Sustainability Of Different Types Research Articles

Introducing an integrative evaluation framework for assessing the sustainability of different types of urban agriculture

ABSTRACT In cities, a mosaic of different types of urban agriculture can be found. However, knowledge about advantages and disadvantages of the different types is still fragmented. This paper introduces an integrative evaluation framework for assessing the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of urban agriculture by applying a multi-criteria analysis based on an Analytic Hierarchy Process and a participatory approach. Based on a German case study and on the examples of vertical farming and community-supported agriculture, the results suggest that sustainable urban agriculture is a multi-dimensional approach informed by strong sustainability that places nature in the focus. Thus, the environmental dimension received the highest weight, followed by the social and, lastly, the economic dimension. Regarding the sub-criteria, species diversity achieved the highest total weight and food quality and safety the lowest. Conceptually, this paper provides scientific fundamentals for a systematic comparative evaluation of different types of agriculture for sustainable urban development.

Consumers’ sustainability-related perception of and willingness-to-pay for food packaging alternatives

Research regarding consumers’ perception of and willingness-to-pay for alternatives to conventional plastic packaging reveals an ambiguous picture. On one hand, consumers are said to be neither willing to change their consumption behavior nor to pay for alternatives. On the other hand, there is evidence that consumers have an increasing environmental awareness and a positive willingness-to-pay for packaging alternatives. The mixed-method study (Discrete Choice Experiment and qualitative free-text analysis) described in this paper, elucidates the role of consumers and analyzes both consumers’ sustainability-related perception of and willingness-to-pay for alternative food packaging (unpackaged, paper, recycling plastic, bioplastic). Results demonstrate that consumers are willing to pay for packaging that they perceive to be sustainable and are not willing to pay for packaging that they perceive to be non-sustainable or about which they are uncertain. Considering the general disagreement on what kind of packaging actually is sustainable, these results raise the question: if neither theorists, nor companies, nor government agree on the sustainability of different types of packaging – how are consumers supposed to make correct assessments? Besides, results demonstrate that consumers are largely united in their general dissatisfaction with the current packaging situation, even though they are aware of the positive characteristics of single-use plastic packaging.

Combining evidence-based healthcare with environmental sustainability: using the toothbrush as a model.

Introduction Healthcare professionals should consider environmental sustainability when recommending medical devices to patients, although there is currently little quantitative data available. The toothbrush is a widely recommended healthcare device worldwide. The aim of this study was to compare the sustainability of different types of toothbrush.Materials and methods Four types of toothbrush were studied: a traditional plastic and electric toothbrush, as well as a plastic manual toothbrush with replaceable heads and a bamboo manual toothbrush. Life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was applied to quantify the environmental impact of these toothbrushes over five years.Results The electric toothbrush performed consistently poorly compared to the three manual toothbrush types and had the greatest impact in 15 out of 16 environmental categories. The bamboo and replaceable-head plastic toothbrushes had the lowest impact in all categories. The climate change potential of the electric toothbrush was 11 times greater than the bamboo toothbrush.Discussion Switching toothbrushes from the traditional toothbrushes to bamboo or replaceable-head plastic is more environmentally sustainable. These results could be used to inform individual consumer choice, oral health recommendations, procurement of toothbrushes for public health programmes and toothbrush manufacturers. LCA methodology can be used to make healthcare more sustainable.

Quantifying the sustainability of three types of agricultural production in China: An emergy analysis with the integration of environmental pollution

Abstract Agriculture is currently confronted with the great challenge of feeding a soaring population given finite resources while simultaneously curbing negative environmental impacts. Thus, the sustainability of different types of agricultural production must be quantified to identify the best way to meet the associated challenges. Taking the Tongxiang region as a case study, emergy and economic analyses were used to evaluate the overall performance of three agricultural production types, including traditional rice monoculture, integrated farming (i.e., rice-fish and rice-duck), and non-grain production (NGP) systems (i.e., nursery plantation, pond fish farming, vegetable production and duck rearing). The environmental pollution caused by different types of agricultural production, which is usually neglected in other studies, was included in the emergy accounting. The results show that intensive NGP systems, especially duck rearing and pond fish farming, were not sustainable, as indicated by high non-point source pollution discharge, high environmental pressure and low ecological sustainability. While rice monoculture and integrated farming systems were both under benign development, they could not provide economic profits competitive with those from NGP systems. With economic benefits increasing by 2.32–2.35 times and the agricultural non-point source pollution decreasing by 10.21%–59.01% in comparison with rice monoculture, integrated agricultural production proved to be a promising pattern for sustainable agriculture. Some policy incentives were proposed to increase the financial attractiveness of integrated agricultural production and promote a virtuous cycle for future cleaner production.

