Sustainable Tool Research Articles

Вуглецеві кредити та офсети в контексті державної політики сталого розвитку

Introduction. Overcoming the coronavirus crisis made it possible to return the focus of the authorities to global issues of sustainable recovery, which are directly related to the so-called green course and the transition to a low-carbon economy. At the international level, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has implemented a number of initiatives that determine the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions on the planet, including carbon dioxide (CO2). Worthy of special attention is the fact that it is necessary to implement appropriate strategies of state support and the involvement of progressive financial instruments in order to develop the priorities of the low-carbon economy. Problem Statement. Assessment of prospects for the development of carbon credits and offsets in the context of expanding the range of monetary and fiscal instruments of state regulation of sustainable development. Purpose. To substantiate the essential characteristics of carbon credits and offsets with the aim of providing proposals for the use of foreign experience to create an effective state mechanism designed to stimulate their use for the reconstruction of the economy of Ukraine, namely qualitative recovery, based on maintaining the appropriate level of environmental, social and management components, stimulating the financing of relevant projects and programs. Methods. General scientific and special methods were used, in particular: scientific abstraction and epistemological (content) analysis, synthesis, induction and deduction, analogies and systematization, system-structural analysis, expert evaluation method, index method and grouping method. Results. The article examines the modern environment of sustainable development, considers the state and the potential of popularizing carbon credits and offsets on the way to sustainable development, prospects and tools for developing the relevant market. In addition, the study emphasizes the stages of formation of the carbon credits market. Emphasis is placed on the possibilities of interaction between the participants of the carbon credit market. In view of expanding the practical application of carbon credits, the differences between carbon credits and offsets are emphasized. Forecasts of the development of the global market of carbon credits and offsets were analyzed. Fiscal instruments of influence on the European market of carbon credits and offsets were considered, which made it possible to assess the applied aspects of their application, in particular for the recovery of the economy of Ukraine. Conclusions. Carbon credits are a kind of asset, namely, they make it possible to determine the rights to emit carbon gases. Instead, carbon offsets have a “passive” nature, because they are represented by units that confirm the possibility of reducing these emissions. The annual growth of the volume of carbon credits and offsets in the world determines the need to strengthen the system of state regulation of the processes that take place in the market. Accordingly, the world is integrating the tools of monetary and fiscal policy into the system of managing greenhouse gas emissions in various spheres of economy. The recovery of Ukraine's economy requires the implementation of a qualitatively new sustainable development policy. In particular, it is worth applying rather successful experience of stimulating the use of carbon credits and offsets. The pricing system and fiscal policy measures (regulation of the amount of taxation of carbon emissions) will be of decisive importance for the development of the market. This direction of research is worthy of the attention of domestic scientists and practitioners, which will contribute to the reconstruction and strengthening of the competitive positions of the national economy on international markets.

Whole-Transcriptome Analysis on the Leaves of Rosa chinensis Jacq. under Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.

The leaves of plants can be recommended as a cheap and sustainable environmental protection tool to mitigate PAHs with high toxicity in the ambient environment because they can serve as a reactor to remove ambient PAHs. Although previous studies have demonstrated that PAHs exhibit toxicological features, our knowledge about how ambient PAHs influence the leaves of plants is limited regarding the leaves of plants reducing ambient PAHs as a reactor. In this study, 1-year-old Rosa chinensis Jacq. with good growth potential was selected as a model plant. The leaves of Rosa chinensis Jacq. were exposed to 16 types of PAHs in the environmental concentration exposure group (0.1 μg L-1) and high-concentration exposure group (5 μg L-1) for seven days. In comparison, the leaves of Rosa chinensis Jacq. were exposed to de-ionized water and were chosen as the control group. During the exposure periods, the physiological parameters of leaves including, chlorophyll value, water content, temperature and nitrogen, were monitored using a chlorophyll meter. After 7 days of exposure, the leaves in the control and exposure groups were collected and used for whole-transcriptome analysis. Our results demonstrate that significant differentially expressed genes were observed in the leaves of Rosa chinensis Jacq. exposed to individual PAHs at 5 μg L-1 compared to the control group. These differentially expressed genes were involved in seven main pathways using bioinformatic analyses. In contrast, the levels of PAHs at environmentally relevant concentrations had negligible impacts on the physiological parameters and the gene transcription levels of the leaves of Rosa chinensis Jacq. Our results may provide direct evidence to remove ambient PAHs using terrestrial trees without considering the risk of PAHs at environmentally relevant concentrations on the leaves of terrestrial plants.

