Sustainability Perspective Research Articles

Levels and Performance Indicators of Business Under an Integral Theoretical Perspective Oriented Toward SDG

Objective: The sustainable development goals require companies to rethink the way in which economic and social value is created. This article aims to propose an alternative approach to studying business performance from an inclusive and sustainable perspective. Theoretical Framework: The contributions of organizational development theory are employed, and based on its principles, business performance, its levels, and indicators are characterized. Method: Documentary research was conducted, taking as a starting point the units of analysis proposed by organizational development theory. Results and Discussion: Variables associated with the organizational levels declared by organizational development theory were identified, and the benefits they bring to comprehensive business performance are supported. Research Implications: Business performance is characterized and classified based on the three levels of an organizational system: the individual level (personnel performance), the group and environment level (group performance), and the organizational level (organizational performance). Originality/Value: The literature is ambiguous when it comes to defining and measuring business performance. In many cases, the sole focus is financial performance. This paper highlights the need to broaden the framework for studying business performance and decent work by revaluing the role of individuals in achieving business organizational goals through work.

A Comprehensive Review and Mapping Citrus Supply Chains from a Sustainability Perspective across the European Union, Middle East, and Africa

A Comprehensive Review and Mapping Citrus Supply Chains from a Sustainability Perspective across the European Union, Middle East, and Africa

Current Understanding, Motivations, and Barriers Towards Implementing Sustainable Initiatives in the Hospitality Industry in the Age of Automation and Artificial Intelligence

Background:: Sustainability concerns are rapidly being acknowledged as a key concern for hospitality sectors worldwide. Sustainable initiatives immediately contribute to improved organizational performance in terms of utility consumption, waste management, and regulatory compliance, resulting in cost-effectiveness and competitive advantage through distinctiveness. Objective:: The purpose of the study is to analyze and summarize the motivations, indicators, and barriers towards applications of sustainable initiatives and modern technologies in the hospitality industry using the existing literature to develop a current understanding of the subject and know the way the current industry is thinking about it. Method:: This study is a combination of systematic and bibliometric review, where the systematic review was based on selected articles from reputed journal databases, and the bibliometric review was conducted using VOS viewer and web of science database for a period of 20 years (2002- 2022) Seven research questions were framed and answered for the systematic review. Result:: By describing the motivations, barriers, and impacts of implementing sustainability initiatives and cutting-edge technologies like AI and machine learning in the hospitality sector, the study helps practitioners and academics understand its present state for robust research. The current condition of such implantations in the hospitality sector is also discussed. Conclusion:: This study adds value by shedding light on the perspective of sustainability in the hospitality industry by considering the recommendations and practical advice for hotel management suggested in the existing literature about the application of current sustainability innovations and effective sustainability initiatives in hotel management.

Wastewater treatment plants circular performance models evaluation: Portugal case-study

Population growth, economic growth, and changes in societal habits have led to significant changes in resource consumption. Therefore, it's crucial to accelerate the “reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover” of resources to ensure the balance of ecosystems, and water is surely one of the most fundamental resources. The acceleration of this approach in the water cycle makes sense only if we combine a circular economy (CE) transition with a sustainable perspective. In this context, more rational usage of water resources (which are under pressure) and more sustainable wastewater practices are expected to be a way towards the CE in the water and wastewater sector. This study provides a description and evaluation of existing frameworks that can be used to measure and assess the level of circularity of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The treatment of urban wastewater requires new concepts of management and operation for the adaptation of existing plants, which lack robustness and flexibility, to face these new challenges and requirements because we can no longer continue to look at the WWTP only as treatment units, but as wastewater resource recovery facilities. This transformation must be transposed according to a matrix that allows the assessment to describe the current situation, analyse the problem, identify vulnerabilities and opportunities, identify, and evaluate measures, and identify and evaluate strategies. Considering that decision-makers face profound uncertainties such as climate change, population growth, population needs, innovative technologies, economic developments, ecosystem preservation and the impacts of human and natural activities.

