Search Results (5,331)

This study examines how digital transformation (DT) affects sustainable marketing performance (SMP) in the green consumer-goods sector, focusing on new energy vehicle (NEV) enterprises. It explores the mediating role of responsive market orientation (RMO) in this relationship. A structural path model integrating DT, RMO, and SMP is developed to analyze the impact of digital-technology adoption and market responsiveness to green marketing outcomes. This research conducts an empirical analysis using structural equation modeling based on the data of 86 Chinese A-share listed new-energy companies from 2018 to 2022. The results indicate that DT directly improves SMP and also indirectly enhances it by reinforcing RMO. RMO is found to play a significant mediating role. This study may contribute to the theoretical and methodological understanding of how digital strategies drive marketing performance in the context of green consumption and offers empirical support for advancing corporate green marketing practices. Full article

Nepal, like its South Asian neighbours, is exploring Circular Economy (CE) as a pathway to Green Economy and Net Zero commitments. Current studies focus primarily on sector-specific 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) waste management strategies. However, these approaches overlook the broader sustainability transformation implied by a Sustainable Circular Economy (SCE). This study examines whether a locally relevant SCE model is feasible for Nepal. We conducted thematic analysis of interviews with thirteen representatives from nine CE organizations, supplemented by a literature review. Our findings reveal that while most SCE elements exist individually in Nepal’s context, integration into a comprehensive socially inclusive framework remains underdeveloped. We propose a Nepal-specific SCE framework that could challenge conventional industrial development trajectories focused solely on growth. The authors believe that this Nepal case study has valuable lessons for other developing countries pursuing CE as a strategy, as it suggests that a wider SCE scope is necessary to achieve inclusive development. Full article

The integration of renewable energy and power-to-gas (P2G) technology into park-level integrated energy systems (PIES) offers a sustainable pathway for low-carbon development. This paper presents a low-carbon economic dispatch model for PIES that incorporates uncertainties in renewable energy generation and load demand. A novel two-stage P2G, replacing traditional devices with electrolysers (EL), methane reactors (MR), and hydrogen fuel cells (HFC), enhances energy efficiency and facilitates the utilisation of captured carbon. Furthermore, adjustable thermoelectric ratios in combined heat and power (CHP) and HFC improve both economic and environmental performance. A ladder-type carbon trading and green certificate trading mechanism is introduced to effectively manage carbon emissions. To address the uncertainties in supply and demand, the study applies information gap decision theory (IGDT) and develops a robust risk-averse model. The results from various operating scenarios reveal the following key findings: (1) the integration of CCT with the two-stage P2G system increases renewable energy consumption and reduces carbon emissions by 5.8%; (2) adjustable thermoelectric ratios in CHP and HFC allow for flexible adjustment of output power in response to load requirements, thereby reducing costs while simultaneously lowering carbon emissions; (3) the incorporation of ladder-type carbon trading and green certificate trading reduces the total cost by 7.8%; (4) in the IGDT-based robust model, there is a positive correlation between total cost, uncertainty degree, and the cost deviation coefficient. The appropriate selection of the cost deviation coefficient is crucial for balancing system economics with the associated risk of uncertainty. Full article

As society ages, there is a growing concern about the comfort and health of elderly people. Although populations around the world, including Slovenia, are rapidly aging, evidence that increasing longevity is being accompanied by an extended period of good health is scarce. An increasing number of older adults live with chronic diseases, functional limitations, or frailty. In 2025, Slovenia launched the project Systemic Approach to Frailty with a Focus on Pre-Frailty for Healthy and Hight-Quality Ageing, within the European Cohesion Policy Programme 2021–2027, aiming to address frailty through multidimensional and community-based interventions. In addition to presenting the project framework, this paper provides an analytical preliminary review of existing literature, critically reflecting on research gaps in the field. The main aim of this paper is to explore the possibilities for creating healthy living environments that support the prevention and management of frailty. The project’s core innovation lies in the integration of public health principles into urban planning and design through a structured, community-based approach and the use of the Living Environmental Assessment (OBO) Tool. This tool enables urban planners, municipalities, and local communities to collaboratively evaluate and co-design living environments (e.g., optimizing walkability, green space access, barrier-free design, and social amenities) to build resilience and independence among older adults. Designing inclusive, accessible, and health-promoting environments can help to prevent frailty and improve well-being across all age groups. Full article

Based on panel data from Chinese A-share listed companies during 2014–2023 and employing text analysis to measure Sustainable Business Model Innovation (SBMI), this study investigates how corporate ESG performance promotes SBMI. The results reveal that firms with superior ESG ratings tend to exhibit stronger SBMI capabilities. Furthermore, patient capital and corporate reputation serve as partial mediators in this relationship, indicating that ESG indirectly promotes SBMI by attracting long-term-oriented capital and enhancing a firm’s reputation. Based on these observations, it is advised that the participation of green investors, the advancement of digital transformation, and the implementation of government innovation subsidies all significantly strengthen the positive impact of ESG on SBMI. Based on these findings, this paper recommends that (1) governments enhance innovation subsidy policies, (2) enterprises deepen the integration of ESG practices with digital transformation and actively attract green investors, and (3) green investors use financial tools to support the development of SBMI. These combined efforts can thereby jointly promote the sustainable transformation of enterprises. Full article