Encapsulation of Native Strains of Bioagents Trichoderma asperellum and Pseudomonas putida Using Different Biopolymers

Microencapsulation of biological control agents in biopolymer matrices is a valuable alternative to produce formulations with extended shelf-life. In this work, Trichoderma asperellum TAIK 1 conidia and Pseudomonas putida PIK1 bacterial cells were microencapsulated using different wall materials viz., maltodextrin, sodium alginate, carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC), gum arabic, and a cross linking agent gelatin with a hardening material calcium chloride. The encapsulation methods extrusion, emulsification and spray drying was performed using these wall materials. Spray drying process resulted in compact and smooth surface capsule with each individual cell in comparison to the other two methods, confirmed using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Further the viablility of organisms were checked, among these the combination maltoderxtrin (2%) + gelatin (1.5%) + CaCl2 (2%) resulted in 70% viability. And also effect of spray-drying inlet and outlet air temperatures were standardized for TAIK 1 and PIK1 spores. Highest conidial survival was shown in inlet and outlet temperature, feed rate/h (1300C, 600C, feed rate 60ml/h for TAIK1) and (1200C, 500C, feed rate 60ml/h for PIK1). Therefore, our study obtained the optimal process for encapsulation of bioagents TAIK1 and PIK1. Thus it can be used as sustainable tool for eco-friendly bio-control agents release.

Implementing sustainability in product portfolio development through digitalization and a game-based approach

The aim of this research is to explore if and how digitalization and a game-based approach can improve the usability and implementation of sustainable design methods and tools in a product development process. Based on semi-systematic literature review, advantages and limitations of digitalization and game-based approaches in this context were identified. A previously developed method that guides the implementation of a strategic sustainability perspective in product portfolio development, was then selected and elements of digitalization and game-based approaches were incorporated in its four building blocks: double-flow scenario modeling, sustainability assessment, market success assessment, and portfolio development. The resulting prototype of this method was further adapted after feedback gathered through expert interviews and then tested in workshops with industry and academia. It was found that digitalization was especially useful for the scenario simulation, data management, and automatic visualization of results, while the benefits of the game-based approach were enhanced motivation, collaboration, and co-design of results and solutions. At the same time, drawbacks were discovered, for example related to decreased transparency of how results are calculated, overuse of visualization and extrinsic rewards, leading to lack of clarity and trust in the results. In conclusion, there are synergies between digitalization and game-based approaches that can improve the usability of sustainable design methods and tools, but extensive testing is recommended to avoid pitfalls that can lead to opposite effects. Moreover, recommendations were identified for how to include digitalization and a game-based approach, for example, to enable integration with other tools, maintenance and constant update, to explore the benefits of team-based assessments and collaboration, to add diversity and customization, and to link the game to the user's context, application, expectations and requirements.

Adopting Lewin’s Force Field Analysis as Sustainable Tool to Reduce over Maize Dependence in Malawi

This study has found out that Malawi is currently entrenched in maize consumption while disregarding other healthier and cheaper food alternatives such as orange sweet potatoes, cassava and irish potatoes. This is leaving more Malawians malnourished while the country is suffering from massive forex drainage inhibiting the country from importing essential drugs and petroleum products. Continued over reliance on maize is therefore both an economic challenge and health hazard. Changing the current status quo however requires substantial commitment and Lewin’s Force Field Analysis was adopted to provide a platform to look at ways of redressing the current situation. There is a possibility of changing the current scenario through deliberate approaches in the school feeding programme.

