Various Aspects Of Sustainability Research Articles

Digital tools and digital pedagogy for placemaking

PurposeThe surge of digital technologies and information communication technologies poses a challenge to traditional placemaking, influencing how people live, communicate and connect with their environments. In response, placemaking practices are integrating emerging digital technologies, giving rise to digital placemaking. This digital approach aims to present new opportunities for establishing a sense of place, encouraging unique interactions and adding value to communities in social, economic, cultural and environmental aspects.Design/methodology/approachThis paper aims to examine the current landscape of digital tools and apps that facilitate digital placemaking. Conducting an extensive literature review, the research evaluates these tools based on their positive contributions to placemaking, categorizing them according to the aspects they enhance in the placemaking process. These aspects include social dynamics, cultural influences, environmental considerations, artistic qualities, heritage preservation, support for human well-being, urban development and opportunities for digital collaboration among citizens. Additionally, the paper explores digital pedagogy for placemaking, analyzing various tools for their educational approach, knowledge production methods and learning outcomes.FindingsThe findings indicate a growing trend in utilizing digital tools for placemaking, driven by technological advancements like augmented and virtual reality, artificial intelligence and the internet of things. Similar to traditional placemaking, digital practices are collaborative and context-dependent, requiring engagement from multiple stakeholders for optimal success. Notably, successful digital placemaking apps often incorporate interactivity and multimodality. Digital collaborative platforms can significantly impact placemaking and sustainable urban design, serving as effective tools for both bottom-up and top-down knowledge production and learning related to placemaking.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings of this study must be seen considering certain limitations. The scoping review utilized analysis of most relevant bibliometric databases, however, in the domain of digital placemaking there are undertakings by private companies, nongovernmental as well as governmental organizations which are not cited in the scientific databases. This limitation was tackled by using conventional search engines like Google and Bing to identify and study such projects. Also, it must be noted that the digital domain is rapidly developing and being integrated in digital placemaking. Even more, the artificial intelligence technology, which is being applied across all disciplines, with so far unforeseen possibilities, should be further examined how it is being adopted and implemented in the domain of digital placemaking and which are its impacts in the placemaking processes and outcomes.Originality/valueDespite these advancements, many digital tools lack a comprehensive approach to address the various aspects of sustainability in placemaking. Consequently, further research is needed to develop digital tools that adopt a holistic approach, ensuring justifiability and feasibility in social, environmental and economic terms. Furthermore, in alignment with the goals of the EU Green Deal, incorporating Circular Economy principles into the development of new digital placemaking methods and tools is crucial.

Identifying and Dealing with Interdependencies and Conflicts between Goals in Manufacturing Companies’ Sustainability Measures

Companies are increasingly focusing on sustainable business practices. Internal and external stakeholders’ expectations manifest in legal requirements, national and international standards, and market and customer expectations, among other things, must be considered. In addition to profit maximization, which is the usual target for corporate management, management must consider environmental sustainability aspects such as resource efficiency, greenhouse gas intensity, and a company’s emissions behavior. In addition, social aspects related to the company’s employees, the immediate urban environment, the situation in the supply chain, and effects on the market environment must increasingly be considered. Specifically, companies are faced with the challenge of dealing with conflicting objectives regarding the various aspects of sustainability and, if necessary, weighing them up against each other. These trade-offs must be made against the company’s socio-economic and ecological environment, corporate strategy, and sustainability goals. This paper provides an overview of current approaches and research gaps on this topic through a literature review. It highlights the lack of methods and frameworks to specifically deal with trade-offs and conflicts between goals.

Sustainable library services with open-source library automation and digitisation software: A literature review

The aim of this paper is to show the published research on library service sustainability using open-source software (OSS). This paper emphasises the highly cited literature, document type, author, year of publication, publishers, and the keywords used to discover the document from the different databases. In addition, this literature review examines the factors that contribute to the sustainability of open-source library automation and digitization software. The review analyzes various aspects of sustainability, including community support, user adoption, technical expertise, funding, software customization, integration with other systems, documentation and training, and governance and decision-making. The findings suggest that sustainability is influenced by multiple factors, and libraries must invest in resources such as funding, staff training, and community support to ensure the continued use and relevance of OSS. The review concludes by highlighting future research directions and recommendations for libraries to improve the sustainability of their OSS services.

