Search Results (3,792)

This research analyzed the role of Green Marketing (GM) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in promoting Corporate Sustainability (CS) across the environmental, social, and economic dimensions within the industrial sector in the Palestinian territories. Given the limited empirical evidence from developing and resource-constrained contexts, an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was employed. The quantitative phase involved a survey of 500 valid respondents, and the data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The quantitative findings were complemented by fifteen in-depth semi-structured interviews to further interpret and validate the survey results. The results indicate that GM showed the largest effect size and functions as a strategic approach for embedding sustainability values into organizational activities. AI also demonstrated a positive and supportive role by enhancing operational efficiency and monitoring capabilities within industrial processes. The interaction between AI and GM showed a statistically significant but relatively small effect, particularly in the social sustainability dimension, suggesting that AI may help reinforce the effectiveness of green marketing practices. The qualitative findings further illustrate how GM contributes to internal accountability, eco-design initiatives, stakeholder trust, and competitive positioning, while AI supports waste management, resource optimization, employee safety monitoring, forecasting accuracy, and sustainability reporting verification. Overall, the results suggest that GM and AI jointly contribute to improving corporate sustainability practices, with GM providing strategic direction and AI supporting operational implementation. This study contributes to the literature on sustainability, marketing, and digital transformation by providing empirical evidence on the interaction between green marketing and artificial intelligence in promoting corporate sustainability within a developing-country context. Full article

Background/Objectives: Iodine deficiency remains an important global public health concern. Although iodized salt is the primary strategy for iodine deficiency prevention, its effectiveness depends on adequate iodine concentrations in commercially available products. However, laboratory data on the iodine content of retail salt products in Hungary are currently lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the iodine concentration of commercially available iodized table salts in Hungary and to assess their compliance with the WHO-recommended range of 20–40 ppm. Methods: Twenty different brands of iodized table salt were purchased from major retail outlets in Pécs, Hungary, representing the dominant food retail sector. According to product labels, ten salts were fortified with potassium iodate (KIO₃) and ten with potassium iodide (KI). Iodine concentrations were determined by iodometric titration following WHO-recommended laboratory methods. All measurements were performed in triplicate and expressed as mean values. In addition, a small exploratory wholesale micro-survey examined purchasing patterns of iodized and non-iodized salt in the regional supply chain. Results: Measured iodine concentrations varied substantially among products, ranging from 0 to 33.9 ppm. Overall, 65% of the analyzed salt samples contained less than 20 ppm iodine, while only 35% fell within the WHO-recommended range of 20–40 ppm. Notably, several products declared iodine concentrations below recommended levels on their labels. The wholesale micro-survey showed that ten times more iodized than non-iodized salt was ordered during the observation period. Conclusions: These results suggest that the presence of iodized salt on the market does not necessarily guarantee adequate iodine supply and highlight the potential relevance of considering iodine status during the differential diagnosis of hypothyroidism. Full article

Kuwait faces mounting challenges in municipal solid waste (MSW) management alongside continued dependence on fossil-fuel-based electricity generation. Per capita waste generation in Kuwait is approximately 1.7 kg/person/day, exceeding the global average of 0.74 kg/person/day, indicating substantial potential for resource recovery and energy conversion. This study evaluates public perceptions of waste-to-energy (WtE) in Kuwait’s residential sector and estimates the potential electricity that could be generated from household waste. A structured online household survey (n = 470) was administered to assess socio-demographic characteristics and key perception constructs, including awareness, perceived risks, perceived benefits, and overall attitudes toward WtE. In parallel, a quantitative estimation was undertaken using literature-based parameters for monthly per capita waste generation and electricity consumption to derive household-level waste quantities, corresponding energy potential, and generated-to-consumed energy ratios. Survey findings indicate generally favourable attitudes toward WtE and recognition of its potential to reduce landfill dependence and contribute to electricity supply, although respondents showed stronger support for locating WtE facilities away from residential neighbourhoods. Perceived risks—particularly related to health and environmental impacts—remained salient, while perceived benefits associated with waste reduction and local economic value were also acknowledged. The technical assessment indicates that higher waste generation increases theoretical energy recovery potential; however, high residential electricity demand reduces the relative contribution of WtE, with a generated-to-consumed energy ratio of approximately 2, compared with a global benchmark ratio of 4.1. This study highlights the need for targeted public engagement, improved source segregation, and more detailed Kuwait-specific technical and economic evaluations to support evidence-based WtE policy and investment decisions. Full article