Sustainable Agriculture – Life beyond Subsidies: Lessons from New Zealand

AbstractThis address explores the importance for agricultural sustainability of different types of capital assets, especially knowledge capital, drawing on recent research in New Zealand that has aimed to expand the contribution of the primary sector to sustainable wellbeing. I begin with an overview of the theory on what constitutes sustainability and wellbeing, focusing on connections between wellbeing, capabilities and different types of capital stocks, and highlighting the importance of knowledge capital for wellbeing. Recent trends in New Zealand and United Kingdom agriculture provide the applied context for analysis of some key knowledge issues facing agriculture, framed by the capability theory of the firm following David Teece. The paper finishes with a brief conclusion on the implications for the UK.

A comparative analysis of sustainable building assessment methods

Since the advent of the first sustainability assessment method, TRYNNS, a large number of widely differing methods have been developed to assess, rate and certify the sustainability of different types of buildings. This study sets out to review, identify, classify and compare today's main assessment methods by analysing their characteristics, structure, scope of application and approach. As a result, 101 current methods have been identified and assigned to 3 groups: systems, standards and tools, plus a recently approved instrument called Level(s). The 36 most representative methods identified have been selected, and have been compared using 4 variables: phase of life cycle applied; sustainability aspects assessed; categories considered; and the type and status of the project assessed. The results have shown that each of the methods separately does not assess all aspects of a sustainable building. Many assess energy and the quality of the interior environment, while few assess more recent social and economic aspects. The considerable number of methods considered and the in-depth analysis performed in this study give extremely valuable insight into the existing evaluation framework, and allows agents to select the method that best responds to their needs.

Задълбочено изследване на устойчивостта на българските ферми

Around the globe, the understanding and assessment of the sustainability of farming enterprises is among the most topical academic and practical issues. At the current stage of development and reforming of European agriculture, the question about the level of sustainability of different types of farming enterprises during the implementation of the European Union Common Agricultural Policy (EU CAP) is particularly topical. However, there is still no consensus on questions such as “what is the sustainability of farming enterprises?”, “what is the relation between the sustainability of farms and agrarian sustainability?”, “which are the critical factors behind the sustainability of farms”, and “how to evaluate the sustainability level of farming enterprises?”.

Using different performance measures for the sustainability assessment of asphalt mixtures: case of warm mix asphalt in a hot climate

The study presents a framework for assessing the sustainability of different types of asphalt materials and technologies. The framework is demonstrated through a case study for evaluating the sustainability of warm mix asphalt (WMA) mixtures in hot climatic conditions. While various life-cycle assessment (LCA) tools and methodologies have been used for sustainability assessment of WMA from the material production phase to the construction phase, most neglect the maintenance, rehabilitation and end of life phases, based on the assumption that the performance of WMA is similar to that of hot mix asphalt (HMA). This study examines asphalt mix properties and performance indices, and studies their impact on maintenance and rehabilitation schedules when incorporated in a pavement structure, and subsequently life-cycle environmental and economic costs. The study concludes that the assessment outcomes of the LCA and life-cycle cost analysis are heavily affected by the performance measure used to predict the maintenance and rehabilitation schedule or change in service life. For the conditions assumed in the study, WMA mixes yield more favourable environmental and economic results compared to control HMA mixes with unmodified binder.

Inducing heterogeneity in local entrepreneurial ecosystems: the role of MNEs

The role of entrepreneurial ecosystems in fostering economic growth has become a key priority around the globe. To develop such ecosystems, numerous countries have provided significant inducements to multinational enterprises (MNEs) to attract them to locate their operations within their borders. Despite the rise in MNEs’ entry, evidence on their efficacy in invigorating local entrepreneurial systems has been mixed. We propose that this may arise from a lack of focus on local ecosystems’ absorptive capacity, which is essential to spawning different types of entrepreneurial ventures that combine both replicative (imitative) and truly innovative local firms. This occurs as local entrepreneurs in proceed to capture, assimilate, and exploit MNEs’ different knowledge spillovers. Further, we argue that the dynamic interplay between knowledge flows through spillovers from MNEs and absorptive capacity is likely to promote the emergence, evolution, and sustainability of different types of new local firms—in some cases creating conformity and lock-ins and in others enhancing the heterogeneity of entrepreneurial activities. Over time, these developments encourage co-specialization between local new ventures and MNEs. Our analyses highlight key sources of heterogeneity in types of new firms that might emerge in a local ecosystem and how they might develop over time as a result of MNEs’ entry, creating wealth.

