Sustainable Product Development Research Articles

What Role Does Simulation Play in Sustainable Industrial Development?

Sustainability as a concept is present in most aspects of our everyday life, and industry is no exception. Likewise, there is no doubt that the necessity to produce goods in a sustainable way and to ensure that products are sustainable is gaining more and more attention from producers, customers, governments, and various organizations. Understandably, there are several ways to increase the sustainable development of industrial production. One effective tool is simulation, which can have a significant impact on improving environmental, economic, and social sustainability. This paper explores the role of simulation as a powerful scientific and engineering solution in advancing sustainability within industrial ecosystems. Its main scope is to map the existing literature on the usage of simulation as a supportive tool for achieving this goal. For this purpose, a bibliometric analysis was conducted, allowing for tailored insights into the use of simulation in sustainable production.

Establishment of a reverse transcription–recombinase polymerase amplification–lateral flow dipstick method for the dual detection of Israeli acute paralysis virus and chronic bee paralysis virus

IntroductionAs an important social insect, honey bees play crucial roles in agricultural production, sustainable development of agricultural production, and the balance of the natural environment. However, in recent years, Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) and chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV), the main pathogens of bee paralysis, have continuously harmed bee colonies and caused certain losses to the beekeeping industry. Some beekeeping farms are located in wild or remote mountainous areas, and samples from these farms cannot be sent to the laboratory for testing in a timely manner, thereby limiting the accurate and rapid diagnosis of the disease.Methods and resultsIn this study, we used a reverse transcription–recombinase polymerase amplification–lateral flow dipstick (RT–RPA–LFD) method for the dual detection of IAPV and CBPV. RPA primers and LFD detection probes were designed separately for their conserved genes. Primers and probes were screened, and the forward and reverse primer ratios, reaction times, and temperatures were optimized. According to the results of the optimization tests, the optimal reaction temperature for RT–RPA is 37°C, and when combined with LFD, detection with the naked eye requires <20 min. The developed RPA–LFD method specifically targets IAPV and CBPV and has no cross-reactivity with other common bee viruses. In addition, the minimum detection limit of the RT–RPA–LFD method is 101 copies/μL.ConclusionBased this study, this method is suitable for the detection of clinical samples and can be used for field detection of IAPV and CBPV.

Macroplastics Quantity and Its Influence on Soil Nutrients in Typical Plastic Film Mulching Farmland in Northern Xinjiang

Plastic film mulching (PFM) technology plays an important role in agricultural production in “drought and cold” regions, and macroplastics pollution in farmland has become a major concern affecting the sustainable development of regional agricultural production. However, there remains a lack of research on the effects of film application and macroplastics characteristics on soil nutrients in farmland. In this study, the characteristics of plastic film application and macroplastics, and their effect on soil nutrients in typical plastic film cropland in northern Xinjiang were explored by field research and a review of the relevant literature. It was found that the average annual growth rate was higher in areas where the amount, usage intensity, and proportion of plastic film were lower. The amount of plastic film input was a key factor affecting the amount of macroplastics. The macroplastics amount of plastic film was positively correlated with soil organic carbon content and negatively correlated with soil available phosphorus; however, it had no effect on soil available potassium. It is necessary to take immediate action regarding the characteristics of plastic film application and macroplastics and the impact of macroplastics on soil nutrients, in order to establish a response to the dual challenges of food security and sustainable agricultural development in terms of plastic film pollution prevention and control measures.

Decision-Making Mechanism of Farmers in Land Transfer Processes Based on Sustainable Livelihood Analysis Framework: A Study in Rural China

