factors: environmental sustainability communication, social sustainability communication, economic sustainability communication, and sustainability of communication. The general structure and measurement of the scale have been validated by confirmatory factor analysis. The internal consistency coefficient found using Cronbach's alpha was .769; internal consistency coefficients found using composite reliability were .875(F1), .888 (F2), .866(F3), .882(F4). The findings indicate that the scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool.

A systematic literature review of online communication and promotion for sustainable tourism

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to systematically review the literature on how sustainable tourism is communicated online and who the main stakeholders involved in the communication are.Design/methodology/approachConducting a quantitative approach based on the systematic literature review, we searched five academic databases and examined 747 papers published from 2009 to 2022. A total of 87 articles were systematically analysed.FindingsSustainable online communication has mainly been explored through structured data rather than alternative ones. Different stakeholders have been studied about online sustainable communication. However, few studies have focused on the relationships between them as a unique and complex ecosystem of subjects.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first attempt to synthesise sustainable online communication and the stakeholders involved. It provides an in-depth understanding of central papers discussing the topic and offers insights for future research to foster growth in both research and practice. Overall, this research highlights the lack of research on the topic and its importance for a planned sustainability-oriented online communication strategy to raise awareness and inspire sustainable choices.

CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY COMMUNICATION OF GREEN AND NON-GREEN COMPANIES IN DIGITAL ERA

This study aims to understand the corporate sustainability communication of green and non-green companies in Indonesia. This research examines 20 Indonesian companies divided into two subgroups of sample: green and non-green companies, which are classified according to their sustainability performance. The categorization indicator is obtained from CSRHub, a global database source aggregating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) scores. The paper analyzes the implementation of formal communication channels and social media during two months (June-July 2023) as a novel digital communication channel at the stakeholder information strategy level. This study found green companies engaged in more active sustainability communication through formal and digital channels. In the formal communication, green companies routinely prepared standalone sustainability reports and annual reports reflecting sustainability values in each Board of directors' and commissioners' letters. In digital channels, green companies own social media accounts on many platforms to engage with stakeholders. Some of them have reflected their sustainability value publicly through the new media.

Effectiveness of sustainability communication on stakeholder engagement: A multi‐method qualitative assessment of sustainable development

AbstractThe present era is witnessing a growing importance of sustainability communication. There is a need to understand stakeholders' perspectives regarding sustainability communication by different corporates. Additionally, it is also important to understand the positive (happiness and surprise) and negative (anger, fear, and sadness) aspects that affect the effectiveness of sustainability communication. The present research used a multi‐method multi‐study qualitative approach. In Study 1, the perspectives of 29 mid‐level managers and 16 top‐level senior managers involved in the sustainability domain in their organizations from India were captured via qualitative semi‐structured interviews. In Study 2, sustainability reports of 50 leading companies involved in sustainability activities were analyzed using textual analysis, emotional analysis, and topic modeling. Results indicate that corporate sustainability communications can have varying impacts on the stakeholders. The results of the qualitative analysis showed positive impact of sustainability communications on employee engagement, employee involvement, transformational and inclusive leadership and training and development opportunities. Positive emotions, like happiness or surprise, indicate positive brand image and engagement related to sustainability activities. Negative emotions like fear, anger, and sadness, show stakeholders' concern regarding the environmental damages. Thus, organizations need to target the positive aspects in their sustainability communication for improved results and must avoid the negative aspects while planning to develop effective sustainability communication. Subsequently, the present study contributes to the existing literature by proposing a conceptual framework based on signaling theory and stakeholder theory. This study fills the gap in terms of examining the stakeholders' and end‐users' perspectives regarding sustainability communication, the major emotional aspects that are revealed from the sustainability reports and an overall view on individual's pro‐environmental behavior.

