Journal Description
Sustainability
Sustainability
is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal on environmental, cultural, economic, and social sustainability of human beings, published semimonthly online by MDPI. The Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC), International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB) and Urban Land Institute (ULI) are affiliated with Sustainability and their members receive discounts on the article processing charges.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE and SSCI (Web of Science), GEOBASE, GeoRef, Inspec, AGRIS, RePEc, CAPlus / SciFinder, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Environmental Studies) / CiteScore - Q1 (Geography, Planning and Development)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 18.8 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 3.6 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
- Testimonials: See what our editors and authors say about Sustainability.
- Companion journals for Sustainability include: World, Sustainable Chemistry, Conservation, Future Transportation, Architecture, Standards, Merits and Wind.
Impact Factor:
3.9 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
4.0 (2022)
Latest Articles
Spatial Dynamics and Social Order in Traditional Towns of Saudi Arabia’s Nadji Region: The Role of Neighborhood Clustering in Urban Morphology and Decision-Making Processes
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2830; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072830 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
This study explores how the layout of neighborhoods in traditional settlements of Saudi Arabia’s Najdi region influence social interactions and urban planning decisions. The study uses a multidisciplinary approach that includes urban morphology, architectural phenomenology, and sociological study methods to investigate the relationships
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This study explores how the layout of neighborhoods in traditional settlements of Saudi Arabia’s Najdi region influence social interactions and urban planning decisions. The study uses a multidisciplinary approach that includes urban morphology, architectural phenomenology, and sociological study methods to investigate the relationships between spatial organization and decision-making processes on both the macro and micro levels of decision-making. The purpose is to look at how collective action decision-making processes affect the urban fabric and how social norms influence spatial organization at different levels. The study applies case study and spatial analysis approaches to investigate how the traditional settlements’ spatial structure promotes peace among the inhabitants while also sustaining cultural traditions. The qualitative approach investigates how spatial arrangements influence behaviors, developing a better understanding of how residents interact with their surroundings. According to the study’s findings, these spatial layouts sustain customs and assist communities in adapting to environmental changes by retaining cultural activities. The study identifies the significance of balancing development with the retention of important traditional values in the implementation of long-term urban conservation plans. Traditional Najdi towns can serve as urban design examples, emphasizing the need to acknowledge the distinct value of vernacular architecture in modern urban development while also fostering social cohesion.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Architecture, Urban Space and Heritage in the Digital Age)
Open AccessEditorial
Consumer Behavior and Sustainable Marketing Development in Online and Offline Settings
by
Sikandar Ali Qalati, Belem Barbosa and Pankaj Deshwal
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2829; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072829 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
The changing dynamics of consumer behavior in today’s digitally driven market presents opportunities and challenges for sustainable marketing development [...]
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Consumer Behavior and Sustainable Marketing Development in Online and Offline Settings)
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Open AccessSystematic Review
Farmers’ Transition to Climate-Smart Agriculture: A Systematic Review of the Decision-Making Factors Affecting Adoption
by
Marilena Gemtou, Konstantina Kakkavou, Evangelos Anastasiou, Spyros Fountas, Soren Marcus Pedersen, Gohar Isakhanyan, Kassa Tarekegn Erekalo and Serafin Pazos-Vidal
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2828; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072828 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
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Agriculture is currently facing major challenges related to ensuring the food security of a rising population and climate change with extreme weather patterns. At the same time, agriculture is a cause of environmental degradation, pollution and biodiversity loss. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is proposed
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Agriculture is currently facing major challenges related to ensuring the food security of a rising population and climate change with extreme weather patterns. At the same time, agriculture is a cause of environmental degradation, pollution and biodiversity loss. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is proposed as an approach that provides a roadmap to sustainable agricultural development. Despite this, farmer adoption rates of CSA practices and technologies in Europe remain low. This paper seeks to systematically review and synthesize the factors that facilitate or hinder farmers’ uptake of CSA in Europe. Out of the 2827 articles identified in the Web of Science and Scopus databases, a total of 137 research articles were included for analysis following the PRISMA methodology. The factors are categorized into seven categories, namely socio-demographics, psychological, farm characteristics, practice/technology-related attributes, biotic/abiotic, systemic and policy factors, with the majority of the studies focusing on the first four categories, while systemic and policy factors are relatively understudied. The results highlight for the first time that the adoption of CSA does not depend solely on farmer characteristics but also on the food systems and structures in which farmers operate, as well as the interactions with other value chain actors. To promote the adoption of CSA practices, extension and advisory services along with access to timely and reliable information, play a vital role in increasing awareness and in the provision of training and the encouragement of farmers’ behavioral shifts towards sustainable practices. From a technological point of view, adapting technologies to be easy to use, compatible with current farming objectives and cost-efficient will render them less risky investments for farmers and will foster adoption rates. Finally, support from the government in terms of financial support, subsidies and reduced bureaucratic procedures is crucial for motivating CSA adoption.
