Sustainability

19 pages, 1186 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tourism and Development in Developing Economies: A Policy Implication Perspective

by Asif Khan, Sughra Bibi, Ardito Lorenzo, Jiaying Lyu and Zaheer Udden Babar

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1618; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041618 - 21 Feb 2020

Cited by 188 | Viewed by 26023

Tourism is considered a competent driver of development in emerging economies. This study assesses the role of tourism in shaping the fundamental pillars of development in developing economies by targeting the case of Pakistan. Various econometric techniques and approaches were used to investigate [...] Read more.

Tourism is considered a competent driver of development in emerging economies. This study assesses the role of tourism in shaping the fundamental pillars of development in developing economies by targeting the case of Pakistan. Various econometric techniques and approaches were used to investigate the causal relationships of tourism with economic growth, energy and agriculture development, and poverty. This study highlights the important role of tourism in the development of emerging economies. The findings of our study suggest that a 1% increase in tourism significantly enhances gross domestic product (GPD) by 0.051%, foreign direct investment by 2.647%, energy development by 0.134%, and agriculture development by 0.26%, and reduces poverty by 0.51% in the long run. Hence, policy-makers should be informed that through public interventions, tourism can advance development by the design and implementation of integrated policies in developing economies. In addition, policy consistency and coherence are essential for competitiveness, sustainability, and maximizing benefits from tourism. Full article

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15 pages, 1358 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Brand of Companies and Greenwashing under Sustainable Development Goals

by Tetyana Pimonenko, Yuriy Bilan, Jakub Horák, Liudmyla Starchenko and Waldemar Gajda

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1679; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041679 - 24 Feb 2020

Cited by 137 | Viewed by 31340

Abstract

Implementing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and increasing environmental issues provokes changes in consumers’ and stakeholders’ behavior. Thus, stakeholders try to invest in green companies and projects; consumers prefer to buy eco-friendly products instead of traditional ones; and consumers and investors refuse to deal [...] Read more.

Implementing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and increasing environmental issues provokes changes in consumers’ and stakeholders’ behavior. Thus, stakeholders try to invest in green companies and projects; consumers prefer to buy eco-friendly products instead of traditional ones; and consumers and investors refuse to deal with unfair green companies. In this case, the companies should quickly adapt their strategy corresponding to the new trend of transformation from overconsumption to green consumption. This process leads to increasing the frequency of using greenwashing as an unfair marketing instrument to promote the company’s green achievements. Such companies’ behavior leads to a decrease in trust in the company’s green brand from the green investors. Thus, the aim of the study is to check the impact of greenwashing on companies’ green brand. For that purpose, the partial least-squares structural equation modeling (PLS-PM), content analysis and Fishbourne methods were used. The dataset for analysis was obtained from the companies’ websites and financial and non-financial reports. The objects of analysis were Ukrainian large industrial companies, which work not only in the local market but also in the international one. The findings proved that a one point increase in greenwashing leads to a 0.56 point decline in the company’s green brand with a load factor of 0.78. The most significant variable (loading factor 0.34) influencing greenwashing was the information at official websites masking the company’s real economic goals. Thus, a recommendation for companies is to eliminate greenwashing through the publishing of detailed official reports of the companies’ green policy and achievements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Communities: Economic, Social and Environmental Dimensions)

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20 pages, 897 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Internal and External Determinants of Consumer Engagement in Sustainable Consumption

by Žaneta Piligrimienė, Andželika Žukauskaitė, Hubert Korzilius, Jūratė Banytė and Aistė Dovalienė

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1349; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041349 - 12 Feb 2020

Cited by 128 | Viewed by 18650

Abstract

Rapid population growth together with improving living standards is causing bigger and more rapid consumption of resources in industrial, household and personal consumption areas. Unsustainable consumption patterns are negatively affecting our surroundings. In order to promote sustainable consumption it is important to engage [...] Read more.

Rapid population growth together with improving living standards is causing bigger and more rapid consumption of resources in industrial, household and personal consumption areas. Unsustainable consumption patterns are negatively affecting our surroundings. In order to promote sustainable consumption it is important to engage consumers in active and mutual dialogue. This study introduces the construct of consumer engagement into the context of sustainable consumption and aims at revealing the factors influencing consumer engagement in sustainable consumption. Two groups of factors, internal and external, each comprising three determinants (environmental attitude, perceived responsibility and perceived behavioral efficiency; and conditions for sustainable consumption, social environment and promotion of sustainable consumption) were identified as having direct positive impact on consumer engagement in sustainable consumption, which in turn had a positive impact on green product buying. The results revealed an important mediating role of the consumer engagement construct, suggesting that application of the engagement construct in the context of sustainable consumption would allow a deepening understanding of actual consumer behavior related with different contexts of sustainable consumption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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23 pages, 2719 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Impact Assessment of Food Waste Management Using Two Composting Techniques

by Aisha Al-Rumaihi, Gordon McKay, Hamish R. Mackey and Tareq Al-Ansari

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1595; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041595 - 20 Feb 2020

Cited by 124 | Viewed by 22187

Abstract

Food waste is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and therefore global warming. As such, the management of food waste can play a fundamental role in the reduction of preventable emissions associated with food waste. In this study, life cycle assessment [...] Read more.