Tropical grasses adaptability as a sustainable tool for recovering degraded pastures and restricting soil loss: Use diagnosis and future scenarios

Pastures, exposed soil and weeds correspond to 47.96% of Espírito Santo state territory, and most of these areas present low or no economic returns, due to the advanced degradation stage. Aiming to mitigate such effects, this study aimed to propose the insertion of high productive potential tropical grasses (Brachiaria brizantha, Cynodon dactylon and Panicum maximum), based on edaphoclimatic zoning elaborated in accordance with productive seasonality, as a low cost alternative to soil loss restriction and degraded areas recovery. The study has been developed for Espírito Santo state, Brazil and the method application consisted in edaphoclimatic zoning elaboration for three tropical grasses. A current soil loss estimate of suitable areas for Brachiaria cultivation was carried out later. Data from the current scenario were confronted with a new soil loss estimate in an alternative future scenario, aiming to quantify the grass insertion benefits in these areas according to their aptitude classes. The largest suitable areas were obtained for Cynodon genus, followed by Panicum and Brachiaria. Currently, it is estimated, on average, soil losses of 4.4 ton. ha−1. year−1 in dry season and 12.6 ton. ha−1. year−1 in rainy season. Projections into an alternative future scenario indicate that tropical grasses adoption considering technical criteria can lead to great soil loss reductions, achieving final rates of 0.24 ton. ha−1. year−1 in dry season (−94.5%) and 0.94 ton. ha−1. year−1 in rainy season (−92.5%), reducing new pasture areas demand and, consequently, promoting remnant forest conservation. This study results present significant contributions aimed at technical support of governmental and private action plans that work to promote conservationist and sustainable agricultural practices.

A Worldwide Survey on the Practices and Perceptions of Submaximal Fitness Tests in Team Sports.

To survey team-sport practitioners on current practices and perceptions of submaximal fitness tests (SMFTs). A convenience sample of team-sport practitioners completed an online survey (September to November 2021). Descriptive statistics were used to obtain information of frequencies. A mixed-model quantile (median) regression was employed to assess the differences between the perceived influence of extraneous factors. A total of 66 practitioners (74 discrete protocols) from 24 countries completed the survey. Time-efficient and nonexhaustive nature were considered the most important features of implementation. Practitioners prescribed a range of SMFTs, administered mostly on a monthly or weekly basis, but scheduling strategies appeared to differ across SMFT categories. Cardiorespiratory/metabolic outcome measures were collected in most protocols (n = 61; 82%), with the majority monitoring heart-rate-derived indices. Subjective outcome measures (n = 33; 45%) were monitored exclusively using ratings of perceived exertion. Mechanical outcome measures (n = 19; 26%) included either a combination of locomotor outputs (eg,distance covered) or variables derived from microelectrical mechanical systems. The perceived influence of extraneous factors on measurement accuracy varied according to outcome measure, and there was a lack of consensus among practitioners. Our survey showcases the methodological frameworks, practices, and challenges of SMFTs in team sports. The most important features for implementation perhaps support the use of SMFTs as a feasible and sustainable tool for monitoring in team sports. The wide variety of protocols, scheduling strategies, and outcome measures, along with their associated collection and analytical techniques, may reflect the absence of robust evidence regarding the application of SMFTs in team sports.

Mapping the performance indices of the entrepreneurial ecosystem

Sustainable entrepreneurship involves sustainable tools and methods. In order to successfully act on the three dimensions of sustainability – economic, ecological and social – entrepreneurs will assess their own potential and design strategic directions for companies. These processes can be streamlined by mapping the performance indices of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, which will help to understand the structure and dynamics of the business environment and to make informed decisions to improve it. By evaluating and monitoring performance indicators, weaknesses can be identified and effective strategies can be developed to stimulate innovation, economic growth and job creation. The assessed indices will include all aspects of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. This article, which is an extension of the study on the indices of sustainability of the business ecosystem, provides a summary of these indices and their categorization according to the enterprise environment components.