Exploring the Sustainability Performance of Circular Business Models in the Built Environment

Abstract The Circular Economy (CE) emerged in the last decade as an imperative path to transition towards more sustainable practices and go beyond carbon neutrality. Applying CE principle in the built environment has been investigated and recent research advocated for positive impacts if the sector embraces the paradigm shift and moves away from linear towards more circularity. Similarly, the literature regarding Circular Business Models (CBMs) has witnessed substantial growth as the latter holds the promise of providing a blueprint on how to make a financial profit while applying CE principles. Nonetheless, a gap remains in understanding the actual impact of CBMs in the built environment from a sustainability perspective. This paper will explore current literature regarding the environmental, economic, and social impacts of CBMs in the built environment to address this gap and provide a clearer understanding of the dynamics of circularity and sustainability. This exploratory research will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of CBMs in fostering sustainability within the built environment.

The perspective of environmental sustainability from Finnish consumers viewpoint on eco-friendliness and corporate governance

The perspective of environmental sustainability from Finnish consumers viewpoint on eco-friendliness and corporate governance

Impact Quality Indicators onto Sustainable Manufacturing

This paper dealt study effect quality indicators of crushing Limestone process in quarries onto Sustainable Manufacturing. Sustainable Environment was achieving through minimizing quality indicators which were use resources and lead time during crushing of limestone in position. Non-value added time and use resources are studied in this paper. This paper aims to show impact key performance indicators of quality which were production efficiency, efficiency of manufacturing cycle and efficiency of use resources onto Operational and environmental sustainability in order to reduce environmental and operational impacts onto environment and human health. Crushing Limestone process had been employing on one year as a case study to evaluate operational and environmental sustainability of an Iraqi industry. Program of Minitab-Version 17 was employed to analyze information of production process. Results illustrated that the rate of efficiency of utilized resources and waste of resources on one year were 95% and 5%. Conclusions shown lead time was an important performance measure of quality from sustainable Manufacturing perspective.

Numerical investigation on machining of additively manufactured CFRP composite with different build orientations and layer widths

Additive manufacturing (AM) is now a widely researched manufacturing technology in the past two decades to adopt in industry for its added advantage of customization and adopting complex geometries with comparatively low buy-to-fly ratio. Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite has found applications in different high-performance industries for its greatest benefit of high strength-to-weight ratio. Additive manufacturing of CFRP composite (AM-CFRP) opens up the possibility of enhancing mechanical strength using different printing orientations and enables producing complex shapes maintaining sustainable manufacturing perspective. However, Limitation of AM parts of having surface irregularities and questionable dimensional accuracies. To use AM-CFRP parts in high precision assembly or industrial applications, post processing machining is often required to meet the customers’ specification of geometrical tolerances and acceptable surface finish. In this study, the influence of AM parameters on machinability of AM-CFRP composite has been evaluated using finite element analysis (FEA) based numerical simulation. The slot milling operation was simulated with a tungsten carbide end milling tool and AM-CFRP workpiece with four different printing directions, i.e., 0°-90°, 45°-135°, 0°-90°-45°-135°, two different layer widths, i.e., 50 µm and 100 µm, and two in-fill patterns, i.e., solid and perforated structures. The machinability of the 3D printed CFRP has been analyzed based on cutting forces, stress at first contact and maximum stress generation, and temperature increases at the interface during slot milling of AM-CFRP under different AM parameters. Evolution of failure mechanisms of AM-CFRPs under various machining conditions, such as, delamination, matrix rupture etc., have been discussed and chip and burr formation mechanisms have been analyzed. Finite Element analysis (FEA) package ABAQUS/Explicit was used to model 3D micro slot milling operation of AM-CFRP workpiece with appropriate damage and constitutive models, such as, damage initiation, progression and cohesion in adjacent passes and layers.

Balancing Sustainability and Strength: Analyzing the Effects of Textile, Tannery, and Water Treatment Sludge on Brick Performance

