Sustainability Considerations Research Articles

SUSTAINABLE BEHAVIORS AND PERSONALITY MODERATING THE STATUS GOAL AND PURCHASE INTENTION RELATIONSHIP OF LUXURY BRANDS

Luxury brands are related to two major mechanisms of social adaptation: value-expressive and social-adjustive. Researchers have established that these two functions are likely to influence customer purchase intention. Additionally, evidence suggests an interaction between sustainability beliefs and personality traits. Traditional, luxury brand purchasers are considered carefree of sustainability considerations. Therefore, a research gap exists regarding sustainable behaviors and personality issues in relation to luxury brands. Thus, building on a model of the effects of the value-expressive and social-adjustive functions of luxury brands on purchase intention, this study analyzes the effects of two types of moderating variables, namely, sustainable consumption (anthropocentrism, perceived self-efficacy, ecological behavior, conservatism, and egoism) and personality traits (conscientiousness, extraversion, openness, and neuroticism). Results of a structural equation modeling analysis with nested models, using a sample of 299 U.S. luxury car consumers, reveal that for the value-expressive and purchase intention relationship, only perceived self-efficacy shows a negative moderating effect. Meanwhile, for the relationship between social-adjustive and purchase intention, anthropocentrism, egoism, extraversion, and neuroticism demonstrate moderating effects. Thus, the variables here proposed primarily moderate the social-adjustive and purchase intention relationship. Therefore, luxury product firms pursuing a long-term sustainability agenda may benefit from strategies based on social-adjustive needs.

Optimising seafood nutritional value and environmental sustainability in aquaculture through a novel integrated modelling tool applicable to IMTA and monoculture

Aquaculture policies that decrease the reliance on wild-caught fish and promote integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) both aim to lessen the environmental footprint but often overlook economic-environmental trade-offs and neglect social, health, and broad-scale sustainability considerations. Here we present a new bio-physical model (FYNE) that bridges some of these gaps, by linking farm operational choices, such as feed choices and farm siting, with the nutritional value of the farm-gate seafood products and the resulting environmental eutrophication footprint at the farm level. The FYNE model operates both in conditions of monoculture or of IMTA production, and estimates feed composition effects on growth and omega-3 fatty acid content of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and blue mussel (Mytilus edulis), and nitrogen and carbon concentrations, the latter being a measure of the environmental eutrophication footprint of the farm. The model here developed integrates for the first time (i) an ecosystem model of an IMTA and (ii) a fatty acid dynamics model, with new models for salmon feed digestibility and mussel ingestion. The outputs span (i) production analysis for simulation of biomass; (ii) farm mass-balance analysis on deposition analysis and environmental eutrophication footprint; and (iii) product nutritional quality, in terms of fatty acid content. An application of the model to an IMTA farm in Scotland (UK) demonstrates how fatty acid and environmental changes can be modelled in tandem and could be used to support the industry to optimize the nutritional value of cultured species and manage aquatic environmental eutrophication footprint at farm level, informing feed and siting decisions. The model effectively predicts changes in omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA and EPA, in response to variations in feed composition. Notably, our results confirm that salmon waste has limited influence on mussel growth due to the spatial separation within the IMTA system, which emphasizes the need for strategic siting to enhance system productivity through effective waste recycling. Additionally, results show that while increasing fishmeal in diets enhances environmental outcomes, it reduces levels of critical fatty acids like DHA and EPA, underscoring the need for balanced feed formulations. The method developed in this study described a novel integrated model (FYNE) that extend previous modelling work by incorporating the influence of farmed species feed composition on fatty acid dynamics as well as the farming environmental factors.

Green Consumer Profiling and Online Shopping of Imperfect Foods: Extending UTAUT with Web-Based Label Quality for Misshapen Organic Produce.