Exploring Students’ Experiences of Virtual Learning Environment for Art History Classroom

During the Covid 19, students and instructors experienced double-way synchronization distance classes. Recently, the metaverse was drawn much attention to the online virtual world as a channel for social interaction. It has received renewed interest as a new method of surmounting the limitations of external activities after the pandemic. A few studies have focused on the usability of metaverse in a classroom, but no attention was paid to its applicability to Art History as well as to the higher level of education. In order to compensate for the limitations of two-way synchronized remote learning in university art history classes, Gather.Town was adopted as a metaverse platform in both Western modern art history classes and art history methodology classes. In this study, we surveyed and interviewed students who used both WebEx and Gather.Town. This study examines students’ experiences in accessibility, social presence, convenience of interaction, interest and immersion, and satisfaction when the students use the metaverse platform, Gather.Town. The examination of this study confirms that the virtual space of metaverse was more helpful in making students feel a sense of presence, interaction, and engagement than WebEx and demonstrates the possibility of this platform as a sustainable and valid tool in Art History Education.

Role of nanotechnology as a zero waste tool

AbstractIn the advancing generation, commercialization and industrial development are on the incessant proliferation. Due to this unremitting need for development, the danger to the biological health of the environment is on the assurgent rise. Many “clean and green” industrial protocols have been generated and taken into purview but has been ineffective in keeping abreast with the ever‐growing pace of environmental threats. Technology in today's world has been the game changer in revolutionizing the way humans live their lives today but at the same time, has also become the greatest source of threat to the very sustainability of the planet. Thus, newer technological enhancements have been initiated to compensate for the harm to the environment. Of these, green and sustainable nanotechnological methodology and tools to be used as zero waste tools have been developed to efficiently beat the crisis of the hour. For example, the development of various nano‐based zero‐waste tools to the introduction of nanotechnology in various industries like automobiles, water, agriculture, and so on, has changed the way sustainable development has been adopted. This article aims to enhance the success of nanotechnology in the various sustainable developments done in industrial fields to cope up with the need of a “clean and green” environment.

Are we ready to transition to sustainable sheep production in New Zealand? A critical analysis from the perspectives of transition intention and sustainable tool adoption

Purpose This study aims to understand New Zealand sheep farmers’ readiness toward sustainability transition by assessing their intentions of transition and adoption of sustainability tools, with information collection considered to mediate the intention–adoption relationship.Design/methodology/approach Based on the data collected from a survey of New Zealand sheep farmers in 2021, the empirical analysis was developed to investigate farmers’ perceptions of and attitudes toward readiness to move toward a sustainability transition. Structural equation modeling associated with principal component analysis was used to empirically test the theory of planned behavior constructs.Findings The results show that pressure from the public and the sheep industry, and the perceived controls of transition drive the intention of sustainability transition; farmers with higher intention of sustainability transition are found to be more likely to adopt sustainability tools. However, there is an attitude–behavior gap, wherein positive attitudes toward sustainability transition may not lead to a higher likelihood of adopting sustainability tools. There is no evidence of the mediating role of information collection on the intention–adoption relationship, while a positive effect was found in information collection on the adoption of sustainability tools.Practical implications The empirical evidence indicates that policymakers need to help increase the awareness of sustainable production and help farmers overcome barriers to achieving sustainable production by finding ways to turn intentions into adoption.Originality/value Being the first attempt to empirically assess farmers’ readiness toward sustainability transition, the study fills the gap of limited understanding of the link between sustainability transition intention and sustainable tools adoption in sustainability transition.

Environmentally sustainable: How are the practices in the organic food tourist route?

