Sustainable Transformation Research Articles

Spatial compartmentalisation effects for multifunctionality catalysis: From dual sites to cascade reactions

Catalysis plays a key role in the production of fuels, industrial chemicals and the chemical transformation of fine chemicals. As society faces increasing environmental pollution and energy crises, tandem catalysis has attracted increasing attention as an outstanding model due to its sustainability and environmental friendliness. Compared with traditional stepwise synthesis methods, tandem catalysis not only can couple several different reactions together, but also does not require the separation of intermediates, which provides new ideas for improving reaction activity, regulating product selectivity and developing new methods for catalysis. In order to catalyse cascade reactions efficiently, it is crucial to design suitable multifunctional catalysts, which should contain at least two active sites and achieve spatial separation. Here, we introduce the realisation and application of spatial segregation of metal, acidic and basic sites with examples to provide further insight into the indispensable role of active site compartmentalisation effects in tandem catalysis. In addition, this study highlights the challenges and issues associated with such catalysts, emphasising the importance of effective catalyst enhancement and environmentally sustainable catalytic transformations. The results of the study are intended to provide guidance for the development of rational and efficient catalysts.

Polydopamine-Modified Magnetic Nanoparticles (Fe3O4@PDA) for the Copper-Catalyzed Ipso-Hydroxylation of Arylboronic Acids and Subsequent O-Benzylation in Aqueous Media

Abstract: A novel advancement has emerged in the realm of catalysis with the development of an innovative method for the ipso-hydroxylation of arylboronic acids. This approach harnessed the power of bio-compatible polydopamine-coated magnetite support (Fe3O4@PDA) in conjunction with a copper salt, forming a heterogeneous catalytic environment. The resulting catalytic system facilitated oxidative hydroxylation under mild aerobic conditions at room temperature in aqueous conditions. This environmentally friendly process allowed for the seamless conversion of diverse arylboronic acids featuring varying electron-withdrawing or electron-donating groups into the corresponding phenols, achieving remarkably high yields. Notably, the versatility of the catalytic system extended to a one-pot tandem O-benzylation of the resultant phenolic intermediates. The additional dimension of the process underscores its efficiency, offering a streamlined route to synthesizing benzyl phenyl ethers with a commendable level of success. The significance of the present catalytic methodology lies not only in its efficacy but also in its eco-friendly attributes, showcasing the potential for sustainable and efficient transformations in organic synthesis.

Solar-assisted old dwellings renovation: Thermal-economical study and typical application in China

With the continuous development of urbanization in our country, the contradiction between the protection of traditional village heritage architecture and the development of modern urban lifestyle is becoming increasingly prominent. With the introduction of China's rural revitalization strategy, improving the rural living environment, promoting sustainable development, utilizing renewable energy for power supply, and achieving low-carbon architecture have become particularly important. This article investigates the relationship between solar energy system and site layout in illustrative historic buildings, and uses thermal-economic methods for feasibility analysis of such old building retrofitting program toward nearly zero energy construction. The preliminary results indicate that integrating solar panel roof with old building body for renewable energy exploitation can achieve good economic benefits while reducing carbon dioxide emissions. This work provides reference insights into the sustainable transformation of traditional rural heritage conservation buildings in our country and proposes feasible solutions to reconcile the contradiction between the preservation of traditional architectural heritage and sustainable modernization demands.

Sustainable transformation: Unlocking energy positivity in municipal wastewater treatment through innovative advanced primary treatment configurations for maximum solids separation