Food waste is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and therefore global warming. As such, the management of food waste can play a fundamental role in the reduction of preventable emissions associated with food waste. In this study, life cycle assessment (LCA) has been used to evaluate and compare the environmental impact associated with two composting techniques for treating food waste using SimaPro software; windrow composting and the hybrid anaerobic digestion (AD) method. The study, based on a 1 tonne of food waste as a functional unit for a case study in the State of Qatar, concludes that anaerobic digestion combined composting presents a smaller environmental burden than windrow composting. The majority of the emissions generated are due to the use of fossil fuels during transportation, which correspond to approximately 60% of the total impact, followed by the impact of composting with 40% of the impact especially in terms of global warming potential. Environmental assessment impacts were the highest in windrow composting for the acidification impact category (9.39 × 10 − 1 kg SO₂ eq). While for AD combined composting the impact was highest for the human toxicity impact category (3.47 × 10 kg 1,4 − DB eq). Full article

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18 pages, 743 KiB

Open AccessArticle

What Sustainability? Higher Education Institutions’ Pathways to Reach the Agenda 2030 Goals

by Isabel Ruiz-Mallén and María Heras

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1290; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041290 - 11 Feb 2020

Cited by 124 | Viewed by 16678

Abstract

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have the mandate of promoting sustainability through addressing the Agenda 2030. However, how this is being understood and framed in both discourse and practice by HEIs remains an underexplored issue. This article interrogates the concept of sustainability embraced by [...] Read more.

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have the mandate of promoting sustainability through addressing the Agenda 2030. However, how this is being understood and framed in both discourse and practice by HEIs remains an underexplored issue. This article interrogates the concept of sustainability embraced by ten key HEIs networks at global and regional levels while identifying and discussing the main pathways for action displayed. We rely on HEIs networks’ data from available online documents related to the Agenda 2030. “Greening” is the dominant sustainability discourse among the global and many regional HEIs networks, that is, the one that refers to the links between people, planet and profit. Two other discourses are minor and regional, “resilience” and “alternative”. The “alternative” discourse is the only one entailing a critical approach to the Agenda 2030 goals. All networks promote changes in HEIs organizational culture to embed sustainability values in strategic planning, academic and managerial work. Yet there is a need for further engagement with society to readdress HEIs societal role. Deep and critical reflection of the worldviews, contradictions and tensions in the discourses and practices proposed by HEIs networks at global and regional scales is also needed to build common pathways toward sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Higher Education Institutions and Sustainable Development – Implementing a Whole-Institution Approach)

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18 pages, 666 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Digital Financial Inclusion and Farmers’ Vulnerability to Poverty: Evidence from Rural China

by Xue Wang and Guangwen He

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1668; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041668 - 23 Feb 2020

Cited by 122 | Viewed by 13597

Abstract

Access to finance is often cited as a key factor for sustainable poverty alleviation, but expanding access to the poor remains an important challenge for financial institutions. Much hope has, therefore, been placed in the transformative power of digital financial inclusion. However, evidence [...] Read more.

Access to finance is often cited as a key factor for sustainable poverty alleviation, but expanding access to the poor remains an important challenge for financial institutions. Much hope has, therefore, been placed in the transformative power of digital financial inclusion. However, evidence on the relationship between digital financial inclusion and poverty is limited. This paper is one of the first attempts to study the effects of digital financial inclusion on farmers’ vulnerability to poverty in China, using survey data on 1900 rural households. Vulnerability to poverty, here defined as the likelihood of poverty in the future, is measured by the Asset-Based Vulnerability model. In our survey, the proportion of farmers using digital financial services is 35.63%. Our estimations show that farmers’ use of digital financial services have positive effects on reduction in their vulnerability. We also find that such effects rely mainly on improvement in farmers’ ability to cope with risk, that is, alleviating their vulnerability induced by risk. Further investigation reveals that digital financial services provided by ICT companies have a larger impact on farmers’ vulnerability than that provided by traditional banks. The lessons learned from China’s digital financial inclusion is valuable for other developing countries where financial exclusion looms large. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability, Digital Transformation and Fintech: The New Challenges of the Banking Industry)

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14 pages, 1991 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prediction of Risk Delay in Construction Projects Using a Hybrid Artificial Intelligence Model

by Zaher Mundher Yaseen, Zainab Hasan Ali, Sinan Q. Salih and Nadhir Al-Ansari

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1514; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041514 - 18 Feb 2020

Cited by 115 | Viewed by 17102

Abstract

Project delays are the major problems tackled by the construction sector owing to the associated complexity and uncertainty in the construction activities. Artificial Intelligence (AI) models have evidenced their capacity to solve dynamic, uncertain and complex tasks. The aim of this current study [...] Read more.

Project delays are the major problems tackled by the construction sector owing to the associated complexity and uncertainty in the construction activities. Artificial Intelligence (AI) models have evidenced their capacity to solve dynamic, uncertain and complex tasks. The aim of this current study is to develop a hybrid artificial intelligence model called integrative Random Forest classifier with Genetic Algorithm optimization (RF-GA) for delay problem prediction. At first, related sources and factors of delay problems are identified. A questionnaire is adopted to quantify the impact of delay sources on project performance. The developed hybrid model is trained using the collected data of the previous construction projects. The proposed RF-GA is validated against the classical version of an RF model using statistical performance measure indices. The achieved results of the developed hybrid RF-GA model revealed a good resultant performance in terms of accuracy, kappa and classification error. Based on the measured accuracy, kappa and classification error, RF-GA attained 91.67%, 87% and 8.33%, respectively. Overall, the proposed methodology indicated a robust and reliable technique for project delay prediction that is contributing to the construction project management monitoring and sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction Engineering and Management)

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21 pages, 2329 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Digitalization: An Opportunity for Contributing to Sustainability From Knowledge Creation

by Joaquín Ordieres-Meré, Tomás Prieto Remón and Jesús Rubio

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1460; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041460 - 15 Feb 2020

Cited by 115 | Viewed by 12359

Abstract

This paper aims at exploring the perspective of sustainability when digital transformation is adopted by one organization, although it was not the first goal targeted. Two different cases are analyzed, covering manufacturing and service industries. In those cases different factors will be analyzed, [...] Read more.