The dynamic transformation of global energy systems has intensified the search for low-emission energy carriers capable of supporting sustainable development. Hydrogen is increasingly considered a promising fuel of the clean energy future within the framework of long-term strategies due to its potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in the transport sector and chemical, heavy metals industries. The aim of this article was to present knowledge regarding the use of hydrogen as a fuel of the future from a social perspective, with particular emphasis on public awareness, attitudes, perceived barriers, and development opportunities. The research was based on a literature review and a quantitative survey. The results indicate that although the level of detailed knowledge about hydrogen technologies remains limited, public attitudes toward hydrogen are generally positive. Respondents associate hydrogen primarily with environmental benefits, but express concerns related to safety, high costs, and insufficient infrastructure. A SWOT analysis was conducted to systematize the findings and identify key social factors influencing the development potential of hydrogen technologies. The future implementation of hydrogen energy technologies depends not only on technological and economic progress but also on education, trust-building, and infrastructure expansion. Full article

The expansion of digital connectivity has reshaped contemporary work environments, increasing flexibility while simultaneously blurring the boundaries between work and personal life. In such contexts, employees may experience difficulties in psychologically detaching from work during off-job time. Drawing on the Effort–Recovery model and Conservation of Resources theory, this study examined whether affective work-related rumination indirectly explained the association between Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) and psychological detachment. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 228 employees from diverse occupational sectors who completed validated measures of FoMO, affective rumination, and psychological detachment. Indirect effect analyses using bootstrapping procedures indicated that FoMO was positively associated with affective rumination, and affective rumination was negatively associated with psychological detachment. The indirect effect was significant, whereas the direct association between FoMO and detachment was not. These findings are consistent with an indirect association pattern whereby FoMO is related to lower psychological detachment through higher levels of affective rumination. However, given the cross-sectional design, the results should be interpreted as correlational evidence rather than as demonstrating a causal mediation process. The model accounted for approximately 10% of the variance in psychological detachment. Overall, the findings suggest that FoMO may be indirectly related to reduced recovery experiences via emotionally charged repetitive thinking that sustains cognitive activation beyond working hours. Addressing rumination and supporting healthier digital boundary management may therefore represent promising avenues for supporting occupational mental health in increasingly connected work environments. Full article

The recent proliferation of electronic waste (E-waste) in developing countries has become a pressing environmental and socio-economic issue, particularly in urban areas where informal waste management practices dominate. The current E-waste collection system in Yaoundé comprises three streams: informal, formal, and municipal solid waste collection. However, transitioning to a prospective, integrated system requires optimizing E-waste collection. Given that the current formal collection (CFC) scenario has only 3 formal collection points, this study employs a survey-based approach and GIS network analysis to allocate 8 additional collection points to maximize formal collection coverage and quantity in Yaoundé. The applied methodologies included the consumer and use model and GIS-based location-allocation, service-area, and route-optimization analyses. The results indicate a 52.81% increase in formal collection quantity for the maximized formal collection (MFC) scenario. Furthermore, Route 1 proved to be the most cost-effective, with a fuel consumption cost of 806,472.25 FCFA/year. Additionally, Route 1 yielded the lowest GHG emissions, at 2610.32 kg CO₂ eq/year, compared with Routes 2 and 3. Finally, transitioning from the current business-as-usual (BAU) to a prospective integrated E-waste management (IEM) system resulted in a 13.83% potential reduction in emissions. This emission reduction contributed 3.04% to Cameroon’s nationally determined contributions (NDCs) 2030 target for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction in the waste sector. The study’s outcome proves informative for decision-making in optimizing E-waste management systems in developing economies. Full article