Motivated by the growing need for sustainable wastewater management and environmentally friendly solutions for wastewater treatment in the future, the current study explored all possible configurations for advanced primary treatment (APT) on a long-term assessment, encompassing extensive lab and pilot-scale studies for removing particulate organic carbon (POC) in municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This study primarily aimed to have a comprehensive insight into various APT configurations for municipal wastewater treatment. The physical-APT method employed a microsieve (MS) with an adjustable drum to 20 and 100 µm mesh. The flocculation process was integrated with one or two consecutive sedimentation tanks to simulate the chemical-APT method. Lastly, the chemical-physical-APT (ChPh-APT) approach was emulated by combining the flocculation process with the MS technique. Considering the best-case scenario to remove utmost POC, the results illuminated a substantial potential for biogas production enhancement by around 85 % (from 1.3 to 2.4 g (cap. d)-1 converted chemical oxygen demand (COD) to biogas) through ChPh-APT configuration. Furthermore, estimations showed that maximum POC removal can significantly reduce energy demand from 42 to 28 kWh (cap. a)-1 while simultaneously increasing green electricity generation from 11 to 33 kWh (cap. a)-1. This transformation will eliminate dependency on external energy sources and significantly increase by-product generation like volatile fatty acids (VFA), Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), and hydrogen (H2) in the concept of a biorefinery. The possible increase in the production of H2 can be from roughly 32 to 58 L (cap. d)-1, PHA recovery from 1.3 to 2.4 g (cap. d)-1, and VFAs from about 12 to 22 g (cap. d)-1. Consequently, this transformation will enhance the efficiency of municipal WWTPs and turn them into energy-positive, sustainable, and resource-recovery entities.

THE ROLE OF AGILE PROJECT MANAGEMENT IN DRIVING INNOVATION IN ENERGY-EFFICIENT HVAC SOLUTIONS

This review delves into the significance of Agile Project Management (APM) in fostering innovation within the realm of energy-efficient Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) solutions. As the global focus intensifies on sustainability and energy conservation, the HVAC industry stands at the forefront of addressing environmental challenges through innovative technologies. Agile methodologies, originally developed for software development, have transcended their conventional domains to revolutionize project management across various industries. This review explores how the application of Agile principles can catalyze innovation in energy-efficient HVAC solutions. Firstly, it delineates the core tenets of Agile Project Management, emphasizing iterative development, adaptive planning, and customer collaboration. By prioritizing flexibility and responsiveness to change, Agile methodologies empower HVAC project teams to swiftly adapt to evolving customer needs and technological advancements. This agility is particularly crucial in the HVAC sector, where rapid technological innovations necessitate quick iterations and constant feedback loops to refine energy-efficient solutions. Furthermore, the review elucidates how Agile frameworks such as Scrum and Kanban facilitate cross-functional collaboration and enhance communication within HVAC project teams. By fostering a collaborative environment that encourages transparency and knowledge sharing, Agile methodologies cultivate a culture of innovation wherein team members can experiment with novel ideas and swiftly pivot based on market feedback. Moreover, this review underscores the role of Agile Project Management in mitigating risks associated with innovation in energy-efficient HVAC solutions. Through frequent iterations and incremental delivery, Agile methodologies enable HVAC project teams to identify potential bottlenecks and address them proactively, thereby reducing project risks and enhancing overall project success rates. This review highlights the transformative potential of Agile Project Management in driving innovation within the energy-efficient HVAC industry. By embracing Agile methodologies, HVAC project teams can navigate the complexities of innovation more effectively, accelerate time-to-market for energy-efficient solutions, and ultimately contribute to the sustainable transformation of the HVAC sector.
 Keywords: Agile, Project Management, Innovation, Energy-Efficient, HVAC, Review.

Selective hydrodeoxygenation of α, β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds to alkenes

Achieving selective hydrodeoxygenation of α, β-unsaturated carbonyl groups to alkenes poses a substantial challenge due to the presence of multiple functional groups. In this study, we develop a ZnNC-X catalyst (X represents the calcination temperature) that incorporates both Lewis acidic-basic sites and Zn-Nx sites to address this challenge. Among the catalyst variants, ZnNC-900 catalyst exhibits impressive selectivity for alkenes in the hydrodeoxygenation of α, β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, achieving up to 94.8% selectivity. Through comprehensive mechanism investigations and catalyst characterization, we identify the Lewis acidic-basic sites as responsible for the selective hydrogenation of C=O bonds, while the Zn-Nx sites facilitate the subsequent selective hydrodeoxygenation step. Furthermore, ZnNC-900 catalyst displays broad applicability across a diverse range of unsaturated carbonyl compounds. These findings not only offer valuable insights into the design of effective catalysts for controlling alkene selectivity but also extend the scope of sustainable transformations in synthetic chemistry.