This paper aims at exploring the perspective of sustainability when digital transformation is adopted by one organization, although it was not the first goal targeted. Two different cases are analyzed, covering manufacturing and service industries. In those cases different factors will be analyzed, mainly focused on the positive effects of knowledge creation facilitated by direct or indirect application of digitalization. Specific analysis of different cases were carried out to identify different initiatives and the impact on environmental performance. The positive effects of the institutional dimension were also assessed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Smart Production Operations Management and Industry 4.0)

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18 pages, 1034 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Social Media Usage Characteristics on e-WOM, Trust, and Brand Equity: Focusing on Users of Airline Social Media

by Eun Ju Seo, Jin-Woo Park and Yu Jin Choi

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1691; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041691 - 24 Feb 2020

Cited by 106 | Viewed by 24735

Abstract

Brand equity is a valuable intangible asset for companies, yet is increasingly difficult in managing in an era with hard to control social media. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of social media usage characteristics on electronic word-of-mouth (e-WOM), [...] Read more.

Brand equity is a valuable intangible asset for companies, yet is increasingly difficult in managing in an era with hard to control social media. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of social media usage characteristics on electronic word-of-mouth (e-WOM), trust, and brand equity by dividing the characteristics to personality, social, and information. A survey was administered to 430 respondents who had experience of using airline social media and the collected data was analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results showed that the personality and informational characteristics from social media usage had statistically significant effects on e-WOM. It was found that the e-WOM had significant effects on trust and also on brand awareness. The trust was shown to have a statistically significant effect on brand awareness and brand image. Therefore, this study categorizes social media usage characteristics into three characteristics: personality characteristics, social characteristics, and information characteristics, and each of these usage characteristics present a strategy to improve actual brand equity of airline through e-WOM and trust in empirical methods. The findings of this study are expected to provide fundamental data for the development of strategies related to airline social media. In addition, this study has implications for suggesting to improve brand equity through e-WOM and trust. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Tourism in the Social Media and Big Data Era)

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15 pages, 585 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Digitalization of Agri-Cooperatives in the Smart Agriculture Context. Proposal of a Digital Diagnosis Tool

by Antonio Manuel Ciruela-Lorenzo, Ana Rosa Del-Aguila-Obra, Antonio Padilla-Meléndez and Juan José Plaza-Angulo

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1325; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041325 - 12 Feb 2020

Cited by 102 | Viewed by 16943

Abstract

The use of digital technologies has been recognized as one of the great challenges for businesses of the 21st century. This digitalization is characterized by the intensive use of information technologies in the different stages of the value chain of a sector. In [...] Read more.

The use of digital technologies has been recognized as one of the great challenges for businesses of the 21st century. This digitalization is characterized by the intensive use of information technologies in the different stages of the value chain of a sector. In this context, smart agriculture is transforming the agricultural sector in terms of economic, social, and environmental sustainability. In some countries, cooperatives, as the most common legal form of the incumbent companies, in this rather traditional low-intensive technology sector, are going to develop a relevant role in the process of adoption of these technologies. In this context, this paper provides, first, a review of the evolution of the main digital technologies, such as Internet of Things, robots, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, and Blockchain, among others. Second, a description of the digital innovation process in agri-cooperatives in order to help them in the decision-making process, and third, a digital diagnosis tool for measuring cooperatives’ digital innovation. This tool is initially applied to two cases of agri-cooperatives in Spain. All of this contributes to a better understanding of digitalization of agri-cooperatives in the context of smart agriculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Contribution of the Social Economy to the Sustainable Development Goals)

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18 pages, 5053 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Deep Learning Predictor for Sustainable Precision Agriculture Based on Internet of Things System

by Xue-Bo Jin, Xing-Hong Yu, Xiao-Yi Wang, Yu-Ting Bai, Ting-Li Su and Jian-Lei Kong

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1433; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041433 - 14 Feb 2020

Cited by 100 | Viewed by 7355

Abstract

Based on the collected weather data from the agricultural Internet of Things (IoT) system, changes in the weather can be obtained in advance, which is an effective way to plan and control sustainable agricultural production. However, it is not easy to accurately predict [...] Read more.

Based on the collected weather data from the agricultural Internet of Things (IoT) system, changes in the weather can be obtained in advance, which is an effective way to plan and control sustainable agricultural production. However, it is not easy to accurately predict the future trend because the data always contain complex nonlinear relationship with multiple components. To increase the prediction performance of the weather data in the precision agriculture IoT system, this study used a deep learning predictor with sequential two-level decomposition structure, in which the weather data were decomposed into four components serially, then the gated recurrent unit (GRU) networks were trained as the sub-predictors for each component. Finally, the results from GRUs were combined to obtain the medium- and long-term prediction result. The experiments were verified for the proposed model based on weather data from the IoT system in Ningxia, China, for wolfberry planting, in which the prediction results showed that the proposed predictor can obtain the accurate prediction of temperature and humidity and meet the needs of precision agricultural production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Precision Agricultural Technologies for Sustainable Controlled Environment Agriculture)

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16 pages, 1997 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Ecosystem Services of Various Types of Urban Green Spaces Based on i-Tree Eco

by Peihao Song, Gunwoo Kim, Audrey Mayer, Ruizhen He and Guohang Tian

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1630; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041630 - 21 Feb 2020

Cited by 93 | Viewed by 13368

Abstract

Urban green spaces play a crucial role in maintaining urban ecosystem sustainability by providing numerous ecosystem services. How to quantify and evaluate the ecological benefits and services of urban green spaces remains a hot topic currently, while the evaluation is barely applied or [...] Read more.