This study investigates the feasibility of incorporating various industrial waste materials, specifically textile sludge, tannery sludge, and water treatment plant sludge, in brick production as a sustainable construction practice. The research analyses the impact of varying sludge proportions on the compressive strength of fired clay bricks. Results indicate an inverse relationship between increasing sludge content and compressive strength across all types. Bricks incorporating higher proportions of textile sludge exhibited a linear decrease in compressive strength, ranging from 0.1 MPa to a low of 0.005 MPa. Similarly, increasing the ratio of tannery sludge to fly ash Class C and Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag within the brick mixture consistently corresponded with reduced compressive strength, with a 5:70:25 mix yielding 0.8 MPa and a 40:30:30 proportion resulting in 0.17 MPa. Water treatment plant sludge exhibited a similar trend. A mix proportion of 5:70:25 (sludge: fly ash class C: GGBS) yielded a compressive strength of 1.87 MPa while increasing the sludge proportion to 40:50:10 resulted in a lower compressive strength of 1.20 MPa. These findings underscore the importance of a balanced approach when incorporating industrial sledges in brick production. While beneficial from a sustainability perspective, the observed reduction in compressive strength, particularly compared to conventional clay bricks exceeding 2.5 MPa, necessitates careful consideration. Future research should focus on optimizing mix designs, incorporating performance-enhancing additives, or identifying applications where lower compressive strengths are acceptable to fully realize the potential of these waste materials in sustainable construction.

Analysis of Historical Park Image Perception Based on Online Reviews from a Sustainable Development Perspective

Analysis of Historical Park Image Perception Based on Online Reviews from a Sustainable Development Perspective

The effect of government investments on the environment: An empirical investigation of OECD countries

Sustainable development and climate change mitigation have become key priorities of economic policy. These priorities also remain relevant in the government investments. However, theoretical approaches indicate that government investments have both favourable and detrimental effects on environmental quality. Besides, the current literature has dealt with the impact of government expenditures in general. Based on this theoretical foundation and literature motivation this study addresses the impact of government investments on carbon emissions, in the case of 38 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. For this purpose, in the models estimated for 2 different indicators of carbon emission, besides the lagged carbon emissions, income level, industrial production, energy intensity and renewable energy variables, government investments were also included into the analysis as additional explanatory variable. Considering the dynamic nature of our model, we implemented the system generalized method of moments on panel data and the findings of all different estimates demonstrate that government investments increase environmental pollution. Furthermore, our findings indicate that the path dependence of carbon emissions is strong and point to the carbon-mitigating effect of income level and renewables, and the carbon-increasing effect of industrial production and energy intensity. Our results support the pro-market view on the environmental impact of government investments and point to environmental efficiency problems arising from the decision-making processes of government investments. Furthermore, our results are not in favor of the opinion that government investments are decided based on social costs and social benefits, including externalities, and therefore have a long-term sustainability perspective.

"Role Of Circular Economy Principles In Mitigating Plastic Waste “A Sustainable Development Perspective"

"Role Of Circular Economy Principles In Mitigating Plastic Waste “A Sustainable Development Perspective"

Alternative futures “in the making”: Insights from three makerspaces in peripheral Greece

The great environmental and social challenges of recent decades have questioned the hegemony of growth-oriented development and its objectives. Those critiques reexamined growth-based policies and strategies, leading to ‘alternative development’ pathways, the most prominent being sustainable development. Nevertheless, critical scholars have problematized those perceptions and practices, repoliticizing the question of development, connecting it with issues of social and environmental justice and supporting ‘alternatives to development’. Building on such perspectives, primarily the degrowth literature, this paper connects alternatives to development to the question of space, analyzing the practices of three makerspaces in peripheral Greece, as potentially alternative economic and political spaces. It explores how an alternative normative framework appears in these spaces; and illuminates practices connected to commons, care, and community as seeds for the emergence of holistically alternative futures. That way the study cherishes sustainability perspectives that problematize social and environmental justice and do not propose only technical solutions, but deep political transformations and normative shifts in the ‘here and now’.

Thermomechanical Assessment of Recovered PA12 Powders with Basalt Filler for Automotive Components

Additive manufacturing processes allow for precise and efficient production, but it is estimated that one-third of the materials used results in waste. Further improvement in a sustainable perspective could come from the ability to manage these scraps and from the exploration of different routes for recovery and reuse. The Selective Laser Sintering process is particularly sensitive to this issue due to the waste ratio which can reach a very high quantity of not-sintered virgin powders. In this research study, recovered PA12 powders, preliminarily characterized through thermal and mechanical analysis, were mixed with 15% basalt powder to improve their aspect and thermomechanical resistance. The influence of basalt powder (BP) on mechanical properties as well as on the thermal stability of polyamide12 (PA12) powder composites was investigated. A study conducted on mechanical properties showed that polymeric composites’ stiffness and hardness were influenced by adding filler, thus improving mechanical parameters. On the other hand, the application of thermogravimetric analysis allowed us to determine the composite’s thermal stability. The objective is to obtain a recovered fully biobased material that could be used to substitute the petroleum-derived polymeric ones currently employed in the production of interiors and shells in the automotive sector.