Consumer Willingness-to-Pay for Sustainable Coffee: Evidence from a Choice Experiment on Fairtrade and UTZ Certification

Sustainability labels serve as crucial instruments facilitating the presentation of credible product attributes, enabling consumers to assess various aspects of sustainability in their purchasing decisions. This study aims to evaluate consumers’ preferences and willingness to pay for sustainable certifications, specifically Fairtrade and UTZ certification, within the coffee sector in Spain. Employing the choice experiment approach, an online survey involving 547 Spanish consumers was conducted, and a conditional logit model was estimated. The findings indicate that consumers exhibit positive utility towards both sustainability labels examined. Furthermore, the results reveal that consumers are willing to pay a premium of EUR 1.481 per 250 g for the Fairtrade label and EUR 1.379 per 250 g for the UTZ label. The proposed model offers an initial insight into willingness to pay for sustainable coffee in Spain. These results furnish valuable insights for the coffee sector in crafting effective marketing strategies to bolster initiatives promoting sustainable production practices and expanding market access for certified coffee products.

Environmental Education on Sustainable Principles in Kindergartens—A Foundation or an Option?

Preschool education plays an important role because it lays the foundation for a child’s cognitive, social, and emotional development and shapes responsible and informed individuals. Early childhood education teaches values such as sustainability, environmental protection, and social responsibility. By integrating sustainability into preschool education, we are cultivating an environmentally conscious generation that will contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future. The aim of this study was to determine if there are differences in attitudes and knowledge about various aspects of sustainability (such as gardening, plants, food and proper nutrition, and waste recycling) among children attending two different kindergarten educational programs (ecological and language programs). The study was conducted using the F2F-PAPI survey method and included 58 children aged 4 to 6 years. The results showed that children from the ecological program had greater knowledge of sustainability topics than children whose program focused on early foreign language learning (t(44) = 12.542, p = 0.000). Taking into account the desirable diversity of different educational programs in kindergartens, the results suggest that it is necessary to include environmental education to a greater extent as a foundation in the curricula of mandatory regular programs if we are to achieve some of the key sustainable development goals.

AI for Sustainable Development: Addressing Environmental and Social Challenges

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies holds significant promise in addressing pressing environmental and social challenges, thus contributing to sustainable development efforts worldwide. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the role of AI in tackling various aspects of sustainability, including environmental conservation, resource management, climate change mitigation, and social equity. By leveraging AI techniques such as machine learning, optimization, and data analytics, innovative solutions are being developed to monitor ecosystems, optimize energy consumption, enhance agricultural practices, and promote social inclusion. However, alongside these opportunities, there are also ethical, regulatory, and socio-economic considerations that must be carefully addressed to ensure that AI interventions contribute positively to sustainable development goals. This paper highlights recent advancements, challenges, and future directions in utilizing AI for sustainable development, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and stakeholder engagement in realizing the full potential of AI-enabled solutions.

Sustainability Practices in Polygrain Operations

Sustainability has emerged as a critical consideration in the operations of polygrain businesses, driven by increasing environmental awareness, regulatory pressures, and consumer demand for ethically sourced and environmentally friendly products. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of sustainability practices in polygrain operations, focusing on strategies adopted by businesses to minimize their ecological footprint while maintaining economic viability. The research examines various aspects of sustainability within polygrain operations, including sustainable sourcing of raw materials, energy- efficient processing methods, waste reduction and recycling initiatives, and efforts to promote biodiversity and ecosystem conservation. Drawing on a review of existing literature, case studies, and industry reports, the paper identifies best practices and innovative approaches employed by leading polygrain companies to integrate sustainability into their operations. Furthermore, the paper explores the challenges and barriers faced by polygrain businesses in implementing sustainability practices, such as the trade-off between environmental goals and economic performance, regulatory compliance, supply chain complexities, and stakeholder engagement. It also discusses the potential benefits of sustainability initiatives, including cost savings, enhanced brand reputation, and long-term resilience in the face of environmental risks and market uncertainties. Overall, this paper offers valuable insights into the role of sustainability in shaping the future of polygrain operations, highlighting opportunities for businesses to embrace environmentally responsible practices while driving innovation and competitive advantage in the global marketplace. Keywords: Sustainability, Polygrain operations, Sustainable sourcing, Energy efficiency, Waste reduction, Recycling.

