Search Results (28)

The transition towards Industry 4.0 has significantly heightened the need for manufacturing firms to assess their organisational readiness for the digital transformation of production systems while aligning with sustainable manufacturing goals. Despite increasing scholarly attention to Industry 4.0, there is limited evidence of how organisational and technological capabilities, through readiness, translate into sustainable manufacturing outcomes in emerging economies such as Pakistan. This study addresses this gap by examining the relationships among the six IMPULS dimensions, namely strategy and organisation, smart factory, smart operations, smart product, data-driven services, and employees, together with additional organisational and technological readiness factors, Industry 4.0 readiness, and sustainable manufacturing in the context of Pakistani manufacturing firms. A quantitative cross-sectional design was used, while data were collected from 470 respondents across various manufacturing sectors using a structured questionnaire constructed on validated measurement scales. This study develops and empirically tests an extended IMPULS-informed readiness-to-sustainability framework that integrates established Industry 4.0 readiness dimensions with additional organisational and technological capability factors relevant to sustainable manufacturing. The study makes a methodological distinction by operationalising an IMPULS-informed framework that connects its six dimensions with Industry 4.0 readiness and sustainable manufacturing within a single empirical model. The proposed model was examined using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that strategy and organisation, employees, smart products, and smart operations substantially contribute to Industry 4.0 readiness. Conversely, smart factories and data-driven services do not have a significant direct impact on readiness. Sustainable manufacturing is strongly influenced by Industry 4.0 readiness, smart operations, and the smart factory. Mediation analysis further indicates that Industry 4.0 readiness serves as a significant transmission mechanism linking strategy and organisation, employees, smart products, and smart operations to sustainable manufacturing. The study extends the IMPULS framework by validating its relevance in an emerging economy and by demonstrating that sustainability gains from digital transformation rely more on coordinated organisational and operational readiness than on isolated technology adoption. The results provide evidence-based prioritisation guidance for managers and policymakers seeking to prioritise strategic alignment, workforce skills, and operational integration for successful, sustainable industrial transformation. Full article

As modern life accelerates, demand for housekeeping services is rising. However, safety concerns deter potential users, causing a persistent imbalance that poses significant challenges to social sustainability. This research aims to design a home service system that is not only operationally efficient but also socially and economically sustainable. Using a user behavior analysis method, this study investigated the safety and hygiene needs of potential users. From a user-centered design perspective, an innovative housekeeping service system, along with its key service touchpoints: a mobile application and smart products. The system’s design is underpinned by the “Internet+” and Online-to-Offline (O2O) business models, integrating service design and sustainability principles. We present key system architecture and technologies, along with an analysis of implementation challenges. The findings suggest that the proposed system can enhance resource efficiency and economic viability (e.g., reduce operational costs by an estimated 15–25% compared with traditional models); improve user well-being and social equity (e.g., increase user trust by 15–20% through integrated credibility mechanisms and reduce household labor hours by approximately 4–6 h per week through optimized scheduling); and offer a replicable design framework for promoting sustainable service-sector development. Provide a scalable platform for the housekeeping industry’s sustainable transition. This research contributes a design paradigm for service systems that aligns business viability with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), by fostering trust, efficiency, and responsible consumption. Full article

Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) have gained increasing attention as institutional mechanisms for improving the resilience of smallholder farming systems under changing climatic conditions. This study examines the role of FPOs in promoting the adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices, improved irrigation strategies, and sustainable land management in the arid region of Pali district, Rajasthan, India. A comparative assessment was conducted between FPO-associated member and non-member farmers to evaluate differences in climate change perception, adoption behaviour, and adaptive capacity. The study employed a mixed-methods research design using primary data collected from 408 farm households through structured interviews, focus group discussions, and key informant consultations. Descriptive statistics, mean comparison tests and regression analysis were used to examine adoption patterns and identify the major factors influencing farmers’ responses to climate risks. The findings indicate that delayed rainfall, rising temperatures, and increasing drought frequency are widely perceived by farmers as major threats to agricultural production. FPO membership was associated with higher levels of climate-risk awareness and greater reported adoption of CSA practices; however, these findings should be interpreted as associations rather than causal effects. Farmers linked with FPOs reported stronger uptake of improved and stress-tolerant crop varieties, crop diversification, mixed farming systems, agroforestry, soil moisture conservation, rainwater harvesting, improved irrigation methods, and integrated pest management practices. Education, farm size, access to extension services, market linkages, and climate information were also found to significantly influence adoption decisions. The study highlights the important contribution of FPOs in reducing transaction costs, improving access to inputs, technical knowledge, credit and markets, and encouraging collective responses to climate stress. Strengthening FPO governance, expanding extension support, and targeting vulnerable farmer groups can substantially enhance climate resilience and support sustainable agricultural transitions in arid regions. The findings demonstrate that farmer organizations can serve as effective intermediary institutions linking household-level adaptation strategies with broader goals of irrigation efficiency, land management, and rural sustainability. Full article