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Open AccessArticle
Algorithm for Point Cloud Dust Filtering of LiDAR for Autonomous Vehicles in Mining Area
by
Xianyao Jiang, Yi Xie, Chongning Na, Wenyang Yu and Yu Meng
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2827; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072827 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
With the continuous development of the transformation of the “smart mine” in the mineral industry, the use of sensors in autonomous trucks has become very common. However, the driving of trucks causes the point cloud collected by through Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)
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With the continuous development of the transformation of the “smart mine” in the mineral industry, the use of sensors in autonomous trucks has become very common. However, the driving of trucks causes the point cloud collected by through Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) to contain dust points, leading to a significant decline in its detection performance, which makes it easy for vehicles to have failures at the perceptual level. In order to solve this problem, this study proposes a LiDAR point cloud denoising method for the quantitative analysis of laser reflection intensity and spatial structure. This method uses laser reflectivity as the benchmark template, constructs the initial confidence level template and initially screens out the sparse dust point cloud. The results are analyzed through the Euclidean distance of adjacent points, and the confidence level in the corresponding template is reduced for rescreening. The experimental results show that our method can significantly filter dust point cloud particles while retaining the rich environmental information of data. The computational load caused by filtering is far lower than that of other methods, and the overall operation efficiency of the system has no significant delay.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Intelligent and Sustainable Mining)
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Open AccessArticle
Does ESG Performance Affect the Enterprise Value of China’s Heavily Polluting Listed Companies?
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Yu Zhang, Xiaotong Wang, Wei Guo, Xinlei Guo, Qisheng Wang and Xin Tan
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2826; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072826 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
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This paper investigates the effect of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance on the enterprise value of heavily polluting listed companies in China’s Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share markets. The study found that ESG performance helps to improve the corporate value of heavily polluting
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This paper investigates the effect of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance on the enterprise value of heavily polluting listed companies in China’s Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share markets. The study found that ESG performance helps to improve the corporate value of heavily polluting listed companies, and ESG performance has an impact mechanism effect on the corporate value of heavily polluting listed companies through green technology innovation, financing costs, and internal control; the analysis of heterogeneity is conducted from three different perspectives: resource endowment, ownership nature, and overseas background of senior executives. At the same time, the interaction term ESG × EPU is employed to examine the regulatory effect of economic policy uncertainty Non-state-owned enterprises can enhance their enterprise value more effectively by improving their ESG performance based on the research findings. The ESG performance of heavy polluting enterprises in non-resource-based cities has a more obvious role in promoting corporate value; in companies where executives have overseas backgrounds, ESG performance is more conducive to the improvement of corporate value. The empirical evidence derived from the research findings rationalizes the connection between the of ESG performance and enterprise value in industries with high levels of pollution, as well as the pathway of impact.