Breaking the institutional logic or going under - Controllers and sustainability

PurposeThe present paper aims to focus on the role which German controllers play so far in the process of sustainable transformation in for-profit organizations, the current obstacles to a wider engagement here and ways to overcome these obstacles.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis combines two qualitative study designs. Empirical data is generated via a job advertisement analysis and an explorative survey with 107 subjects from management accounting/controlling and sustainability management. The generated data is interpreted against the background of the theory of institutional logics and Abbott’s (1988) theory of professional jurisdiction.FindingsWe find that controllers are in a state of tension. On the one hand, the pressure to integrate sustainability into companies is increasing. On the other hand, they seem to be rather reluctant to get involved. The institutional logics that shape their profession play an important role here, as does an unclear relationship with the sustainability department, which has its own claims here. Based on these observations, we identify the core obstacles to the transformation of the controllers’ profession and discuss solutions which can guide the transformation of this profession.Originality/valueThe present paper provides insights from a unique combination of different quantitative study designs and different perspectives on the possible role that controllers can play in advancing sustainable transformation in companies.

Co-Creation in Sustainable Entrepreneurship Education: Lessons from Business–University Educational Partnerships

The world is facing numerous ecological challenges that require urgent attention. Interventions from policymakers and universities are becoming more frequent in order to facilitate the transition of society into a more sustainable world. This paper presents lessons learned from sustainable entrepreneurship education activities developed at the northernmost University of Applied Sciences in Europe that involved important business stakeholders in the local environment. The educational process aims to equip students with the skills necessary to develop new ideas and entrepreneurial projects that provide innovative solutions to pressing social and environmental challenges. It also promotes the sustainable transformation of local businesses and society through partnerships and collaborations. Two main questions guided the presentation of the case: How can students, professors, business managers/workers, and government officials collaborate to develop sustainable entrepreneurial ideas and what are the pros and cons of co-creating in the context of sustainable entrepreneurship education? The teaching–learning experience showed that addressing real, local business problems collaboratively and adopting the principles of the co-creation of knowledge can lead to sustainable solutions and experiential learning and contribute to transforming societies towards sustainability. The lessons learned can illuminate future adaptations and applications in other universities.

Circular Economy Integration in the Indian FMCG Supply Chain: Unveiling Strategic Hurdles and Pathways to Sustainable Transformation

Circular Economy Integration in the Indian FMCG Supply Chain: Unveiling Strategic Hurdles and Pathways to Sustainable Transformation

A Tale of Two Divvys: The Bicycle Sharing System of Chicago

How did Chicago develop one of the largest and most successful Bicycle Sharing Systems in a very short time, what benefits does this system afford to the city and its residents, and what developments threaten this success? Urban areas benefit significantly and in a variety of ways from micromobility, which contributes to an urgently needed sustainability transformation. In this qualitative, exploratory case study, we examine the foundations of the success and types of benefits of the second largest bicycle sharing system in North America, the City of Chicago’s Divvy. We juxtapose our data, which consists of participant and non-participant observations, fieldwork, interviews, documents, and social media posts, with a typology gleaned from the academic literature on bicycle sharing systems to explore Divvy’s wide-ranging positive impact. This typology includes economic, environmental, health and safety, and quality of life benefits. In addition, we identify two further benefits from our data: modularity and zoetic capacity. Despite this impact, we show how the consequences of changes in the ownership structure since 2018 are threatening the success and benefits. The emerging service model is no longer based on the initial pillars of its success: the city’s policy and vision for Divvy, the funding and ownership structure, and the strategic deployment of bicycle stations to balance demand potential with locational equity. Based on our study, we conclude that it is unlikely that the new micromobility system, refocused on more profitable e-bike and e-scooter rentals in privileged neighborhoods, is viable in the long term because it is abandoning the core values that embedded Divvy into the fabric of the city. Worse, the emergent model may actually contribute to a systematic exclusion of poorer neighborhoods and less privileged residents of Chicago.

