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Understanding the determinants of firms' ESG performance is not only a key goal of the strategic management field, but it is also fundamental for addressing the world's most pressing environmental and social challenges and guarantee the survival of ESG as well. To date, no comprehensive overview has been carried out of the determinants that have the greatest impact on ESG criteria. In this work, internal and external determinants are identified and analysed, and the potential causes of the discrepancies in research findings are explored. This Systematic Literature Review was developed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, whose process led to a content analysis of the results. The current study proves that the discrepancies in literature findings are a direct consequence of the lack of consideration by scholars of the different usage of ESG data providers as well as the variance among countries. Not only does this study represent the first pioneering framework on the topic, but it could also serve as a guidebook for firms wishing to improve their ESG performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For global sustainable production and consumption goals to be met, circular economy strategies need to further preserve the value of extracted finite resources through the extension and renewal of products' lifecycles. The integration of circular economy principles into the design of products opens strategic implications for organisations since elements such as new business models, re-arrangement of operations or further use of digital infrastructure are needed. Nevertheless, the complexity and uncertainty of planning for such arrangements leads incumbent firms to slowly make incremental moves towards circularity. To address this issue, two artefacts are introduced: first, a circular economy strategy-structuring process; and second, a strategy evaluation support. The strategy-structuring process is meant to depict the basic building blocks of a circular product design strategy and the internal structures existing among them. The evaluation support is used as a trade-off model, allowing to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of strategy implementation scenarios depending on the number of uncertain relationships found among the building blocks of a given strategy. In addition, both artefacts are evaluated in a circular economy product planning context involving the redesign of two different product types. The evaluation reveals the overall effectiveness of the strategy-structuring process and the definition of more granular strategy implementation roadmaps by product planning teams that received feedback from the evaluation support. These results suggest that systematizing the formulation and evaluation of roadmaps to implement circular product design strategies (in this case, through the use of a modular framework and a tool to evaluate new roadmaps against those existing in the industry) might help to decrease the resource intensity planning for circularity. • A Circular Economy Strategy Structuring Process (SSP) helps derive implementation roadmaps for circular products and services. • A Strategy Evaluation Support (SES) highlights trade-offs between strategic building-blocks. • Experimental design showcases the artefacts' effectiveness in supporting CE design strategy implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limiting global warming to 1.5 °C requires a substantial decrease in the average carbon intensity of buildings, which implies a need for decision-support systems to enable large-scale energy efficiency improvements in existing building stock. This paper presents a novel data-driven approach to strategic planning of building energy retrofitting. The approach is based on the urban building energy model (UBEM), using data about actual building heat energy consumption, energy performance certificates and reference databases. Aggregated projections of the energy performance of each building are used for holistic city-level analysis of retrofitting strategies considering multiple objectives, such as energy saving, emissions reduction and required social investment. The approach is illustrated by the case of Stockholm, where three retrofitting packages (heat recovery ventilation; energy-efficient windows; and a combination of these) were considered for multi-family residential buildings constructed 1946–1975. This identified potential for decreasing heat demand by 334 GWh (18%) and consequent emissions reduction by 19.6 kt-CO 2 per year. The proposed method allows the change in total energy demand from large-scale retrofitting to be assessed and explores its impact on the supply side. It thus enables more precisely targeted and better coordinated energy efficiency programmes. The case of Stockholm demonstrates the potential of rich urban energy datasets and data science techniques for better decision making and strategic planning. Image 1 • Data-driven strategic planning framework for urban building retrofitting is proposed. • High resolution meterings and energy performance certificates are used as input data. • 334 GWh/yr demand reduction potential from retrofitting is identified for Stockholm. • Retrofitting scenarios are analysed from energy, environment and cost perspectives. • Large-scale retrofitting has a noticeable and non-uniform impact on heat supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the role of agency is widely acknowledged in socio-technical transition research, there remains a research gap on agency in transitions and a call for studies using an actor-centred approach to transition studies. In response to this call, this paper addresses the role of actors and, particularly, organisations in transitions. It examines the role of organisational change in socio-technical sustainability transitions and, more specifically, how transition initiatives may trigger and support these changes in organisations and systems. For this purpose, the paper draws on literature from both transition studies and organisational change management (OCM) to build a multi-scale, integrative theoretical heuristic. This addresses drivers and barriers for organisational change as an integral part of transition processes, connecting the micro level of the individual, the meso level of the organisation and the macro level of the broader system in which the organisation is located. With the goal of illustrating the links between OCM and transition studies, this paper empirically examines the impact of Region 2050 , a large, multi-organisation transition initiative in Sweden, in terms of creating change within the organisations involved. The main focus is on how the organisations acquire the new knowledge and capabilities required for improving regional planning for sustainability. The empirical study identifies leverage points at the micro-, meso- and macro-levels, which may be used in order to change strategic planning processes. Three different theoretical concepts from transition studies and OCM that could help to foster long-term planning are also identified: (1) the macro-level of institutional plurality and its connection to the meso- (organisational) level; (2) collaboration as a key success factor on the organisational level; and (3) at the micro-level, the roles of individuals as change agents and boundary spanners. Overall, the case highlights the merits of the OCM literature for transition studies and their emphasis on understanding interacting processes operating at multiple scales. • Organisational change as part of socio-technical transitions is under researched. • This study shows the use of organisational change management (OCM) literature for transitions. • A sustainability transitions initiative is examined from an OCM perspective for illustration. • An integrative, multi-scale theoretical framework is proposed. • The framework connects individual, organisational and system levels of change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of mixed municipal waste changes due to the increase of separation rate, urbanization and other factors. The future changes in the legislation and technology development influences the way the waste is being treated. Thus the method, location and capacity of processing sites are unknown. The realization of future projects can be supported by the developing of transportation infrastructure. Such a feature may be represented by a robust transfer station grid, which can be designed to handle all possible future realizations and technological solutions (establishment of waste treatment facilities). The paper presents an approach utilising a mathematical model for the design of transfer stations. It is formulated as a multi-objective two-stage mixed-integer stochastic programming problem, where the trade-off between the environmental aspect and the economic viability is considered. The model is tested through a case study for the Czech Republic, where the waste treatment of over 6,000 municipalities is analysed. The solutions for different preferences are assessed throughout the principle called out-of-sample stability with 10,000 scenarios. The optimal decision consists of the robust transfer station grid with selected locations and their respective capacity. The particular solution with respect to the potential trade-off suggests to save 1.148 mil of travelled kilometres with only 0.77 mil EUR. The output in the form of decision support can serve possible stakeholders from the field of waste management to plan more sustainable projects. • A transfer station grid designed to handle future realizations and developments. • The efficiency of waste transport was analysed for more than 6000 municipalities. • A trade-off between environmental aspects and the economic viability was considered. • A solution suggests to save travelled 1.148 mil km with only extra 0.77 mil EUR. • Introduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability issues have been force companies to change how they think about their business models if they want to keep a competitive advantage. However, despite the diversity of tools for sustainable production, the integration of its concept has not yet reached a significant number of companies around the world. The reason for this is the need of more knowledge about sustainability integration' importance to the company in the long term, the difficulty to identify the initial point to changes or the difficulty to structure