Urban green spaces play a crucial role in maintaining urban ecosystem sustainability by providing numerous ecosystem services. How to quantify and evaluate the ecological benefits and services of urban green spaces remains a hot topic currently, while the evaluation is barely applied or implemented in urban design and planning. In this study, super-high-resolution aerial images were used to acquire the spatial distribution of urban green spaces; a modified pre-stratified random sampling method was applied to obtain the vegetation information of the four types of urban green spaces in Luohe, a common plain city in China; and i-Tree Eco model was further used to assess the vegetation structure and various ecosystem services including air quality improvement, rainfall interception, carbon storage, and sequestration provided by four types of urban green spaces. The modeling results reveal that there were about 1,006,251 trees in this area. In 2013, all the trees in these green spaces could store about 54,329 t of carbon, sequester about 4973 t of gross carbon, remove 92 t of air pollutants, and avoid 122,637 m³ of runoff. The study illustrates an innovative method to reveal different types of urban green spaces with distinct ecosystem service productivity capacity to better understand their various roles in regulating the urban environment. The results could be used to assist urban planners and policymakers to optimize urban green space structure and composition to maximize ecosystem services provision. Full article

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21 pages, 1971 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Social Expectations and Market Changes in the Context of Developing the Industry 4.0 Concept

by Sebastian Saniuk, Sandra Grabowska and Bożena Gajdzik

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1362; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041362 - 13 Feb 2020

Cited by 87 | Viewed by 8409

Abstract

There are more and more talks in the community of scientists and business practitioners about new challenges for industry in connection with the fourth industrial revolution. Industry 4.0 is the result of the development of cyber-physical generation systems as part of the fourth [...] Read more.

There are more and more talks in the community of scientists and business practitioners about new challenges for industry in connection with the fourth industrial revolution. Industry 4.0 is the result of the development of cyber-physical generation systems as part of the fourth industrial revolution. Industry 4.0 sets new areas of change in the sphere of production and management but also exerts an impact on various aspects of society’s life. It is a transformational challenge for enterprises of the present age. Industry 4.0 is present in economic studies at the macroeconomic level and business at the microeconomic level. Scientists discuss the essence of change, and specialized research centers and consulting companies carry out research on various aspects of this industrial revolution. The article presents the range of expectations and changes in society towards the development of the concept of Industry 4.0. The work was based on a literature study and direct research in the field of social change in the Industry 4.0 era. The aim of the article is to identify social expectations of development changes related to the implementation of the Industry 4.0 concept. The article devotes a lot of attention to customization because it is one of the keys of Industry 4.0, leading to a change of the paradigm from mass production to personalized production. This simple change will affect customers, producers, and employees. Based on the synthesis of literature and secondary research, authors identify opportunities and threats to the broadly understood society functioning in the Industry 4.0 environment. Social conditions were analyzed from the point of view of the consumer, producer, and employee. In the cited direct studies, the basic area of analysis was product personalization and pre-recognition of the opinions of potential consumers about customization in Industry 4.0. The limitation of the research area to the consumer segment resulted from the importance of product personalization in Industry 4.0 and its impact on producer behavior and effects for employees. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Value Management–New Concepts and Contemporary Trends)

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13 pages, 251 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Motivation and Second Foreign Language Proficiency: The Mediating Role of Foreign Language Enjoyment

by Huiyu Zhang, Ying Dai and Yingchong Wang

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1302; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041302 - 11 Feb 2020

Cited by 87 | Viewed by 14910

Abstract

Inadequate research attention has been paid to the learning of a third language. For this reason, this study explores senior English major students’ learning of additional foreign languages in seven universities in Shaanxi Province, China. The study examines the relationship between the participants’ [...] Read more.

Inadequate research attention has been paid to the learning of a third language. For this reason, this study explores senior English major students’ learning of additional foreign languages in seven universities in Shaanxi Province, China. The study examines the relationship between the participants’ motivation and language proficiency through a questionnaire, and the collected data are analyzed using hierarchical linear regression analysis. The results identify that the participants’ instrumental and integrative motivations positively influence their second foreign language proficiency. Further analysis reveals that the connection between the participants’ motivation and language proficiency is mediated by foreign language enjoyment. These findings form the basis of our suggestions for the sustainable learning and teaching of foreign languages in universities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Multilingualism in Higher Education)

20 pages, 2076 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Proposal of an Architecture for the Integration of a Chatbot with Artificial Intelligence in a Smart Campus for the Improvement of Learning

by William Villegas-Ch, Adrián Arias-Navarrete and Xavier Palacios-Pacheco

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1500; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041500 - 18 Feb 2020

Cited by 84 | Viewed by 17797

Abstract

Traditional teaching based on masterclasses or techniques where the student develops a passive role has proven to be inefficient methods in the learning process. The use of technology in universities helps to generate active learning where the student’s interest improves making him the [...] Read more.

Traditional teaching based on masterclasses or techniques where the student develops a passive role has proven to be inefficient methods in the learning process. The use of technology in universities helps to generate active learning where the student’s interest improves making him the main actor in his education. However, implementing an environment where active learning takes place requires a great deal of effort given the number of variables involved in this objective. To identify these variables, it is necessary to analyze the data generated by the students in search of patterns that allow them to be classified according to their needs. Once these needs are identified, it is possible to make decisions that contribute to the learning of each student; for this, the use of artificial intelligence is considered. These techniques emulate the processes of human thought using structures that contain knowledge and experience of human experts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Innovative Practices in Engineering Education: Concept and Implementation)

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16 pages, 266 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Circular Economy Competencies for Design

by Deborah Sumter, Jotte de Koning, Conny Bakker and Ruud Balkenende

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1561; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041561 - 19 Feb 2020

Cited by 81 | Viewed by 9520

Abstract

This study addresses what competencies (knowledge, skills, and attitudes) designers need in order to successfully design products and services for a circular economy. Existing literature, though sparse, has identified a number of circular economy competencies for design. Yet, a coherent overview is lacking. [...] Read more.