Within the hospital sector, digitalization brings smarter, more resilient and more sustainable systems. Advancements in remote sensing technologies and building information modeling (BIM) are revolutionizing infrastructure design and construction. The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of digitalization on the spatial configuration of hospitals and its effects on operational efficiency and environmental sustainability, combining theoretical insights with an empirical survey of fourteen hospitals in Italy. The methodology adopted consisted of the following steps: (i) the conduct of a literature review; (ii) the analysis of international best practice; (iii) the definition of criteria to support the design of digital hospitals; (iv) the investigation on the Italian context through a survey; (v) data collection and analysis to support the formulation of strategies for smart hospital development. The findings highlight how the adoption of innovative solutions related to clinical and management sector can optimize hospital workflow, enhance management efficiency, and create safer and more functional and sustainable environments. However, the persistence of outdated infrastructures and the need for significant adaptation still represent major barriers: only 28.7% of hospitals have a fully centralized logistics hub, and just 7.1% have implemented a Digital Twin. In conclusion, this research provides a reference framework for designers, healthcare administrators, and policymakers, outlining strategies for the development of smart and sustainable hospitals. Full article

The protection of personal information has become a defining challenge for higher education institutions, particularly in developing contexts where regulatory frameworks are often strong on paper but weak in practice. This study investigates student perceptions of privacy within Zimbabwe’s higher education system, focusing on three constructs: awareness, expectations, and confidence across nine core privacy components derived from international principles (FIPPs, OECD, GDPR) and the Zimbabwe Data Protection Act (ZDPA). Using survey data from 287 students across diverse programmes and modes of study, descriptive and comparative analyses reveal a striking pattern: students demonstrate high awareness and very strong expectations, yet their confidence in institutional compliance remains significantly lower. The largest deficits were found in privacy education, consent, and notice/openness, suggesting that institutions are perceived as technically competent in data handling but weak in transparency, accountability, and student engagement. The research extends privacy perception models by considering the discrepancy between the students’ expectations and the institutional trust. It also encourages universities to go beyond mere compliance by implementing concrete measures such as privacy training, clear consent, and frequent data audits. The findings contribute to global debates on privacy by offering evidence from the Global South, showing that the key challenge is not student ignorance but institutional trustworthiness. Bridging this awareness-confidence gap is essential for building a privacy-conscious academic environment. Full article

The mandatory introduction of tethered caps on plastic beverage bottles under European Directive (EU) 2019/904 aims to reduce plastic litter and improve the collection efficiency of packaging waste. This regulatory change introduced a packaging design modification that directly affects consumer interaction. Consumer acceptance of this packaging innovation, however, remains uncertain. Drawing on research suggesting that product experience is shaped not only by physical interaction but also by expectations and value-based framing, this study examines whether the environmental intent of tethered caps is reflected in consumer perceptions over time. We analyze changes in consumer attitudes toward tethered caps before and after the legal obligation came into force, based on survey data collected in 2024 and 2025. Results indicate that overall consumer perceptions remained predominantly negative in both years, with a slight increase in negative responses following mandatory implementation. Although reported awareness of single-use plastic issues was higher in 2025, this did not correspond to improved evaluations of usability. Skepticism regarding the actual impact on waste reduction, along with ergonomic concerns and discomfort during drinking, were consistently identified as key barriers to acceptance. Socio-demographic analysis showed that age and employment status significantly influenced attitudes, whereas gender and place of residence did not. Contrary to expectations, younger respondents showed a shift toward more negative perceptions after implementation. Overall, the results suggest that the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive, although primarily aimed at achieving positive environmental outcomes, did not produce a comparable effect on consumer perception, as the environmental rationale did not significantly increase the acceptability of the tethered cap among users. This highlights the limits to value-based acceptance of sustainability-driven packaging measures and underscores the importance of integrating user-centered evaluation into regulatory design and communication strategies. These insights contribute to the broader discussion on the effectiveness of regulatory packaging interventions in the beverage sector. Full article