this advance in the improvement process. Based on this scenario, this paper presents the Strategic Planning method for the Sustainability Integration in the Product Development Process which aims to guide, facilitate and accelerate the sustainability integration into the product development process by make changes in the business management with the support of the strategic planning and the continuous improvement process. It is a maturity method that can be applied by any type of company because of their use of a common set of evaluation parameters. The benefits from this research are the improvement, deepening, and systematization of the sustainability issues in the product development process through a maturity view of the strategic planning concept, and, the development of a new guide to assessing the companies' strengths and weakness to drive the implementation of a shared vision between multiples teams. Also, the application of the conceptual method is presented. • The sustainability should be treated as an intrinsic value in the organizational improvements. • Should be used the common set of evaluation parameters: strategy, organizational, motivation, operation, and partnership. • The efficiency of water and energy use has approximately increased in 60% and 50%. • The study reduced the time spend during manufacturing processes by the development of new knowledge and capacities. • The study strengthened work between multiple teams through the shared view and a common language into all departments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable manufacturing is an assimilation of triple bottom line (economic, environmental, and social) approach of the manufacturing business. In such a complex system, decision making becomes clumsy in terms of selecting and prioritizing the different aspects of the triple bottom line. The multi criteria decision making techniques can facilitate the selection and prioritization in a complex system. The present study prioritizes the sustainable manufacturing barriers by calculating their weights through the application of Best Worst Method in one of the manufacturing organizations of India. The barriers were identified through a review of the peer-reviewed articles and expert's opinion. These identified barriers were categorized into six major criteria. For prioritization, the final intensities (weights) of 39 barriers were calculated through the application of Best Worst Method. The findings of the present study enlighten economical & managerial barriers as the most obstructive barriers among the major criteria of sustainable manufacturing barriers followed by organizational barriers, social & environmental barriers, technological barriers, knowledge & learning barriers, and independent barriers. The practitioners of the case organization will be facilitated in selecting the most significant barriers and developing strategic plans to diminish or eliminate the barrier's intensity for successful adoption of sustainable manufacturing. However, opinions of the experts were utilized for the present study which can be driven by subjective inputs. The present work can be further extended by including more barriers through conducting the large-scale survey of manufacturing organizations. • The present study evaluates the barriers of sustainable manufacturing. • Best worst method (BWM) is utilized to prioritize the barriers. • Economical and managerial barriers are the most significant barriers. • Prioritization is done in one of the manufacturing organization of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste management is particularly challenging for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) due to their high per-capita infrastructure costs, remoteness, narrow resource bases and high dependence on tourism. The lack of integrated planning frameworks considering these SIDS-characteristics has stalled progress on sustainable waste management. To address this challenge, this paper proposes an integrated methodology for long-term waste management planning to deliver on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in SIDS. This explicitly combines multi-level participatory SDG visioning and back-casting with waste infrastructure modelling. This methodological development is piloted using a national-scale demonstration on Curacao. Three island-specific waste management portfolios (Inaction, Circular Economy, Technology-led) , developed through stakeholder back-casting, are modelled for SDG delivery using a national accounting model under different socio-economic futures. The results highlight the importance of waste prevention and material re-use strategies within islands that engage local populations. Evidence-based identification and evaluation of waste management strategies, grounded in participatory processes, can itself contribute to SDG delivery. • Infrastructure planning for sustainable development is a complex, uncertain process. • Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have special waste infrastructure challenges. • A participatory approach to model waste investments on sustainability indicators. • The modelling part enhances robustness by considering uncertain futures. • The participatory part enables data collection and feasibility of waste investments. • Sustainable waste management in SIDS requires drastic demand reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Within the framework of the 2015 Paris Agreement and the increased acceptance of circular economy (CE) principles of national and local governments, it is essential to study the potential effect on climate change of CE-strategies implemented on an urban scale. The present research quantitatively assesses the potential impact of these strategies on primary material footprint (MF) and carbon footprint (CF) of households in areas an urban area, using the case of Brussels Capital Region (BCR), Belgium. Because the CE-strategies are linked to consumption domains, this assessment first calculates both footprints of consumption domains using a city-level input-output analysis and discusses the relationship between the footprints. The findings show that the carbon footprint of BCR in 2010 was 22 Mt CO 2 -eq. or 20.3 t/cap. The material footprint of BCR in 2010 was 31 Mt or 29.5 t/cap. Important insights are that BCR relies on its hinterland for 98% of its primary materials and 83% of the region's greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) are emitted outside of its territory. The household consumption domains of food, housing and transport were identified as hotspots in both footprints. Within these domains, we calculated and discussed the potential impact on both footprints of CE-strategies on consumption or production of food, mobility and housing. Results from this case show that with these strategies Brussels could mitigate 25% of its CF and 26% of its MF, 18% of its CF and 26% of its MF, and 7% of its CF and 10% of its MF, respectively. The methodology and insights could therefore support authorities and policy-makers to effectively develop coherent and consistent action plans on consumption domains to improve resource efficiency and reduce the GHGs, simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The environmental assessment plays an important role in guiding the planning process. This requires employing advanced tools and methods such as the Geographic information system (GIS) to back the decision-making process. The study presents the application on a case study "Qattara Depression"- a 20,000 Km2 development project which has received a lot of attention; on one hand, for its expected benefits to achieve Egypt 2030 national plan in terms of clean electricity generation, while, on the other hand, some concerns have been raised regarding its environmental consequences. The study centers on the project's desalination development scenario considering five main environmental impacts; loss of biodiversity and threats to natural habitat, hydrogeological environmental impact, land use effect and terrestrial impact, impacts on marine life as well as natural hazards and casualties. The study uses the GIS overlaying and querying tools to determine and categorize the problematic areas into major, moderate and minor impact areas, in addition to providing recommendations for addressing their associated challenges. As a preliminary step, the study defines the limits of the area of interest (AOI) in terms of its proximity to the Mediterranean Sea and the River Nile. Each impact is represented with feature datasets including a number of feature classes. Then, the buffering impact area of each individual feature class is defined and overlaid to determine the extent of impacts for the proposed scenario. It is found that the critical sensitive areas are located in the northeastern tip and the western part of the AOI. This indicates that these areas should receive careful attention while planning for any kind of development activities. The results contribute towards setting a comprehensive clue to support the strategic planning objectives and mitigation measures for this huge development project in the Western Desert area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Given the complexity of circular economy implementation, the literature is missing a strategic standpoint. This paper investigates the taxonomy of circular economy implementation strategies at the managerial level by linking it to strategy literature. The taxonomy was developed by using standard k-mean clustering method that incorporates 391 Cradle-to-Cradle product scorecards of 187 companies from 10 different industries. The analysis was based on the relative importance assigned to each competitive capability that defines the circular economy; namely, material health, material reutilization, renewable energy, water stewardship, and social fairness. Three distinct clusters of circular economy implementation strategy groups were observed: (i) founding (recyclers), (ii) development (all-decent circulars), and (iii) maturity (toxicity fighters). All clusters have been present in various industries, although there is an industry effect. The results indicate that each cluster has a different strategy. The results obtained contradict the general assumption and expectation of simultaneous improvement at all circular economy dimensions. Our research contributes to the theoretical understanding of circular economy implementation by providing a taxonomy of strategies. It contributes