Enzyme-Assisted Circular Additive Manufacturing as an Enabling Technology for a Circular Bioeconomy—A Conceptual Review

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a decisive element in the sustainable transformation of technologies. And yet its inherent potential has not been fully utilized. In particular, the use of biological materials represents a comparatively new dimension that is still in the early stages of deployment. In order to be considered sustainable and contribute to the circular economy, various challenges need to be overcome. Here, the literature focusing on sustainable, circular approaches is reviewed. It appears that existing processes are not yet capable of being used as circular economy technologies as they are neither able to process residual and waste materials, nor are the produced products easily biodegradable. Enzymatic approaches, however, appear promising. Based on this, a novel concept called enzyme-assisted circular additive manufacturing was developed. Various process combinations using enzymes along the process chain, starting with the preparation of side streams, through the functionalization of biopolymers to the actual printing process and post-processing, are outlined. Future aspects are discussed, stressing the necessity for AM processes to minimize or avoid the use of chemicals such as solvents or binding agents, the need to save energy through lower process temperatures and thereby reduce CO2 consumption, and the necessity for complete biodegradability of the materials used.

Role of self-efficacy, knowledge sharing, mediated adaptability and external environment change as moderators of readiness for change

It is vital for higher education to improve its ability to anticipate and implement long-lasting change. Private higher education institutions are currently facing challenges in governance that hinder their ability to upgrade their accreditation grade to "excellent ". The involvement of institutional management is a key factor in enabling these institutions to compete on a national and international level. Research methodology uses confirmatory factor analysis to test the hypotheses developed while structural equation modeling is employed as the equation model. The sample population comprised 16 private tertiary institutions in South Sumatra, Indonesia. The study focused on the heads of study programs resulting in a total of 195 respondents. The results indicated that self-efficacy and knowledge sharing did not have a direct impact on readiness for change whereas adaptability exhibited a direct influence. The study demonstrated that adaptability acts as a mediator between self-efficacy and knowledge sharing towards readiness for change. The final model test results confirmed adaptability as a mediating variable. Additionally, the study revealed that external environmental change did not moderate the relationship between adaptability and readiness for change. Changes of a high calibre that promote a sustained digital education transformation are necessary due to the real-world effects on Indonesia's higher education system. The ability to adapt and embrace new technology is very important factors for higher education performance to face readiness for change in private higher education, especially in management units.

Sustainable transformations for healthcare systems in a changing climate

Sustainable transformations for healthcare systems in a changing climate

Mengungkap Kekuatan Transformasi melalui Rasionalitas serta Kritisisme

The essay deals with the power of transformation through rationality and criticism (Max Horkheimer's Dialectical Analysis of the Enlightenment). It is a review article that discusses the main topic using a literature study. According to the Dialectics of Enlightenment, Horkheimer and Adorno's critical theory aims to bring about a critical consciousness. It leads to Aufklärung or Enlightenment. Horkheimer and Adorno critically observed that technological and scientific developments do not always create freedom. Instead, technology is often used as a tool of control and domination. Faced with these challenges, Horkheimer emphasized the importance of continuous criticism of social and cultural conditions. Criticism is considered a tool for exposing injustices and gaps that emerged amid the enlightenment. For Horkheimer, critical thinking is not just intellectual analysis, but rather a means of freeing humans from the shackles and alienation produced by false enlightenment. By understanding the dialectic of enlightenment, we can more wisely manage developments over time to achieve positive and sustainable transformation.