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Open AccessArticle
Silicon Combined with Trichoderma harzianum and Organic Matter as an Environmental Friendly Strategy for Mitigating Salt Stress in Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)
by
Edson Moreira de Abrantes, Luiz Guilherme Medeiros Pessoa, Luiz Filipe dos Santos Silva, Emanuelle Maria da Silva, José Orlando Nunes da Silva, Maria Betânia Galvão dos Santos Freire, Alexandre Campelo de Oliveira and Eurico Lustosa do Nascimento Alencar
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2825; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072825 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
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Silicon is known to be an effective salt stress attenuator for crops, and evaluating its application effectiveness in combination with other salt stress attenuators is essential for crops and soils. This work aimed to assess whether applying organic matter (OM) and Trichoderma (T)
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Silicon is known to be an effective salt stress attenuator for crops, and evaluating its application effectiveness in combination with other salt stress attenuators is essential for crops and soils. This work aimed to assess whether applying organic matter (OM) and Trichoderma (T) potentiates silicon (Si) in mitigating soil salinization and promoting quinoa growth under salt stress. Quinoa plants were grown in pots under saline irrigation (3.12 dS m−1) and subjected to the following treatments: quinoa only; quinoa + Si; quinoa + Si + OM; quinoa + Si + T; and quinoa + Si + OM + T, at two levels of soil moisture—30 and 80% of the available water content (AWC). Sixty days after transplanting, soil and quinoa plants were collected from the pots. At 80% AWC, Si + OM and Si + OM + T promoted the highest fresh mass for quinoa—301.54 and 247.26 g, respectively. Si + OM + T significantly mitigated saline parameters (EC = 9.82 dS m−1; ESP = 32.27%). Si combined with OM and T was the most effective way to attenuate salt stress in quinoa and soil salinization and promote a more sustainable way to manage saline irrigation in semiarid regions.
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Open AccessArticle
Using a Circular Economy and Supply Chain as a Framework for Remanufactured Products in the Rubber Recycling Industry
by
Hsi-Huang Hsieh, Kai-Chao Yao, Ching-Hsin Wang, Chih-Han Chen and Shu-Hua Huang
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2824; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072824 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
The use of a circular economy (CE) in a supply chain is conducive to remanufacturing. It can not only make the supply chain innovative but can also further ease resource consumption and lower pollution, thereby reducing carbon emissions. However, most current research remains
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The use of a circular economy (CE) in a supply chain is conducive to remanufacturing. It can not only make the supply chain innovative but can also further ease resource consumption and lower pollution, thereby reducing carbon emissions. However, most current research remains focused on the concept of integrating circular economy supply chains (CESCs); few studies have carried out practical research in industry, and research addressing issues regarding the rubber recycling industry is even rarer. Therefore, this study refined the existing framework by screening out key factors that a CESC applies to remanufacturing products. This study conducted an expert questionnaire survey using the FDM to select key factors. Since the 30 respondents selected for this study are all experts in related fields, the reliability and stability of the method and results can be ensured. Meanwhile, this study adopted the fuzzy DEMATEL method to rank the importance of the five selected aspects and nineteen criteria and clarified cause-and-effect relationships between the criteria. The results show that important aspects, including “the circular business model” and “enhancing the resource value in the supply chain”, are both classified as cause groups; there are four main criteria that need to be highlighted, namely, “optimizing the production process”, “effectively tracking and recycling products”, “redesigning remanufactured rubber products”, and “improving resource efficiency”. Therefore, when related industries build CESCs to manufacture remanufactured products, these criteria need to be considered first. This study combined a CESC with remanufactured products, constructed a new framework to expand the related literature, and further analyzed the rubber industry and the underlying rubber recycling industry. Accordingly, related industries can refer to the new framework and key factors to develop production strategies for remanufactured products when implementing a CESC.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Resilience, Creativity and Learning)
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Open AccessReview
Blockchain Technology Implementation in Supply Chain Management: A Literature Review
by
Abdel-Aziz Ahmad Sharabati and Elias Radi Jreisat
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2823; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072823 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
This paper aims to comprehensively review the main benefits, limitations, and challenges associated with the uptake of Blockchain technology in supply chain management (SCM). The study utilizes the literature review method, examining articles published from 2016 to 2022 and exploring the factors influencing