to the strategy literature by suggesting that the maturity degree of a competitive capability may determine the implementation strategy. For practice, the study presents a road-map for managers to reach higher degrees of circularity. Highlights • Links circular economy literature to strategy literature. • Employs hierarchical k-means clustering method to analyze 391 Cradle-to-Cradle products. • Proposes a taxonomy with three degrees of circularity adopting different strategies. • Suggests that the maturity degree of a competitive capability may determine the strategy. • Contributes to the theoretical understanding of circular economy implementation in the manufacturing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Industrial symbiosis is increasingly acknowledged as a strategic tool for the realization of industrial ecology and implementation of circular economy. Recently, industrial symbiosis literature was enriched with views and discussions on dynamics, focusing on the process and dynamic character of industrial symbiosis development. However, little attention is given specifically to the emergence of industrial symbiosis, in contrast to its development. In addition, no holistic picture exists envisioning the process through which initial ties come about and the critical factors fuelling this process. The aim of this paper is to set focus on and promote a better understanding of industrial symbiosis emergence as the earliest phase of its development. This study explores two aspects of the industrial symbiosis emergence: the process through which initial ties emerge and the critical factors influencing the transition between phases in the process. Based on an in-depth and systematic review of the existing empirically-based literature and by using a rigorous and iterative content analysis, three key (iterative)phases are identified: 1) awareness and interest in industrial symbiosis, 2) reaching out and exploration of (connections, and 3) organizing. Furthermore, five groups of critical factors (contextual conditions, actors, actors' roles, actors' characteristics, and actors' activities) are identified to influence the emergence process in different degrees at different times in the process. Highlights • Industrial symbiosis emergence is defined as a dynamic social process. • The industrial symbiosis emergence process unfolds through three phases. • Critical factors describing each phase and encouraging transition among these are identified. • It is found that composition and combination of specific factors differ from one phase to another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Products derived from crude oil form the basis for large segments of energy and production systems. However, the availability of crude oil is limited and the combustion of fossil fuels contributes to global warming. Biorefineries can produce a product portfolio similar to that of crude-oil refineries from renewable resources and thus promote transformation towards a more sustainable bioeconomy. The actual product portfolio of a given biorefinery, however, depends on the choice and capacity of the production units used to upgrade raw materials to marketable products. Thus, to improve biorefinery product competitiveness, we apply an algorithm that combines an exact optimization algorithm nested in an Evolutionary Strategy with Geographic Information Systems to determine a wood-based biorefinery's optimal configuration, capacity, and location within the Cariboo District in Canada. The results indicate that there are numerous locations with similarly attractive economic potentials for biorefineries with 450,000 to 550,000 tons of biomass input capacity in the investigated area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Mitigating emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases is critical if we are to meet the increasing threats posed by global warming. Previous studies have shown conclusively that a substantial part of all carbon dioxide emissions comes from transportation, and that Eco-Driving principles based upon strategic, tactical, and operational decisions have the potential to reduce these emissions. However, these well-established principles have been neglected within the construction industry despite the large number of transport-related activities that attend most construction projects. This paper therefore aims to increase awareness and understanding within the industry of the potential reductions of both carbon dioxide emissions and the costs of earthmoving activities that could be achieved through the use of Eco-Driving principles. A new concept labeled 'Eco-Hauling', which extends the Eco-Driving concept to earthmoving, is proposed. A case study of a road project has been conducted and used to demonstrate the new concept. Discrete-event simulation is used to support the data analysis as it enables modeling of the dynamic interactions between equipment and activities of multiple different construction scenarios. The presented findings show that a combination of decisions taken from the proposed Eco-Hauling concept can enable earthmoving contractors to substantially reduce carbon dioxide emissions and costs while maintaining productivity. This study has implications for the general advancement of Eco-Driving theory, as well as for project management as it sets out a viable approach for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in construction projects. Highlights • The Eco-Hauling concept is proposed by extending Eco-Driving to earthmoving. • The concept was demonstrated in a case study using discrete-event simulation. • A multi objective trade-off determines the optimal Eco-Hauling scenarios. • The reduction potential was shown at 6.94% in CO 2 emissions and 15.63% in costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Sustainability has become an undeniable aspect of corporate dealings this day and age. The advent of Corporate Social Responsibility as a morally sound issue has been caught up by market-oriented, profit-driven motivations for 'greening' the business. Also, new generations of professionals are growing up more environmentally aware than ever and eager to put their beliefs and attitudes into practice. This study explores the role of individual sustainability competences in eco-design building projects of small- and medium sized enterprises in the Netherlands. Building projects of multiple case companies have been investigated, in search of sustainability competences needed to deal with issues and problems during the process. A total number of 39 incidents were analyzed for the role of individual sustainability competences. Individual sustainability competences played a specific role in different phases and characteristic aspects of the building projects: the initial inspiration for eco-design; project development; and the involvement of stakeholders. However, not all individual sustainability competences appeared during the process. The most apparent competences were related to strategic management and action, diversity, interdisciplinarity, and interpersonal aspects. Systems thinking competence and foresighted thinking competence occurred considerably less in the incidents, while normative competence was only mentioned once. Respondents choose to merge normative dimensions of their behavior with the strategic and action-oriented dimensions. These findings confirm earlier theoretical conceptualizations of a virtuous competence for sustainability, and leads to further questions about the specific role and definition of normative competence in business and (higher) education settings. Highlights • Individual sustainability competences in small-and medium sized enterprises. • Importance of strategic action, interdisciplinary and interpersonal approach. • Normative competence not mentioned to be of importance during the process. • Managers prefer strategic- and action oriented dimensions over normative competence. • Study confirms theoretical conceptualization of virtuous sustainability competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A comprehensive tyre remanufacturing supply chain strategic planning model is proposed under uncertainty and group decision making environment for reconfigurable supply chain to integrate business economics with carbon tax policy. To solve the proposed fuzzy multi-objective mixed integer programme model, a methodology is designed by combining various techniques. Numerical experiments were conducted to provide important policy insights for industry practitioners and the government such as (1) developed carbon tax-reward policy and carbon-tax- reward-forex policy other than carbon tax policy for future tyre remanufacturing supply chain carbon emission policies, (2) evaluated the possible influence of distance of used product suppliers from initial deposit facility on reconfigurable tyre remanufacturing strategic supply chain planning, (3) designed the measure of the greenness i.e. the greenness index of various tyre remanufacturing supply chains to compare various supply chains in the tyre remanufacturing industry, (4) suggested the foreign exchange (forex) reward rate for a tyre remanufacturing supply chain on basis of its greenness index in the tyre remanufacturing industry. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Tyre remanufacturing network design with carbon emission in group decision making. • Integrated solution methodology using various techniques in group decision making. • Proposed carbon tax, carbon tax - reward and carbon-tax- reward-forex policies. • Proposed Greenness index to compare Tyre remanufacturing supply chains. • Proposed Forex saving reward rate for Tyre remanufacturing supply chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is facing significant challenges in addressing environmental problems, particularly in the transportation sector, which has a noteworthy influence on ecological degradation. The widespread use of automobiles in recent years has compounded the issue. Electric vehicles (EVs) have emerged as a critical solution for a more supportable future and to handle the anticipated barriers. Nevertheless, the adoption of EVs is not straightforward, as numerous barriers exist. This research aims to assess the critical barriers to adopting EVs and effective mitigation strategies for overcoming barriers using an integrated quantitative approach. The study begins by determining the importance of each barrier using a fuzzy stepwise weight assessment ratio analysis (fuzzy-SWARA) method. In the next step, the barriers are mapped with mitigation strategies and ranked by the fuzzy weighted aggregated sum product assessment (fuzzy-WASPAS) technique. The study shows that the major barriers to adopting EVs are their higher purchase price and less availability of charging stations. The topmost effective mitigation strategies to overcome EVs barriers are government policies, support, and strategic planning. The study offers crucial insights for professionals, executives, and researchers seeking EVs adoption. [Display omitted] • Barriers and mitigation strategies to adopting electric vehicles are explored. • Mitigation strategies are prioritized using the fuzzy SWARA-fuzzy WASPAS approach. • The top mitigation strategies are 'Government policies and support' and 'Strategic planning'. • Sensitivity analysis is performed to check the reliability of results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to investigate CSR strategy-as-practice (s-as-p) using CSR strategy cognition of managers that as the focal driving element in successful strategy attainment. This research builds on sensemaking theory to develop CSR strategy formulation (CSR-SF) and CSR strategy implementation (CSR-SI) constructs from a cognitive perspective that has been largely missing in the extant literature. Using the resource-based view (RBV), it provides original investigation into the cognitive link between CSR-SF, CSR-SI, organizational performance and reputation. A sample of 240 questionnaires was collected from ‘CSR strategist’ including CEO's, CSR committee members and authorized personnel and HR managers. A valid and reliable CSR-SF and CSR-SI construct was developed. The results confirmed the cognitive role of managers during CSR-SF and CSR-SI with a significant impact on organizational performance and reputation. The significance of this study for the strategy, CSR and managerial cognition literature is threefold: (1) it builds process-oriented approaches of CSR than the content-based research by exploring s-as-p, (2) it focuses on ‘CSR strategist’ investigating at the individual level of analysis and (3) this research develops understanding into manager's black box during CSR-SF and CSR-SI by combining sensemaking theory with RBV. Discussion and potential implications conclude the research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inadequate water management stresses water resources, impacting not only economic but also social and environmental sectors. Its consequences negatively impact the gross domestic product of affected countries by limiting economic growth. Arid coastal regions are the most severely affected due to the confluence of periods of greater demand and periods of greater scarcity. In such regions, the most reliable sources of fresh water are coastal aquifers (CAs); however, due to their current overexploitation, CAs are encountering problems such as marine intrusion (MI). In Mexico, the Costa de Hermosillo aquifer (CHA) is one of the most exploited, and at present it is experiencing the negative consequences of MI, which are harming not only quality of life of the inhabitants but also irreparably damaging the regional environment. This article aims to formulate a coastal aquifer management plan through a case study that takes environmental costs into consideration to support decision-making processes and seeks to show how sustainability strategies can be applied to recover, conserve, and sustainably exploit CAs water resources. The originality/value of this paper is the interaction of the sustainability pillars that allowed an environmental accounting evaluation as a step toward the implementation of future holistic strategies to facilitate water resource management in a sustainable development framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstracts In order to develop efficient industrial CO 2 emissions' strategies for China, it is important to compare the performance of carbon intensity and its major driving factors among different provinces. However, such studies are relatively limited so far. The present study describes the features of industrial aggregate carbon intensity (IACI) as well as its driving factors for China's thirty provinces based on the spatiotemporal logarithmic mean Divisia index (ST-LMDI) method. This method allows comparing all provinces against a common benchmark. The empirical results show that Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangdong and Heilongjiang rank as the top five provinces while Hebei, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia and Xinjiang perform the worst. From 1999 to 2015, the IACI of most industrial sectors tends to decrease except in Ningxia and Xinjiang, with energy intensity playing a decisive role in all provinces, and both energy structure and emission coefficients yielding mixed effects across provinces and over time. Additionally, this study employs spatial autocorrelation to divide China's thirty provinces into four categories, combining the economic development level and geographical location into a common framework. Then the ST-LMDI method is used to explore how the four regions perform in IACI when the influences of neighbors are taken into account. The results show that the regions with high level of economic development perform better and the regions with the same level of economic development but which are surrounded by less-developed regions have lower IACI. Based on the results, differentiated policies in energy intensity, energy structure and emission coefficient for the local and central governments are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines renovation strategies among owners of rental housing in Sweden in response to European energy policies that promote deep renovation as a means to reduce carbon emissions from residential buildings. Case studies of ten housing companies, seven public and three private, were designed with the aim to examine housing owners’ attitudes and renovation strategies, and how policies and objectives for energy efficiency become incorporated into these attitudes and strategies. Results are illustrated in typologies that distinguish between renovation strategies with either a more commercial or a more societal focus and spanning between deep and partial renovation. The typologies can be used to discuss how different aspects influence renovation, and illustrates how strategies change over time. The study identifies a trend in which housing owners are increasingly relying on partial or over-time renovation. Cost is one important driver, but social responsibility toward tenants and in some cases the protection of cultural heritage are also found to be important. A distrust of fixed models for renovation was observed. The paper questions the concept of deep renovation and suggests instead partial and over-time renovation as a way forward toward sustainable renovation. Partial renovation can bring together energy efficiency with environmental, financial, social, and cultural objectives of housing management. If managed properly, over-time renovation can reduce the risk of an investment, and has the advantage of allowing future technological advancements in energy efficiency to be included in current planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although corporate citizenship (CC) has gained space in the discussion of organizations' responsibilities, previous research indicates that this is not a solid concept inside a company, suggesting a significant level of heterogeneity below the firm level. Based on secondary data collection, documental analysis, interviews and a survey of 403 employees, we investigate the microfoundations of CC in a company leader in sustainable initiatives. Our analyses revealed four distinct profiles: (a) dreamers, who see CC at an advanced level of understanding inside the company and whose corporate actions are coherent with the strategic intent of the firm to become a global citizen; (b) believers, who recognize previous actions on CC but who still see low leadership engagement and, consequently, room for improvement regarding CC management; (c) critics, who perceive that the company is doing something but who identify several faults and areas for improvement; and (d) skeptics, who do not acknowledge the company's effort toward CC or who are not able to connect corporate strategy with CC. Furthermore, we provide a framework for managing the perceptions of CC to increase employee engagement. Thus, the study brings fresh thoughts on how CC is spread and understood inside firms and reveals the importance of firms' microstructures for the development and implementation of sustainability strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To facilitate transitions in socio-technical systems, it is necessary to adopt a strategic and systemic perspective. The dynamics of socio-technical systems are associated with uncertainty and may yield to critical problems as the systems change and may lead to adverse results without deliberate intervention. This case study research develops a new theoretical framework to support strategic design interventions that aim to anticipate and address problems in systemic transitions by integrating two areas of knowledge – strategic design and transitions theories. The theoretical framework is applied to a case study of facilitating salmon trout aquaculture in Finland that has been reaching stalemate. The resulting design demonstrates a new kind of strategic design intervention that is neither attached only to the present-day concerns to solve only present problems nor abstracted merely to the strategic level to project only long-term visions. Rather, the Strategic Ekofish Certification concept presents new strategic design with operational importance to mitigate foreseeable problems aligning with near-future goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the disturbance in the process of uncertain job-shop scheduling problem, the measurement method of value function based on prospect theory and the disruption management strategy of user's psychological perception are proposed in this paper. A multi-objective optimization model for job-shop scheduling management is established through multi-objective programming. At the same time, the idea of gradual optimization for the target to obtain the job-shop scheduling adjustment scheme with minimum disturbance is introduced. Acting the user's psychological perception time as the reference