Two birds with one stone: Multifunctional controlled‐release formulations of pesticides

AbstractControlled release and nanotechnology techniques hold promising potential for propelling the pesticide industry toward the goals of green revolution. This study introduces the concept of atom economy into the multifunctionality of controlled‐release formulations (CRFs) of pesticides from both economic and sustainable perspectives. In addition to their core function of controlling the release of active ingredient, carriers also provide additional benefits, including enhanced foliar adhesion and pesticide translocation, nutritional function, synergistic bioactivity, safety for nontarget organisms, crop stress alleviation, reduced soil leaching, soil remediation, and fluorescence visualization. These additional functions are highlighted and taken seriously. Through ingenious excogitation, the multifunctional CRFs of pesticides can achieve multiple objectives, enhancing input efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts. We tentatively blazed a trail by reviewing the recent advances in multifunctional CRFs of pesticides from the perspective of green chemistry. Additionally, potential development and implementation barriers of CRFs were discussed, emphasizing the necessity for robust field trials and comprehensive systems‐level efficacy/biosafety evaluations to substantially boost the technical readiness and performance of multifunctional CRFs of pesticides. Our goal is to expand the multifunctional concept for pesticide formulations, thereby accelerating the development of global sustainable agrochemical products.

Integrated sustainability perspective and spillover effects of social, environment and economic pillars: A case study using SEY model

This study examines the integrated sustainability perspective by mapping the spillover effects among sustainable development pillars including social, environment, and economy. To this end, it estimates the sustainability elasticities between a developing country, Iran, and six global regions including 1- North America, 2- Latin America and Caribbean, 3- European Union, 4- Sub-Saharan Africa, 5- Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and 6- East Asia and Pacific. This estimation uses the SEY model, an econometric package involving simultaneous equations systems, Vector Autoregressive models (VAR), and Granger causality within 1971–2019. This research differs from the previous studies by exploring the sustainability spillovers not only spatially but also across various pillars of sustainable development. The results show that the pillars of sustainable development have significant and positive elasticities. This finding accepts the integrated sustainability perspective since the pillars of sustainable development indicate considerable and synergistic effects from both spatial and contextual outlooks. In this way, the findings support globalization, openness, and flow-based governance, consistent with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions) and 17 (Partnerships for the goals). Therefore, policymakers should strengthen the globalization and openness by establishing and promoting international agreements, global organizations, and inclusive frameworks not only in trade, finance, and economy but also in cultural, social, and political affairs.

A Comprehensive Benefit Evaluation of the Model of Salt-Tolerant Crops Irrigated by Mariculture Wastewater Based on a Field Plot Experiment

The intensified development of aquaculture and excessive use of agricultural fertilizers pose a threat to natural resource availability and deteriorate the environment. Utilizing aquaculture wastewater from mariculture for agricultural irrigation can mitigate pollution and alleviate the pressure on natural resources. This study investigated the comprehensive benefits of using freshwater and mariculture wastewater for irrigation, employing two concentration levels of mariculture wastewater in a pot experiment with saline-tolerant rice. Furthermore, we quantitively assessed the integrated benefits for farmland by utilizing an ecosystem service function value assessment and emergy value theory. The results indicate a significant enhancement in the growth and yield of saline-tolerant rice when irrigated with mariculture wastewater. Specifically, the theoretical yield increased by 9.01% relative to freshwater irrigation. Irrigation using aquaculture wastewater significantly enhanced the nutrient concentrations in the soil, including soil organic carbon (SOC), avail-K (AK), Olsen-P (OP), and alkali-N (AN). Additionally, the uptake of these nutrients by salt-tolerant crops during their late reproductive stage effectively mitigated the rise in soil salinity induced by the wastewater irrigation practice. Under experimental conditions, wastewater irrigation conferred superior ecological benefits compared with freshwater irrigation. The comprehensive benefits of wastewater irrigation, valued at 104,439.10 RMB/hm2, exceeded those of freshwater irrigation by 188.8%. The utilization of mariculture wastewater effectively enhances the coastal environment, augments crop yields, and diminishes treatment costs. From the perspectives of revenue enhancement, environmental compatibility, and sustainability, the model of utilizing salt-tolerant crops irrigated with mariculture wastewater holds substantial promotional and practical significance.