Microplastics (MPs) and microfibres (MFs) are widespread contaminants that are found in natural environments worldwide. Although their presence has been documented in Arctic snow, sea ice and marine systems, data on their occurrence in Greenland glacier surface ice remain limited. Because of their small size, persistence, and mobility, MPs and MFs pose significant risks to both habitats and species, reaching even the most remote areas. Monitoring these environments is crucial for assessing the extent of pollution, while dissemination activities are essential for transferring scientific knowledge to local communities and fostering active engagement in adopting sustainable behaviours. A preliminary survey was conducted on a glacier in Greenland, collecting samples along the routes travelled by the Extreme E staff during the electric off-road racing series expedition in the region. Preliminary results confirmed the presence of MPs and MFs in the study area with high abundances. Fibrous and small-sized microparticles were the most prevalent types detected. The most common synthetic material was polyethylene terephthalate (PET), while natural and regenerated MFs were predominantly cellulosic. A deeper understanding of MP and MF contamination in extreme environments was achieved, highlighting the importance of environmental education and public awareness as key tools in mitigating pollution and promoting sustainable strategies. The integration of different sectors can synergistically promote sustainability efforts and address the urgent challenges of climate change and environmental pollution. Full article

This study aims to examine the effect of authentic leadership on task performance in public organizations from sustainability perspective and to test whether supportive organizational culture plays a mediating role in this relationship. A quantitative, correlational, cross-sectional survey design was used for this study. A questionnaire form was used to collect data. Authentic leadership, task performance, and supportive organizational culture were measured using standard scales. After scale adaptation and factor analyses, one authentic leadership item was removed, resulting in a 15-item structure. Data were collected via Google Forms from 452 civil servants and contracted employees working in a metropolitan municipality in Turkey using convenience sampling. The data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 22 for CFA. Construct validity was established through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA). Internal consistency coefficients were found to be high. Common method bias was assessed using Harman’s single-factor test. Hypotheses were tested using PROCESS Macro Model 4 with 5000 bootstrap resamples. The findings indicate that authentic leadership does not have a significant direct effect on task performance. However, authentic leadership significantly and positively predicts supportive organizational culture, and supportive organizational culture significantly enhances task performance. Moreover, the effect of authentic leadership on task performance occurs indirectly through supportive organizational culture, indicating a full mediating role. The results suggest that, in public organizations, leadership effects are more likely to be transferred into performance outcomes when it is embedded in cultural norms and supportive practices. From a sustainability perspective, in the absence of direct measures of sustainability outcomes, self-reported task performance is interpreted as a proximal organizational outcome rather than a direct indicator of sustainability. Therefore, the study offers theoretically grounded sustainability implications for institutional continuity via supportive organizational culture, efficiency in the use of resources and service quality with the practices of green HR in the public sector. Future research should employ multi-source and multi-indicator measures of sustainability. Full article

Although extensive research acknowledges the potential of big data analytics capabilities (BDACs), there is still a blank map regarding how and to what extent BDACs are understood and used in the field of tourism. This study thus explores how BDACs impact organisational performance with government support and competitive intensity as moderators in the wellness tourism sector. To gather data, this research conducted a questionnaire-based survey and received 139 valid responses from senior executives in large Chinese wellness tourism companies. The data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to test the hypotheses. The findings confirm that BDACs significantly influence organisational performance, and the direct effect is moderated by government support and competitive intensity. By examining BDACs within the specific context, this study extends existing research concerning how data-intensive capabilities manifest in experience-focused, wellness-oriented service environments. Moreover, the current research integrates dynamic capability theory and contingency theory to develop a more comprehensive framework that explains both the mechanisms by which BDACs enhance organisational outcome and the contextual conditions that strengthen the effect. Full article

