Sustainable Actions Research Articles

Supplemental Material for Why Do I Act for the Environment? Socioeconomic Status Moderates the Relationship Between Climate Change Beliefs and Sustainable Actions

Supplemental Material for Why Do I Act for the Environment? Socioeconomic Status Moderates the Relationship Between Climate Change Beliefs and Sustainable Actions

Temporal Availability and Women Career Progression: Evidence from Cross-Time-Zone Acquisitions

This study investigates whether an increase in the demand for nonconventional work schedules helps explain the gender gap in career advancement. We look at employees of U.S. firms acquired between 2010 and 2014 and distinguish between same and different time-zone acquisitions. The idea is that time-zone differences between the headquarters and the newly acquired firm increase the demand for and value of working outside the standard working schedule. This, combined with social norms about women’s role as caregivers, puts female employees at a disadvantage relative to men. Based on Zephyr-LinkedIn matched data, our results show that women are about 9.5% less likely than men to be promoted in cross-time-zone acquisitions than in same-time-zone acquisitions. The gap rises to 10.6% for managerial occupations, and it is higher for time-zone differences of two and three hours. We discuss the implications of our results for the management, evaluation, and retention of human capital in organizations and, more generally, for gender equality in the workplace. Funding: The authors thank the Editor and three autonomous referees for their comments on previous drafts of the paper. The authors also thank participants to the Strategy Science Virtual Conference 2020, the Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SIE) Virtual Seminars held in December 2020, the Wharton Technology and Innovation Conference 2021, and the Work and Organization Workshop held in Madrid in May 2022. The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Invernizzi Center for Research on Innovation, Organization, Strategy and Entrepreneurship (ICRIOS) at Bocconi University. S. Breschi also acknowledges financial support through the MUSA – Multilayered Urban Sustainability Action [ECS 000037] and the GRINS – Growing Resilient, INclusive and Sustainable [PE00000018] projects, funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). Supplemental Material: The online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2023.17685 .

Amazon Transition - Cerrado: Agricultural Frontier and Sustainability in The State of Mato Grosso, Brazil

Objective: The present study aimed to demonstrate the relevance of agribusiness and highlight sustainable development actions in the Amazon-Cerrado transition zone, in the center-north of the state of Mato Grosso, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. Theoretical framework: This topic sought to contemplate the aspects of sustainable food production, in a holistic view that minimizes environmental impacts, in order to stimulate sustainable management, efficient use of resources and inputs in the various sustainable economic activities. Method: Theoretical framework on the subject, research based on Web of Science and Google scholar, tabulation of data and elaboration of a table with sustainable initiatives and a map of the location of the Amazon-Cerrado transition zone. Results and conclusion: In parallel to the large-scale agro-export production mode, several initiatives of agroecological production, natural extractivism, integration between forest, crops and livestock were identified in the research using techniques that seek environmental sustainability and sustainable local development in the region of the study. Implications of the research: In line with the environmental theme, the study presents and discusses relevant initiatives in society associating agribusiness and sustainable development. Originality/value: Preparation of an unprecedented map of the municipalities of Mato Grosso that are located in the transition zone of the Amazon - Cerrado biomes and a table with organizations, activities and sustainable actions developed in the transition area and respective associations with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, with a discussion on proactive activities aimed at developing the region in focus.

Sleep Hygiene Intervention Improves Sleep Time and Duration in High School Students.

Objective To evaluate the effects of a sleep hygiene education program for adolescents to address excessive daytime sleepiness, insomnia, and sleep-related behaviors. Materials and Methods The participants were 98 high school students from the 11th and 12th grades. A day-long health promotion action was conducted at their school science fair to disseminate relevant information about sleep disorders. Social status and sleep perception and habits were evaluated through the following validated questionnaires: the Brazilian Economic Classification Criteria, a questionnaire on sleep habits for adolescents, the Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale, the Insomnia Severity Index, and the Sleep Time-Related Information and Communication Technology questionnaire. The questionnaires were administered before the fair and 12 months after participation, and the results before and after the intervention were compared by means of the Student t -test and the Fisher exact test. For the correlations involving the results, the Pearson correlation was used with the level of significance of p < 0.05. Results A qualitative reduction in poor bedtime habits was observed after the intervention, such as watching television and leaving a cell phone on with sound. A higher frequency of use of electronic devices can affect school performance and contribute to later bedtime on weekends ( p < 0.001). Excessive daytime sleepiness was correlated with the excessive use of electronic devices ( p = 0.017). Conclusion Some habits changed after the awareness intervention. There was an impact of the use of electronic devices on academic performance, on the regularity of bedtimes, and on excessive daytime sleepiness. We emphasize the importance of health education programs with sustainable actions following actual changes in behavior.