Misshapen organic vegetables in the food supply chain can easily be discarded in the market if they do not meet aesthetic standards. E-commerce technology enables the distribution of imperfect organic produce from farmers to potential customers, mitigating agri-food waste issues. Green consumers are prospective customers of imperfect produce because their purchasing decisions are made based on sustainability and environmental considerations. However, each individual's degree of green consumption differs, impacting their preferences and behaviors toward green buying activity. Considering the gap between the varying levels of green consumers and their intention to purchase imperfect organic produce through e-commerce, this study aimed to profile three distinct green consumers and explore factors affecting their Online Green Purchase Intention (OGPI) for imperfect organic vegetables. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) was applied in this study, and Web-Based Label Quality (WLQ) was introduced as an extended construct to describe green consumers' perceptions of the credibility and reliability of labels or product-related information displayed on e-commerce platforms. This study involved 668 internet users from environmental platforms and online communities of organic food enthusiasts. First, the consumers were classified into dark-green, semi/light green, and non-green using a cluster analysis approach. Then, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Multi-Group Analysis (MGA) were employed to determine the factors affecting OGPI among green consumer groups. This research found that Performance Expectancy (PE), Social Influence (SI), and WLQ positively influenced dark-green consumers' online green purchase intention. Only Performance Expectancy (PE) positively affected semi/light-green consumers' OGPI. Meanwhile, the Facilitating Condition (FC) positively affected non-green consumers' online green purchase intentions. This research revealed dark-green consumers as the target segment, broadening customers' perspectives on accepting imperfect organic products, including e-commerce technology. Moreover, the research results can be utilized for marketing and business purposes and contribute to food policy.

Teaching Graphic Design for undergraduate students in Vietnam: a curriculum analysis

Teaching Graphic Design for undergraduate students in Vietnam: a curriculum analysis

Sustainable and ethical supply chain management: The role of HR in current practices and future directions

This study systematically reviews the integration of Human Resources (HR), sustainability, and ethics within the framework of supply chain management, illuminating the pivotal role of HR practices in enhancing the sustainability and ethical integrity of supply chains. Employing a systematic literature review coupled with content analysis, this research scrutinizes scholarly articles and case studies across various databases, focusing on the period from 2000 to 2024. The methodology hinges on precise inclusion and exclusion criteria to distill relevant literature, which is then subjected to rigorous content analysis to identify prevailing themes and insights. Key findings reveal that strategic HR practices, including talent management, training and development, and leadership cultivation, are central to embedding sustainability and ethical considerations into supply chain operations. These practices not only foster a culture of sustainability and ethics but also drive organizational change towards more sustainable supply chain models. The review identifies a dual challenge for sustainable supply chain management: the complexity of global supply chains and the increasing demands for transparency and ethical conduct, presenting both significant challenges and opportunities for innovation. Finally, the study underscores the critical role of HR in sustainable and ethical supply chain management, highlighting the necessity of integrating sustainability into HR practices. Strategic recommendations for organizations and HR professionals are provided to navigate the evolving landscape of supply chain sustainability. The study calls for further research into the dynamic interplay between HR practices and supply chain sustainability, particularly in the context of emerging technologies and global supply chain complexities.

International Laws and their Implications for Sustainable Growth

This paper sheds light on how international laws embrace global sustainability goals. Sustainable development has become a focal point in numerous international treaties and conventions, featuring in over 300 agreements, both binding and non-binding. It's widely acknowledged that environmental laws, intertwined with social and economic factors, lay the groundwork for sustainable development objectives, potentially guiding judicial decisions. There's evidence suggesting that international judicial bodies have considered sustainability considerations in their rulings. Furthermore, the paper delves into strategies for tailoring these objectives to fit regional and local contexts, drawing insights from the practices of neighboring countries. This approach seeks to deepen our understanding of how to effectively integrate sustainability goals across various levels of governance.

Enhancing sustainability considerations in construction industry projects

AbstractIn today’s society, the construction sector significantly influences all three aspects of sustainability: economic, environmental, and social. Industry and academia have recognized sustainability in construction projects as a key concern. The New Zealand government also focuses on providing a sustainable construction sector centred on high performance, high productivity, enhanced innovation, and improving community well-being through a better-built environment. Project management and sustainability are two distinct areas of research. Previous empirical research on the effectiveness of construction project implementation lacked sustainability success components. This research aims to provide criteria for project sustainability success for future performance on construction projects. Based on the existing literature, many economic, environmental, and social sustainability indicators were compiled for consideration at various pipeline project life cycle phases. The information gathered from the Scopus database was analyzed using ATLAS.ti 9 software to create project sustainability success criteria. Pipeline construction projects and sustainability must focus on environmental challenges while managing economic and social advantages. The research investigated sustainable construction adoption, revealing weak awareness among organizations due to limited understanding among key actors like clients, regulatory bodies, and construction organizations. Lack of effective application of sustainability guidelines, inadequate legislation, and building codes were significant hurdles in implementing sustainable practices in the construction sector. The study highlights essential issues to promote sustainable practices in the industry. The study findings suggest that organizations and individual factors are strong predictors for achieving sustainable construction and are vital antecedents leading to greater sustainability adoption. Finally, the study points to construction project managers’ knowledge of how to set up criteria connected to sustainability and how it could affect the outcome of their projects.