Two Energy-Efficient Backhauling Solutions for Small Cell Networks of 5G Using Green Communications

To meet the problem of ever-increasing wireless data congestion, the fifth-generation (5G) wireless communication system is projected to employ tiny cellphone networks for the needs of consumers heavily. One of the most significant elements of 5G networks will be sustainable interactions, as the quantity of power utilized by the information and communication technology (ICT) sector is expected to rise significantly by the end of the century. Therefore, scientists have focused much attention in recent years on developing strategies for designing small cell networks that use electricity optimistically. In addition, service providers need energy-efficient backing-up technologies to aid in using packed tiny cells. This research presents an interaction model that is well-suited to 5G HetNets and has a low power footprint. The model here accounts for an internet connection’s contact and backup portions. We create and present a mathematical framework to calculate the optimum number of tiny mitochondria that need to be maintained active at numerous hours of the day to minimize power consumption while still satisfying quality of service requirements set by customers. Our investigation into the backhaul’s electrical consumption led us to discover and put forward two energy-saving backing-up methods for 5G HetNets. Computer simulations show that the provided sustainable communication framework can reduce energy consumption by as much as 49% compared to the status quo.

Transforming Bullying Prevention Through Assertive Communication Training

General Background: Bullying is a pervasive issue in educational settings, often resulting in physical and psychological harm to victims. It typically arises from a power imbalance, with aggressors seeking personal satisfaction through intimidation. Specific Background: This study addresses the effectiveness of psychoeducational interventions aimed at improving assertive communication skills among junior high school students, specifically at SMPN 5 Sidoarjo, to prevent bullying behaviors. Knowledge Gap: While previous research has explored bullying prevention strategies, there is limited empirical evidence demonstrating the impact of assertive communication training in Indonesian junior high schools. Aims: This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured psychoeducational program on students’ understanding and application of assertive communication to mitigate bullying. Results: Utilizing a quantitative experimental design with pre-test and post-test assessments, the study reveals a statistically significant improvement in assertive communication skills, evidenced by a Wilcoxon signed-rank test (p = 0.001) and a large effect size (r = 0.898). Novelty: This study contributes novel insights into the role of assertive communication training as a proactive approach to bullying prevention within the Indonesian educational context. Implications: The findings suggest that psychoeducational programs can effectively enhance students’ assertive communication abilities, highlighting the need for continuous training to deepen understanding and application. Ongoing psychoeducational efforts are recommended to foster a supportive and respectful school environment, ultimately reducing bullying incidents. Highlights: Improvement: Assertive communication significantly increased after psychoeducation. Effectiveness: Psychoeducation is essential for preventing bullying. Recommendation: Ongoing training needed for sustained communication skills. Keywords: Bullying, Assertive Communication, Psychoeducation, Junior High School, Prevention

Interconnections within the tumor microenvironment: extracellular vesicles as critical players of metabolic reprogramming in tumor cells

Metabolic reprogramming is an intrinsic characteristic of cancer, contributing to its establishment and progression, survival, high proliferation rates, and increased migratory and invasive potential; tumor cells establish an intimate relationship with the surrounding microenvironment, where sustained communication allows the stromal fraction of the tumor microenvironment (TME) to supply energetic substrates and facilitate the biosynthesis of macromolecules, thereby promoting tumor progression. In this context, extracellular vesicles (EVs) emerge as potential communication vehicles, carrying inside content reflecting the cellular environment of origin and thus modulating the phenotype of recipient cells. The potential of EVs as modulators in the TME has been highlighted and is now consensual; however, most available articles have focused on revealing the effect of EVs in modulating tumor phenotypes and signaling pathways in tumor cells. Regarding the metabolic modulation sustained by EVs, studies have demonstrated the role of cancer cells’ EVs as modulators of surrounding cells, like immune cells, fibroblasts, and adipocytes. Therefore, this review aims to: i. highlight the most recent studies evaluating the role of cellular vesicles released by those cells within the microenvironment in the metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells; ii. compile scientific evidence proposing how EVs could modulate the metabolic profile of tumor stem cells and lymphocytes, particularly given the lack of studies focused on such approaches; and iii. highlight possible effects of vesicles, as the metabolic modulation induced by these vesicles could have anticancer potential.