point, the degree of the user's psychological perception of the expected time of goods is measured. In order to optimize the scheduling model and search the optimum solution of multi-objective optimization problem, an improved quantum bacterial foraging algorithm is proposed, and it is compared with the existing classical algorithms to verify its effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the alignment between environmental sustainability and the product development process of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises that operate in Southern Brazil, as well as to propose a system to assist the execution of a green product development process. To that end, an exploratory research was carried out in two steps: (i) narrative bibliographic review and (ii) a field research. The (i) bibliographic review was conducted in the “Web of Science” and “Scopus” databases. The (ii) field research was executed with managers of 18 industries of different segments. Regarding the theoretical research, results show the state-of-the-art in academic research on product development process and sustainability practices, which provided support for the design of the data collection instrument and for the reference system suggested at the end of the work. As to the field research, results show that the sampled organizations understand the need for product and process environmental sustainability and they define internal drivers for the adoption of adequate practices, adapting such practices to the regulatory pressures and to market demands. Nevertheless, environmental matters do not comprise a dominant topic on product development. In this sense, we propose a reference model that aims to support companies to strategically align environmental aspects to the product development process. Although literature describes specific reference models, the need for a new system is justified since previous models presented specificities, lacked both post development assessment phases and introductory phases of product planning before the conceptual design. Therefore, the reference system proposed present phases that precede the development process (Sustainability-Oriented Organizational Strategic Planning; Portfolio Strategic Planning; and Project Strategic Planning), followed by the development phases (Operational Planning of the Product; Production Preparation; and Product's Launch Plan), and one post-development phase (Market Follow-Up of the Product). Future studies can apply the model in real cases through the action research method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper profiles Australian universities’ website communications about sustainability initiatives, especially relating to Talloires Declaration signification and the ten recommended actions. The research involves a content study of Talloires signatories’ websites and their semiotic and signaling theory aspects across time. The source is publicly available information (time period 2014 and 2015 respectively) in context with education for sustainable development (ESD) in society and the transaction model in communication theory. It is found that some of the signatory universities in Australia exemplify a few of the Talloires ten agreed actions in their public communications, but each point is not emphasised with equal priority. The variance may be due to divergent underlying objectives; such as public communication of Talloires toward genuine benefit for the environment, or to create a strategic positioning tool to signal the university as an environmental champion within the broader society. Focusing upon secondary data from signatory university websites in Australia, the paper provides a study of higher education signification of Talloires. It assists the initial understanding of signaling theory in the public communication transactions that promote Talloires action and implementation. The findings encourage further studies of related communication issues in universities in other countries. The paper also deepens local and global understanding of perceptions of sustainability and contributes to the body of comparative literature of sustainability in higher education as a development component of strategic management of ESD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cleaner production is a fast-growing area with numerous important developments seen over the years, which have led to substantial improvements, both in technological, process and organization terms. Yet there is a paucity of literature organizing the body of knowledge on the benefits and difficulties seen in this field. Thus, following a systematic literature review protocol, this paper provides a ten-year state-of-the-art analysis on the benefits and difficulties faced in the implementation of cleaner production strategies, and outlines some means via which they may be addressed. Main results point out that companies and governments have been able to successfully reap both tangible and intangible benefits after Cleaner Production implementation as its appeal to attract customers and reap reputation gain increases, for example. However, the results also show a series of difficulties that remain and hinders the widespread advancement of this methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability strategies have become a key element in various firms. Although many studies have discussed the sustainability adoption process, a gap exists between studies with pure deductive theorizing and those that focus on empirical practices by comparing the main theoretical models with empirical evidence. Additionally, there has been little research on the sustainability process for public service organizations such as waste collection firms. This paper focuses on how sustainability strategies are developed in waste collection firms. Specifically, we analyse an extreme case, the waste collection firm of the municipality of Naples (WCFMN). This company is a public utility firm owned by the municipality of Naples. Analysing a distinct case provides the opportunity to gain insights and explore how firms develop an overall sustainability strategy, from its motivations to its effects. Our findings support legitimacy theory while providing food for thought about the relation between legitimacy theory and utility maximization theory. Legitimacy theory explains the sustainability adoption process of the WCFMN, whereas utility maximization theory should inform future strategies. Thus, we enrich the ongoing debate about the connections between sustainability drivers, strategies, actions and performance. These findings will help executives and managers of public service organizations to identify and exploit the most effective means of managing the adoption of corporate social responsibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is abundant solar potential in the Middle East North Africa region. Yet access to sustainable energy is still a fundamental challenge in many countries of this region. In this paper we seek to understand the success and failure of the development and the diffusion of solar energy technologies by analysing using a Strategic Niche Management framework to compare the niche development of solar thermal energy and solar photovoltaics in Lebanon. This paper has two main questions: (1) How have the solar thermal niche and the solar photovoltaic niche developed in Lebanon, and how do they compare? (2) In which ways does the Strategic Niche Management framework help us to understand the development of solar energy niches in a developing country context? To answer these questions, a cross case analysis of solar thermal and solar photovoltaic systems was conducted. Due to the absence of research using Strategic Niche Management in Middle Eastern developing countries, this study uses an illustrative case from a country in this region to contribute new insights. Moreover, unlike the Strategic Niche Management research that only focuses on single case studies, this paper presents the results of a comparative study of two niches. The main Strategic Niche Management propositions were grouped and compared per item (i.e. on voicing and shaping expectations, social networks, and learning). The results show that the solar thermal niche affected the solar photovoltaic niche to a large extent. This was especially in relation to the learning and coordination processes. This has gradually contributed to establishing a clear vision. However, both niches lacked a niche manager who was able to coordinate, manage and maintain the dynamics of the niche processes. It also lacked horizontal collaboration between key actors involved (i.e. ministries). International donors were found to play a crucial role in initiating and shaping the market with certain constraints of prioritization in the region. The paper ends with conclusions and ideas for future research on solar energy niche development in the context of developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigated the first zero energy building (ZEB) in Southeast Asia which was retrofitted from an existing building and incorporated diverse passive and active design strategies for the tropical climate. The study disclosed the efficiency improvement through each individual design strategy and also compared the cost-effectiveness of active and passive categories. The most cost effective active strategy was efficient lighting; and the second was efficient air conditioning systems. The most cost effective passive strategy was lighting pies; and the second was lighting controls. Generally, passive strategies might have longer period of payback. It should be noted that the ZEB was a test-bedding project; therefore, the finding on passive design cost-effectiveness should be cautiously interpreted considering the scale of applications. The research suggests that active and passive strategies should be integrated into building design to optimize the energy performance. Particularly, passive design shall be applied in a large scale to have significant energy improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prefabricated prefinished volumetric construction (PPVC) is an innovative and cleaner approach that has restructured the production of the construction industry. It can improve the workflow continuity, increase the efficiencies in the use of resources, minimize construction wastes, and reduce the number of on-site contractors as well as construction durations. While the benefits of PPVC have been widely recognized over past two decades, the constraints on using PPVC remains unexplored. As a result, the aims of this study are to investigate the significant constraints demotivating the adoption of PPVC and to propose a group of feasible mitigation strategies to tackle these constraints. To achieve these goals, a comprehensive literature review was conducted first, followed by a structured questionnaire survey administered to 41 Singapore-based construction organizations. Lastly, an in-depth case study was conducted to verify the empirical findings. The analysis results showed that the top five significant constraints were “extensive coordination required prior to and during construction”, “need for additional project planning and design efforts”, “increased transportation and logistics considerations”, “requirement for early commitment”, and “higher initial cost than conventional construction method.” It also revealed the top three most effective mitigation strategies: “encouraging close collaborations between project stakeholders during the early phase of the project”, “use of BIM to improve coordination and facilitate communication among project stakeholders”, and “offering training courses for project team and workers to enhance their knowledge and skills”. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by examining the constraints and mitigation strategies for the adoption of PPVC. Also, the findings from this study are informative to the industry practitioners to have a better understanding and implementation of PPVC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste stabilisation ponds (WSP) are designed to treat wastewater through natural microbiological, photosynthetic, biochemical, physico-chemical and hydrodynamic processes. They are used throughout the world for wastewater treatment due to their minimal technical requirements, low cost and minimal energy consumption. It is well recognised that WSP hydrodynamics plays a crucial role influencing WSP treatment efficiency. In this study, published WSP literature is reviewed with a focus on the importance of environmental forces, pond configurations and pond loadings on WSP hydrodynamics and pond treatment efficiency. The findings are used to propose future WSP design and modelling requirements. It has been found that the interrelated effects of multiple factors such as pond length-to-width ratio, inlet/outlet configuration, temperature, solar radiation and wind on WSP treatment performance are not investigated sufficiently at present. It is suggested that a system based on numerical pond modelling and field measuring analyses be formulated to address the interacting influences of these factors on WSPs. Consequently, field studies on full-scale WSPs are required to obtain a complete dataset for validation purposes. In this regard, a combination of three-dimensional pond water temperature survey and tracer concentration mapping is suggested. Details of specific modelling components, such as sludge accumulation, turbulence mechanisms and the assumption of constant influent conditions, require further attention. As a result of this review process, a strategic evaluation framework together with the required dataset for the modelling and field work activities are proposed. This paves the way for subsequent studies on WSP hydrodynamics and treatment efficiency, thus benefitting pond design and operation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to assess tour operators’ sustainability orientation and engagement and to determine whether variations among different tour operators exist, that is, from different continents, with different targets and dimensions. A survey among tour operators worldwide was conducted. A total of 204 answers were obtained with a worldwide coverage. Results affirm relatively high sustainability orientation and engagement and that the more sustainability-oriented the tour operators are, the more sustainability-engaged they are. Moreover, results show that smaller tour operators, specializing in nature and cultural tourism, and owning accommodation facilities are also highly engaged in sustainability. Significant differences are observed among regions, with higher engagement for African and Asian tour operators compared with European ones. This study proposes the development of a new approach to sustainability in this sector: by introducing corporate sustainability strategies, tour operators can maintain their economic capital while preserving natural and social capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distributed enterprise resources planning (ERP) can be customized to the specific requirements of each segment in networked structures for upgrading the small & medium enterprises' (SMEs) value chain. Because the implementation and control processes of distributed ERP systems are challenging in enterprises having limited resources, this study proposed a multi-criteria optimization method on ERP systems assessment in food industry networked enterprises. Networked enterprises can organize SMEs into the effective architecture which has more advantageous in the integration of total capacity through interoperability and collaboration. The proposed method is based on the control of food ERP optimization & orchestration in networked enterprises (FEo 2 NE). The architecture of FEo 2 NE controller encapsulates distributed modules of food ERP master plan into cloud resources through centralized service-oriented architecture (SOA) for warranting orchestration. Thus networked SMEs can interoperate services according to the optimized requirements using the modules' controller. The remarkable points of the method capabilities are the multi-criteria optimization of food ERP and SMEs collaboration in the value chain's distributed platform. The value chain's sustainability is demonstrated and the results guide food SMEs for implementing the business strategies with cleaner production considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban strategic planning and urban vulnerability assessment have increasingly become important issues in both policy agenda and academia. However, a comprehensive review of the advances made in urban vulnerability, emphasizing their shared aspects, has yet to be performed. The aiming of this paper is to addresses the latter by conducting an evaluation on assessment methods disclosed in this decade. Once their common evolutive pathway is traced, the review follows an analytical framework, based on the above, evaluating the research requirements from both a quantitative and qualitative point of view. Our findings indicate that the robustness, cognitive and participatory research lines are those in which most advancement has been made, while those of urban dynamics and multi-scale progressed the least. Our analysis also demonstrates that methods integrating more lines of research, as well as the employment of comprehensive approaches, promotes advancing the developmental stage. We conclude that the focusing of research lines should be shifted, in order to bridge the qualitative gap identified without demanding an improbable, quantitative increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A stream of literature is emerging where network development and business modeling intersect. Various authors emphasize that networks influence business models. This paper extends this stream of literature by studying two cases in which we analyze how business modeling and networking interact over time. We propose the concept ‘value shaping’ to describe this interaction. Value shaping refers to the mutually constitutive process in which on the one hand networking helps to refine and improve the overall business model and on the other hand an improved business model spurs expansion of the network. We identify five micro-level processes through which value shaping occurs. Value shaping is particularly relevant for sustainability-oriented innovations, to help clarify all the types of financial, social and environmental value to which a business model may contribute. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manufacturing industry is the pillar industry in China, making China become the world's manufacturing center. While, the rapid development of manufacturing industry in China not only promotes the economic growth, but also consumes lots of resources and generates too much carbon dioxide. To make a sustainable development, this paper adopts a non-radial DEA model with natural and managerial disposability to examine the energy-environmental performance of China's manufacturing industry during the 2006–2014 period. The energy-environmental performance is evaluated by the unified efficiency under natural and managerial disposability (UENM). Additionally, the investment strategy is confirmed by industrial types of damages to return (DTR). The empirical results indicate that the unified efficiencies of most manufacturing industries present a rising trend in the sample interval. Moreover, the unified efficiency of most manufacturing industries in light industry have a little higher value than the efficiency of those in heavy industry. Besides, the light industry presents more investment effect than the heavy industry, and many industries in heavy industry have little potential for investment in terms of developing the green growth. According to these results, China should increase investment and enhancing the R&D input to improve the unified efficiency of light industry. Policy support need focus on boosting innovation in strategic emerging industries instead of traditional manufacturing industries. Part of industries with excess capacity should be transferred to other countries through outbound investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subjectivity, complexity, and often competing interests of sustainable development have limited the effectiveness of integrating these important ideas into mainstream business strategy. With the adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in January 2016, there are now global sustainability benchmarks that apply across diverse sectors and national contexts, allowing public and private organizations to orient and evaluate their activities, strategies, and business outcomes. However, it is not directly apparent where the advantage for business lies in pursuit of these actions within the prevailing economic paradigm, highlighting the need for new analytical frameworks and tools. Industrial ecology (IE) has been successfully