Olive cultivation represents a key pillar of rural economies and cultural heritage in Mediterranean regions, including western Greece. Despite its socio-economic importance, the sector faces increasing pressures from climate change, market volatility, and technological transformation, while progress toward environmentally sustainable production remains uneven. This study investigates how olive farmers’ perceptions of carbon footprint and climate risks are influenced by their demographic characteristics. Primary data were collected through 402 structured questionnaires distributed to olive producers in the Aetolia–Acarnania region. The sample was designed to represent farmers directly engaged in olive production, ensuring the relevance and reliability of the collected data. The findings, based on descriptive statistics, reveal significant heterogeneity in producers’ perceptions of climate risks and their capacity to respond through sustainable practices. Demographic characteristics appear to play an important role in shaping awareness of carbon footprint and the potential adoption of environmentally responsible farming strategies. These results suggest that sustainability transitions in perennial cropping systems depend not only on technological availability but also on social, informational, and institutional capacities. Strengthening agricultural advisory services, farmer training, and climate adaptation strategies may therefore support the adoption of climate-smart practices in olive cultivation. Furthermore, cooperation and value-chain integration are identified as potentially important mechanisms for facilitating knowledge transfer and supporting the adoption of sustainable practices (e.g., efficient irrigation and optimized input use). However, their contribution to environmental performance and greenhouse gas mitigation cannot be directly inferred from the present perception-based analysis and should be examined in future research using appropriate quantitative or environmental assessment frameworks. Full article

Recycled cellulosic fiber (RCF) composites offer significant potential to reduce environmental burdens associated with virgin fiber production; however, their broader adoption remains limited by feedstock variability, recycling-induced degradation, and uncertainty regarding long-term performance. This review critically synthesizes recent advances in RCF composites using a structure–processing–performance–sustainability framework, treating recycled fibers as secondary materials with distinct morphological, chemical, and mechanical characteristics rather than direct substitutes for virgin reinforcements. Emphasis is placed on the effects of fiber shortening, surface damage, moisture sensitivity, and altered surface chemistry on interfacial adhesion, load transfer efficiency, durability, and failure mechanisms. The analysis reveals that many reported performance discrepancies arise from poorly defined structure–property relationships and the absence of standardized characterization, grading, and durability testing protocols for recycled fibers. Addressing these gaps enables more reliable predictive modeling and application-specific material design. Beyond mechanical behavior, the review evaluates various critical factors for integration into higher-value applications such as durability under realistic service conditions, including environmental aging, fire performance, and long-term stability. Emerging strategies such as hybrid reinforcement, environmentally benign surface functionalization, smart functionalities, and recyclable or bio-based matrices are assessed for their potential to enhance multifunctionality and circularity. Overall, the findings indicate that RCF composites can meaningfully contribute to circular material systems if materials design, performance validation, and life-cycle assessment are integrated systematically. Advancing standardized evaluation and aligning materials innovation with circular economy principles are essential to transition RCF composites from downcycled applications to reliable, performance-oriented components in sustainable engineering systems. Full article

The growing interest in precision agriculture has led, in recent years, to an increase in the adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in the service of smart agriculture to optimize agricultural production processes through the monitoring of environmental conditions and prevent food loss. This work stems from research conducted as part of the Tech4You project, where the enabling digital technologies developed in Spoke 6 contribute to the advanced solutions envisaged by Spoke 3 to facilitate the transition to a sustainable agrifood system. In particular, we present the design and evaluation of a multi-hop Device-to-Device (D2D) communication architecture that leverages Long Range (LoRa) technology, specifically designed for monitoring vineyards in the context of passito wine production. The proposed framework addresses the challenge of monitoring mobile containers for grapes during the drying phase, a critical stage in which inadequate temperatures and humidity can promote the growth of fungi and the formation of mycotoxins. The integration of simulation-based performance evaluation with a multi-layer system architecture is presented in this work. The objective is to compare the performance of different routing strategies in choosing data forwarding paths to the gateway. The simulation results show that the proposed routing strategy, which is based on learning but also focuses on energy consumption, offers good performance. In particular, it achieves packet delivery rates of over $92\%$ and preserves over $95\%$ of active nodes after 2 h of operation. Energy-aware routing strategies also perform well compared to those that only consider the distance from the destination, but overall, the proposed strategy achieves a better trade-off on the metrics analyzed. Full article