An Examination of the Ways in Which Transdisciplinary Research Could Be Used to Incentivize Local Communities to Combat the Illegal Wildlife Trade

The illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is currently one of the most critical conservation concerns, given its direct impact on biodiversity loss, endangering local ecosystems, and adding pressure to all species at a point when they face dangers like deforestation and mass extinctions. This industry also significantly impacts local communities, many of which are compelled to engage in it as a result of their precarious socioeconomic conditions. While effective countermeasures to this global issue have been identified, successful implementation of these countermeasures require diverse disciplines and collaborators. This paper argues that a transdisciplinary approach that converges knowledge and skills from social and socioecological fields of study is required to develop strategies that effectively incentivize communities to combat the IWT. This is true because A) at the social level, criminal justice is needed for the retraining and participation in law enforcement efforts to mitigate support for poaching; B) at the socio-ecological level, environmental economics and ecosystem management are needed for the validation of community assets and profitable management of local wildlife; and C) ecology and business administration are needed for the implementation of conservation initiatives like ecotourism. This paper not only presents the implementation of a transdisciplinary approach but also details the most important disciplines needed, provides a review of the correlation between this industry and the locals who live in close proximity to wildlife and conservation areas, and proposes workable recommendations to supporting initiatives that combat the IWT and serve as pillars for sustainable action. Without adopting and reinforcing the position argued for in this research, the IWT would continue to pose a threat to local ecosystems, populations, and economies. This is a major risk to global sustainability and will exacerbate the loss of biodiversity that is already recognized as an imminent threat by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Environmental Antecedents of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks, United States, 2017–2019

Foodborne outbreak investigations often provide data for public health officials to determine how the environment contributed to the outbreak and on how to prevent future outbreaks. State and local health departments are responsible for investigating foodborne illness outbreaks in their jurisdictions and reporting the data to national-level surveillance systems, including information from the environmental assessment. This assessment is designed to describe how the environment contributed to the outbreak and identifies factors that contributed to the outbreak and environmental antecedents to the outbreak. Environmental antecedents, also referred to as root causes, are specific reasons that allow biological or chemical agents to contaminate, survive, or grow in food. From 2017 to 2019, 24 jurisdictions reported 1,430 antecedents from 393 outbreaks to the National Environmental Assessment Reporting System. The most reported antecedents were lack of oversight of employees/enforcement of policies (89.1%), lack of training of employees on specific processes (74.0%), and lack of a food safety culture/attitude towards food safety (57.5%). These findings highlight the critical role that employees play in restaurant food safety and are heavily influenced by restaurant management, who can exercise active managerial control to manage these antecedents. Identifying antecedents during investigations is essential for understanding the outbreak’s root cause and implementing sustainable corrective actions to stop the immediate outbreak and future outbreaks.

Supply chain finance-based payment scheme strategies in a pull supply chain

A pull supply chain can reduce unnecessary inventory and lower carbon emissions. However, suppliers' capital constraints in the pull supply chain hinder their production and may disrupt the entire supply chain, limiting participants' efforts in sustainability actions. To alleviate this situation and motivate upstream and downstream enterprises in the supply chain to reduce carbon emissions for sustainable development, many core companies or financial institutions have employed payment-term-based supply chain finance (SCF) mechanisms such as carbon trade financing, including advanced payment, delayed payment, and reverse factoring. In this study, we acquire the optimal decisions for the supplier and manufacturer under each model and investigate the impacts of different payment schemes on the performance of individuals and the entire supply chain. In addition to reducing carbon emissions to promote sustainability goals, these payment mechanisms are also profitable. By comparing SCF-based payment schemes with the classic bank at-once payment, we show that the optimal payment scheme depends on financing priority. Furthermore, SCF-based payment schemes enhance profit efficiency in response to increasing demand fluctuations. The findings of our study provide insights for supply chain participants to choose the best payment-term-based SCF programmes to optimise operations, enhance their profitability, and achieve sustainable development.