This study addresses what competencies (knowledge, skills, and attitudes) designers need in order to successfully design products and services for a circular economy. Existing literature, though sparse, has identified a number of circular economy competencies for design. Yet, a coherent overview is lacking. To complement the competencies found in the literature with insights from practice, we conducted 18 semi-structured interviews with design professionals. Our study identifies seven circular economy competencies for design: (1) Circular Impact Assessment, (2) Design for Recovery, (3) Design for Multiple Use Cycles, (4) Circular Business Models, (5) Circular User Engagement, (6) Circular Economy Collaboration, and (7) Circular Economy Communication. We used a general sustainability competencies framework to categorize our findings. Interestingly, we did not find evidence of the Systems Thinking competency in practice, although in the literature it is mentioned as a relevant competency for design for a circular economy. In addition, we found that methods and tools are still largely lacking or in a premature stage of development. We conclude that design for a circular economy can be seen as an upcoming, independent field within the sustainability domain, and that requires a specific set of competencies, methods, and tools. Our overview of circular economy competencies for design can guide the development of relevant methods and tools, circular economy-based design curricula, and training programs in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Designing Products and Services for Circular Consumption)

25 pages, 3910 KiB

Open AccessReview

Phase Change Materials (PCMs) and Their Optimum Position in Building Walls

by Zeyad Amin Al-Absi, Mohd Hafizal Mohd Isa and Mazran Ismail

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1294; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041294 - 11 Feb 2020

Cited by 81 | Viewed by 8409

Abstract

More than half of the energy consumption in buildings is utilized for the heating and/or cooling of the indoor environment. The building envelope plays a key role in controlling the effects of external weather and, therefore, is linked with many passive design strategies. [...] Read more.

More than half of the energy consumption in buildings is utilized for the heating and/or cooling of the indoor environment. The building envelope plays a key role in controlling the effects of external weather and, therefore, is linked with many passive design strategies. Thermal energy storage (TES) and phase change materials (PCMs) are efficient techniques, which can store a high density of thermal energy. The PCMs attract many researchers to implement them in the components of buildings for thermal management. In building walls, they were implemented in different positions and have achieved different results. This paper aims to review the related literature that examines PCMs’ application in different positions within the building walls to locate their optimum position and the influential parameters. It was found that the optimum positions of PCMs are highly dependent on performing a daily complete melting/freezing cycle to be ready for the following day. Many parameters can influence this, including climate and weather conditions and the application target, PCMs’ melting temperature and heat of fusion, PCMs’ amount, the thermal properties of the wall’s materials, a mechanical heating/cooling or free-running indoor environment, and wall orientation. An optimization process using the simulation tools is suggested so that the optimum position of the PCMs can be located. Full article

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21 pages, 930 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Do Companies Collaborate for Circular Oriented Innovation?

by Phil Brown, Nancy Bocken and Ruud Balkenende

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1648; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041648 - 22 Feb 2020

Cited by 78 | Viewed by 7272

Abstract

Collaborative innovation is necessary to explore and implement circular economy strategies. Yet, empirical investigations into such collaborations are scarce. It is unclear whether the circular context creates differences or represents adaptions within how collaborative innovation is conducted. We draw upon strategic management and [...] Read more.

Collaborative innovation is necessary to explore and implement circular economy strategies. Yet, empirical investigations into such collaborations are scarce. It is unclear whether the circular context creates differences or represents adaptions within how collaborative innovation is conducted. We draw upon strategic management and open innovation literature to highlight what is known about collaborative innovation and the types of innovation conducted. We use these insights to investigate explorative qualitative case research into how practitioners in the Netherlands have conducted collaborative circular oriented innovation. Our findings show that open innovation criteria can aid our understanding and analysis. Key managerial considerations relate to the incremental or systemic nature of the innovation pursued, which induce different collaborative projects and knowledge management structures. For incremental innovation, we observe phases of collaboration, whereas for more systemic innovation, we observe a more collaborative portfolio and layered approach. Furthermore, the more radical innovation pursuits that explore slowing or recovery strategies, especially beyond business-to-business arrangements, challenge companies. A crucial challenge remains related to how to develop and assess collaborative and system-oriented business models in the transition towards a circular economy. Finally, future research is needed to assess whether the current modes of collaborative innovation are sufficient to deliver a circular economy transition. Full article

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21 pages, 1488 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Decoupling Economic Development from the Consumption of Finite Resources Using Circular Economy. A Model for Developing Countries

by Carlos Scheel, Eduardo Aguiñaga and Bernardo Bello

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1291; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041291 - 11 Feb 2020

Cited by 78 | Viewed by 15422

Abstract

Sustainable development is a major concern for developing and developed economies as economic growth has to led to scarcer and more expensive resources. Although countries have established public policies focusing on resource and energy efficiency, there is an increasing need for a coordinated [...] Read more.

Sustainable development is a major concern for developing and developed economies as economic growth has to led to scarcer and more expensive resources. Although countries have established public policies focusing on resource and energy efficiency, there is an increasing need for a coordinated industrial strategy able to create sustainable wealth through a holistic management of natural resources, capable of “decoupling” economic growth from resource extraction and natural deterioration. Consequently, the objective of the present research is to develop a decoupling model able to create increasing economic returns, reducing the social gap and regenerating the natural capital for regions in developing countries. Departing from a literature review on peer reviewed articles on successful industrial cases of decoupling around the world, we contrasted the linear production model with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)’s current four decoupling indicators in order to propose a more robust model. The result was an eight-factor decoupling model that used a well-supported framework for sustainable wealth creation named “circular value ecosystem” (CVES). By using system dynamics, we deployed the proposed framework using system dynamics modeling in order to improve the understanding of our proposal. We found that this model, with the proper regional conditions in developing countries, can: (1) reduce, through substitution, the consumption of natural resources; (2) produce alternative economic increasing returns; (3) reduce the negative environmental impacts; and (4) create self-sustainable wealth for the economy, the environment, and the social development of most stakeholders of these regions. Decoupling economic growth represents a complex and challenging task whose successful implementation can only be achieved if managed at a regional level with a systemic approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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16 pages, 1347 KiB