Environmental and economic opportunities of applications of different types and application methods of chemical fertilizer in rice paddy

Mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG: Methane and nitrous oxide) emission from the rice cropland vis-a-vis increasing rice yield is one of the important challenges to the food security and climate change research. N-fertilizer input to the crop land is the key to rice productivity and GHG emission from soil. The sustainability of different types and application methods of N-fertilizers in rice cropland was studies based on the net annual C-equivalent GHG emission (CE) and total financial profit to the farmers’. The study was conducted in a low lying experimental rice field of eastern India during two consecutive years. The experiment was laid down with five replicates of the following treatments: (1) control (no N-fertilizer); (2) broadcasting ammonium sulphate (AS); (3) prilled urea (PU) and (4) deep placement of urea briquette (UB). Compared to other treatments, significantly higher GHG emission and grain yield (5–20% higher over other fertilizer applied plots) were recorded from the PU and UB applied plots respectively. Net CE was calculated using the GHG emission and secondary CE of different processes used in each treatment. The net CE followed the order: PU > UB > Control > AS. The ratio of total grain-C to net CE was significantly higher from the AS (15–51%) and UB (8–34%) plots compared to the PU applied plots. Net financial benefit ($ ha−1) to the farmers’ followed the order: UB > AS > Control > PU. Study indicates that UB may be a climatically sustainable mitigation option in the tropical rice paddy.

An Assessment of Sustainability of Bulgarian Farms

The New Institutional and Transaction Costs Economics framework is incorporated to transitional Bulgarian agriculture, and level of sustainability of dominating subsistent farming, production cooperatives, small-scare commercial farms, and large agro-firms assessed. New framework for assessing sustainability of farms and for governing of sustainable development is suggested taking into account: role of specific institutional environment, comparative efficiency of various market, private, public and hybrid governing modes, transaction costs and critical factors (frequency, uncertainty, asset specificity, and appropriability) of farm transactions. Analysis of sustainability of different types of Bulgarian farms is made, and further domination of subsistence farming, cooperatives, large agro-firms, and some part of small commercial farms projected.

An integrated Multi-Regional Input-Output (MRIO) Analysis of miscanthus biomass production in France: Socio-economic and climate change consequences

Several European policies have been designed over the last decades to address the challenge of climate change and several measures have been put in place to accelerate the development and deployment of cost-effective low carbon technologies. The domestic nature of the resource and its great potential availability in Europe make biomass conversion technologies relevant mitigation options to be considered. In this context, the project “Logistics for Energy Crops Biomass (LogistEC)” aims to develop new or improve technologies of biomass logistics chain. In this project, the sustainability of different types of biomass is analysed in terms of environmental, economic and social impacts, based on the supply chain of two existing plants. The objective of this paper is to present the main results obtained in the socio-economic analysis of the French case and its climate change consequences. The Input-Output Analysis (IOA) has been seen as the most appropriate method to estimate these impacts using a Multiregional Input-Output Table from the World Input-Output Database project. Socio-economic effects have been estimated in terms of additional economic activity, added value and job creation. By extending the IOA with environmental accounts, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have also been estimated. Additionally, the most stimulated sectors have been identified. Results highlight the importance of biomass at a national level.

Is Unrestricted Immigration Compatible with Inclusive Welfare States? The (Un)Sustainability of EU Exceptionalism

The current rules for “free movement” in the European Union (EU) facilitate unrestricted intra-EU labour mobility and equal access to national welfare states for EU workers. Free movement is thus a case of “exceptionalism” in the view of longstanding theory and research which alleges the incompatibility between open borders and inclusive welfare states. The sustainability of this EU exceptionalism has recently been threatened by highly divisive debates between EU member states about the need to restrict some welfare benefits for EU workers. This paper develops a theory for why the current free movement rules might present particular challenges for certain EU member states. It focuses on the potential roles of three types of national institutions and social norms in determining national policy positions on free movement in the EU15 countries: national labour markets (especially their regulation and “flexibility”); welfare states (especially their “contributory basis”); and citizenship norms (with a focus on the “European-ness” of national identities). I show that these institutions and norms vary considerably across member states and explain why we can expect these differences to contribute to variations in the scale and effects of EU labour immigration, and to divergent national policy preferences for reforming free movement. Although focused on intra-EU labour mobility, the paper contributes to broader research and debates about institutional variations across EU member states, the potential tensions between national institutions/norms and common EU regulations, and the implications for the design and sustainability of different types of EU policies on migration and mobility.