Optimizing infrastructure development through BIM: A comprehensive analysis of lifecycle benefits and applications

This comprehensive study delves into the multifaceted impacts of Building Information Modeling (BIM) across different phases of infrastructure projects, encompassing project planning and design, construction, as well as operations and maintenance. By offering a granular analysis of BIM's contributions to design efficiency, enhanced collaboration, sustainability considerations, improved project management, risk mitigation, quality control, asset management, lifecycle analysis, and space management and utilization, the paper presents quantifiable evidence of BIM's transformative potential. The findings underscore the substantial benefits of BIM in reducing project timeframes, minimizing material costs, enhancing operational efficiency, and contributing to sustainability goals. Through detailed quantitative analysis, this article illustrates how BIM technology facilitates a more integrated, efficient, and sustainable approach to infrastructure development, challenging traditional practices and fostering a new paradigm in construction and facility management.

Environmentally sustainable design guide for haemodialysis facilities: An Australian and New Zealand society of Nephrology initiative.

Haemodialysis facilities have a large environmental impact due to high energy, water and consumable usage by haemodialysis equipment. As climate change and natural resource scarcity escalate, all the while the number of people requiring dialysis increases, there is an urgent need for dialysis facilities that meet care needs while minimising environmental impact. To address this, the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology engaged an environmental sustainability consulting practise to develop a best practise guide for the environmentally sustainable design and operation of haemodialysis facilities. Four opportunity areas were considered, namely energy, water, waste and resource recovery, and additional sustainability. A total of 28 environmental improvement initiatives were identified. The majority (n = 23) were general measures that could be applied across all healthcare settings, while five were specific to haemodialysis facilities. Recommendations were made regarding specific measures that should be undertaken and/or standards that must be met to achieve the intent of each initiative. These were stratified to enable their application to both existing dialysis facilities and new builds. The lifecycle stage of a haemodialysis facility to which each initiative applied was highlighted, as was its potential impact. This guide provides a tailored and comprehensive resource for the kidney care community to enable the integration of best practise sustainability considerations into both existing and new facilities. If broadly implemented, it has the potential to markedly improve the environmental impact of haemodialysis provision.

Satellite design optimization for differential lift and drag applications

AbstractUtilizing differential atmospheric forces in the very low earth orbits (VLEO) regime for the control of the relative motion within a satellite formation is a promising option as any thrusting device has significant impact on system design due to the limited weight and size restrictions of small satellites. One possible approach to increase the available accelerations caused by the atmosphere is to reduce the mass of the respective satellites as well as to increase the available surface area. However, satellites of these characteristics suffer from rapid orbital decay and consequently have a reduced service lifetime. Therefore, achieving higher control forces is in contradiction to achieving a minimum orbital decay of the satellites, which currently represents one of the biggest challenges in the VLEO regime. In this article, the geometry of a given reference satellite, a 3UCubeSat, is optimized under the consideration of different surface material properties for differential lift and drag control applications while simultaneously ensuring a sustained VLEO operation. It is worth noting that both the consideration of sustainability as well as the optimization with regard to differential lift are new in literature. It was shown that the advantageous geometries strongly depend on the type of gas–surface interaction and thus, two different final designs, one for each extreme type, are presented. In both cases, improvements in all relevant parameters could be achieved solely via geometry adaptions.

Green and sustainable AI research: an integrated thematic and topic modeling analysis

This investigation delves into Green AI and Sustainable AI literature through a dual-analytical approach, combining thematic analysis with BERTopic modeling to reveal both broad thematic clusters and nuanced emerging topics. It identifies three major thematic clusters: (1) Responsible AI for Sustainable Development, focusing on integrating sustainability and ethics within AI technologies; (2) Advancements in Green AI for Energy Optimization, centering on energy efficiency; and (3) Big Data-Driven Computational Advances, emphasizing AI’s influence on socio-economic and environmental aspects. Concurrently, BERTopic modeling uncovers five emerging topics: Ethical Eco-Intelligence, Sustainable Neural Computing, Ethical Healthcare Intelligence, AI Learning Quest, and Cognitive AI Innovation, indicating a trend toward embedding ethical and sustainability considerations into AI research. The study reveals novel intersections between Sustainable and Ethical AI and Green Computing, indicating significant research trends and identifying Ethical Healthcare Intelligence and AI Learning Quest as evolving areas within AI’s socio-economic and societal impacts. The study advocates for a unified approach to innovation in AI, promoting environmental sustainability and ethical integrity to foster responsible AI development. This aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing the need for ecological balance, societal welfare, and responsible innovation. This refined focus underscores the critical need for integrating ethical and environmental considerations into the AI development lifecycle, offering insights for future research directions and policy interventions.