used in engineering practice for decades and has been suggested as a method that can provide the concepts and methods necessary to bridge the gap between traditional business practice and sustainable development. To test this, literature bridging the fields of industrial ecology, business strategy, and sustainable development was collected and analyzed using the textual analysis software Leximancer™. The analysis showed that while the SDGs are primarily aimed at the national level, they also hold relevance for business through innovation, partnerships, and strategic positioning, inter alia. The analysis found that the integration of IE and business strategy is highly relevant for three of the SDGs, but captures elements of all 17 to varying degrees. IE has a strong focus on innovation and its potential in new markets, products, and business models. IE is also consciously aimed at the efficient use of energy and resources, ideas that are relevant to mitigating, adapting, and building resilience in a changing future, but are also relevant to traditional concepts of business strategy and competitive advantage. This paper shows that through the combination of IE and strategic management theory, commercial organizations can positively contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals while building competitive advantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Off-site construction refers to a new building approach which moves the building process away from the physical site but into a controlled factory environment. There are numerous and significant benefits derived from the increased global adoption of off-site construction. In China, however, it is identified that a number of transferable driving factors have not been present, for example, strategic roadmaps, appropriate policies and sufficient workable guidelines. To investigate into the China’s off-site construction status quo under the backdrop of China’s new urbanisation, this study conducts an exhaustive review of the literature towards a total of 107 papers and 85 governmental documents published during the past three years, along with semi-structured interviews to a number of experienced stakeholders. According to the information acquired from the literature review and the interviews, this paper sets forth a scientific process of carrying out a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis, from which the advantages and barriers of implementing off-site construction in China are analysed. Last but not least, the body of knowledge that the state-of-the-art research works have seldom addressed are complemented, namely, top-to-bottom implementation roadmaps and strategies that could significantly contextualise the China’s National New Urbanisation Plan 2014–2020 and help the Chinese construction sector to improve its competency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores a systematic strategy to design appropriate bioremediation projects for marginalized regions that have the potential to contribute to sustainable development in that region. Ecological Engineering (EE) is of particular value for the development of appropriate bioremediation technology for such regions but a stricter planning tool than provided by EE itself, is also needed when the goal of the project goes beyond remediation targets. The Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD) applies basic principles for sustainability and includes a stepwise strategic planning mechanism for their application. The inclusion of EE within the FSSD may steer soil bioremediation projects in rural areas in developing countries and sparsely populated regions in industrialized countries towards sustainability. The utility of the approach was tested on two cases of soil pollution in marginalized regions: the Chinandega region in Nicaragua (pesticide polluted agricultural soil) and a former filling station (diesel polluted residual area) in Gäddede, northern Sweden. The study demonstrates how the inclusion of the EE key concepts within the FSSD may increase the utility of EE for strategic sustainable development within the region. No difficulties in terms of conflicting suggestions were found in the proposed integrated approach; the two tools were found to contribute on different aspects to provide support to project management and decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the study is to propose a pig manure management system that is useful for the owners of 30,000 ha of arable lands and a group of five Polish pig farms that produce approximately 240,000 m 3 y −1 of pig manure. The BATNEEC options method was used to evaluate three selected systems of pig manure management: storage, utilisation for fertilization, and processing by filtration using the AMAK method for fertilizer production. These options were evaluated on the basis of specific formulated criteria. The processing by the AMAK method was rated very highly (89% maximum). However, very low scores were given for fertilization with pig manure and its storage (39% and 22% maximum, respectively). The system proposed for pig manure management was as follows: elimination of manure storage in lagoons, application of roughly half the pig manure as fertilizer, processing of the other half by the AMAK method on each farm, and the use of a separated solid phase to produce mineral-organic fertilizers in one central unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient nitrogen (N) fertilizer management is critical for wheat production and the long-term protection of the environment. Given the importance of durum wheat for the Italian economy, its environmental implications need to be investigated for designing sustainable production system. Three concurrent experiments were carried out in Gravina in Puglia (Apulia, southern Italy) to investigate the agronomic and environmental response of rainfed durum wheat ( Triticum turgidum L., var. durum ) to different N rates, N source and application time over three years (2010–2012). In the three experiments, the following parameters were analyzed: grain yield, yield components (i.e. harvest index, spikes m −2 ), quality traits (i.e. hectoliter weight, protein content), energy input/output analysis including the calculation of energy indexes and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The N rate experiment included rates of 45, 90 and 135 kg N ha −1 . Each rate was split in various proportions between sowing, tillering and stem elongation. For the experiment on N timing and splitting, a single dose of 90 kg N ha −1 was split between sowing, tillering and stem elongation at different fractions (0-90-0; 40-50-0; 10-40-40). The N fertilizer source experiment tested the effect of the application of 90 kg N ha −1 of urea split at sowing and tillering (12-78-0) on the investigated parameters, and compared to Entec ® 26 and Sulfammo 23 with the same does and application time. Nitrogen agronomic efficiency (NAE) was also calculated to assess the potential yield increase in response to different N fertilizer rates and types. The results showed that N rate, N source and the application time had a significant impact on grain yield, grain protein content, energy output and GHG emissions under normal weather conditions. Considering the site-specific condition, the overall results revealed that the split application of 90 kg N ha −1 during three growth stages gave favorable results in terms of grain yield and quality, and optimizes NAE with less environmental impact. The effectiveness and efficiency of this strategy was more pronounced when two-third of the full N dose was applied at later stages (tillering and stem elongation). This strategy found to be more effective in improving wheat yield and quality than the increase in the N rate, which could offer the potential to decrease N fertilization rate in wheat production. This study provides useful information for farmers on how to manage the N fertilization of wheat for sustainable production system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry is one of the highest value-added industries, and strategic technology development not only contributes to its growth, but also to the one of national economies. For sustainable technology development, the first step is to accurately diagnose the technological capabilities a firm possesses, based on which the development strategy is established. However, few efforts have been made to identify technology management issues in LNG terminals. Therefore, this study aims to develop a technology assessment system, named K-TOL that assigns a grade according to the level of technologies, using a set of indexes customized to LNG terminals. The K-TOL was applied to a Korean company and its feasibility and utility verified. Academically, this is one of the first attempt to develop a technology assessment system especially for sustainable technology management in LNG terminals. Practically, the K-TOL will be useful for strategic technology planning to improve internal technological capabilities, and can be further developed to a global standard to appraise, evaluate, and certify technology excellence of LNG terminals, contributing to the advances of the LNG industry worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A circular bioeconomy has become a global aspiration for governments in Europe and around the globe. This article pursues research questions concerning concrete innovations aiming to create bioeconomic transition options in Norway and presents results from a transdisciplinary investigation of Norwegian food industry cases involving processing of fish, meat, fruit, and vegetable co-streams aiming to capture or even increase use and value of residues from processing. It shows that while objectives of avoiding food losses and transforming co-streams to new products of higher value characterizes the poultry industry case and part of the ‘blue’ sector, challenges remain particularly in the ‘whitefish’ area where - also at the global level - a high share of fish resources ends as rest raw materials, i.e. not fully utilised. The investigation targeted strategic cases of innovations enabling alternative uses of co-streams: automation and scanning technologies for fractioning raw materials and co-streams into different qualities, a collection system for fish rest raw materials at sea, enzymatic hydrolysis, use of second grade vegetables for smoothies and potato peels for biodegradable plastics in the vegetable (potato) processing industries. The