Exploring Solar Energy Integration in Ugandan Health Centers: Evaluating the Implementation of Heliophotovoltaic Solutions for Rural Healthcare

This study presents a comprehensive examination of the impact of integrating solar energy into healthcare delivery in rural Uganda. Utilizing an extensive equation encompassing factors such as cost savings, operational efficiency, healthcare outcomes, and environmental impact, the research uncovers a holistic benefit of sustainable energy adoption into Uganda Health Centers. Key findings suggest that beyond serving as a reliable and sustainable power source, solar energy integration has the potential to revolutionize rural healthcare. The equation reveals promising outcomes, including redirected resources for critical healthcare needs, improved operational efficiency, and positive healthcare outcomes. The environmental benefits, coupled with the scalability of solar models, emphasize a sustainable future for rural healthcare. The study concludes with a compelling call to action, urging stakeholders to collaborate in swift implementation, policy development, and research initiatives. Recommendations include targeted policies, funding for solar infrastructure, and ongoing research into region-specific considerations. This work serves as a reagent for a sustainable transformation in healthcare delivery, advocating for a brighter and healthier future for underserved communities in Uganda and other countries with similar challenges. Keywords: Solar Energy Integration, Rural Healthcare, Cost Savings, Operational Efficiency, Sustainable Transformation

Co-designing grounded visualisations of the Food-Water-Energy nexus to enable urban sustainability transformations

In the past few years, the Food-Water-Energy (FWE) Nexus has emerged as a key concept to address the complex relationships and interdependencies between food, water, and energy systems. Cities are an important context for understanding the FWE nexus given their significant footprints and complex socio-ecological systems, but researchers have only recently started to explore an explicit urban perspective on food, water, and energy interrelationships. This paper tackles a particularly significant knowledge gap in this context by introducing an approach to co-design visualisations of the FWE nexus that are understandable and actionable for the various stakeholders involved in urban governance such as citizens, communities, governments, non-governmental and private-sector organisations. Drawing on user-centred design and inspired by the dialogic pedagogy of Paulo Freire, we present and evaluate the co-design process of a FWE nexus visualisation tool for stakeholders engaged with pre-school education in Słupsk, Poland. Our results provide evidence that this co-design process has been effective to developing a new critical consciousness in the participants about how their everyday choices are related to the FWE nexus, enabling them to change perspectives, leading to more sustainable choices. We propose that our co-design process can be used to develop 'grounded visualisations' of the FWE nexus, i.e., visualisations that are grounded in the experiential situations and lived realities of stakeholders, thus offering an effective support for decision-making that could open pathways to sustainability transformations.

Influence of TiO2 phases and functional groups on photocatalytic reduction of nitroaromatics

Photocatalytic organic transformations have emerged as environmentally sustainable alternatives to traditional synthesis routes. This study delves into the intricacies of photocatalytic reduction of nitroaromatics using bare TiO2 materials, shedding light on critical factors that govern this green and sustainable transformation. Our systems reveal very promising conversion and selectivity levels, consistently exceeding 90% across 13 diverse nitroaromatic substrates. The position and nature of functionalities (e.g., electron withdrawing/donating groups) within the nitroaromatic molecule, as well as the crystal phase of TiO2 (anatase/rutile), emerged as crucial determinants of reaction efficiency. Furthermore, the pivotal role of methanol in this system is highlighted, not only facilitating efficient hole scavenging and byproduct prevention but also multiplying reduction efficiency. This work emphasizes the significance of careful solvent selection, crystal phase optimization, and the role of functional groups as the so-called external factors in optimizing photocatalytic reactions for sustainable and environmentally friendly synthesis.