An empirical study on implementation of sustainable production practices in Indian manufacturing industry

PurposeSustainable production (SP) is an efficient and influential approach of production for Indian manufacturing industries as it preserves the social, environmental and economic aspects of production activities altogether. The objective of this research work is to investigate the implementation status of SP practices in Indian manufacturing industries by utilizing empirical survey methodology.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire survey methodology was adapted, and the questionnaire was prepared by intense literature survey along with by opinions from experts in the field of SP. This questionnaire was sent to 753 different organizations at different locations across India. This study collected responses from manufacturing industries as per 2021 directory of Confederation of Indian Industries for the duration of 7 week. Top level managers were the target respondents. The study propagated with 242 responses which were observed complete in all respects.FindingsThe study identified that though the majority of the organizations are claiming to follow SP practices since long time, they actually are lagging in proper understanding SP practices. Majority of them are implementing it in specific departments in their organization. They are coming across multiple barriers in the implementation of SP practices among which unrecognized financial benefits and lack of proper government policies are prime. The study suggests that the Indian organizations needs feasible framework with adaptable guidelines.Research limitations/implicationsThis work is centered towards manufacturing organizations and targets only the leading industrial sectors in India. Thus, the outcomes of this study may not be generalized for all the sectors of Indian industries. Additionally, it can also be assumed that higher number of responses would have contributed to more clear visualization of implementation status of SP practices among Indian industries.Originality/valueSustainable approaches in production activities are very lucrative for industries worldwide, due to their advantages. Numerous researchers are also putting their efforts to explore more about various aspects of sustainability. Mostly they are focusing on single or few aspects of SP and its implementation in particular region or country. Very few research works are dedicated to knowing the implementation status of SP in Indian manufacturing industries and they are limited in various aspects. This study presents a dedicated approach to investigate the implementation status of SP practices in Indian manufacturing industries.

Educating preservice teachers in sustainability: Conceptions, values and attitudes of students and lecturers at the university

The university has the ethical, academic, and peremptory responsibility to train education students and future trainers in sustainability. It is also something that lecturers must be prepared to address. Through a pretest-posttest study, we analyze which sustainability values and attitudes preservice teacher acquire when they work with activities on sustainability. A total of 359 students completed the process. At the same time, we analyze the attitudes and knowledge held by the lecturers who carry out these activities in sustainability education. The findings regarding the difficulty students have in integrating the various aspects of sustainability are discussed, as well as the gaps and resistance of the lecturers who design and develop such processes. Future research could be designed in such a way that causal relationships could be established between the type of instructional design, the results obtained, and the conceptions and beliefs of lecturers regarding sustainability.

Community Participation in Sustainable Tourism: A case study in Balige, Indonesia

The current tourism industry always incorporates the concept of sustainability. Escalating the economy of a region is achievable by employing sustainable tourism. Balige is a priority destination on the national development agenda. Community participation may promote various aspects of sustainability, including the economy. This research aims to determine what forms of community participation can be employed to develop the economy. This study utilizes a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods. The data was collected through questionnaires, interviews, and observations. The research concludes with recommendations to develop the economy through community participation, helping to achieve sustainable tourism in Balige.

The Multi-Faceted Practice of Architectural Sustainability Found in the Regional Architecture of Vorarlberg, Austria

The biggest and increasingly more urgent challenge of the twenty-first century has become how a more sustainable level of development can be achieved. In order to bring about a better sustainable approach to ‘development’ it is necessary to address various different challenges of economy and society simultaneously. By examining the various aspects of sustainability found in the contemporary regional architecture of Vorarlberg, Austria, this paper attempts to highlight a more holistic and multi-faceted practice of architectural sustainability. The literature review on the definition of sustainable architecture and the architectural culture of Vorarlberg will be followed by the characteristic examination of four case studies. The common characteristics found from the evaluation were matched with some of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Goals to illustrate the multi-layered and connected nature of the sustainability qualities. The results of the research is indicative of a more holistic notion of architectural sustainability that is beyond energy-oriented and the functional efficiency of a building. Rather, it would mean the sustainability of a region, as a whole, when it encompasses the continuation of heritage, the way of living as well as how a building should be responding to the environment throughout its life-cycle.