Open AccessReview

Submergence Tolerance in Rice: Review of Mechanism, Breeding and, Future Prospects

by Yusuff Oladosu, Mohd Y. Rafii, Fatai Arolu, Samuel Chibuike Chukwu, Ismaila Muhammad, Isiaka Kareem, Monsuru Adekunle Salisu and Ibrahim Wasiu Arolu

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1632; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041632 - 21 Feb 2020

Cited by 77 | Viewed by 16943

Abstract

Flooding or submergence is one of the major environmental stressors affecting many man-made and natural ecosystems worldwide. The increase in the frequency and duration of heavy rainfall due to climate change has negatively affected plant growth and development, which eventually causes the death [...] Read more.

Flooding or submergence is one of the major environmental stressors affecting many man-made and natural ecosystems worldwide. The increase in the frequency and duration of heavy rainfall due to climate change has negatively affected plant growth and development, which eventually causes the death of plants if it persists for days. Most crops, especially rice, being a semi-aquatic plant, are greatly affected by flooding, leading to yield losses each year. Genetic variability in the plant response to flooding includes the quiescence scheme, which allows underwater endurance of a prolonged period, escape strategy through stem elongation, and alterations in plant architecture and metabolism. Investigating the mechanism for flooding survival in wild species and modern rice has yielded significant insight into developmental, physiological, and molecular strategies for submergence and waterlogging survival. Significant progress in the breeding of submergence tolerant rice varieties has been made during the last decade following the successful identification and mapping of a quantitative trait locus for submergence tolerance, designated as SUBMERGENCE 1 (SUB1) from the FR13A landrace. Using marker-assisted backcrossing, the SUB1 QTL (quantitative trait locus) has been incorporated into many elite varieties within a short time and with high precision as compared with conventional breeding methods. Despite the advancement in submergence tolerance, for future studies, there is a need for practical approaches exploring genome-wide association studies (GWA) and QTL in combination with specific tolerance traits, such as drought, salinity, disease and insect resistance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)

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17 pages, 644 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Paradigm Shift in Business Education: A Competence-Based Approach

by Constantin Bratianu, Shahrazad Hadad and Ruxandra Bejinaru

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1348; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041348 - 12 Feb 2020

Cited by 77 | Viewed by 12361

Abstract

The fast and unpredictable changes in the business environment lead to significant changes in the future job market. For current business students, the future will offer many new opportunities for their employment but, at the same time, it will also create many threats [...] Read more.

The fast and unpredictable changes in the business environment lead to significant changes in the future job market. For current business students, the future will offer many new opportunities for their employment but, at the same time, it will also create many threats disguised in the disappearing jobs. Business education centered mainly on knowledge transmission is challenged to switch towards a competence-based approach which includes knowledge, skills, and attitudes. The present research focuses on the need to change the paradigm of business education by creating a new learning environment centered on business competencies, and on a new knowledge ecosystem dynamics. The approach uses both qualitative and quantitative methods. In the first phase the research is focused on a critical literature review, and extraction of ideas for the next phase based on quantitative methods. In order to evaluate the students’ perception on the need of competence-based business education, a questionnaire has been designed and applied to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in business and management programs. Data is processed by using SPSS and deriving six logistic regressions based on the conceptual model designed similar to a hierarchy Findings coming from students show a significant awareness for the need of paradigm shift in business education, from knowledge transfer to business competence development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Business Models and Innovation in the Knowledge Economy/Business Revolution in the Digital Era- Selected Papers from the 13th and 14th International Conference on Business Excellence)

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20 pages, 1064 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Establishing a Sustainable Sports Tourism Evaluation Framework with a Hybrid Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Model to Explore Potential Sports Tourism Attractions in Taiwan

by Jen-Jen Yang, Huai-Wei Lo, Chen-Shen Chao, Chih-Chien Shen and Chin-Cheng Yang

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1673; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041673 - 23 Feb 2020

Cited by 76 | Viewed by 9756

Abstract

In recent years, the awareness of sustainable tourism has risen around the world. Many tourism industries combine sports to attract more customers to facilitate the development of the economy and the promotion of local culture. However, it is an important task to establish [...] Read more.

In recent years, the awareness of sustainable tourism has risen around the world. Many tourism industries combine sports to attract more customers to facilitate the development of the economy and the promotion of local culture. However, it is an important task to establish a comprehensive tourism evaluation framework for sustainable sports tourism. This study proposes a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) model to discuss the above issues, using the Bayesian Best Worst Method (Bayesian BWM) to integrate multiple experts’ judgments to generate the group optimal criteria weights. Next, the modified Visekriterijumska Optimizacija i Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) technique is combined with the concept of aspiration level to determine the performance of sports attractions and their priority ranks. In addition, this study adds a perspective of institutional sustainability to emphasize the importance of government support and local marketing. The effectiveness and robustness of the proposed model is demonstrated through potential sports tourism attractions in Taiwan. A sensitivity analysis and models comparison were also performed in this study. The results show that the proposed model is feasible for practical applications and that it effectively provides some management implications to support decision-makers in formulating improvement strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Tourism and Sustainability)

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11 pages, 945 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Investigating the Effects of City Logistics Measures on the Economy of the City

by Francesco Russo and Antonio Comi

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1439; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041439 - 15 Feb 2020

Cited by 75 | Viewed by 6383

Abstract

The paper deals with economic effects due to city logistics implementations. An analysis framework is proposed and the results of a survey, consisting of interviews with experts in city logistics, are presented. The survey was carried out to point out the level of [...] Read more.