The act of land transfer in rural areas is an important decision-making mechanism for farmers, to enhance resource allocation efficiency and promote capital mobility, and this act is of strategic importance in promoting the level of agricultural scale and mechanization, land system change, and, thus, the sustainable development of livelihoods and production in China. This study aims to explore farmers’ decision-making mechanisms in the process of land transfer in rural areas, by constructing a theoretical framework. Structural equation modeling was used, based on data from a survey of rural families in the Liaoning Province area of Northeastern China. The main findings are as follows: (1) The seven types of exogenous latent variables, including environmental vulnerability, policy, and five main livelihood assets (natural capital, physical capital, financial capital, human capital, and social capital), are intermediary in farmers’ land transfer behavior, which then positively affect farmers’ livelihood outcomes. (2) Among the exogenous latent variables affecting farmers’ land transfer, human assets have the most significant positive effect, followed by social assets and physical assets, family labor force share, frequency of work information exchange, and number of production tools, greatly affect the corresponding variable. (3) Natural assets play the most important role and have a negative effect on farmers’ land transfer decision; contracted area of land per family is the greatest impacted measurable variable of this. The results of the study suggest that the government should strengthen skills training for farmers, improve the land transfer policy system, and provide appropriate subsidies in a regionally targeted manner. Thus, it can promote the transformation of Chinese-style agricultural modernization and achieve rural revitalization.

Renewable energy and sustainable development goals: Insights from latent dirichlet allocation thematic and bibliometric analysis

AbstractThis research conducts a comprehensive analysis of the intricate relationship between renewable energy and the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Employing diverse methodologies including latent dirichlet allocation (LDA) topic modeling, bibliometrics, citation analysis, and regression modeling, the study explores the evolving landscape of renewable energy research and its implications for SDGs. The analysis identifies a pronounced scholarly interest in renewable energy, reflected in the escalating publication volumes and citations across environmental sciences, green technology, and energy studies. Through meticulous examination, it uncovers interconnected research themes; encompassing policy uncertainty, Environmental Kuznets Curve, and ecological footprint, elucidating the multifaceted impact of renewable energy on the SDGs. Geographical distributions underscore diverse regional focuses, emphasizing the need for nuanced, context‐specific approaches. Regression analysis highlights influential factors like carbon dioxide emissions and gross domestic product (GDP) growth, delineating their pivotal roles in shaping scholarly attention toward renewable energy research. Furthermore, the study delves into the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of renewable energy's influence. It reveals its contributions to employment generation, sustainable production, energy access, and infrastructure development while navigating challenges related to climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation. This comprehensive investigation offers crucial insights into the complex interplay between renewable energy and the SDGs. It predicts future research directions and highlights the urgency for interdisciplinary collaboration, international cooperation, and policy innovations to harness renewable energy's transformative potential for global sustainable development.

Sustainable new product development based on innovative product opportunity gap for a waste to energy system: pistachio packaging

Purpose This study aims to perform innovation analysis for a product based on market, design and process dimensions. This integrated approach provides sustainability for product design and development. Design/methodology/approach A significant aspect of innovation is investigated to provide energy from the wastes collected in the reverse chain. First, the indicators related to the product opportunity gap were collected and ranked by the structural equation modeling (SEM) method. Indicators with a factor loading above 0.6 are selected and inserted into the proposed mathematical model. The proposed mathematical model was implemented in GAMS 28.2.0 to maximize energy production from waste and minimize the cost of product innovation. A case study on pistachio new packaging process innovation is investigated. Findings The results showed that in today’s competitive world where sustainability and the environment are important, the index of converting waste into energy is one of the main indicators of innovation. Consequently, flammability is extracted from the mathematical model as one of the most significant indicators leading to higher energy production with the lowest innovation cost. Originality/value New product development (NPD) is significant to sustain market share and satisfy customer needs. Different approaches are proposed to handle NPD, mostly focusing on the customer and design requirements.

CULTURAL DIVERSITY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN ART AND DESIGN THROUGH NEW-AGE MEDIA

Culture is a broad-spectrum term commonly used to identify habits of a heterogeneous social groups which develop in a specific geographic location. It is evidently reflected through the various art practices, be it visual or performing arts, or artifacts created by the artisans. They have become an integral part of the cultural ethos. India is a country rich in such diverse treasure of cultural practices through art. Artisans have also migrated beyond their original geographical boundaries to diversify the reach of the art. It is an important cultural asset which helps to preserve the culture and heritage of a community or the skill-sets of the artisans. Our ancestors have been preserving this culture of storytelling through the art forms which show a perspective of life. They also contribute to the livelihood of the craftsmen, thus contributing to the economy of the country. There is beauty in promoting cultural diversity; people learn new skills from other cultural groups and encourage innovation through various art forms and designs. In the contemporary era of technology, modernization and globalization, the traditional art forms are fading away. Sustainability of these valuable these art forms is a concern today. Purposes and functionality of these art practices have also diversified. The study creates new objectives through cultural diversity and designing new products for sustainable development in art and design. The article discusses some aspects of technological intervention in these art practices that can help sustain these heritages. Thus diversification of media, purpose and an involvement of the young generation can help to preserve the social cultural ethos of our country.