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This paper aims to comprehensively review the main benefits, limitations, and challenges associated with the uptake of Blockchain technology in supply chain management (SCM). The study utilizes the literature review method, examining articles published from 2016 to 2022 and exploring the factors influencing the adoption and implementation of Blockchain in SCM. Multiple scholarly insights have shown no more hacking or cherry picking of options given for presenting data with high confidence and, therefore, reliability, as well as an ability to see everything in a highly limited way. An SCM looking at these multi-party evolutionary models shows that for Blockchain, the key advantages center on significantly increased security, confidentiality, traceability, transparency, data accuracy, privacy, efficiency, accountability, and trust. In contrast, the review has also detailed several limitations and challenges that must be overcome by firms and industries looking to adopt Blockchain within their SCM processes, which include problems with scaling, lower performance as a result of interoperability issues, legal and regulatory matters, very high initial implementation and ongoing maintenance costs, a struggle with standardization of the technology and the needed surveillance of this space, avoidance of technology adoption because of trust, the substantial energy used, low awareness, complexity of integrating with existing systems, being in its last mile in partnerships, and privacy. Even with this potential to transform and be disrupted across industry and its sectors, there are still very significant challenges for Blockchain. For those looking to actually utilize SCM and other sectors, understanding this from a variety of perspectives is of great interest to understand if the technology is fit for that sector and what strategies or networks need to be established or linked into with existing firms. Regardless, if these challenges can be overcome and responded to, then the greater protection and efficiency of current and future SCM processes will not only occur, but it can be the first significant node for broader industry-wide innovation and gains in efficiency.
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Open AccessArticle
Research on Green Development Decision Making of Logistics Enterprises Based on Three-Party Game
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Chan He and Xu Xu
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2822; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072822 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
The concept of green logistics entails minimizing the ecological impact of logistical resources, enhancing the environmental quality within the logistics sector, and optimizing resource utilization to foster sustainable development in social economic production and consumption. Promoting green transportation is not only a positive
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The concept of green logistics entails minimizing the ecological impact of logistical resources, enhancing the environmental quality within the logistics sector, and optimizing resource utilization to foster sustainable development in social economic production and consumption. Promoting green transportation is not only a positive reflection of the concepts of environmental protection and green development, but also an effective means for traditional logistics enterprises to reduce operating costs, win competitive advantages, and achieve transformation and upgrading. This paper takes logistics enterprises facing green transformation and development decisions as the research object, and puts forward an evolutionary game model between logistics companies, government, and community. The evolution path of logistics enterprises’ green transformation development strategy choice under different conditions is analyzed in detail. The results show that, under the conditions of the government’s incentive and supervision and the public’s choice of green consumption, logistics enterprises are more inclined to green transformation development. Different levels of public choice and different levels of government regulation also make different corporate strategy choices. Therefore, it is suggested that the government provide policy, technical channels, funds, and other support for logistics companies promoting green logistics, and actively publicize the concept of green consumption in the market.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Theory and Practice of Sustainable Economic Development)
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Open AccessArticle
A Novel Machine Learning-Based Approach for Fault Detection and Location in Low-Voltage DC Microgrids
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Sirus Salehimehr, Seyed Mahdi Miraftabzadeh and Morris Brenna
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2821; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072821 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
DC microgrids have gained significant attention in recent years due to their potential to enhance energy efficiency, integrate renewable energy sources, and improve the resilience of power distribution systems. However, the reliable operation of DC microgrids relies on the early detection and location
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DC microgrids have gained significant attention in recent years due to their potential to enhance energy efficiency, integrate renewable energy sources, and improve the resilience of power distribution systems. However, the reliable operation of DC microgrids relies on the early detection and location of faults to ensure an uninterrupted power supply. This paper aims to develop fast and reliable fault detection and location mechanisms for DC microgrids, thereby enhancing operational efficiency, minimizing environmental impact, and contributing to resource conservation and sustainability goals. The fault detection method is based on compressed sensing (CS) and Regression Tree (RT) techniques. Besides, an accurate fault location method using the feature matrix and long short-term memory (LSTM) model combination has been provided. To implement the proposed fault detection and location method, a DC microgrid equipped with photovoltaic (PV) panels, the vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging station, and a hybrid energy storage system (ESS) are used. The simulation results represent the proposed methods’ superiority over the recent studies. The fault occurrence in the studied DC microgrid is detected in 1 ms, and the proposed fault location method locates the fault with an accuracy of more than 93%. The presented techniques enhance DC microgrid reliability while conserving renewable resources, vital to promoting a greener and more sustainable power grid.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Smart Grid, Energy Storage and Distribution Systems)