Sustaining Community-Based Research in Computing: Lessons from Two Tech Capacity Building Initiatives for Local Businesses

The field of human-computer interaction (HCI) has traditionally focused on the design of novel technology artifacts. However, ensuring considerations for artifact maintenance and repair is crucial to sustainably supporting the populations they aim to serve over the long term. Drawing on two multi-year programs for tech capacity building in post-industrial U.S. cities, this article presents a comparative analysis to investigate the challenges and strategies for sustained community-based research in computing. In particular, our work detailed three considerations for academic-community partnerships. First, long-term partnerships prioritized transferring trust across academic and community personnel and continually set expectations that responded to evolving community initiatives (i.e., relational sustainability). Second, partnerships used academic support as a way to kickstart community initiatives, and flexibly reframed interventions to stay aligned with evolving community goals (i.e., economic sustainability). Third, partnerships trained personnel to provide technical support alongside interventions and prioritized advice that resisted short-term trends (i.e., technical sustainability). We provide concrete examples of how our two academic-community partnerships carried out such suggestions-such details go unreported in scholarly articles yet are essential for sustainability considerations. We discuss ongoing challenges, such as rethinking when longevity should and should not be the end goal.

Application of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) to Select the Most Sustainable Power-Generating Technology

In response to the growing importance of sustainability and regulatory pressures, companies are increasingly engaging in sustainable projects to mitigate environmental and social harm. Therefore, it is crucial to incorporate sustainability considerations during selecting construction projects in the feasibility phase. This study aims to identify a comprehensive set of sustainability criteria and sub-criteria to help the owners of power-generating plants to select the most sustainable technology for their new projects. Sixteen criteria are identified and categorized under the pillars of sustainability: economic, social, and environmental, plus the technical category. To illustrate practical application, a case study demonstrates the use of these essential sustainability criteria through a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model for power-generating technology ranking. The results suggest that when stakeholders’ perspectives are weighted approximately equally, considering all sustainability pillars, natural gas with carbon capture is favored for sustainability. A three-scenario sensitivity analysis was performed involving expert opinions from one of the largest power-generating companies in Canada. This integrated generic model can be utilized by industry experts to apply multi-dimensional rational decision-making techniques to solve the complex problem of selecting the most sustainable alternative in construction projects.

Sustainable supply chain evaluation with supplier sustainability in terms of reliability

AbstractAmidst the rising global recognition of sustainability and the United Nations' sustainable development goals, enhancing the sustainability of the supply chain while properly distributing orders has become a key point. In contrast to the previous research, this research involves supplier sustainability in reliability evaluation and proposes a new algorithm for computing reliability. In the constructed supply chain network, a node represents a supplier, assembly plant, or customer, and an arc connecting the nodes. For each arc, it has a carrier whose available carrying capacity for demand transmission. The capacity of each carrier, represented by the available delivery containers, should not be deterministic as they may be partially reserved by other customers. Under these conditions, such a supply chain network is regarded as a stochastic supply chain network (SSCN). The reliability for an SSCN is defined as the probability that the SSCN can successfully transport a specific amount of goods to a customer under supplier sustainability level, supplier production capacity, and budget. Reliability is also regarded as a performance indicator for supply chain capability when managers makes decisions under supplier sustainability consideration.

Sustainability Clauses in ‘Public’ Contracts

Abstract Under the Public Sector Directive, public buyers are allowed to include sustainability considerations in their purchasing decisions within the limits of the principles of procurement. This framework allows criteria linked to the subject matter to be contractualised. Though different criteria are widely employed in public procurement within the umbrella of sustainable public procurement, the literature mostly focuses on stages leading to the contract award instead of considering the public contract as a document incorporating contractual obligations. On the other side, green and social commitments in (business) contracts are considerations that are not necessarily linked to the subject matter. Though their value is acknowledged, their enforcement proves to be challenging due to the restraints of contract law. By using European contract law as a reference point, this paper compares sustainability clauses in business contracts to sustainability clauses in public contracts – to determine whether the EU regime applicable to public contracts offers solutions to these hurdles.

Advanced Modeling and Optimization Strategies for Process Synthesis.