A review of radioactive waste processing and disposal from a life cycle environmental perspective

AbstractThe role of nuclear power in a more sustainable, ‘net zero’ energy sector is an important focal point of research. Given the large volume of existing legacy wastes and the future waste arisings that nuclear expansion would entail, attention is needed in the ‘back-end’ of the nuclear fuel cycle: processing (including treatment and conditioning) and disposal of radioactive waste. The range of waste processing techniques already in operation is broad and complex, and many novel technologies are under development. However, whilst prior work only focused on technology development and direct emissions, particularly in post-processing and disposal, a life cycle perspective is underutilised. This review analyses the landscape of life cycle assessment (LCA) within the nuclear sector, focusing on radioactive waste management, decommissioning and disposal. A literature search yielded 225 journal articles plus additional grey literature, yet only eight relevant LCAs were identified. Most studies identified adopted power generation as a functional unit and focused on nuclear power plants currently in operation. The major research gap identified in this review is the lack of holistic life cycle thinking surrounding radioactive waste management caused by poor granularity of published data related to waste treatment, conditioning and disposal, making strategic analysis challenging from the perspective of sustainability. Future LCA work should focus on technologies and processes in the back-end nuclear fuel cycle with considerable granularity to allow system ‘hotspots’ to be identified and strategic research and policy decisions to be taken. Efforts should also be made to incorporate recent developments in radiological impact assessment methodologies such as UCrad. Graphical abstract

A sustainable design approach of a mega hostel: a study based at NIT, Srinagar, Kashmir, India

ABSTRACT In a sustainable building design, energy, water and resource optimization are key considerations, along with minimizing impacts on the ecology and environment. In this case study, water-related issues are considered from a sustainability perspective. The main objective of this study is to provide a sustainable design for a mega-hostel at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar, with the aim of achieving an eco-friendly design which minimizes its dependence on external sources of energy. Rainwater harvesting, greywater reuse and the installation of a biogas plant are the three main techniques considered in this project. Rainfall data were collected and water demands for the mega-hostel and greywater produced by the mega-hostel were estimated. Potential rainwater harvesting, dimensions of a storage tank, first flush volume, discharges and dimensions of gutters have been calculated in this study. Greywater quantity has been calculated and a membrane bioreactor (MBR) to treat greywater is suggested, because it is space-optimized. Dimensions of a biogas plant and the quantity of gas released have also been estimated based on the amount of food waste generated by the mega-hostel.

Do ICT and green technology matter in sustainable development goals?

AbstractThe desire for development in developed and developing countries has caused difficulties in realizing environmental goals. For this reason, initiatives such as Sustainable Development Goals have been taken to balance economic growth and environmental goals. Recent research from a sustainable development perspective has shown that skilled human capital, green technology, and ICT play an essential role in the sustainable management of natural resources. In this context, the present study aims to reveal the impact of natural resource rent, economic complexity, human development, green technological innovation, and ICT on ecological footprint. It also focuses on the moderating role of green technological innovation and ICT in the relationship between natural resource rent and ecological footprint. The findings show that natural resources and ICT are the causes of environmental degradation in G7 countries, whereas economic complexity, human development, and green technological innovation improve environmental quality. It has also been discovered that ICT and green technological innovation have a moderating role in the natural resources of G7 countries. In E7 countries, natural resource rent and economic complexity increase environmental degradation, whereas human development, ICT, and green technological innovation contribute to environmental quality. Causality findings are similar in both country groups. The findings show that synergies between SDG‐4 and SDG‐13 in G7 and E7 countries can help achieve climate action sustainably and effectively. Moreover, achieving SDG 13 in E7 countries requires interactive policies to achieve SDG‐12 and SDG‐17. Achieving SDG‐8 and SDG‐17 targets in G7 countries can contribute to combating climate change.