Exploratory Study of Sustainability Practices in Worldwide Major Aircraft Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul Companies

While sustainable aviation research has primarily focused on the airline industry, aircraft manufacturing, and airport responsibilities, the aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) industry’s contribution to achieving sustainable aviation goals has been overlooked. This study examines the approaches to corporate sustainability practices used by aircraft MRO companies worldwide. The methodology used to investigate the sustainability actions of major MRO companies globally was mainly based on observational data gathered from multiple data sources, such as environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and investor relations documents. Four companies out of the 13 major MRO companies whose sustainability reports were found are examined as a case study analysis. Each MRO company adopted different definitions and practices of sustainability. The findings show that the aircraft MRO sustainability definition varies among the major companies studied, but some commonalities can be used to develop a proposed definition. The authors propose that aircraft MRO sustainability be defined as the ability to conduct MRO business that positively affects all stakeholders while emphasizing safety, quality, and integrity values, using technology and innovation to make growth, and constantly stabilizing and/or diminishing the impact on the environment. This study contributes to the understanding of sustainable aviation by highlighting the role of MRO companies in achieving sustainable goals.

Examining the relationship between pro-environmental consumption behaviour and hedonic and eudaimonic motivation

The present study examines the factors that influence the adoption of environmentally friendly products and environmentally conscious consumption by individuals. The conceptual framework incorporates environmental knowledge, perceived behavioral control, environmental concern, and perceived consumer efficacy in order to highlight the factors that contribute to environmental consciousness. Incorporating the theories of reasoned action and planned behavior, 479 participants completed structured questionnaires as part of this study. The study examined the mediating effects of hedonic and eudaimonic perspectives, in addition to the moderating effects of age and consumer attributes. Structural Equation Modeling Artificial Neural Networks (SEM ANN) were utilized for validation. Findings confirm the substantial influence of predictors from the Theory of Planned Behavior on hedonic motivation, amplifying cognitive rational processes and ultimately resulting in satisfaction and repeat product purchases. Individuals are driven by eudaimonic motivations to take part in sustainable actions, even if they have limited environmental knowledge. This reflects their deeper values of fulfillment and social responsibility. Generation Z and millennials have unique motivations that influence their decision to purchase green products. Regular buyers' hedonic motivations have a significant impact on their purchase intentions, whereas eudaimonic motivations consistently influence purchase decisions regardless of the type of buyer. The findings of the study offer significant insights for marketers of environmentally friendly products, enabling them to comprehend the aspects that impact pro-environmental considerations and successfully establish their green products as a brand.

What Italian furniture companies do towards sustainable transition? Design actions and strategies showcased during Milan Design Week 2023

AbstractManufacturing companies find themselves at the crossroads of innovation and sustainability in an era of growing emphasis on corporate social responsibility. This paper delves into Design for Sustainability, aiming to understand the practices Italian design furniture companies are implementing towards sustainability through case studies analysis of sustainable actions (SA) showcased in Milan Design Week 2023. The study categorizes SA according to the Design for Sustainability Framework, determining their role in furniture companies’ transformative learning approaches towards sustainability.

Sustainable or not sustainable pension fund: This is the question. The case of environmental social governance policies in the Italian pension system

The Environmental Social Governance (ESG) framework is a fundamental issue in every field of economics. Integrating ESG factors into business models, strategies, and policies is the new frontier for financial intermediaries as European policymakers, regulators, and investors increasingly require this. Also, Pension Funds face the daunting task of generating sufficient returns to provide adequate and sustainable retirement incomes for their members in the context of an aging population. This current study aims to determine the relationship between Pension Funds’ performance and ESG attention in asset allocation strategies and how relevant the presence of gender diversity is in the board to promote this attention. The obtained results can contribute to formulating a deeper view of ESG practices, revealing significant aspects that influence sustainability action in the Pension Funds Italian market and providing recommendations for European policymakers and practitioners for the future.

Advances in Computational Methods for Modeling Photocatalytic Reactions: A Review of Recent Developments.

Photocatalysis is a fascinating process in which a photocatalyst plays a pivotal role in driving a chemical reaction when exposed to light. Its capacity to harness light energy triggers a cascade of reactions that lead to the formation of intermediate compounds, culminating in the desired final product(s). The essence of this process is the interaction between the photocatalyst's excited state and its specific interactions with reactants, resulting in the creation of intermediates. The process's appeal is further enhanced by its cyclic nature-the photocatalyst is rejuvenated after each cycle, ensuring ongoing and sustainable catalytic action. Nevertheless, comprehending the photocatalytic process through the modeling of photoactive materials and molecular devices demands advanced computational techniques founded on effective quantum chemistry methods, multiscale modeling, and machine learning. This review analyzes contemporary theoretical methods, spanning a range of lengths and accuracy scales, and assesses the strengths and limitations of these methods. It also explores the future challenges in modeling complex nano-photocatalysts, underscoring the necessity of integrating various methods hierarchically to optimize resource distribution across different scales. Additionally, the discussion includes the role of excited state chemistry, a crucial element in understanding photocatalysis.