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Open AccessArticle
Examined in Theory—Applicable in Practice: Potentials of Sustainable Industrial Heritage Conservation in a Contemporary Context—The Case of Belgrade
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Marko Nikolić, Jelena Šćekić, Boško Drobnjak and Ena Takač
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2820; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072820 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
The industrial heritage of the city of Belgrade is the focus of this research, which highlights the possibilities of preserving industrial heritage from the perspective of a contemporary context and sustainable development. Guided by theoretical principles on the preservation of cultural and industrial
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The industrial heritage of the city of Belgrade is the focus of this research, which highlights the possibilities of preserving industrial heritage from the perspective of a contemporary context and sustainable development. Guided by theoretical principles on the preservation of cultural and industrial heritage, their values, authenticity and spirit of place, as well as the idea of the necessity of integrating industrial heritage into the contemporary context, this paper aims to examine the possibilities for the preservation of industrial heritage following theoretically established principles, with the introduction of new uses and sustainable solutions. The analysis of the case studies of Belgrade’s industrial heritage presented in this paper results from research conducted by the teachers, associates and students of the University of Belgrade, Faculty of Architecture. The research focuses on the possibilities of translating the principles of preserving cultural and industrial heritage from their theoretical definition to practical application. The students’ conceptual solutions for protection, revitalisation and presentation of the analysed case studies represent the research results. An important aspect of this paper is defining the criteria for valorising students’ conceptual solutions, which are aligned with the principles of preserving cultural heritage and establishing sustainable development. The valorisation of students’ conceptual solutions through a defined set of criteria indicates real possibilities for the simultaneous preservation of all the values of industrial heritage and its transformation into a social, ecological and economic resource of the contemporary city.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Conservation of Urban and Cultural Heritage)
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Open AccessArticle
Dependence of Ships Turning at Port Turning Basins on Clearance under the Ship’s Keel
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Vytautas Paulauskas and Donatas Paulauskas
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2819; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072819 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
Turning ships in port turning basins is an important and responsible operation, mainly involving the ship itself and the port tugboats. Such operations involve many maneuvers that consume a lot of energy (fuel) and emit a lot of emissions. Turning basins in harbors
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Turning ships in port turning basins is an important and responsible operation, mainly involving the ship itself and the port tugboats. Such operations involve many maneuvers that consume a lot of energy (fuel) and emit a lot of emissions. Turning basins in harbors and quay approaches are, in most cases, relatively shallow. This paper examines the turning of ships in port turning basins using harbor tugboats, the effect of shallow depth on ship turning, energy (fuel) consumption and the generation of emissions during such maneuvers of harbor tugboats. This paper presents the developed theoretical models, and the experimental results on theoretical models that were verified on real ships and using calibrated simulators. Discussions and conclusions were prepared on the basis of the research results. The use of the developed methodology makes it possible to increase shipping safety, optimize maneuvers and reduce energy (fuel) consumption when turning ships in the port and, at the same time, reduce the amount of fuel consumed by port tugboats and reduce the number of emissions of tugboats during such operations.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Transportation)
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Open AccessSystematic Review
Transforming Public Service Delivery: A Comprehensive Review of Digitization Initiatives
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Jonathan Jacob Paul Latupeirissa, Ni Luh Yulyana Dewi, I Kadek Rian Prayana, Melati Budi Srikandi, Sahri Aflah Ramadiansyah and Ida Bagus Gde Agung Yoga Pramana
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2818; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072818 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
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Digital transformation improves public services by integrating digital technology. The rapid use of digital technology in the public sector may marginalize groups without access to or familiarity with digital platforms. This can create a digital divide, worsening inequities by leaving people who cannot