article shows how these innovations enable cascading and valorisation of co-streams and why an upcycling potential exists as well. Its main contribution is in demonstrating feasibility of transdisciplinary research and innovative options for bioeconomic transition towards sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water utilities draw different water sources (surface and groundwater), including increased use of alternative sources (e.g. desalinated water, reused water, inter-basin water transfers) to supply freshwater to different users (domestic, agriculture, etc.). The combination of water sources and technologies (including infrastructures and energy) results in a regional water supply mix (WSmix) for each specific use. Existing Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) databases used in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), do not include these mixes when modelling processes, leading to a poor representation of water supply systems and related environmental impacts. To fill this gap, this paper proposes a consistent framework for modelling a regional WSmix at worldwide scale. The WSmix framework includes the scope and system boundaries definition as well as a standardisation of terminology and classification of water sources and users. To facilitate implementation of the WSmix, this paper provides a worldwide database of water source mixes per user and a technology matrix linking water sources to water production technologies, including the connection with the local electricity mix. The relevance of including the WSmix in LCI databases for proper water-use impact assessment is demonstrated with an illustrative case study. The paper finally concludes on the need of using the regionalized WSmix in routine LCA, which is just as straightforward as the use of the regionalized electricity supply mix. Besides, the developed WSmix provides interesting insights beyond the LCA scope to support the strategic management of water sources at various scales including the global scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the sustainability and social equity impacts of the ongoing transition toward a low carbon society in Japan to assess the merits of top-down and bottom-up approaches. The research uses mixed methods, incorporating householder and energy expert surveys, scenario design utilizing the Japanese MARKAL/TIMES framework, and sustainability and social equity evaluation. Surveys identify householder energy system and participation preferences, alongside energy expert input on social equity and policy design. Scenario building is undertaken to compare energy system outcomes between the strategic Japanese policy approach and a user driven approach to energy transition, both cognizant of 2050 environmental goals. Both scenarios are comparatively assessed using a holistic sustainability evaluation process. Conclusions identify the impact of liberalization and subsequent householder participation in the energy system in Japan, when compared to a strategic, policy driven approach. Both approaches have positive ramifications on social equity and policy burden distribution outcomes. However, the household participation scenario delivers a more equitable outcome, distributing energy policy burdens in a fairer manner through the realization of an energy system which is safe, stable and affordable. The findings have practical applications in participatory policy design, and the development of energy policy which can achieve transition goals while being sensitive to householder preferences and social equity concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the majority of the world’s economic activities more than 50% of its residents concentrated in urban areas, cities have a vital role to play in the recognition of a Green Economy. Cities, Municipalities, Communities, Local Authorities, Tourist Destinations or more general Urban and peri-Urban Areas have expanded dramatically in size are very complex across the World. This paper focuses on the metabolism of the City of Agia Napa (Cyprus) the last 45 years due to the expansion of tourist activities and how those activities have influenced, and reflected the local population, local tourist industry, urban planning, social behaviour etc. The main objective is to understand the metabolism of the city in the framework of Sustainable Development and propose a strategy plan in order to optimize the quality of the destination and the quality of life. According to a survey audit the historic centre is in depth crisis as several SMEs have closed and jobs have been lost. The Proposed Strategic Planning will promote numeral job positions; will develop new SMEs, social equability, environmental performance, economic viability as well as better quality of life. The SWOT analysis was based on real fact and indicated that among the most important strengths are the position of the historical centre and its accessibility from all angles, the presence of the Medieval Monastery while the main weaknesses remain the economic crisis and the main threats of other more attractive tourist destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) is a complex matter, where the involvement of all relevant stakeholders can play a crucial role in supporting policymakers in defining an effective and long-running waste management plan at the local level. This paper deals with the difficulties related to the scarce collaboration and commitment of stakeholders involved in OFMSW collection and management, which mainly affects the regions located in the southern part of Italy. Starting from these premises, the aim of the study was to test an approach for involving stakeholders in the definition of a long-term strategy to address a complex issue, such as OFMSW valorisation. For this purpose, participatory backcasting was used to allow stakeholders to describe their desired future, and working backwards to identify the policy actions needed to achieve that future. Specifically, this paper focusses on the OFMSW's valorisation of the municipality of Foggia (Southern Italy), which is representative of the lagging behind in waste management. The experiment led to a strategy based on OFMSW valorisation involving bio-methane and the production of digestate, through which it will be possible to reduce the quantity of waste disposed in landfills. To investigate the suitability of the proposed approach, a questionnaire for measuring the level of influence of participants on the workshop results and the quality of the final strategy was submitted. Participants expressed a strong degree of empowerment in the identification of actions and their arrangement on the timeline. Overall, the experience proved that the suggested approach fostered the stakeholders' contribution to the long-term strategy definition for OFMSW management. However, this draft strategy needs to be further elaborated to be implemented. In addition, the validation scores demonstrated a positive effect on the democratization of policymaking. Therefore, the proposed backcasting could be considered a valuable approach for supporting policymakers, especially in regions affected by the scarce engagement of people towards environmental protection. In this way, local governments may adopt this tool to improve their waste management plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher Education Institutions have embedded sustainability initiatives into their core activities of curriculum, research, community, and operational to respond the global transformation towards a sustainable future. Numerous studies have been conducted concerning an integrated sustainability into the missions and strategies of the Higher Education Institutions. However, there is a lack of works that highlight the important role of information systems to support the sustainability practices in Higher Education Institutions. This problem motivates the study to underscore the important role of information systems during the sustainability implementation. A preliminary case analysis is performed to observe how the Higher Education Institutions implement the sustainability initiatives and to proof the knowledge gap in real practice. The analysis was conducted during visits via a semi-structured interview with a number of persons from Higher Education Institutions in Malaysia that have been implementing sustainable campus. According to the preliminary case analysis, the Higher Education Institutions do not contemplate the information system strategy at the beginning of their sustainability implementation. There is a lack of information system application to support their sustainability practices. They still use manual methods to collect the sustainability metrics and assess their sustainability performance. As a result, the sustainability decision-making is isolated and they cannot evaluate their sustainable performance. The problems of managing the sustainability data and processes arise. Therefore, a concept of the strategic alignment between sustainability and information system is underscored in the present study. The introduction of this concept through this study would enhance our understanding in term of the significant role of the information systems to support the sustainability practices and to achieve a successfully sustainable campus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We continue to understand little about how to best design and operate transnational collaborations between universities to advance research and education for sustainability. This article explores general practices in transnational research and teaching that can provide information and inspiration for the sustainability field. The article follows a systematic review protocol and examines 46 articles involving 147 universities engaged in transnational collaborations. First, it presents the main features of these collaborations according to: (a) locations connected; (b) objectives pursued and subjects addressed; (c) implementation. Second, it discusses how reflecting on challenges and strategies encountered in these collaborations can support transnational sustainability research and education. The article concludes highlighting success factors for transnational collaboration, including: combining local and global considerations; making effective use of digital technologies; capitalizing on cultural and national differences; and making the best of available resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]