Sustainable and resilient development actions

Studies report that 85% of the Brazilian population lives in large urban centers, so cities must prepare to deal with this reality and possible adversities. This article describes the experience of the Municipality of Veranópolis in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, with the Project “Garbage is your responsibility”, foreseen in the Veranópolis Resilient City Program. The research method is applied in nature, with a descriptive objective and a qualitative approach. The technical procedure used was field study. The Project aimed to improve knowledge about the separation and correct disposal of solid waste and promote a culture of environmental preservation. To this end, we invited six Municipal Schools and two Private Schools, professionals from the public and private sectors and non-governmental organization, totaling more than 3,000 participants, for a period of five months. The results show that the implementation of the Project achieved the participation and collaboration of all those involved. In addition to the engagement of students, teachers, families and the community in the delivery and receipt of teaching materials and the correct disposal of waste.

Closing the Gap: The Tripartite Structure of Sustainability as a Tool for Sustainable Education—A Systematic Literature Review

(1) In an era where sustainable behavior is increasingly crucial, understanding the discrepancy between individuals’ sustainability-oriented values and their actual behaviors, known as the inner–outer gap, is vital. This systematic literature review explores the potential of the Tripartite Structure of Sustainability (TSS) framework to address this gap within the context of sustainable education. By reviewing the literature from the APA, ERIC, and Web of Science databases, searched on 25 October 2020, the factors influencing sustainable actions were systematically examined. Articles had to be relevant to the topic (sustainability, morality in relation to sustainability, or morality in general) and report on empirically validated factors that have an impact on the inner-outer gap. (2) By employing a qualitative content analysis approach, 56 articles over a 15-year period were analyzed, identifying 83 factors that either bridged or reinforced the inner–outer gap. These factors were categorized within the TSS framework, which segments sustainability-oriented actions into individual, social, and self-transcendent domains, alongside their activation points: stable, situational, or automated. (3) The analysis revealed that self-focused factors often reinforce the gap, suggesting they are a hindrance to sustainable behavior. Conversely, self-transcendent factors consistently bridged the gap, promoting sustainability. Social factors showed variable impacts based on the ethical and sustainable context they were placed in, suggesting that the social environment’s orientation significantly influences sustainable behavior. (4) This study concludes that the TSS framework offers a promising approach to advancing education for sustainable development (ESD) and contributes insights into how to promote the required paradigm shift towards holistic and interconnected perspectives.

Women in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: The State of the Academy and Why It Matters.

Facial plastic and reconstructive surgery has historically been a male-dominated field. It is critical to assess the current state of female representation within our Society to better gauge how we reflect the changing needs of our community and our patients. Although we have made headway in fostering a community ripe for progress, we must continue to create and promote equal opportunities, dissuade microaggressions, address burnout, and capitalize on the innate strengths of our female constituents. With the data presented in this study, we hope to further illuminate the benefits of women engagement in our Academy while recommending sustainable actions to create a culture of allyship.

CONTRIBUTIONS OF BIOPHILIA TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Addressing the application of biophilia in urban areas, this article aims to analyze the effectiveness of its implementation in promoting sustainable development in its three main dimensions: environmental, economic, and social. The study proposes three specific objectives. Firstly, to highlight the intrinsic connection between humans and nature, examining how this relationship has evolved over time and how the biophilic concept reaffirms it as a fundamental core. Next, to analyze how the 2030 Agenda, a global commitment to sustainable development, relates to biophilic principles, and to assess whether Brazilian legislation is contributing to integrating these principles into urban life in the country. Finally, to investigate and understand how the different dimensions of sustainable development connect to biophilic principles and their impacts on well-being in urban areas, especially in achieving goal 11.7 of the aforementioned Agenda. Considering biophilia as one of the guiding principles of sustainable development, it is concluded that when applied in urban areas, it is a principled conception capable of reconciling urban progress and human relations with nature, providing an increase in individuals' well-being and contributing to the expansion of green areas in urban spaces, as well as collaborating with sustainable precepts. The contribution of this study lies in the need to establish a new paradigm for human interaction with the environment through development that promotes harmonious interaction with nature. To achieve the intended scope, the present research employed the hypothetico-deductive method, starting from the concept of biophilia to analyze whether its principles and guidelines can inspire sustainable actions, involving bibliographic and documentary research.