This study analyzes Environmentally Sustainable Practices (ESPs) in the Organic Food Tourist Route (OFTR) in South Brazil. Data collection included interviews with open and closed questions about ESPs and the Barometer of Tourism Sustainability (BTS) tool. Eight owners or managers of OFTR's enterprises answered questions online or personally. Content analysis and descriptive statistics were used. Results indicated that tourism enterprises adopt ESPs according to each reality since some are dedicated to producing and commercializing organic products, while others are dedicated to lodging and guided tours. Managers realize the importance of adopting ESPs, enabling a decrease in expenses and the supply of organic products. Since tourists are concerned and careful with the environment nowadays, sustainability must be considered, becoming a differential. The enterprises develop ESPs, which makes the route potentially sustainable, following the standards established by the BTS. In order to achieve the “sustainable” level, the enterprises on the route need to improve their performance in many items whose results were less sustainable. From a theoretical perspective, this study contributed to understanding how ESPs were developed in enterprises and how they contribute to tourism development. The understanding of tourist routes expanded with an emphasis on sustainability, the environmental dimension, the ESPs, and organic agriculture. The BTS enabled the assessment of the sustainability of OFTR's enterprises.

Sustainable Communication Management Using the Balanced Scorecard: Evidence from a Japanese Hospital Based on Corporate Communication Theory

This paper presents a case study of a balanced scorecard at the Bethlehem Garden Hospital in Japan. About 80% of hospitals in Japan are running deficits, and each hospital must have sustainable management. The balanced scorecard is attracting attention as a hospital management tool in Japan. This paper aims to clarify the effectiveness of communication management using BSC. Since this theme is still under theoretical development, it will be analyzed by a case study. The research site is the Bethlehem Garden Hospital in Kiyose City, Tokyo, Japan, and it is a case study based on interviews, action research, and document analysis. This paper analyzes based on the framework of corporate communication and obtains several findings regarding BSC. In particular, it shows that using BSC as a tool for communication management may decrease the turnover rate. The case study shows that a balanced scorecard promotes strategy cascade and alignment for hospital staff. Furthermore, it suggests the possibility of leading to a decrease in turnover rate and an improvement in reputation. Namely, it indicates that BSC is a practical and sustainable communication management tool.

Benefits and Perspectives of Adopting Soybean-IPM: The Success of a Brazilian Programme

Abstract Soybean, Glycine max (Fabaceae), is considered one of the world’s most important crops. Planted on millions of hectares worldwide, the management of soybean pests usually requires large amounts of chemicals. Currently, integrated pest management (IPM) is one way to protect crops through the integration of different pest control tools based on plant tolerance, adoption of economic thresholds (ETs), scouting procedures, use of selective insecticides, biological control, and other sustainable pest management tools, which helps to maintain environmental quality in an ecological and economical manner. This soybean-IPM case study in Brazil is an example of how it is possible to manage soybean fields sustainably, preserving or even increasing productivity and reducing production costs, consequently, maximizing profits. In this case, we discuss the advantages and benefits as well as possible challenges for soybean-IPM adoption. We provide examples of how to reinforce the importance of IPM by focusing on experiences from Brazil, one of the major soybean producers and exporters in the world. We analyse IPM case studies to illustrate the importance for farmers to have easy and fast access to information on medium- and long-term benefits of IPM. Overall, this case highlights both the successful achievements of the Parana State in Brazil and how important IPM is for soybean sustainability. Information © The Authors 2023

Unpacking the ‘process of sustaining’—identifying threats to sustainability and the strategies used to address them: a longitudinal multiple case study