Produktverpackungen als alltägliche Manifestationen des Umweltdiskurses

The article outlines the technical, semiotic and discourse-linguistic challenges that arise in the data collection, the data processing and the data analysis of a quite small corpus of current product packaging texts (food/beverages, cleaning agents and hygiene products) of a running DFG-project. These three types of problems are due to the materiality, multimodality and multithematicity of the material analysed. The project which is focused on the German environmental discourse 1990-2020 and which is investigating the tension between individual freedom and social norms expressed in it, thus deliberately leaves the big data level of the originally project context within a bigger research group and switches to the level of hermeneutic-qualitative analyses of selected key texts. The hypothesis underlying this decision is that the environmental discourse is reflected in a condensed form in texts that are committed to corporate sustainability communication and are influencing the discourse space of everyday life in everyone’s household. Initial insights into the material and multimodal nature of the corpus are provided and the first results of the discourse linguistic analysis are offered, whereby the material is always discussed in its special significance "beyond big data". The preliminary results show that the everyday products analysed here are discursive mediators between companies, consumers and the environment, in that responsibility is shifted and displaced several times so that in the end it can to be concluded on all sides: Good for you and good for the planet.

The intention to share a sustainability communication about a tourism destination

Purpose This paper aims to analyse the determinants of the intention to share a post about an environmental issue posted by a tourism destination on Facebook. The authors use the stimulus-organism-response (SOR) model as a theoretical framework and consider cognitive variables (destination social responsibility, tourist social responsibility and three types of congruence) as antecedents of emotions and of the tourists’ response (intention to share). Specific factors related to the social platform (attachment and active use of social media) are also included. Design/methodology/approach The model was tested for two destinations with different positioning (green tourism versus sun and beach). For the sampling strategy, the authors conducted an online poll targeting Facebook users who had undertaken at least one trip in the previous year. The sample consisted of 1,001 individuals. Findings The empirical evidence obtained indicates that consumer–cause congruence is the most important variable for explaining the intention to share the post for both destinations, with the destination–cause congruence being non-significant. The authors also observed that active participation on the social network stimulated the intention to share this specific content. Originality/value Unlike prior research, this paper examined consumer motivators for engaging with online corporate social responsibility content for tourism destinations, specifically focusing on destination social responsibility in sustainable tourism. The model also incorporates three types of congruence, revealing variations in their impact on explaining the intention to share sustainability-related posts.

Social media usage for sustainability reporting: a study of the Top 50 Australian companies

Purpose This paper aims to explore the extent, nature and communication potential of companies’ use of three popular social media platforms (Facebook, X and LinkedIn) to report on sustainability. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative methodology through the use of the netnography approach was adopted to evaluate the use of social media for sustainability communication by the Top 50 ASX companies. Content analysis of all company posts determined those with social and environmental content. A thematic analysis was performed using the global reporting initiative (GRI) framework to examine the nature of the reporting. The media richness framework was used to measure the communication potential of the social media platforms for sustainability communication. Findings The results indicated that the extent of sustainability posts on social media represented less than 20% of total social media posts. The nature of posts by the Top 50 ASX companies was higher on social issues than on environmental issues, which is contradictory to many previous studies. The study also found that while the social media platforms afforded high levels of media richness, most companies failed to exploit the platforms’ full potential to disseminate sustainability information. Research limitations/implications This work provides both empirical and theoretical contributions to the ongoing debate concerning the use of social media for sustainability communication. The paper extends Lodhia et al.’s (2020) study of social media use for legitimation purposes and adapts Lodhia’s (2004) media richness framework to social media for sustainability reporting. It adds empirical insights into social media’s communication potential and value for communicating sustainability information. Practical implications The extent and nature to which organisations use social media to disclose their sustainability performance has significant practical implications for a variety of stakeholders. The results reveal to these stakeholders and the companies themselves the level of utilisation of social media along with the potential that can be harnessed. These results can potentially improve the quantity, timeliness and usability of sustainability reporting using social media platforms. Social implications The study provides valuable evidence to increase understanding of the sustainability social media communication landscape, which organisations can potentially leverage to communicate their messages. Additionally, sustainability awareness is increased across various demographics by disseminating sustainability information to the wider public. This study will assist policy-setters in developing guidance for using social media for sustainability reporting. Originality/value This study extends existing literature, particularly the Lodhia et al. (2020) study, which has primarily focused on examining sustainability content in the media with limited exploration of the communication potential of social media platforms to communicate sustainability content.