Smart Mobile Devices (SMD)—including hardware devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and wearables; the software systems that animate them; and the data-communication infrastructure that connects them—pose increasing sustainability challenges due to their short lifespans, high resource demands, and growing e-waste. While Sustainable Product–Service Systems (S.PSS) have been applied in various sectors to support environmental goals, limited research has addressed their application in the context of SMD. This study aims to explore how S.PSS can be tailored to support sustainability in the SMD sector. For that, it combines a literature review with a multiple-case analysis of seventeen commercial offerings to develop a conceptual framework refined through six expert interviews. Cases were coded using the classical PSS typology and other sector-specific criteria and subsequently clustered in a polarity diagram to identify designable patterns, underpinning the conceptual framework. The study contributes an S.PSS-SMD framework comprising a sector-tailored classification and sixteen archetypal models, operationalized in an archetypal map with potential opportunities. Theoretically, the study offers a sector-grounded operationalization that extends S.PSS design theory to digital product–service ecosystems. It provides a strategic decision aid for designing business models, service bundles, stakeholder roles, and lifecycle responsibilities to pursue win–win environmental and economic sustainability. Full article

The goals of the European Union towards the energy transition imply profound changes in the energy field, so as to promote sustainable energy development while fostering economic growth. To achieve these changes, the incorporation of sustainable technologies supporting decentralisation, energy efficiency, renewable energy production, and demand flexibility is of vital importance. Blockchain has the potential to change energy services towards this direction. To optimally exploit blockchain, innovative business models need to be designed, identifying the opportunities emerging from unmet needs, while also considering potential risks so as to take action to overcome them. In this context, the scope of this paper is to examine the opportunities and the risks that emerge from the adoption of blockchain in four innovative business models, while also identifying mitigation strategies to support and accelerate the energy transition, thus proposing optimal approaches of exploitation of blockchain in energy services. The business models concern Energy Performance Contracting with P4P guarantees, improved self-consumption in energy cooperatives, energy efficiency and flexibility services for natural gas boilers, and smart energy management for EV chargers and HVAC appliances. Firstly, the value proposition of the business models is analysed and results in a comprehensive SWOT analysis. Based on the findings of the analysis and consultations with relevant market actors, in combination with the examination of the relevant literature, risks are identified and evaluated through a qualitative assessment approach. Subsequently, specific mitigation strategies are proposed to address the detected risks. This research demonstrates that blockchain integration into these business models can significantly improve energy efficiency, reduce operational costs, enhance security, and support a more decentralised energy system, providing actionable insights for stakeholders to implement blockchain solutions effectively. Furthermore, according to the results, technological and legal risks are the most significant, followed by political, economic, and social risks, while environmental risks of blockchain integration are not as important. Strategies to address risks relevant to blockchain exploitation include ensuring policy alignment, emphasising economic feasibility, facilitating social inclusion, prioritising security and interoperability, consulting with legal experts, and using consensus algorithms with low energy consumption. The findings offer clear guidance for energy service providers, policymakers, and technology developers, assisting in the design, deployment, and risk mitigation of blockchain-enabled business models to accelerate sustainable energy development. Full article

This study proposes a design method for the evaluation and redesign of product–service systems (PSSs) from the perspective of social sustainability, one that applies Max-Neef’s framework of fundamental human needs. The proposed method systematically connects PSS functions and requirements—identified through service blueprints and value graphs—to “satisfiers” and “barriers” extracted via needs-based workshops. This connection enables the identification of functions that either contribute to or hinder the fulfillment of fundamental human needs and guide the generation of redesign proposals aimed at sufficiency-oriented outcomes. A case study involving a smart-cart system in Osaka, Japan, was conducted to demonstrate the applicability of the method. Through an online workshop, satisfiers and barriers related to both physical and online shopping experiences were identified. The analysis revealed that existing functions such as promotional information and automated checkout processes negatively impacted needs such as understanding and affection due to information overload and reduced human interaction. In response, redesign concepts were developed, including filtering options for information, product background storytelling, and optional slower checkout lanes with human assistants. The redesigned functions contribute to the fulfillment of fundamental human needs, indicating that the proposed method can enhance social sustainability in PSS design. This study offers a novel framework that extends beyond traditional customer requirement-based approaches by explicitly incorporating human needs into function-level redesign. Full article