Transformation of the Urban Energy–Mobility Nexus: Implications for Sustainability and Equity

In the coming decades, decarbonization of society in response to climate change will result in transformation of urban systems, especially in the energy and mobility sectors. This transformation will likely lead to stronger links between both sectors, which may have both desired and undesirable consequences. However, current policies are predominantly sectoral and tend to assume only a positive impact of the transformation of the energy–mobility nexus on urban sustainability. We conducted a systematic literature review, which covered 78 articles, to identify the interactions between the transformations of urban energy and mobility systems, their impacts on various aspects of sustainability and equity, and the relevant policies that target the nexus. The results show that the positive impacts of the transformation of the urban energy–mobility nexus are outnumbered by negative impacts on various aspects of sustainability and equity. A major equity issue concerns a possible reinforcement of socio-spatial inequalities in access to renewable self-production of electricity, electric vehicles, their integration, and the associated benefits. In conclusion, the issue of socio-spatial inequalities should be a priority for further research and policy development, given the currently limited understanding of these equity risks and the growing emphasis on the need for a just transition.

Industry 4.0: State, problems, prospects of HoReCa in Ukraine

Globalization has a profound effect on the structures of many spheres with all its dimensions. Therefore, various progressive trends affect the modern trends of our life. Current and future trends can be considered by factors such as emergency situations (pandemic, etc.), technology (Industry 4.0, etc.), the phenomenon of sustainable development (environmentally friendly practices, etc.). In this context, the hospitality and catering industry attracts attention both with its new trends and the prospects of digital transformation in the future innovative development. Modern HoReCa business requires the implementation of various aspects of sustainability, innovation and new approaches in communication with consumers, as well as the implementation of new trends, which are caused by both the Covid-19 pandemic and the consequences of Russia's military aggression in Ukraine. For the business of the service industry, it is very important to know both yourself and your customers, and in the current period to be aware of the dynamics of the future market. In 2023, the hospitality industry is taking bold steps, including in Ukraine, where possible. The top trends show that business owners want and are finding innovative ways to improve the guest experience inside and outside the establishment. Businesses should develop strategies in this direction with the awareness of their strengths and weaknesses. In order to identify the strategies that will shape the service industry in 2023 and the following years, Internet research and forecasting by leading businessmen are carried out and analyzed. And even HoReCa enterprises are not in the first ranks of “the fourth great upheaval in production”, and the entire economy of Ukraine is now directed to military defense against the enemy, that time is not far when it will reach the same level with others in innovative development. In this context, this investigation is aimed at holistical assessment of trends and forecasts in the hospitality and catering industry, contribution to the literature and offering suggestions to relevant stakeholders.

Current trends and perspectives in the restaurant industry

Globalization has a profound effect on the structures of many spheres with all its dimensions. Therefore, various progressive trends affect the modern trends of our life. Current and future trends are considered by such factors as emergency situations (pandemic, etc.), technology (Industry 4.0, etc.), the phenomenon of sustainable development (environmentally friendly practices, etc.). In this context, the restaurant business, which is one of the components of the tourism industry, attracts attention with its new trends. It is proven that the modern restaurant business requires the implementation of various aspects of sustainability, innovation and new approaches in communication with consumers, as well as the implementation of new restaurant trends. The restaurant industry trends testify that owners are finding innovative ways to improve the guest experience inside and outside the establishment, whether they are running a fast-food or a full-service restaurant. founding or researching an entirely new concept. Consumer food preferences and economic conditions indicate major restaurant trends and strategies that remain unchanged. It is found that whether restaurant business implements a contactless payment strategy, experiments with online ordering, or uses automation to combat labor shortages, restaurants are finding creative ways to build meaningful relationships with their staff and customers. To identify the strategies that will shape the restaurant industry in 2023 and beyond, Internet search research and forecasting of leading restaurateurs is carried out and analyzed. During this research the trends and forecasts in the restaurant industry are holistically assessed and suggestions to relevant stakeholders are offered.

The role of place branding in promoting social capital in urban areas (case study: Ahvaz, Iran)

The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of neighborhood branding in increasing its social capital. The issue of social capital at the neighborhood scale is one of the most important components of quality and for achieving various aspects of sustainability in human life in urban societies. Examining the background of this issue shows that paying attention to the potential of place branding as an essential and effective component in increasing the social capital in neighborhoods has not been seriously studied. This study aims to know the components and measures of place branding that can significantly impact increasing social capital. The conceptual model of this research has been tested in 13 neighborhoods of Ahvaz city and using the opinions of 663 residents of these neighborhoods. The research results show that social capital in neighborhoods is directly related to the brand of those neighborhoods. This study is limited to metropolises with diversity of architecture and diversity of texture and social structure in Iran. The results show that place branding with a coefficient of 0.77 has the highest impact on social values. The impact of place branding on social solidarity, social security, social participation, and place-belonging is equal to 0.61, 0.55, 0.39, and 0.33, respectively.