An approach to identify assistive technology attributes for people with locomotor disability by using a refined Kano model

This study aims to identify and evaluate the attributes of assistive products for people with locomotor disabilities using the refined Kano model. Thirty experts from various disciplines (product engineers and designers engineers, rehabilitation professionals, and users of assistive technology with locomotor disabilities) participated in the study. They were asked to complete a survey based on the Kano model questionnaire, which included functional and dysfunctional questions for each attribute. The findings reveal that performance, accessibility, functionality, and repairability are one-dimensional characteristics, while quality, modularity, intuitiveness, and aesthetics are attractive attributes. Affordability and durability are identified as must-be attributes. Subsequently, an importance scale was created on a 5-point Likert scale to further analyze the attributes based on the refined Kano model. The results indicate that functionality, quality, aesthetics, affordability, repairability, and durability are the vital attributes. Following this, a case study was conducted based on these attributes, focusing on the two most commonly used products in India: the ALIMCO basic manual wheelchair and the KARMA basic manual wheelchair. By incorporating identified attributes, manufacturers can establish marketing strategies that promote sustainable product development and enhance assistive product satisfaction among individuals with locomotor disabilities.

Phenolics production via the catalytic pyrolysis of organosolv lignin over praseodymium doped lanthanum nickelate

To fully utilize the aromatic ring structure of lignin and realize high value addition, organosolv lignin (OL) extracted from papermaking waste liquid was subjected to catalytic pyrolysis for the production of phenolic compounds. Using self-made carbon nanospheres as a template, cellular La0.8Pr0.2NiO3 perovskite was prepared by the sol-gel method and used as catalyst in the pyrolysis of OL at 600 °C for 3 h. The yield of liquid-phase product was 21.34 %, and the selectivity of phenolic compounds reached 70.20 %, constituting increases by 43.41 % and 25.87 % compared with the yield and selectivity of the catalyst-free process, respectively. After four cycles of regeneration, La0.8Pr0.2NiO3 perovskite still demonstrated good structural and catalytic stability. This work provides a theoretical basis for the development of green and sustainable chemical products.

Concept for an innovative screw coupling system production process

The article presents the concept of an innovative approach to the production of a screw coupling system, a key element in rail vehicles. The use of ready-made components from various subsuppliers, combined with new quality control methods, offers an opportunity for a significant reduction in cost and production time while increasing the efficiency and flexibility of the process. Key stages of the production process are highlighted, from the selection of semifinished products, through quality control, to the final assembly and validation. The applied strategies can minimise waste, increase material efficiency, and have a positive impact on the environment. This study constitutes a significant contribution to the development of sustainable production in the railway industry, with an emphasis on organisational, process, and product innovations.

Optimization of nutrient management improves productivity, quality and sustainability of albino tea cultivar Baiye-1.

Proper nutrient management is crucially important to the sustainable development of tea production. Compared to normal green-leaf cultivars, albino tea cultivars produce green tea of superior quality characterized by high contents of amino acids as a result of the hydrolysis of chloroplast proteins at albinism. However, the advantage of albino tea cultivars was offset by inferior growth and yield performance because of low contents of chlorophylls and limited photosynthesis capacity. Our understanding about the nutrition characteristics of albino tea cultivars was very limited. A four-year field experiment was conducted to develop proper nutrient management for Baiye-1 to overcome its weakness of low productivity without a tradeoff in tea quality and environmental risks. The nutrient management schemes were formulated by optimizing the rate and ratio of nitrogen (N), phosphorus, potassium and magnesium together with substitution of chemical fertilizers with organic manures. The total amounts of nutrients in the optimized schemes were reduced by 25% compared to the local farmers' practice (FP). Results showed that optimized rates and ratio of nutrients together with partial substitution of chemical fertilizers with rapeseed cake manure more considerably improved albino tea yield, the contents of free amino acids, total polyphenol and catechins relative to FP. Partial substitution of chemical fertilizers with commercial livestock manure decreased tea quality, which was likely caused by a dilution effect of increasing tea yield and decreasing N status of tea plants. Full organic substitution of chemical fertilizers by rapeseed cake manure improved tea yield and quality but had relatively low agronomic efficiency and profit. The effect of optimized nutrient management schemes was associated with the improvement of nutritional status in tea plants. The present work demonstrated that the optimization of nutrient management considerably improved albino tea yield, quality and profit while decreased the application rate of fertilizers and the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions.