The paper deals with economic effects due to city logistics implementations. An analysis framework is proposed and the results of a survey, consisting of interviews with experts in city logistics, are presented. The survey was carried out to point out the level of benefits or costs expected by city logistics measure implementation. The results show that city users are expected to receive more benefits from environment-friendly vehicle measures, while transport and logistics operators can averagely obtain considerable benefits from demand management and public–private collaboration solutions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue City Logistics)

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23 pages, 5677 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Seaports in Green Supply Chain Management: Initiatives, Attitudes, and Perspectives in Rotterdam, Antwerp, North Sea Port, and Zeebrugge

by Theo Notteboom, Larissa van der Lugt, Niels van Saase, Steve Sel and Kris Neyens

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1688; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041688 - 24 Feb 2020

Cited by 74 | Viewed by 15310

Abstract

Green supply chain management (GSCM) can be defined as the integration of environmental concerns into the inter-organizational practices of supply chain management (SCM). This paper analyzes the role of seaports in the greening of supply chains in two ways. First, the fields of [...] Read more.

Green supply chain management (GSCM) can be defined as the integration of environmental concerns into the inter-organizational practices of supply chain management (SCM). This paper analyzes the role of seaports in the greening of supply chains in two ways. First, the fields of action to pursue GSCM objectives in ports are identified and grouped. The proposed typology includes five groups of actions, i.e., green shipping; green port development and operations; green inland logistics; seaports and the circular economy; and, actions in the field of knowledge development and information sharing. In the empirical part of the paper, this typology is used to analyze green actions and initiatives developed by market players and port authorities in the Rhine–Scheldt Delta, the leading European port region in cargo throughput terms. This structured overview of green actions and initiatives shows that these ports are hotbeds for GSCM initiatives, but progress in some areas remains slows. The second part of the analysis focuses on the attitudes and perceptions of port-related actors towards the greening of port-related supply chains. A large-scale survey conducted in the Belgian and Dutch logistics and port industry reveals that greening has been put massively on the agenda by the firms between 2010 and now. The results give a clear view on the diverse drivers and impediments towards the greening of supply chains. In addition, one can still see a gap between words and actions. The survey further points to the role of governments as catalysts or soft enforcers for change, and calls for continuity and coherence in government policy. This paper is the first study providing a comprehensive analysis on initiatives, approaches, and perspectives of port-related actors in a specific multi-port region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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18 pages, 804 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mitigating Energy Poverty: Mobilizing Climate Finance to Manage the Energy Trilemma in Indonesia

by Abidah B. Setyowati

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1603; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041603 - 20 Feb 2020

Cited by 71 | Viewed by 11556

Abstract

Energy poverty remains a key global challenge. In Indonesia, around 25 million people are still without electricity access, and many of them live in geographically isolated areas and remote places that preclude them from access to the electricity grid. Deploying renewable energy sources [...] Read more.

Energy poverty remains a key global challenge. In Indonesia, around 25 million people are still without electricity access, and many of them live in geographically isolated areas and remote places that preclude them from access to the electricity grid. Deploying renewable energy sources in these areas could present an opportunity for a remarkable and rare complementarity between energy security, energy access, and climate change mitigation. This article examines how energy trilemma plays out in mobilizing private climate finance for renewable rural electrification in Indonesia. Analysis of relevant documents combined with interviews at local and national levels reveals that multiple barriers persist constraining the mobilization of private climate finance to support renewable rural electrification in Indonesia. In turn, this has led to difficulties with managing the tensions and reaching the complementarity of the three key energy objectives. The article concludes with some recommendations for moving forward. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Energy Sustainability)

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24 pages, 1100 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Systematic Literature Network Analysis of Existing Themes and Emerging Research Trends in Circular Economy

by Fatima Khitous, Fernanda Strozzi, Andrea Urbinati and Fernando Alberti

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1633; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041633 - 21 Feb 2020

Cited by 68 | Viewed by 9443

Abstract

The debate about Circular Economy (CE) has been increasingly enriched by academics through a vast array of contributions, based on several theoretical perspectives and emanating from several research domains. However, current research still falls short of providing a holistic and broader view of [...] Read more.

The debate about Circular Economy (CE) has been increasingly enriched by academics through a vast array of contributions, based on several theoretical perspectives and emanating from several research domains. However, current research still falls short of providing a holistic and broader view of CE, one that combines existing themes and emerging research trends. Accordingly, based on a Systematic Literature Network Analysis, this paper tackles this gap. First, a Citation Network Analysis is used to unearth the development of the CE literature based on papers’ references, whilst the Main Path is traced to detect the seminal papers in the field through time. Second, to consider the literature in its broader extent, a Keywords Co-Occurrence Network Analysis is conducted based on papers’ keywords, whereby all papers in the dataset, including the non-cited papers, are assessed. Additionally, a Global Citation Score analysis is conducted to uncover the recent breakthrough research, in addition to the Burst Analysis used to detect the dynamic development of CE literature over time. By doing so, the paper explores the development of the CE body of knowledge, reveals its dynamic evolution over time, detects its main theoretical perspectives and research domains, and highlights its emerging topics. Our findings unfold the evidence of eight main trends of research about CE, unearth the path through which the CE concept emerged and has been growing, and concludes with promising avenues for future research. Full article

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16 pages, 930 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Interplay between Working Capital Management and a Firm’s Financial Performance across the Corporate Life Cycle

by Zanxin Wang, Minhas Akbar and Ahsan Akbar

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1661; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041661 - 22 Feb 2020

Cited by 66 | Viewed by 14323

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of working capital management (WCM) and working capital strategy (WCS) on firm’s financial performance across different stages of the corporate life cycle (CLC). We use Pakistani non-financial listed firms nested in 12 diverse [...] Read more.