A macro-scale sustainability assessment of micro-scale traffic smoothing projects in highways

ABSTRACT Generally, urban traffic management evaluates micro-scale projects based on traffic indices, such as travel time, that ignore the sustainability criteria and impacts of changes on adjacent areas. Therefore, the aim is to assess the sustainability of micro-scale traffic congestion removal projects on highways with a wider vision. Five proposed scenarios were evaluated using ten sustainable transportation indicators (STIs) that represent various aspects of sustainability. Scenarios were simulated in Aimsun, and STIs were derived directly and indirectly from the outputs. The results showed that even small changes could improve the operation of the network. Finally, a decision-making method was implemented to prioritize the scenarios. The combination of STIs based on the criteria for the Tehran 2025 horizon as a composite sustainability index (CSI) helped to determine impacts of each scenario. Although all scenarios improved traffic indices of the network, some failed sustainability criteria.

Does waste management affect firm performance? International evidence

This study examines an important yet underexplored aspect of firms’ sustainability practices, i.e., waste management, in order to analyze its impact on financial performance. Although the extant literature has focused on various aspects of sustainability, the impact of waste management, which has disastrous consequences for the climate and firm performance, remains largely unexplored. Thus, using the 2002–2019 data of listed firms from 41 countries, we found a significantly negative (positive) relationship between waste generation (recycling) and financial performance. Our findings are robust to alternative variables, sub-sample analysis, and identification strategies. Moreover, a channel analysis showed that this relationship is influenced by operating costs, ESG performance-based compensation, industry nature, the Paris agreement on climate change, and the global financial crisis. Overall, the findings suggest that environmental initiatives are beneficial for firms and present important policy implications for regulators and firms.

Sustainability Monitoring with Robotic Accounting—Integration of Financial and Environmental Farm Data

The production of farm sustainability indicators is vital for all actors in the food chain. This paper shows how robotic accounting could assist in the monitoring and compliance of farm performance, to assess the various aspects of sustainability. We show how financial farm accounting, which is routine on most farms, can be extended to deliver a range of sustainability metrics. Using farm invoices from the Netherlands and Ireland, we show that many invoices contain volume data that can be used to calculate environmental indicators such as pesticide use, mass balances (especially needed in organic farming), material balances of N and P, energy use, antibiotics use, etc. Using a number of illustrative use cases, we show the feasibility of deriving both financial and sustainability data from invoices. Standard algorithms can be used to link the invoice data to bank payment data and code it with a chart of accounts using a simple data and process model. Linking invoices with bank data provides advantages with respect to completeness, reliability, and efficiency. We describe a software tool that provides flexible data management processes that can easily be adapted by the user to collect new data that reflect emerging environmental or social concerns. Data collectors can set up procedures in which new types of data can be acquired or new indicators calculated, avoiding the need for software reprogramming. The digitalisation of invoices, ideally in a standard (UBL) format, is a necessary step to facilitate the process described. This digital format would lead to reduced accounting costs and at the same time could also provide farmers with a dashboard of sustainability indicators. Once invoices are digitalised, accounting costs drop, the potential for errors or omissions is reduced, and the administrative burden for environmental accounting diminishes due to the low marginal cost of data management.

50th Anniversary of TPRC—Research Conference on Communications, Information and Internet Policy: Looking Ahead to the Next 50 Years

50th Anniversary of TPRC—Research Conference on Communications, Information and Internet Policy: Looking Ahead to the Next 50 Years

EU marketing standards and sustainability

AbstractIn 2020, the European Union (EU) introduced the new Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy, an innovative new strategy to make the EU food system sustainable. The review of the EU marketing standards for food products is implemented as part of the Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy. While the deal provides an increased focus on sustainability, the new review of the marketing standards extends to factor in the potential impact of modifying the current standards on sustainability. This article identifies parts of the current marketing standards that may affect various aspects of sustainability and discusses the potential impact and trade‐offs with modifying these elements in the supply chain. To illustrate the implications of marketing standards for sustainability, we focus on three broad case studies: food waste, food chain innovation, and climate conscious consumers.