Achieving eco-innovative smart glass design with the integration of opinion mining, QFD and TRIZ

Modern consumption patterns lead to massive waste, which poses challenges in storage and highlights the urgent need for more sustainable product development. Customer feedback on products plays a crucial role in product design, yet previous studies overlooked these invaluable insights. In response, this study introduces a novel systematic methodology that integrates the strengths of text mining, Quality Function Deployment (QFD), and the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ). Text mining techniques are utilized to extract customer requirements from online platforms, while QFD is used to translate these requirements into technical specifications. By integrating the contradiction matrix from TRIZ theory with the triptych, technical conflicts are resolved. The design process for next-generation smart glasses is employed as an illustrative case to validate the proposed integrated innovation design approach. Analytical outcomes suggest that the introduced methodology can effectively address sustainable product design challenges and sets the stage for future advancements in smart glasses.

Towards sustainable development of sugar beet cultivation – underlying basics and possible aims

For quite a while, there was no scientific discussion on the sustainable development of sugar beet production. The multiplicity of definitions and strategies appear as a misleading ball-of-wool. This paper summarizes theoretical aspects, such as wordings, principles, aims, and challenges of assessment schemes, on sustainable development of crop production in general. The aim is to enable a common understanding for harmonized and strategic decision making and certification. Further, we show the potential for the sustainable development of crop cultivation systems and point out specific options for the sustainable development of sugar beet cultivation. Nine of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (2015) provide a guideline for the sustainable development of crop cultivation. We identified four general fields of action: (i) enhancement of yield stability, (ii) tackling of ecological challenges, (iii) enablement of risk assessment and forecast, (iv) development of certification schemes. We further identified eight major ecological challenges which can be addressed by nine crop cultivation activities. These were compared to Germany-wide information on current sugar beet cultivation. Therein, we identified the following activities that need to be in place: (i) establishment of forecast and risk assessment systems for decision support and for precision farming in irrigation, pest and disease management, fertilizer application, harvest timing; (ii) protection and increase of soil organic matter and soil structure by permanent soil cover, strip tillage and direct sowing, and reduction of heavy loads during harvest; (iii) increase of aboveground biodiversity, especially by integration of (semi-)permanent elements such as grassland, flower strips, hedges, and by crop rotation diversification especially using legumes and plants for permanent soil cover; (iv) reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by removing the leaves after harvest and by reducing diesel usage wherever possible.

The Effect of Humic Substances on the Colony Growth and Conidial Germination of Entomopathogenic Fungi from the Genus Metarhizium

The development of sustainable agricultural production involves the use of new plant protection products, with low toxicity to non-target organisms and high biodegradability. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of commercially available preparations containing humic substances, in comparison with pure humic acids, on the growth and germination of spores of entomopathogenic fungi (EPFs) from the genus Metarhizium in vitro. AmiAGRA, HumiAGRA, AlgoHUM (recommended field dose) and pure humic acids extracted from peat, brown coal and spent mushroom substrate were added to Sabouraud’s culture substrate. Observation of the growth of the colonies of the tested species of EPFs was carried out every 5 days until day 20, measuring their diameter (mm). In the second stage of the experiment, the culture medium with the addition of preparations and pure humic acids was applied in a thin layer to the surface of glass slides and an aqueous solution with spores was introduced. Observation was carried out after 24 and 48 h, and the results obtained were expressed as percentages in relation to the control. The conducted research showed that on the 20th day of the culture (on average), preparations containing humic substances had a stimulating effect, while pure acids limited the growth of the colonies of the tested isolates slightly. The growth of M. anisopliae fungal colonies was most strongly stimulated by AlgoHUM, and M. flavoviride by HumiAGRA. The share of germinated spores after 48 h of contact with the substrate was higher than after 24 h, and more spores germinated on substrates with the addition of preparations containing humic substances than on pure humic acids.