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Digital transformation improves public services by integrating digital technology. The rapid use of digital technology in the public sector may marginalize groups without access to or familiarity with digital platforms. This can create a digital divide, worsening inequities by leaving people who cannot access digital services behind. This research will examine public service delivery digital transformation projects and their effects on local governments. The study uses a thorough literature evaluation and case studies of digital transformation projects in different nations. Scopus was used to find relevant content and current public sector digitization research, papers, and publications and they were examined. The study included a variety of opinions on the issue. The assessment found that digital transformation improves efficiency, citizen involvement, and government accountability in public service delivery. Digital transformation may face obstacles that must be overcome. This research demonstrated that improving organizational efficiency, meeting citizen expectations, and responding to superior demands from higher authorities drive digital change in public service delivery. This study stresses technological readiness as a critical driver of local government digital transformation. Opponents’ concerns should be addressed in future research and practice, such as digital service delivery inclusivity and accessibility, cost and resource management, and data security and privacy.
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Open AccessArticle
Impact of Digital Transformation on ESG Management and Corporate Performance: Focusing on the Empirical Comparison between Korea and China
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Huifang Liu and Jin-Sup Jung
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2817; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072817 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
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With the development of digital technology, tasks such as carbon neutrality have emerged as global issues because of the climate crisis. Digital transformation (DT) and environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) management have already become strategic requirements on the agenda of corporate management,
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With the development of digital technology, tasks such as carbon neutrality have emerged as global issues because of the climate crisis. Digital transformation (DT) and environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) management have already become strategic requirements on the agenda of corporate management, but theories and empirical research on how to affect corporate performance through digital transformation and ESG management are lacking. This study examined the intrinsic mechanism of DT to corporate performance based on the theory of a resource-based view (RBV). In addition, the theoretical framework of ESG management as mediating variables was constructed. The ‘Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM)’ was used to verify the hypotheses derived from the literature. Empirical analysis was conducted on companies interested in DT and ESG management in Korea and China. DT positively affected ESG management and corporate performance (e.g., non-financial and financial performance). On the other hand, an examination of the relationship between ESG management and corporate performance revealed differences between the results from Korea and China. The strategic implications for corporate DT and ESG management are suggested. In particular, this study also contributes to the academic aspect by providing new explanations for applying resource-based view theory and the relationship between DT, ESG management, and corporate performance.
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Open AccessArticle
Gender and Socioeconomic Influences on Ten Pro-Environmental Behavior Intentions: A German Comparative Study
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Paul Schulz, Susanne Nicolai, Samuel Tomczyk, Silke Schmidt, Philipp Franikowski and Susanne Stoll-Kleemann
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2816; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072816 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
Pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) such as climate-friendly mobility and eating habits hold great promise in terms of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and, thus, are important goals for addressing climate change from a population perspective. Yet, sociodemographic correlates and differences in PEB intentions have
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Pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) such as climate-friendly mobility and eating habits hold great promise in terms of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and, thus, are important goals for addressing climate change from a population perspective. Yet, sociodemographic correlates and differences in PEB intentions have to be considered in designing messages and behavior change interventions. This study implemented a quota-sampling survey (N = 979, 511 women, 468 men, age M = 50.4, SD = 17.2) of the German population and found that, overall, participants exhibit strong intentions to engage in various PEBs, with the exception of cycling and adopting a vegetarian diet. Moreover, women displayed higher intentions to engage in PEBs compared to men, particularly in adopting a vegetarian diet. The relationships between socioeconomic status (SES) and PEB intentions, as well as the combined effects of gender and SES, were inconsistent for different PEB intentions. We conclude that on a population level, intention-building interventions are necessary for vegetarianism and cycling, while for the other PEBs, interventions may focus on closing the intention–behavior gap. There is a need to further research the interplay of different PEBs in diverse groups and for interventional studies targeting the discrepancy in eating habits across genders.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transformation to Sustainability and Behavior Change)