BackgroundAlthough sustainability remains a recognised challenge for Quality Improvement (QI) initiatives, most available research continues to investigate sustainability at the end of implementation. As a result, the learning and continuous adjustments that shape sustainability outcomes are lost. With little understanding of the actions and processes that influence sustainability within QI initiatives, there is limited practical guidance and direction on how to enhance the sustainability of QI initiatives. This study aims to unpack the ‘process of sustaining’, by exploring threats to sustainability encountered throughout the implementation of QI Initiatives and identifying strategies used by QI teams to address these threats over time.MethodsA longitudinal multiple case study design was employed to follow 4 QI initiatives over a 3-year period. A standardised sustainability tool was used quarterly to collect perceptions of sustainability threats and actions throughout implementation. Interviews (n=38), observations (32.5 h), documentary analysis, and a focus group (n=10) were conducted to enable a greater understanding of how the process of sustaining is supported in practice. Data were analysed using the Consolidated Framework for Sustainability (CFS) to conduct thematic analysis.ResultsAnalysis identified five common threats to sustainability: workforce stability, improvement timelines, organisational priorities, capacity for improvement, and stakeholder support. Each of these threats impacted multiple sustainability constructs demonstrating the complexity of the issues encountered. In response to threats, 12 strategies to support the process of sustaining were identified under three themes: engagement (five strategies that promoted the development of relationships), integration (three strategies that supported initiatives to become embedded within local systems), and adaptation (four strategies that enhanced understanding of, and response to, emergent conditions and contextual needs).ConclusionsSustaining improvements from QI initiatives requires continuous investment in relationships, resilience to integrate improvements in local systems, and flexibility to understand emergent conditions. Findings provide practitioners, funders, and researchers with a better understanding of, and preparation for, the threats associated with sustaining improvements from QI initiatives and offer insight into specific actions that can be taken to mitigate these risks. This learning can be used to inform future initiative design and support, to optimise the sustainability of healthcare improvements.Trial registrationNot applicable

How does environmental regulation affect productivity? The role of corporate compliance strategies

Existing research is mixed on whether environmental regulations improve productivity, yet few studies clarify the debate from the lens of corporate compliance strategies. We establish a partial-equilibrium model incorporating the choice of optimal compliance strategy and theoretically illustrate the relationship between environmental regulation and TFP. Taking China's most stringent New Environmental Protection Law (NEPL) as a quasi-experiment, we utilize Chinese-listed company data from 2010 to 2020 to verify their relationship. The results demonstrate that the NEPL enhances productivity at firm and industry levels, but the productivity-enhancing effect decays over time. Firms' compliance strategies of innovation, exit, and relocation are three mechanisms, of which innovation plays the most prominent role. Strategic choices are affected by human capital; firms with high human capital tend to innovate, while others choose to relocate or exit. Our findings highlight the importance of compliance strategies in impacting productivity and provide implications for regulators to design sustainable regulatory tools.

Deciphering Plant-Insect-Microorganism Signals for Sustainable Crop Production.

Agricultural crop productivity relies on the application of chemical pesticides to reduce pest and pathogen damage. However, chemical pesticides also pose a range of ecological, environmental and economic penalties. This includes the development of pesticide resistance by insect pests and pathogens, rendering pesticides less effective. Alternative sustainable crop protection tools should therefore be considered. Semiochemicals are signalling molecules produced by organisms, including plants, microbes, and animals, which cause behavioural or developmental changes in receiving organisms. Manipulating semiochemicals could provide a more sustainable approach to the management of insect pests and pathogens across crops. Here, we review the role of semiochemicals in the interaction between plants, insects and microbes, including examples of how they have been applied to agricultural systems. We highlight future research priorities to be considered for semiochemicals to be credible alternatives to the application of chemical pesticides.

Investigation of phytoextraction and tolerance capacity of Calotropis procera for the detoxification of hexavalent chromium, nickel, and lead

The aim of the present study is to reveal the phytoremediation capability of Calotropis procera in the selected region of Bandhwari landfills. Results affirmed that the excessive deposition of municipal solid waste changes the physico-chemical parameters of the soil, which may cause soil pollution. The pot experiment was set up for heavy metals (Cr, Ni, and Pb) analysis with three different concentrations (50 ppm,100 ppm, and 150 ppm). Samples were analyzed to assess the plant’s capability for phytoremediation after 42 days. In the current investigation, ICP-MS results revealed that chromium, nickel, and lead concentration is higher than the permissible limit as per WHO. Results showed that the bioaccumulation factor follows the order of Cr > Ni > Pb. The bioconcentration factor and translocation factor are 15.63 mg/kg and 11.36 mg/kg respectively for Calotropis procera and the highest among all other metal concentrations. Peroxidase activity increases with an increase in chromium ion concentration whereas comparatively less increase of peroxidases in different concentrations of lead and nickel. Peroxidase enzyme assay and photosynthetic pigment test were carried out for tolerance estimation and uptake mechanism of Calotropis procera. FTIR data revealed significant levels of chromium complexation and binding to Calotropis procera tissue via hydroxyl and carboxyl groups. Therefore, it can be concluded that Calotropis procera has the efficiency to provide an effective way to handle heavy metal pollution problems and act as an important cost-effective tool for sustainability and conservation of the environment.