Developing an action-oriented performance framework for sustainability measurement in the new product development

PurposeThe integration of sustainability, performance measurement and new product development (NPD) is key for aligning environmental and social objectives with business strategies. While previous research has initiated proposals for integrating sustainability into NPD or incorporating sustainability into corporate measurement systems, there is a notable deficiency in studies that comprehensively integrate these three perspectives. In this sense, this study proposes a performance framework (PF) to integrate sustainability performance indicators (PIs) into the measurement system considering the company’s NPD phases.Design/methodology/approachThe PF was developed through a literature review and action research (AR). This resulting PF was positively evaluated by the practitioners in the company.FindingsFirst, the review enabled the synthesis of an initial conceptual PF with 188 sustainability PIs and a five-step procedure. Then, the empirical results of the AR led to a new PF that presents the systematisation of the PIs database and a practice-based seven-stage approach.Research limitations/implicationsThis action-oriented research limits the extent to which this study’s findings can be generalised. Future research should apply the PF in different research designs to produce managerially relevant knowledge.Practical implicationsThis PF may provide managers with actionable knowledge that best supports the measurement system integration with sustainability PIs considering the NPD phases.Originality/valueIntegrating sustainability, performance measurement and the NPD has been recognised as critical for supporting decision-making concerning the impact of processes and products. Compared with previous frameworks, the proposed PF extends the existing literature by introducing a systematised PIs database and a novel procedure for integrating sustainability measurement throughout the NDP.

Green Marketing as New Marketing Trend in India

The emergence of "Green Marketing" as a prominent trend in India reflects a growing societal and environmental consciousness, aligning business strategies with sustainable practices. This article delves into the dynamic landscape where companies are increasingly incorporating eco-friendly initiatives into their marketing strategies. The concept of Green Marketing goes beyond mere product promotion, emphasizing environmental responsibility and sustainable development. In India, a country grappling with environmental challenges, the shift towards Green Marketing is particularly significant. With consumers becoming more environmentally conscious, businesses are compelled to adopt eco-friendly practices to meet market demands. The article explores how companies are leveraging this trend to create a positive brand image, gain consumer trust, and tap into a growing market segment that prioritizes sustainability. Furthermore, the article examines the role of regulatory frameworks and government initiatives in promoting Green Marketing. The Indian government's push for environmental sustainability and clean energy has incentivized businesses to embrace eco-friendly practices. The article also sheds light on the challenges companies face in implementing Green Marketing strategies, such as increased production costs and the need for innovation in sustainable product development. The article underscores the transformative impact of Green Marketing on the Indian business landscape. It provides insights into how companies are navigating the shift towards sustainability, aligning their marketing efforts with environmental responsibility. As Green Marketing continues to gain momentum, it not only shapes consumer behavior but also contributes to a more sustainable and ecologically conscious business environment in India.

Enhancing sustainability integration in Sustainable Enterprise Resource Planning (S-ERP) system: Application of Transaction Cost Theory and case study analysis

Environmental stewardship and sustainability have become critical priorities in the contemporary business environment. Corporations are integrating sustainable practices at the business process level via Sustainable Enterprise Resource Planning (S-ERP). However, a recognised shortfall of S-ERP systems lies in their potential inability to integrate sustainability metrics across all business functions holistically. To navigate this limitation, our study introduces the application of Transaction Cost Theory (TCT). By treating business processes as input-output systems, we apply this theory to quantify sustainability likelihood and overall losses. This novel approach bridges the gap, allowing for the comprehensive integration of sustainability metrics across all processes. The essence of our methodology is to leverage static input data collected by S-ERP regarding environmental impact and to extrapolate this data to provide a broader understanding of potential losses and gains. We've tested and validated this approach through two comprehensive case studies; one is about sustainable product design and development, and the other is about the sustainability evaluation of modular versus conventional construction methods. The results inform the formulation of robust sustainability policies at the business process level for systems akin to S-ERP, paving the way for more sustainable business practices.