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Open AccessArticle
The Innovative Entrepreneurial Marketing Journey and Sustainable Development of Southeast Asian Immigrants
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Yu-Heng Chen
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2815; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072815 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
The southeast Asian new immigrants face significant barriers in employment due to language and cultural differences, making it challenging for them to find jobs. Consequently, many southeast Asian immigrants have turned to entrepreneurship as a means to achieve economic independence and contribute to
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The southeast Asian new immigrants face significant barriers in employment due to language and cultural differences, making it challenging for them to find jobs. Consequently, many southeast Asian immigrants have turned to entrepreneurship as a means to achieve economic independence and contribute to their family’s income. This study adopts entrepreneurial marketing (EM) as a theoretical lens and utilizes a process research methodology, based on sequentially ordered events, to explore the entrepreneurial journey of immigrant micro and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Employing purposive sampling, twenty-two southeast Asian immigrant entrepreneurs were selected for in-depth interviews to ensure data quality through multiple data collection methods. The research developed a dynamic adjustment model and management mechanisms for the entrepreneurial marketing of immigrant micro and SMEs. These findings not only bridge theoretical gaps in immigrant entrepreneurship strategy but also deepen the academic understanding of the dynamism in entrepreneurial marketing. Practically, the outcomes assist immigrant micro and small business entrepreneurs in developing operational strategies and serve as a reference for governmental units in crafting immigrant policies.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Innovation in SMEs)
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Open AccessArticle
The Spatiotemporal Impact of Digital Economy on High-Quality Agricultural Development: Evidence from China
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Qi Li and Zhijiao Liu
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2814; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072814 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
China’s high-quality economic development is strongly supported by the high-quality development of agriculture, and the digital economy has emerged as a key driver for promoting shared prosperity and high-quality economic development. Against this backdrop, investigating the connection between high-quality agricultural development and the
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China’s high-quality economic development is strongly supported by the high-quality development of agriculture, and the digital economy has emerged as a key driver for promoting shared prosperity and high-quality economic development. Against this backdrop, investigating the connection between high-quality agricultural development and the digital economy holds significant importance. This study utilized the entropy-weighted TOPSIS model to evaluate comprehensive evaluation indicators of the two according to panel data from 30 provinces in China between 2011 and 2021. Subsequently, GIS spatial analysis and exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) were employed to investigate the spatiotemporal evolution features and spatial correlations. Finally, the spatiotemporal geographically weighted regression (GTWR) model was constructed to examine the spatiotemporal impact of the digital economy on the advancement of high-quality agricultural growth. The results indicate that: (1) from 2011 to 2021, China’s high-quality agricultural development and digital economy both demonstrated a general increasing trend. In terms of spatial distribution, there were significant spatial variations, with a general trend of “Southeast is higher, whereas the Northwest is lower”. The regions with significant value were primarily clustered in the coastal areas in the east and several provincial capitals. (2) Both of the two exhibited significant global spatial self-correlation, and there were also significant spatiotemporal clustering effects in high-quality agricultural growth, gradually forming a high-value cluster centered around Shanghai and a low-value cluster centered around western provinces. (3) The digital economy positively influences the enhancement of high-quality agricultural development, demonstrating notable spatial and temporal heterogeneity. In contrast to the southeastern areas, the influence is more pronounced in the northern and central-western areas.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development)
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Open AccessArticle
Do Economic and Social Satisfaction Matter Equally in Sustainable Business? Hotel Membership Types and Sales Promotions
by
Tianhao Wen and Hong-Youl Ha
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2813; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072813 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
Customer responses to economic and social satisfaction are important in business-to-business transactions; however, these responses can vary when customer segments and sales promotions are combined. This study investigates the roles of two satisfaction types by demonstrating three-way interactions with two moderators: memberships and