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of working capital management (WCM) and working capital strategy (WCS) on firm’s financial performance across different stages of the corporate life cycle (CLC). We use Pakistani non-financial listed firms nested in 12 diverse industries over a period of 2005–2014 as the research sample and employ the hierarchical linear mixed (HLM) estimator, which can process multilevel data where observations are not completely independent. The empirical findings reveal that, overall, WCM is negatively associated with firm performance. However, this association is not static across different stages of a firm’s life cycle. For example, a negative association is more pronounced at the introduction stage followed by growth and decline stages, whereas WCM does not significantly impact the performance of mature firms. Likewise, WCS also causes varying effects on the financial performance across the CLC. A conservative strategy at the introduction, growth, and decline stages negatively affects firm performance, suggesting that these firms should adopt an aggressive strategy. Nevertheless, management of sample firms did not account for the respective life cycle stage while formulating a WCM strategy, which can seriously compromise their financial sustainability. These findings suggest that firms require customized WCM policies and WCS to attain sustainable financial performance at each stage of firm life cycle. Thus, managers should not overlook the significant role of CLC stages in their financial planning to ensure the sustainable functioning of the enterprise. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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14 pages, 732 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification of Variables that Predict Teachers’ Attitudes toward ICT in Higher Education for Teaching and Research: A Study with Regression

by Francisco D. Guillén-Gámez and María J. Mayorga-Fernández

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1312; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041312 - 11 Feb 2020

Cited by 65 | Viewed by 9404

Abstract

The aim of this research is to analyse the attitudes towards information and communication technologies (ICT) of higher education teachers from an affective, cognitive and behavioural model for teaching and research. It also aimed to explore different factors that can predict such attitudes. [...] Read more.

The aim of this research is to analyse the attitudes towards information and communication technologies (ICT) of higher education teachers from an affective, cognitive and behavioural model for teaching and research. It also aimed to explore different factors that can predict such attitudes. A non-experimental study was proposed using a survey technique and descriptive and inferential analyses were carried out using a multiple linear regression model (MLR). In total, the sample was formed by 867 university professors from Spain belonging to different areas of knowledge. The results show that these teachers have a medium total attitudinal level, so the lowest attitudes have been represented by the behavioural ones, followed by the affective ones. Regarding the predictor variables, variables that can predict such attitudes were found to be age, participation in projects, gender and teaching in face-to-face and/or online universities (ordered from highest to lowest priority). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promoting Sustainability in Higher Education)

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22 pages, 1616 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Benchmarking the Swedish Diet Relative to Global and National Environmental Targets—Identification of Indicator Limitations and Data Gaps

by Emma Moberg, Hanna Karlsson Potter, Amanda Wood, Per-Anders Hansson and Elin Röös

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1407; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041407 - 14 Feb 2020

Cited by 64 | Viewed by 20675

Abstract

To reduce environmental burdens from the food system, a shift towards environmentally sustainable diets is needed. In this study, the environmental impacts of the Swedish diet were benchmarked relative to global environmental boundaries suggested by the EAT-Lancet Commission. To identify local environmental [...] Read more.

To reduce environmental burdens from the food system, a shift towards environmentally sustainable diets is needed. In this study, the environmental impacts of the Swedish diet were benchmarked relative to global environmental boundaries suggested by the EAT-Lancet Commission. To identify local environmental concerns not captured by the global boundaries, relationships between the global EAT-Lancet variables and the national Swedish Environmental Objectives (SEOs) were analysed and additional indicators for missing aspects were identified. The results showed that the environmental impacts caused by the average Swedish diet exceeded the global boundaries for greenhouse gas emissions, cropland use and application of nutrients by two- to more than four-fold when the boundaries were scaled to per capita level. With regard to biodiversity, the impacts caused by the Swedish diet transgressed the boundary by six-fold. For freshwater use, the diet performed well within the boundary. Comparison of global and local indicators revealed that the EAT-Lancet variables covered many aspects included in the SEOs, but that these global indicators are not always of sufficiently fine resolution to capture local aspects of environmental sustainability, such as eutrophication impacts. To consider aspects and impact categories included in the SEO but not currently covered by the EAT-Lancet variables, such as chemical pollution and acidification, additional indicators and boundaries are needed. This requires better inventory data on e.g., pesticide use and improved traceability for imported foods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy Sustainable Diets)

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36 pages, 3435 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review of Performance-Oriented Architectural Design and Optimization in the Context of Sustainability: Dividends and Challenges

by Shaoxiong Li, Le Liu and Changhai Peng

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1427; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041427 - 14 Feb 2020

Cited by 63 | Viewed by 21770

Abstract

As most countries have widespread and growing concerns about the sustainable development of society, the requirement to continuously reduce energy consumption poses challenges for the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. Performance-oriented architectural design and optimization, as a novel design philosophy and comprehensive [...] Read more.

As most countries have widespread and growing concerns about the sustainable development of society, the requirement to continuously reduce energy consumption poses challenges for the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. Performance-oriented architectural design and optimization, as a novel design philosophy and comprehensive evolution technology, has been accepted by architects, engineers, and stakeholders for a period of time. Performance in the context of architecture is a widely discussed definition that has long shown a correlation with visual and cultural attributes. Shifting the paradigm of sustainable development while ensuring that the function and aesthetics of the building are not overlooked has been the focus of public attention. Considering the core design elements that affect energy conservation and style performance, the design and optimization of building envelopes, form, and shading systems were selected as research materials. From the perspective of epistemology and methodology, a systematic review of 99 papers was conducted to promulgate the latest development status of energy-efficiency design. This paper manifests a detailed analysis of the design patterns, research features, optimization objectives, and techniques of current approaches. The review found that performance-oriented design optimization can benefit the entire industry from the heuristic knowledge base and the expansion of the design space while maintaining sustainability. In contrast, challenges such as tools, skills, collaboration frameworks, and calibration models are highlighted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

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