With the acceleration of the aging process in China, chronic diseases have become one of the main health threats for older adults, creating significant pressure on society and the healthcare system. As information technology and artificial intelligence advance rapidly, smart health services have become readily accessible. However, utilization rates among the older adults, especially those with chronic illnesses, remain low, preventing them from fully benefiting from these advanced technologies. The value of mobile health (mHealth) services can only be realized through sustained use. Therefore, this study empirically investigates the continuous use intention of mHealth services from the perspective of older adults with chronic illnesses, integrating the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Value-Based Adoption Model (VAM). A total of 372 questionnaires were collected from various cities in China, and data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0 and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Results indicate that perceived ease of use (β = 0.155, p = 0.004; β = 0.116, p = 0.027) and perceived usefulness (β = 0.175, p = 0.001; β = 0.151, p = 0.004) have a significant positive impact on attitude and perceived value. Perceived enjoyment significantly influences attitude (β = 0.147, p = 0.010), while perceived risk (β = −0.189, p < 0.001; β = −0.281, p < 0.001) and perceived cost (β = −0.155, p = 0.003; β = −0.130, p = 0.022) have a significant negative impact on attitude and perceived value. Both attitude (β = 0.357, p < 0.001) and perceived value (β = 0.314, p < 0.001) positively impact continuous intention. In total, only one of the twelve hypotheses was not supported. This study not only provides strong evidence for the effectiveness of the integrated TAM and VAM model in the mHealth field but also offers theoretical insights and practical recommendations for product optimization and promotion to mHealth service providers and designers. Full article

The use of digital technologies in Product Service Systems (PSSs) has increased in recent years. More and more smart devices are used in these models, collecting significant amounts of data to provide personalized and responsive products and services. However, data extraction has been causing disruptions in the social sphere, manipulating users, threatening democratic processes, and harming the social dimension of sustainability. To mitigate these problems associated with user data, some solutions on the market claim to take a more ethical approach. This article presents the preliminary results of a study aiming to understand what features in these solutions may favour the resilience of democratic processes and reduction in user manipulation due to personal data extraction and personalized activity. It also examines how designers can use them to develop smart PSSs that incorporate these elements and features in their process. Based on a literature review, three key elements relevant to personal data and democracy were assessed and applied to analyze 30 cases. The results provided a preliminary list of 46 features and 15 strategies for designers to embed these elements in the design of smart PSSs, as well as a conceptual framework. The study concludes with recommendations for future research. Full article

Over recent years, the sustainability and resilience concept has increased its significance in the construction industry. Sustainability is associated with implementing best practices in the construction industry, while resilience is the adaptability and tolerance of systems in harsh conditions. The concepts are learned in the construction process. Moreover, building automation is growing rapidly, and buildings are becoming increasingly dependent on complex systems and technology and susceptible to unanticipated failure. Though sustainability and resilience concepts are interlinked, limited research quantifies their combination, resulting in a limited comprehension of how both concepts interact during application by developers in a smart building. Therefore, this study has established a financial model that employs Net Present Value (NPV) in studying the inference and clampdown of investment in both concepts. NPV was estimated using indirect and direct costs and benefits derived from the continuous integration of sustainability and resilience in a smart building. To quantify sustainability, its three components had to be quantified. Reduced energy expenditure and government environmental incentives were used to calculate the environmental component. Workers’ cost savings, fire insurance cost savings, and additional system maintenance costs were used to calculate the economic component. The social component of sustainability measured hard-to-quantify attributes like productivity, indoor environment quality, reputation, extra profit, services, and safety. To quantify them, a survey and RII method were used. The two concepts were then coupled by estimating the benefits and costs of installing and keeping resilience tools in design that are sustainable in the smart building and the impact study on the NPV outcome. Application of the design model was also carried out on four smart buildings that were selected in Dubai. The result indicated that coupling sustainable approaches and resilience yields higher NPV by at least 22%. Nevertheless, for NPV to be maintained positively and reduce the cost of failure, faulty detection tools should be assimilated while designing sustainable and smart buildings. The findings of this study will contribute to the benefit of other researchers, developers, investors, managers, engineers, and anyone who is involved in the design or construction process of intelligent buildings. Full article