The agricultural sector faces increasing vulnerability to climate change, necessitating effective adaptation measures to maintain productivity and enhance system resilience. Despite this critical need, limited studies explore the factors influencing farmers’ adaptive responses within specific climatic zones. This study aimed to identify adaptation measures essential for agricultural sustainability in the three purposively selected Grama Niladari divisions (GNDs) known for their diverse crop varieties in the Maho Agrarian Zone, a region characterised by the Maha (Northeast Monsoon) and Yala (Southwest Monsoon) agricultural seasons. A mixed-methods descriptive research design, integrating quantitative surveys and qualitative focus group data, was employed. The findings reveal a highly experienced farming community: 34.9% of farmers have over 30 years of farming experience. A total of 96.7% of farmers reported noticing changes, including a shift in seasons (over 80%) and unpredictable rainfall patterns (53%). A vast majority (62.8%) of farmers lack access to agricultural insurance, leaving them financially exposed to crop losses. Furthermore, while younger and middle-aged groups demonstrated the highest awareness of climate-smart agriculture (CSA), there is a strong, consistent perception across all age groups that government and associated institutions are not providing sufficient support for adaptation efforts. The results offer actionable recommendations for empowering local planning authorities, optimising climate communication strategies, and prioritising the development of practical CSA training modules, ultimately synthesising local knowledge with expert insight to support global resilience-building initiatives. Full article

The contemporary crisis of trust in institutions and organizations has intensified what recent literature describes as a “leadership recession”, characterized by declining ethical legitimacy and limited capacity to manage systemic change. This article introduces the concept of leadership recession as a systemic and ethical phenomenon and proposes an ethical–systemic leadership model as potential pathway toward leadership recovery. Drawing on Aristotelian ethics—particularly the concepts of phronesis (practical wisdom), justice, and virtue—combined with systems theory and change management, the study develops an integrated theoretical framework that reconceptualizes leadership legitimacy as both a moral and organizational condition. Empirically, the study is based on a quantitative survey of 402 employees from the public and private sectors in Greece. The findings indicate that employees’ perceptions of effective leadership are positively associated with ethical virtues and leaders’ capacity to understand and manage organizational interdependencies. Ethical legitimacy emerges as an important relational mechanism that enhances trust, participation, and acceptance of organizational change. The article contributes to leadership and administrative sciences literature by introducing the notion of leadership recession and by proposing an ethical–systemic leadership paradigm that integrates values-based leadership, systemic thinking, and change management. The findings offer both theoretical insights and practical implications for leaders and organizations seeking sustainable and ethically legitimate transformation. Full article

Public administrations increasingly seek to adopt digital tools for evidence-based policymaking, yet systematic frameworks guiding this adoption remain scarce. This paper aims to develop and apply a co-creation framework for technology adoption roadmaps in public sector policymaking. The objectives are threefold: (1) to systematically identify impacts, facilitators, and barriers through structured stakeholder engagement; (2) to structure these elements into Impact Pathways and Transition Scenarios; and (3) to derive actionable policy recommendations. Using a participatory action research design, a seven-step co-creation methodology was applied across all four cases addressing crisis management challenges: forest fires in Finland, floods and refugee reception in Italy, power outages in Greece, and wildfires in Spain. Through structured stakeholder engagement combining surveys, workshops, and online consultations, the study identified seven categories of policy support results; twelve impacts spanning technology adoption, policy process enhancement, public administration capacity, and citizen empowerment; nine facilitators across financial, organisational, legal, and technical dimensions; and eight frustrators assessed through a risk matrix. These elements were structured into Impact Pathways, visualising causal relationships among policy support tools, enabling factors, and transformation outcomes. Four Transition Scenarios were derived, aligned with the policy lifecycle stages of inception, negotiation, set-up, and operation, accompanied by fifteen actionable policy recommendations classified by thematic area, timeframe, and stakeholder responsibility. The findings reveal that evidence-based policies represent a central transformation target across all result categories, while effective stakeholder engagement and leadership commitment emerge as cross-cutting enablers. The integrated framework contributes to digital governance research by operationalising co-creation for strategic roadmap development and offers practitioners a decision-support tool for planning digital technology-assisted policymaking transformations. Full article