This study explores how the integration of generative artificial intelligence, multi-objective evolutionary optimization, and reinforcement learning can enable sustainable and cost-effective decision-making in supply chain strategy. Using real-world retail demand data enriched with synthetic sustainability attributes, we trained a Variational Autoencoder (VAE) to generate plausible future demand scenarios. These were used to seed a Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II) aimed at identifying Pareto-optimal sourcing strategies that balance delivery cost and CO₂ emissions. The resulting Pareto frontier revealed favorable trade-offs, enabling up to 50% emission reductions for only a 10–15% cost increase. We further deployed a deep Q-learning (DQN) agent to dynamically manage weekly shipments under a selected balanced strategy. The reinforcement learning policy achieved an additional 10% emission reduction by adaptively switching between green and conventional transport modes in response to demand and carbon pricing. Importantly, the agent also demonstrated resilience during simulated supply disruptions by rerouting decisions in real time. This research contributes a novel AI-based decision architecture that combines generative modeling, evolutionary search, and adaptive control to support sustainability in complex and uncertain supply chains. Full article

Green infrastructure (GI) and nature-based solutions (NBSs) in land-use planning and landscape architecture represent a holistic, interdisciplinary response to environmental and societal challenges. Although integrated into Slovak legislation since 2019, their formal implementation has progressed rather slowly, creating a gap that has been increasingly addressed by civic initiatives (CIs) of diverse types and legal forms. This study examines approaches and methods of CIs in Slovakia implementing GI and NBSs, while focusing on their legal forms, activities, spatial delimitations, and their impact on green space development and governance. Analysis of seventeen case studies shows that many CIs operate at multiple levels—local, national, and international—often delivering professional, conceptually grounded solutions. The most frequent NBS activities involve creating or enhancing parks, green public spaces, and community gardens, as well as restoring natural and semi-natural areas through nature-based management. Knowledge creation and awareness-raising are central strategies, including environmental education centres, citizen science, public campaigns, and informal learning platforms. The transformation of derelict areas into multifunctional public spaces emerges as a notable practice, combining ecological regeneration with cultural and social uses. The findings highlight the growing role of civic actors in advancing inclusive, participatory, and knowledge-based environmental management and call for stronger institutional support to integrate their contributions into formal administrative frameworks. Full article

This review examines South Africa’s escalating flood vulnerability through a synthesis of over 80 peer-reviewed articles, historical records, policy reports, and case studies. Using a PRISMA-guided analysis, the study identifies key climatic drivers, including extreme rainfall from tropical–temperate interactions, cut-off lows, and La Niña conditions that interact with structural weaknesses such as inadequate drainage, poorly maintained stormwater systems, and rapid urban expansion. Apartheid-era spatial planning has further entrenched risk by locating marginalised communities in floodplains. Governance failures like weak disaster risk reduction (DRR) policies, fragmented institutional coordination, and insufficient early warning systems intensify flood vulnerabilities. Catastrophic events in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and the Western Cape (WC) illustrate the consequences exemplified by the April 2022 KZN floods alone, which caused over 450 deaths, displaced more than 40,000 people, and generated damages exceeding ZAR 17 billion. Nationally, more than 1500 flood-related fatalities have been documented in the past two decades. Emerging resilience pathways include ecosystem-based adaptation, green infrastructure, participatory governance, integration of Indigenous knowledge, improved hydrological forecasting, and stricter land-use enforcement. These approaches can simultaneously reduce physical risks and address entrenched socio-economic inequalities. However, significant gaps remain in spatial flood modelling, gender-sensitive responses, urban–rural disparities, and policy implementation. The review concludes that South Africa urgently requires integrated, multi-scalar strategies that combine scientific innovation, policy reform, and community-based action. Embedding these insights into disaster management policy and planning is essential to curb escalating losses and build long-term resilience in the face of climate change. Full article