Supply chain and logistics management is of tremendous importance for multinational organizations. Logistics Service Providers (LSPs) provide logistics services and smooth logistics operations between suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and customers. This paper uses a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) to identify the current trends and future developments of LSPs and the underlying (smart) logistics operations connected to the concept of lifecycle management. An SLR review was conducted to identify relevant research papers in the areas of LSPs and logistics lifecycle management. Out of 288 papers analyzed, 81 were identified as highly appropriate for in-depth analysis. The LSP Lifecycle Model (LSLM) was then developed by combining logistics service characteristics and the lifecycle management concept, including Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Service Lifecycle Management (SLM), and Product Service System (PSS). The LSLM consists of three phases: The Beginning of Life (BOL), the Middle of Life (MOL), and the End of Life (EOL). The LSLM is characterized by three phases, eight criteria, and seventeen sub-criteria. This paper aims to fulfil customer requirements through a product or service in the whole lifecycle of the logistics service provider. The findings further present an adaptable LSLM by focusing on various logistics services and integrating sustainability factors to meet market trends. Logistics cost factors can also be used to evaluate logistics services in the MOL stage. The EOL shows the trend of risk management, evaluation, and decomposition, which is determined by new or re-designed logistics products and services. Full article

The growth of technology and the increasing competitiveness and opportunity of digital services have meant that the traditional logistic sector has changed dramatically. New technology and globalization affect the need to use solutions known to the IT industry. In recent years, we have seen significant technological growth, from smart devices communicating with each other via the IoT (Internet of Things) to artificial intelligence, and the changes it brings in the future. However, the role of user interface design in enhancing the user experience of mobile applications, such as journey planners, has been overlooked. Given the knowledge of the environmental impact of transport systems, it is important to convince users to use more sustainable modes of transport. Transport systems account for 20% to 25% of global energy consumption and carbon emissions. The aim of the article is to explain the process of creating a user interface for a public transport journey planner application that serves as a personal travel assistant. In addition, a competitive audit and research on a small group of users was also carried out. The conducted research and the audit of the competition were crucial in the ideation process, which became the basis for the first wireframes of the application. This was made possible by using the powerful Figma tool, which allowed for a more detailed design of the application’s appearance and functions. The resulting design of the application interface is a proposed solution to some of the user problems detected during the study. The final prototype needs to be turned into a real product to serve users. For this purpose, a developer must be provided with the prototype, who will bring the application to life using programming tools. Full article

Compared with the conventional industrial product–service system, the smart industrial service ecosystem (SISE) mentioned in this study contains more service activity according to the characteristics of the industrial context, participation of various stakeholders and smart interconnected technologies. This study proposes a detailed modularization design framework for SISE, which can be referenced in various industrial contexts. Firstly, the context-based smart industrial service identification blueprint (SISIB) is proposed to describe the operation model of SISE and identify the service components. The SISIB can ensure that the designers understand the service and work process of the system and improve or carry out the smart industrial service (SIS) component identification. In the case of this article, SIS components from different industrial levels can be systematically identified. Secondly, smart collaboration and sustainable development principles are proposed for measuring the correlation degree among the service components. Considering the complexity and multi-level distribution nature of service components, the hyperedge concept is presented to realize the correlation comparison among the service components, and the evaluation linguistics is applied to handle the decision uncertainties. With this method, the effective correlation comparison between service components can be formed with few hyperedges. Thirdly, the hypergraph clustering theory is applied to define the SISE service module partition. The triangular fuzzy number is first used in hyperedge strength evaluation to comply with the vague linguistics from service design experts. The normalized hypergraph cut principle is realized using the K nearest neighbors (kNN) algorithm, and with this method, the new unified hypergraph and related Laplace matrix can be obtained. Then, the relevant eigenvalue of that Laplace matrix is gained, and the component clustering visualization is realized using the k-means algorithm. After the clustering is performed, several modular design schemes can be gained. In order to select the best modularization scheme, we referenced the modularity concept and realized the quality measurement for the modular design using hypergraph modularity criteria. Regarding these three steps, a detailed modularization case study for a renewable electricity service ecosystem design is presented to verify the viability and feasibility of the study in service modular design. The result showed that the framework in this study can realize the visible and clearance service component identification in a smart connected multi-level industrial context. The modular design scheme based on hypergraph can also achieve high modularity with a more convenient correlation evaluation. Full article