Resisting sustainable development: an analysis of young people’s online discussions

ABSTRACT Society is currently facing and experiencing a fundamental environmental and social climate-related crisis. Despite this, many groups in society are either opposed to or sceptical about various sustainability reforms, research on the climate crisis and other environmental issues. This article aims to clarify the underlying logic of how and why some young people express resistance, and how habits, values and identity contribute to negative emotions and doubts about sustainable development, climate change and the current environmental crisis. The analysed data originates from an internet forum where young people can discuss political matters. First, through a qualitative inductive content analysis, four tensions were identified that either led to or were manifested as resistance. Second, a deductive content analysis was conducted based on Bourdieu’s forms of capital. The results show that resistance was often manifested as a defence of economic advantage and a fear of losing or experiencing a low cultural or social capital in the process of sustainability. Due to these fears other groups, such as women, immigrants and urban populations, were blamed by those who saw themselves as disadvantaged in a sustainable transformation.

Inertia load reduction for loadoff during floating offshore wind turbine installation: Release decision and ballast control

High offshore installation costs are a significant factor limiting the competitiveness of offshore wind energy. One efficient installation approach for floating offshore wind turbines is to preassemble the tower, nacelle, and rotor onshore and perform a single lifting operation to mate the superstructure with the floating foundation at the installation site. It is heavy lifting, due to the weighty payload. At the end of the mating process, a loadoff operation is conducted to transfer the preassembly to the floating foundation. It results in a sudden change in total force acting on the vessel and causes substantial acceleration and potential damage to the mechanism in the onboard nacelles. The magnitude of acceleration of the onboard nacelles can vary greatly at different release instants. In this research, a simplified two-degrees-of-freedom (DOF) (heave and pitch) model is also proposed to account for the heavy lifting process and variable ballast tanks. The sudden payload transfer is approximated using a hyperbolic tangent function to guarantee continuity and differentiability. The loadoff operation consists of the decision-making and vessel-stabilizing phases. Based on the nonlinear model predictive control method, a payload-transfer time selector and anti-pitch ballast controller have been developed to achieve optimal release time decisions and stabilize the vessel after payload release, respectively. Six-DOF simulation results show that the proposed algorithms are capable to a satisfying level of robustness of deciding the optimal payload release time instant, as well as limiting the peak and mean acceleration magnitudes of the onboard nacelles after payload release. The decision-making and control strategies may promote the sustainable energy transformation by extending the operation window and reduce the installation costs.

Just Pathways to Sustainability: From Environmental Human Rights Defenders to Biosphere Defenders

People form part of the biosphere - the biosphere being the whole intertwined network of life on Earth. While there is convergence on the need for societal change for just sustainability and a healthy biosphere, the pathways to achieve these transformations remain relatively unclear. Through legal interpretation, conceptual and thematic analysis of academic and grey literature, we seek to answer the following two questions: (a) how does the concept of Biosphere Defender enable a deeper and distinct understanding of who environmental defenders are and their role in just sustainability transformations? and (b) how does international human rights law contribute to specify the content of biosphere defenders’ rights? To address these questions, we first critically review the scope and limitations of the notion of Environmental Human Rights Defenders (EHRD) in human rights narratives in international law and policy. We examine how understandings of EHRD portray those defending their land and environment and what limitations this concept has in terms of possibilities for reflecting on transformations towards just sustainability. Second, we propose an alternative and/or complementary understanding of EHRD by using the concept of Biosphere Defenders. We also develop the Defend-Biosphere Framework to analyse the role of these actors as agents of change in pathways towards just sustainability. Third, to empirically illustrate the role of Biosphere Defenders, and the use of the Defend-Biosphere Framework we present two case studies from Latin America analyzing initiatives catalyzed by rural people who are defending their lands and territories while generating new ways to relate to socio-ecological systems and engage with the State and the economy. In both case studies, we find that relational values of solidarity, responsibility, and care (between human and other living beings) are central in understanding Biosphere Defenders’ initiatives creating pathways towards just sustainability. The findings of this article are of particular relevance to the implementation of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment in the context of the Escazu Agreement on access to information, public participation and access to justice in environmental matters in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Aarhus Convention on access to information, public participation and access to justice in environmental matters and the Montreal-Kunming Global Biodiversity Framework in particular Target 22 (access to information, participation, access to justice and environmental defenders) and Target 23 (gender equality).