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Customer responses to economic and social satisfaction are important in business-to-business transactions; however, these responses can vary when customer segments and sales promotions are combined. This study investigates the roles of two satisfaction types by demonstrating three-way interactions with two moderators: memberships and promotion levels. Using survey data on paid hotel memberships in Korea, this study focuses on the moderated moderation effects of hotel membership type and sales promotions. The authors find that sales promotions positively affect members’ behavioral intentions when they are economically or socially satisfied, regardless of the membership type. In particular, when social satisfaction is positive, the impact of sales promotions on paid membership renewal intentions increases dramatically regardless of the membership type. Meanwhile, lower-tiered members respond more positively to price discounts, increasing their paid membership renewal intentions. In contrast, premium members prefer coupons over price discounts. However, the slope of customer responses is steeper for social satisfaction than economic satisfaction, highlighting that the impact of sales promotions differs by membership type.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)
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Open AccessArticle
The Effects of Urbanization on Urban Land Green Use Efficiency of Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration: Mechanism from the Technological Innovation
by
Changyong Yang, Jianyuan Huang, Man Jiao and Qi Yang
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2812; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072812 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
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It is urgent and essential to explore the facilitating mechanism of urban land green use efficiency (ULGUE) in promoting the coordinated development of humans and land. In this study, the SBM-DEA model was used to measure ULGUE from 26 cities across the Yangtze
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It is urgent and essential to explore the facilitating mechanism of urban land green use efficiency (ULGUE) in promoting the coordinated development of humans and land. In this study, the SBM-DEA model was used to measure ULGUE from 26 cities across the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration (YRDUA) in China from 2006 to 2019. Desired (eco-friendly) outputs and undesired (non-eco-friendly) green outputs were considered in the selection of ULGUE indicators. This study explored the impact of the mechanism of green, digital, and transportation technological innovation on ULGUE in the process of urbanization by the mediation model. The results showed that urbanization has a positive effect on ULGUE and technological innovation, and for every 1% increase in urbanization, ULGUE increases by 0.048%. The results are still significant after robustness tests. The findings suggest that the improvement of social and economic benefits brought by urbanization in the YRDUA is greater than its negative impact. A mechanistic analysis showed that green, digital, and transportation technological innovation can amplify the positive impact by curbing the growth of energy consumption and alleviating pollution. Therefore, the government should promote ULGUE with technological innovation, construct an ULGUE assessment mechanism, incorporate the promotion of green land use into the planning of targets and incentives for technological innovation, and promote the efficient use of land.
Full article
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Open AccessReview
Food System vs. Sustainability: An Incompatible Relationship in Mexico
by
Fatima Ezzahra Housni and Mariana Lares-Michel
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2811; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072811 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
The Mexican food system has suffered deep transformations due to multiple technological advances and political and free trade agreements, transiting from a food system for self-consumption to a system based on exports and imports that has resulted in excessive agricultural activity intensification, leading
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The Mexican food system has suffered deep transformations due to multiple technological advances and political and free trade agreements, transiting from a food system for self-consumption to a system based on exports and imports that has resulted in excessive agricultural activity intensification, leading to environmental deterioration. Our species’ survival will depend on our capacity to manage systems, considering all ecosystems, especially the climate and food systems. International organizations insist that sustainable food systems could be a useful strategy to address malnutrition and hunger while respecting the environment. However, the food system in Mexico needs to be connected to the environmental, social, health, and food security dimensions. Sustainability in Mexico synthesizes the contradictions of agriculture and the Mexican diet, not only in its economic and productive dimensions but also in the social and environmental ones. Public policies in all sectors of the country must be interconnected and organized to guarantee the sustainability of a system that benefits the environment and population health while respecting the related economic and social elements. This review aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of the Mexican food system’s history and current situation and analyze proposals for its sustainability.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food System and Climate Change: The Global Challenges for Transforming a More Sustainable Model)
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