Urbanization profoundly transforms ecosystems, often resulting in habitat loss and biodiversity decline. Urban spontaneous plants, which are established naturally without human intervention, play a critical role in urban ecosystems by providing habitats, mitigating urban heat islands, and acting as indicators of environmental changes. Multidimensional urbanization, encompassing vertical and horizontal scale, exerts a significant influence on the biodiversity of green space. While previous studies have extensively examined the effects of horizontal spatial scales (such as land use and population density), the impacts of vertical spatial scales remain understudied. To elucidate the spatial patterns and driving factors of spontaneous plant diversity under multidimensional urbanization, we conducted a comprehensive survey of spontaneous plants across Changchun, a rapidly urbanizing city in northeast China. We established 1147 herbaceous plots within 245 urban green space patches across 38 sites and analyzed the effects of multidimensional urbanization metrics on spontaneous plant diversity. A total of 408 species of spontaneous plants were recorded, with herbs as the dominant life-form (89.2%), 322 are native species (78.9%), and 21.1% non-native species (of which 65.1% are invasive), primarily dispersed by autochory. Significant differences in plant diversity indices were observed across various urban green spaces and habitat types in Changchun, with native plant diversity generally highest in square green spaces and scrub gaps, while non-native plant diversity was most prominent in brownfield sites and showed no significant variation among habitat types. Regression analyses revealed that, in addition to patch characteristic factors (including patch area, perimeter–area ratio, and landscape shape index), the richness of total, native, and autochorous spontaneous plants was primarily influenced by vertical urbanization (as indicated by building volume), with building volume positively associated with species richness. In contrast, the richness of non-native and anemochorous plants was also significantly affected by horizontal urbanization factors, such as the proportion of impervious surface within a 100 m buffer zone and distance from patch to city center. The results reveal distinct spatial patterns of spontaneous plant diversity driven by both urbanization of horizontal spatial scales and vertical spatial scales. Our study provides new insights into the interplay between multidimensional urbanization and biodiversity, offering a theoretical foundation for integrating biodiversity conservation into sustainable urban planning and ecosystem management. Full article

Leather tanning generates substantial amounts of solid waste and effluents, posing significant environmental challenges due to the presence of hazardous chromium compounds. The aim of this study was to develop and optimize a method for recycling chromium-tanned leather waste by utilizing it as a raw material in the retanning process. Collagen hydrolysate was extracted from chrome-tanned leather shavings through acid hydrolysis and subsequently incorporated, together with melamine, into novel retanning compositions. The experimental design, based on the Kleeman method, involved varying the hydrolysate content (25%, 30%, 35%) and melamine concentration (2.5%, 3.0%, 3.5%, 4.0%) to assess their impact on the physicochemical properties of retanned wet-blue leathers. An innovative aspect of the study was the integration of the Kateskór computer program, employing the Kleeman experimental planning method, to optimize the formulation of retanning compositions. This computational approach enabled the precise determination of hydrolysate and melamine quantities required to achieve leather properties that meet both producer and consumer expectations. The optimized formulation identified the hydrolysate content in the range of 28.78–29.63% and melamine in the range of 3.61–3.68% as optimal for obtaining leathers with the desired mechanical strength, shrinkage temperature, and water vapor permeability. The study presents a practical model of a circular economy within the leather industry, aligning with the European Green Deal Strategy by promoting resource efficiency and minimizing hazardous waste. The proposed methodology provides a viable pathway for sustainable leather production through waste valorization and process optimization. Full article

To address the issues of capacity resource waste and increased carbon emissions caused by the asymmetry between import and export container transportation tasks in port collection and dispatching, a green and cooperative task-and-route optimization method for container trucks with heterogeneous carriers based on task sharing is proposed from the perspective of system optimization. Based on the concept of a sharing economy, a sharing and cooperation mechanism with dual elasticity in capacity and information is designed, which integrates the container trucks’ resources and dissymmetric transportation tasks of heterogeneous carriers to expand the revenue potential for all participants. Based on task sharing and matching, a green and cooperative task-and-route optimization model for container trucks with heterogeneous carriers based on task sharing is formulated in order to optimize container trucks’ resources and transportation tasks comprehensively and reduce the system’s carbon emissions. A column generation algorithm embedded with a ring-increasing strategy is designed to solve the problem to improve computational efficiency. Through algorithm testing and a case analysis, the effectiveness of the model and algorithm is validated. The optimization results show that the overall carbon emissions are reduced by more than 28%, the number of used trucks decreases by 28%, and the profits of participants are increased by 24–65% compared with independent operations. Finally, several management insights are obtained regarding the number of shared trucks, the external market demand, task demand variability, the mixed fleet composition, subsidies, and bonus adjustments. Full article

Catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) and microwave-assisted organic synthesis (MAOS) have each advanced the sustainability of reduction chemistry; however, their combined application to conjugated enones remains largely unexplored. To the best of our knowledge, no unified protocol has been reported for the rapid, one-pot conversion of chalcones into saturated alcohols under microwave irradiation. Herein, we report a concise and green method that integrates MAOS with Pd/C-catalyzed CTH, employing inexpensive ammonium formate in ethanol. In contrast to state-of-the-art hydrogenations that require pressurized H₂ or costly metal complexes, our strategy (i) achieves complete conversion within 20 min at 60 °C, (ii) tolerates both electron-rich and electron-poor substrates, (iii) reduces nitro-substituted chalcones in a single step, and (iv) consumes < 0.005 kWh per reaction—an approximately 250-fold energy saving relative to conventional procedures. These results position microwave-driven CTH as a scalable alternative for synthesizing pharmacologically relevant saturated alcohol scaffolds from readily available chalcones. Full article