Whole building circularity indicator: A circular economy assessment framework for promoting circularity and sustainability in buildings and construction

Circularity is finding its feet in construction. Several Building Circularity Indicators (BCIs) have been developed to measure buildings' Circular Economy (CE) potential, but none of them has been standardized. Currently, the BCIs methodologies lack consensus on CE definition and scope, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and various other technical aspects. New research is hardly building upon the existing works and this lack of incrementalism hinders the standardization process. The current research addresses these limitations by developing a comprehensive and innovative Whole-Building Circularity Indicator (WBCI). WBCI consolidates the existing advancements by including the best features of various methodologies (like VBCI, MCI, Flex 4.0, etc.) and covering a wide range of KPIs. It has been developed from a life cycle perspective, taking into account all material flows from the point of origin to disposal or waste treatment. The adopted methodology complements popular sustainability tools like Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The validation is done through a case study of a typical Italian residential building. WBCI along with an existing popular tool is applied to the case study using the actual building data to validate and highlight the improvements made in the developed framework. The building performed poorly in terms of circularity, scoring 0.243 on a scale of 0 (fully linear) to 1 (fully circular). It is found that resource-intensive construction processes and longer service life can substantially affect CE performance. Recommendations for improving the building circularity are given. From the methodological point of view, results emphasize that WBCI is a multilevel framework capable of identifying the best-performing CE solution at the material, element, system, and whole-building levels. Contractors, consultants, and policymakers may leverage WBCI's features to assess the circular performance of buildings at early stages. Researchers can also use the findings to further expand and standardize the BCIs.

Water and SnF2 Assisted Ultralow-Temperature Sintering of Mechanically Tough Y3Fe5O12 Composites for Magneto-Dielectric Antennas

Recently, the cold sintering process (CSP) has gained worldwide recognition from the scientific community as a green and innovative fabrication technique due to the substantial reduction of processing energy, time, and cost. The present work reports the preparation, fabrication, and properties of (1 – x)Y3Fe5O12–xSnF2 (x = 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 volume fraction) ceramic composites for the first time through the cold sintering process under 150 °C, by applying 300 MPa uniaxial pressure for 30 min. The evolved microstructures of the cold-sintered composites suggest enhanced densification with increasing SnF2 concentration. The evolution of the microstructure, consequent densification, and hardness of the composites can be due to the combined effect of water as a transient solvent and the relatively low melting point of SnF2. The main mechanism behind the densification in the SnF2-based system can be the liquid phase formation followed by pressure solution creep and plastic deformation. At the optimum additive concentration, the measured microhardness of the composite is around 4.7 GPa and its moisture absorption lies below 0.1%. The (1 – x)YIG–xSnF2 ceramics have relative permittivity (εr) in the range of 7.1–11.3 and loss tangent of the order of 10–2 at a frequency of 900 MHz. Further, the real part of permeability and the corresponding loss tangent lie below 2 and 10–1, respectively, at 900 MHz. Herein, a microstrip patch antenna (MPA) is designed, simulated, and fabricated using the 0.5YIG–0.5SnF2 composite, which shows excellent performance at 5.29 GHz with a return loss of −17.9 dB and an impedance bandwidth of 780 MHz. Hence, cold sintering using SnF2-based additives is considered a sustainable, energy-efficient, and cost-effective tool for the densification of magneto-dielectric materials.