Subsidiary power in multinational corporations: the subtle role of micro‐political bargaining power

PurposeAs subsidiary power has received relatively little attention in existing research, this paper aims to enhance the understanding of genuine sources of subsidiary power and how they work in headquarters‐subsidiary relationships.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on a review of the relevant literature and four illustrative case studies, which are written on the basis of secondary sources. Each case was selected because it adequately represents a particular type of power. This allows for cross‐case comparisons of the strengths and sustainability of different types of power, and facilitates the exploration of the application of subsidiary power in headquarters‐subsidiary relationships.FindingsFour genuine types of subsidiary power are identified. One of these – micro‐political bargaining power – plays a subtle but crucial role, as it is important in the enactment of the three other types of power, i.e. systemic, resource‐dependency, and institutional.Practical implicationsAs headquarters have unlimited access to formal power, subsidiaries find it necessary to constantly apply micro‐political bargaining power. The empirical material suggests that the effectiveness of micro‐political bargaining power for subsidiary actors is based on two factors: information retrieval from headquarters and the leveraging of such information in issue‐selling or conflict‐handling processes.Originality/valueThe paper contributes by theoretically delineating genuine types of subsidiary power and by illustrating the strength, sustainability and interaction of these types of power in headquarters‐subsidiary relationships.

Technology and the notion of sustainability

Some of the difficulties connected with the concept of sustainable development can be resolved if we distinguish between sustainability of different types of assets, in particular between those that pertain to technological uses and those that do not. A weak concept of sustainability is appropriate for the former and a strong concept for the latter. Furthermore, time discounting is appropriate (in the relatively short run) for the former but not for the latter. It is concluded that instead of choosing between weak and strong sustainability, the two notions should be included in the same analysis, since they are needed to account for different kinds of assets.

Using the concept of yield to assess the sustainability of different tourist types

Sustainability assessments have become important tools for decision makers. This research assesses the sustainability of different types of tourists in New Zealand by using the concept of yield and by developing yield indicators in the areas of financial, public sector and sustainable yield. The concept and indicators have been developed in cooperation with the New Zealand tourism sector and therefore provide a sector-driven approach to implement a sustainability assessment. The analysis shows that there are numerous ‘trade-offs’ between indicators when attempting to define the ‘ideal visitor type’. Coach tourists, for example, are the largest spenders and generate the greatest Value Added in tourism on a per-day basis, but they contribute less to the financial sustainability of tourism when the costs of capital are accounted for. Coach tourists are highly concentrated in a few key destinations and at the same time produce substantial amounts of CO 2 emissions due to their air travel component. In contrast, backpacker and camping tourists provide greater financial yield and are more dispersed, but they are also the greatest user of publicly provided tourist attractions and therefore come at a higher cost to government than other tourist types. Camping tourists are also contributing considerably to CO 2 emissions. The yield analysis proposed in this paper could be a valuable tool for complex policy decision making and identifying strategies that lead to high-yield tourism.

Does Time-Inconsistency Really Matter?

This paper considers the optimal policy design problem for an econometric model with forward-looking agents. It suggests a new approach to the question of how policymakers should react to new information. This is seen to have implications for the question of whether time-inconsistency is a practically important constraint on the policy design process.It is well established that the fully optimal control strategy in a deterministic environment will be time-inconsistent in the absence of full credibility of policymakers. This optimal strategy will comprise a feedback rule on the state variables of the model plus a feedforward term on future information. Moreover, in the face of additive stochastic errors, the fully optimal strategy will be certainty-equivalent when the problem is linear-quadratic. In practice, however, models are not linear, uncertainty does not conform to these error processes and most importantly, the information set available to policymakers is continually changing. Thus, in the face of evolving expectations about model specification and the future behaviour of exogenous variables, there will always be two separate incentives for policymakers to re-optimise; one on the usual time-inconsistency grounds, the other on the basis of new information.This paper demonstrates how policymakers might implement a policy which assimilates this new information in an optimal manner without reneging or losing credibility in the usual sense. Importantly, this does not require policymakers to announce, ex ante, their future reaction to all possible contingencies nor does it require pre-commitment to a sub-optimal feedback law. The paper concludes, first that previous work on the sustainability of different types of policy rules has been flawed because it has confused these two different incentives to renege, and second that in the face of the typical shocks which do impinge on the economy, the gains to be had from re-optimisation may be dominated by those arising from the reaction to new information, rather than through the exploitation of the time inconsistency property.