This study aims to guide the management and service of highways towards a more efficient and intelligent direction, and also provides intelligent and green data support for achieving sustainable development goals. The forecasting of traffic flow at highway stations serves as the cornerstone for spatiotemporal analysis and is vital for effective highway management and control. Despite considerable advancements in data-driven traffic flow prediction, the majority of existing models fail to differentiate between directions. Specifically, entrance flow prediction has applications in dynamic route guidance, disseminating real-time traffic conditions, and offering optimal entrance selection suggestions. Meanwhile, exit flow prediction is instrumental for congestion and accident alerts, as well as for road network optimization decisions. In light of these needs, this study introduces an enhanced heterogeneous spatiotemporal graph network model tailored for predicting highway station traffic flow. To accurately capture the dynamic impact of upstream toll stations on the target station’s flow, we devise an influence probability matrix. This matrix, in conjunction with the covariance matrix across toll stations, updated graph structure data, and integrated external weather conditions, allows the attention mechanism to assign varied combination weights to the target toll station from temporal, spatial, and external standpoints, thereby augmenting prediction accuracy. We undertook a case study utilizing traffic flow data from the Chengdu-Chengyu station on the Sichuan Highway to gauge the efficacy of our proposed model. The experimental outcomes indicate that our model surpasses other baseline models in performance metrics. This study provides valuable insights for highway management and control, as well as for reducing traffic congestion. Furthermore, this research highlights the importance of using data-driven approaches to reduce carbon emissions associated with transportation, enhance resource allocation at toll plazas, and promote sustainable highway transportation systems. Full article

The growing demand for sustainable biorefinery approaches calls for efficient, environmentally benign strategies to valorize agricultural residues and ensure their complete utilization. This study explores the combination of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and microwave heating technology as a greener process for the selective fractionation of agri-food waste residues in a zero-waste perspective. Within this framework, five representative biomasses were thoroughly investigated, namely brewer’s spent grain, raw and parboiled rice husks, rapeseed cakes, and hemp hurds. DES formulation was selected for its ability to solubilize and separate lignocellulosic components, enabling the recovery of a polysaccharide-rich fraction, lignin, and bioactive compounds. DES extraction was performed using both microwave heating and conventional batch heating, enabling a direct comparison of the two methods, the optimization of a more sustainable fractionation process, and the maximization of yields while preserving the functional integrity of the recovered fractions. A comprehensive characterization of the separated fractions was carried out, revealing that the two fractionation methods do not yield significant differences in the composition of the primary components. Moreover, a ¹³C CP-MAS NMR analysis of the recovered lignins demonstrates how this analytical technique is a real fingerprint for the biomass source. The results demonstrate the great potential of microwave DES-mediated fractionation as a mild, tunable, and sustainable alternative to conventional methods, aligning with green chemistry principles and opening new approaches for the full valorization of waste byproducts Full article

In the face of the challenge of urban water resource degradation, green infrastructure construction has become a core strategy in modern urban water resource management. Urban aquatic horticulture (UAH), as an important component of this strategy, possesses the dual value of ecological purification and landscape aesthetics. However, its practical implementation is often constrained by public awareness and acceptance. This study aims to address the mismatch between the dual values of urban aquatic horticulture and public perception, and to develop an optimised plant selection strategy that integrates purification functions with public perception. Based on literature reviews, 18 images of aquatic plant landscapes showcasing different ornamental forms, species richness, and life types were created. A questionnaire survey was conducted on 320 participants to assess their perceptions of landscape aesthetic appeal and visual preferences, and a quantitative relationship model was established using multiple stepwise linear regression analysis. The public’s aesthetic perception of aquatic plant landscapes with different ornamental forms and species richness varies significantly, with flowering plant landscapes more likely to evoke aesthetic perception than non-flowering landscapes. The public’s visual preferences for landscape attributes significantly influence their aesthetic perception of aquatic plant landscapes. A multiple stepwise linear regression equation was established to model the relationship between the aesthetic perception of aquatic plant community landscapes and the public’s visual preferences for landscape attributes. There is no significant association between species richness and perceived landscape aesthetic appeal. The study developed an optimised selection strategy for aquatic plants that integrates purification functions with public perception, providing theoretical basis and practical guidance for the scientific configuration of aquatic horticultural systems in urban green infrastructure. In landscape design, flowering plants with ornamental value should be prioritised, with emphasis on landscape layers, colour, and spatial shaping to enhance public acceptance and promote the sustainable development of urban water resource management. Full article