Developing a Conceptual Framework for a Person-Centered Approach to Improving Adherence and Outcomes in Lung Cancer Screening: The Engaged Approach to Lung Cancer Screening: A Brief Report

IntroductionTranslating outcomes from randomized trials of lung cancer screening into community practice settings has been challenging. We developed a framework—the Engaged Approach to Lung Cancer Screening (EA-LCS)—for improving adherence and individual and population health outcomes in LCS. MethodsEmploying community-engaged research, we conducted semistructured interviews with LCS program staff (N = 15) and participants (N = 7) and administered brief surveys to understand LCS adherence. We combined our knowledge of LCS implementation with data to formulate the EA-LCS framework, including principles and strategies instrumental for LCS adherence. ResultsProgram staff identified four factors that facilitated adherence: (1) the use of specialized tracking software, (2) the importance of personal connection and a reliable touchpoint, (3) centralized program operations, and (4) standardization/streamlining of reports to participants and clinicians. Participant data identified four factors supporting adherence: (1) a single contact point and information availability, (2) tailored communications, (3) personalized results delivery, and (4) increased scan accessibility. Combined analyses identified three overarching themes in the EA-LCS framework: (1) respect, (2) trust, and (3) engagement. ConclusionsThe EA-LCS conceptual model integrates three foundational principles (person-centeredness, trustworthy relationships, and sustained communications) to enhance LCS adherence. Efforts are underway to translate the EA-LCS framework into materials to support adherence.

Sustainability as guiding principle of communicative action the transformative and transformational potential of corporate sustainability communication as niche construction, a case from the energy sector

Sustainability as guiding principle of communicative action the transformative and transformational potential of corporate sustainability communication as niche construction, a case from the energy sector

The communication of sustainability on social media: the role of dialogical communication

The communication of sustainability on social media: the role of dialogical communication

Online Communication of Sustainability in the Social Economy: A Comparative Study

Spain is the world leader in olive oil production. The aim of this article is to analyze the type of non-financial information (CSR) that companies in the sector disseminate on their websites and the factors that explain a greater online dissemination. The fsQCA methodology is applied. The results indicate that companies focus on communicating the knowledge generated on aspects related to food safety and that the dissemination of CSR is affected by factors such as having a commercial orientation towards the online market, having channels of interactivity with stakeholders and offering organic/ecological products.

Back to the Future? Navigating Temporal Tensions in Corporate Sustainability Communication

Back to the Future? Navigating Temporal Tensions in Corporate Sustainability Communication

Walk the Talk? Investigating the Performative Effect of Corporate Sustainability Communication

Walk the Talk? Investigating the Performative Effect of Corporate Sustainability Communication

Mapping and Current Trends in Sustainable Communication: A Bibliometric View

The aim of this study is to examine the development of the concept of sustainable communication in the business, management and communication literature through bibliometric analysis. Sustainable communication involves strategic, transparent dissemination of information integrating environmental, social, and economic factors, engaging stakeholders, promoting awareness, and emphasizing the interconnectedness of sustainability dimensions. The research problem lies in the absence of a comprehensive bibliometric study on sustainable communication, despite the abundance of studies in field of sustainability and communication. This study will fill this gap in the literature by utilizing the bibliometric analysis method and contributing to the existing literature. The situation underscores the significance of research. In line with this purposes, this study examines 2724 articles on sustainable communication, focusing on applied studies and focusing on the distribution of these articles, co-authorship, co-citation, and co-occurence of the authors who published them. As a result of the bibliometric analysis, it has been determined that the field of sustainable communication has continued to develop over the years and that the concepts of big data within the scope of Industry 4.0, green business, sustainable business, sustainable supply chain management, environmental performance, greenwashing, and the circular economy have come to the fore in recent years. The study’s findings can be beneficial to scholars as they reveal the current performance of authors, documents, as well as the progression of themes.