In silico evaluation of the potential allergenicity of a fungal biomass from Rhizomucor pusillus for use as a novel food ingredient

The world’s hunger for novel food ingredients drives the development of safe, sustainable, and nutritious novel food products. For foods containing novel proteins, potential allergenicity of the proteins is a key safety consideration. One such product is a fungal biomass obtained from the fermentation of Rhizomucor pusillus. The annotated whole genome sequence of this strain was subjected to sequence homology searches against the AllergenOnline database (sliding 80–amino acid windows and full sequence searches). In a stepwise manner, proteins were designated as potentially allergenic and were further compared to proteins from commonly consumed foods and from humans. From the sliding 80-mer searches, 356 proteins met the conservative >35% Codex Alimentarius threshold, 72 of which shared ≥50% identity over the full sequence. Although matches were identified between R. pusillus proteins and proteins from allergenic food sources, the matches were limited to minor allergens from these sources, and they shared a greater degree of sequence homology with those from commonly consumed foods and human proteins. Based on the in silico analysis and a literature review for the source organism, the risk of allergenic cross-reactivity of R. pusillus is low.

Real-time PCR method based on single-copy nuclear DNA sequences for the quantitative detection of pork adulteration in processed beef products

Meat adulteration, which adversely impacts food safety, economy, and religious beliefs, has come to be considered as a matter of global concern. The lack of a standard method that can be employed to quantitatively detect the pork content in processed meat products has led to demands for an accurate and sensitive method capable of detecting the proportion of pork in processed beef products. In this study, we aimed to develop a real-time PCR-based method to accurately and quantitatively detect pork adulteration in processed beef. We used bovine and porcine species-specific sequences to design primers and probes that specifically amplified bovine and porcine genes. Our real-time PCR method was evaluated via quantitative detection of reference samples and found to be highly accurate. Sensitivity analyses indicated that the limit of detection for beef as well as for pork was as low as five copies, while the limit of quantification for beef and for pork was 0.1%. To compare qualitative and quantitative results, beef samples cross-contaminated with pork were analyzed using both quantitative and standard qualitative methods. No undeclared meat components were found among the 25 processed meat products that were analyzed to evaluate the applicability of the quantitative method. However, the beef content in some processed beef products was very low, even approaching zero. This real-time PCR method may be reliably applied for quantitatively detect pork adulteration in processed beef products. Thus, this method of ours may help promote healthy and sustainable development of meat products.

Isolation and characterisation of lignin using natural deep eutectic solvents pretreated kenaf fibre biomass

Extraction of lignin via green methods is a crucial step in promoting the bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomasses. In the present study, utilisation of natural deep eutectic solvent for the pretreatment of kenaf fibres biomass is performed. Furthermore, extracted lignin from natural deep eutectic solvent pretreated kenaf biomass was carried out and its comparative study with commercial lignin was studied. The extracted lignin was characterized and investigated through Infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. FTIR Spectra shows that all samples have almost same set of absorption bands with slight difference in frequencies. CHNS analysis of natural deep eutectic solvent pretreated kenaf fibre showed a slight increase in carbon % from 42.36 to 43.17% and an increase in nitrogen % from − 0.0939 to − 0.1377%. Morphological analysis of commercial lignin shows irregular/uneven surfaces whereas natural deep eutectic solvent extracted lignin shows smooth and wavy surface. EDX analysis indicated noticeable peaks for oxygen and carbon elements which are present in lignocellulosic biomass. Thermal properties showed that lignin is constant at higher temperatures due to more branching and production of extremely condensed aromatic structures. In UV–VIS spectroscopy, commercial lignin shows slightly broad peak between 300 and 400 nm due to presence of carbonyl bond whereas, natural deep eutectic solvent extracted lignin does not show up any peak in this range. XRD results showed that the crystallinity index percentage for kenaf and natural deep eutectic solvent treated kenaf was 70.33 and 69.5% respectively. Therefore, these innovative solvents will undoubtedly have significant impact on the development of clean, green, and sustainable products for biocatalysts, extraction, electrochemistry, adsorption applications.