The Portrayal of Environmental Concerns: An Ecolinguistic Analysis of Media Discourse

The global focus on environmental/climatic concerns and sustainability has intensified in recent years due to the growing recognition of the urgent need for action to mitigate and adapt to climate change. As one of the key goals of Saudi Vision 2030, the Saudi Green Initiative strives to mitigate the effects of climate change and improve biodiversity through multiple measures including promulgating awareness and responsibility in the general public. With this respect, undoubtedly media plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion and influencing policy decisions. Therefore, it is essential to investigate how environmental issues and sustainability are portrayed in media discourse in the Saudi context. This research intends to analyze media representations of environmental concerns specifically in English newspaper discourse using an eco-linguistic framework. For the said purpose, the corpus developed was based on content published in Arab News an English newspaper, and analyzed through Sketch Engine and LancsBox6.0 software. The key frames that emerged were evaluated and interpreted both statistically and qualitatively to ascertain the role of media in imparting and creating collective consciousness regarding the need for sustainable environmental actions. The study demonstrated that the newspaper discourse portrayed the climate concerns effectively by framing the climate as a change, crisis, fight, and collective social responsibility through discursive strategies such as frequent repetition of concepts, specific lexical choices like negative, strong expressive words as well as techniques of naming and making concrete references. Additionally, the writers suggested practical solutions and measures people and nations must need to take collectively to address the ever-growing climate challenges.

Is personal income associated with attitudes towards climate change risk? A moderated mediation analysis for the UK from 2009 to 2020

AbstractThis study investigates the effect of personal income on attitudes towards climate change risk, considering the mediator of responsibility attribution (RA) for climate change and the moderator of educational attainment. Using a latent growth curve model applied to data from the UK Household Longitudinal Study dataset from 2009 to 2020, this study indicated that personal income growth heightens the likelihood of expressing concern about climate change while reducing the propensity for holding sceptical or paradoxical attitudes over time. Attributing climate change to personal behaviour mediated the income‐attitude relationship. Significant differences in the mediation effect were observed between individuals who had received a university education and those who had not, even after controlling for covariates such as age, sex, political affiliation and employment status. These findings suggest that climate campaign emphasising RA can address attitude disparities across income and education strata, further promoting sustainable climate action and mitigation.

An exploration of drivers for small businesses to implement environmental actions in Victoria, Australia

AbstractThe adoption of environmental practices in small and medium scale businesses is increasing. Given the diverse environmental actions available to firms, it is important to understand the specific drivers for different actions to be taken. Based on managerial survey data from Victoria, Australia, this research uses modeling to determine how ethical conscience of managers drive different types of sustainable environmental actions. The results indicate that ethical conscience of managers drives waste, energy and water related actions, while external factors such as supply chain imperatives and customer demand drive circular business actions. New technology and industry guidelines were major barriers for most types of environmental actions while social barriers were significant for energy and water related actions. This implies that the increased ethical conscience of managers, especially while adopting new technology can increase the adoption of environmental actions in businesses. The results will have implications in crafting the corporate strategy and developing good and services that will aid to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 11 and 12), focusing on sustainable cities and communities, and responsible production and consumption.

The role of trade associations in promoting corporate sustainability transition and reporting: A case study in the food supply chain

AbstractThis study seeks to examine the interconnections and potential influencing factors between firms' sustainability initiatives and the pressures exerted by industry associations for sustainability reporting. Given the reluctance of many firms to disclose their sustainability efforts, particular attention is directed toward the Italian meat and cured meat industry, with a focus on uncovering the drivers that link firms' sustainability actions to the level of engagement by industry associations in promoting sustainability reporting. Employing a multiple case study design, this research adopts a qualitative and interpretative methodology, leveraging semi‐structured interviews to elucidate pertinent strengths and weaknesses associated with both external and internal factors, as well as managerial strategies. Encompassing various stages of the supply chain, from genetic selection and animal husbandry to processing and distribution, this study aims to bridge a gap in the existing literature on sustainability reporting by shedding light on firms' approaches to both reporting and action. Furthermore, it offers novel insights into the often‐overlooked meso‐level factors influencing firms' propensity for sustainability reporting, including the role played by trade associations.