This article provides a systematic review of recent progress in optimization-based process synthesis. First, we discuss multiscale modeling frameworks featuring targeting approaches, phenomena-based modeling, unit operation-based modeling, and hybrid modeling. Next, we present the expanded scope of process synthesis objectives, highlighting the considerations of sustainability and operability to assure cost-competitive production in an increasingly dynamic market with growing environmental awareness. Then, we review advances in optimization algorithms and tools, including emerging machine learning-and quantum computing-assisted approaches. We conclude by summarizing the advances in and perspectives for process synthesis strategies.

An Illustrative Case Example in a K-12 School District: Considering Sustainable Mental Health Practices within Systematic, Equitable, and Collaborative Approaches

With the increased social-emotional needs of students since the COVID-19 pandemic, schools offer an opportunity to support student wellness and address needs. This article describes one district’s efforts to develop a systematic, equitable, and collaborative continuum of supports. The district used Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funding from the U.S. Department of Education to establish new initiatives and support for students experiencing mental health struggles. These initiatives and supports include hiring a school social worker, a multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) framework, implementing universal screening tools for early identification and intervention, using data-driven decision-making, and incorporating progress monitoring efforts to document the impact of services and supports that have been provided to their students. As new initiatives with time limited funding often fail to make a lasting impact, using sustainability strategies is critical. This article describes the district’s systematic, equitable, and collaborative approaches with sustainability considerations. We also describe barriers and next steps to assist other districts in planning for change. We conclude with a discussion of implications for practice and research.

An Updated Integrated Pest Management System: A Footprint for Modern-Day Sustainable Agricultural Practices

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) stands out as a multifaceted approach, offering efficient, socially acceptable, and environmentally friendly pest management solutions in agriculture. It not only maximizes farmers' financial returns but also fosters environmental and human health benefits, contributing significantly to sustainable food production. However, challenges persist due to farmers' insufficient engagement in IPM technology development and a lack of understanding of its ecological principles. To address these challenges, the traditional ecological perspective of pest management has evolved into a more comprehensive IPM model. This modern approach integrates recent advancements in agricultural technology, leveraging contemporary communication tools, and responding to shifting consumer trends towards sustainably produced food systems. Additionally, heightened awareness of global trade and travel impacts necessitates a reconfiguration of IPM strategies. The enhanced IPM model encompasses four key components: identifying pest management alternatives, synthesizing knowledge and resources to develop effective management strategies, facilitating timely decision-making through information management, and fostering the dissemination of crucial information through outreach efforts. Moreover, the new model recognizes the interplay of human, environmental, social, and economic factors in food production. It places emphasis on the business aspect, involving producers, customers, and sellers, while also addressing sustainability considerations such as economic viability, environmental safety, and social acceptability. By integrating these elements, the revamped IPM approach holds the promise of doubling farmers' income, ensuring food security for all, and promoting overall health and well-being. It represents a holistic solution to pest management challenges, aligning with the broader goals of sustainable agriculture and enhancing the quality of food production for generations to come.

Adhesion Strength of an Active Material Layer/Cu Foil Interface in Silicon-Based Anodes.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIB) stand as ubiquitous power sources in the industrial sector, with a mounting emphasis on their sustainability considerations, where safety, durability, and recyclability are all considered. Within the intricate architecture of LIB, the anode sheet processes a stratified composition comprising an active material layer and a copper foil serving as the current collector. The delamination of the active materials from the current collector is one of the major mechanical failure exhibitions for battery short circuits and deteriorated electrochemical performance. On the contrary, the interfacial strength between the active materials and the current collector also determines the battery manufacturing quality and battery recycling success. To cope with this emerging challenge, we designed quantifiable laser shock-wave adhesion tests to characterize the adhesion strength and delamination behaviors between pure Si-based active materials and the current collector. A physics-based computational model is also established to quantify the adhesion strength further. We discovered that the C-Si sheet is easier for delamination as layer buckling due to the more severe stress concentration around the particles due to the heterogeneity of the carbon and silicon particles. Results highlight the promise to evaluate the delamination behaviors of the current materials via an innovative methodology and provide powerful tools for next-generation sustainable battery design.

The Impact of Green Accounting and Integrated Reporting on Financial and Market Performance

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of green accounting and integrated reporting on financial performance and market performance in basic materials and energy sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) and also determine whether these two policies can support the realization of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), specifically the 8th and 13th SDG goals. The final sample of this study used 74 samples with the observation period 2020-2022. Using the regression test tool, this study found that the implementation of green accounting and integrated reporting can be recognized as a strategic policy for basic materials and energy companies in Indonesia. By integrating environmental and sustainability considerations into their accounting practices and reporting frameworks, companies can improve their financial performance, market performance, and participate in realizing the 2030 SDG Goals.