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Carbon reduction has become a major challenge for China's economy in its transition toward sustainability. The government has been monitoring the behavior of enterprises through regulations to protect the environment, while green finance has rapidly developed in recent years as a new tool to reduce carbon emissions. Despite these measures, few studies have explored the interaction between these two drivers of carbon reduction. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the impact of green finance and environmental regulations on carbon emissions. To determine whether their coordination can lead to greater carbon reduction, the spatial spillover effect of this impact was also investigated. The results show that green finance can reduce carbon emissions and that the interaction of green finance with environmental regulations plays a significant positive role in reducing carbon emissions. Finally, this study concludes that the carbon reduction effects of green finance and environmental regulations have positive spillover effects on adjacent areas. © 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

Carbon reduction has become a major challenge for China's economy in its transition toward sustainability. The government has been monitoring the behavior of enterprises through regulations to protect the environment, while green finance has rapidly developed in recent years as a new tool to reduce carbon emissions. Despite these measures, few studies have explored the interaction between these two drivers of carbon reduction. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the impact of green finance and environmental regulations on carbon emissions. To determine whether their coordination can lead to greater carbon reduction, the spatial spillover effect of this impact was also investigated. The results show that green finance can reduce carbon emissions and that the interaction of green finance with environmental regulations plays a significant positive role in reducing carbon emissions. Finally, this study concludes that the carbon reduction effects of green finance and environmental regulations have positive spillover effects on adjacent areas. © 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

Sediments are an integral component of aquatic systems, linking multiple water uses, functions, and services. Contamination of sediments by chemicals is a worldwide problem, with many jurisdictions trying to prevent future pollution (prospective) and manage existing contamination (retrospective). The present review assesses the implementation of sediment toxicity testing in environmental regulations globally. Currently, the incorporation of sediment toxicity testing in regulations is most common in the European Union (EU), North America, and Australasian regions, with some expansion in Asia and non-EU Europe. Employing sediment toxicity testing in prospective assessments (i.e., before chemicals are allowed on the market) is most advanced and harmonized with pesticides. In the retrospective assessment of environmental risks (i.e., chemicals already contaminating sediments), regulatory sediment toxicity testing practices are applied inconsistently on the global scale. International harmonization of sediment toxicity tests is considered an asset and has been successful through the widespread adoption and deployment of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development guidelines. On the other hand, retrospective sediment assessments benefit from incorporating regional species and protocols. Currently used toxicity testing species are diverse, with temperate species being applied most often, whereas test protocols are insufficiently flexible to appropriately address the range of environmental contaminants, including nanomaterials, highly hydrophobic contaminants, and ionized chemicals. The ever-increasing and -changing pressures placed on aquatic resources are a challenge for protection and management efforts, calling for continuous sediment toxicity test method improvement to insure effective use in regulatory frameworks. Future developments should focus on including more subtle and specific toxicity endpoints (e.g., incorporating bioavailability-based in vitro

This study aims to use updated data sets for China from 1990 to 2022 to study the relationship between business growth and environmental factors and regulations such as environmental policies, taxes, green technologies, and environmental revenues. The first study confirmed that none of the variables used was static in I(II), while the ADF and PP unit root tests proved that all variables were static at the level, and confirmed the first difference in the ARDL model. Results demonstrate that environmental taxes stimulate business growth, a phenomenon explained by the Porter Hypothesis, suggesting that effective regulations related to environment can spur innovation and efficiency. The significant influence of environmental revenues further illuminates the potential of the green economy. The findings underscore the need for governments and businesses to adopt stringent environmental regulations, promote green technologies, and exploit the burgeoning opportunities in the green economy. The interplay between environmental factors and business growth not only fosters economic prosperity (SDG 8) but also aids in combatting climate change and promoting sustainable industrialization (SDG 9, 13), offering a roadmap towards a sustainable future.

This study aims to use updated data sets for China from 1990 to 2022 to study the relationship between business growth and environmental factors and regulations such as environmental policies, taxes, green technologies, and environmental revenues. The first study confirmed that none of the variables used was static in I(II), while the ADF and PP unit root tests proved that all variables were static at the level, and confirmed the first difference in the ARDL model. Results demonstrate that environmental taxes stimulate business growth, a phenomenon explained by the Porter Hypothesis, suggesting that effective regulations related to environment can spur innovation and efficiency. The significant influence of environmental revenues further illuminates the potential of the green economy. The findings underscore the need for governments and businesses to adopt stringent environmental regulations, promote green technologies, and exploit the burgeoning opportunities in the green economy. The interplay between environmental factors and business growth not only fosters economic prosperity (SDG 8) but also aids in combatting climate change and promoting sustainable industrialization (SDG 9, 13), offering a roadmap towards a sustainable future.

Introduction: This work considers an industrial ecology problem under the framework of semi-infinite optimization. Objective: The objective is to resolve the conflict between pollutant emissions and environmental standards for the areas within a given region. Methodology: A version of the SIP2 algorithm is proposed, which simultaneously allows for a reduction in pollution while also enabling an increase in emissions from sources. This approach provides a certain degree of flexibility in managing pollution and the factors that cause it in the industry, while ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. Results: The results of two algorithms show different roles of the sources in obtaining the total pollution and, therefore, the need for changes in their emissions. Conclusions: The proposed algorithm offers more cost-effective solutions in infrastructure design evaluations for areas with conflicting interests, such as maintenance or increasing production (indirectly measured by emissions generated from the production system), while ensuring compliance with restrictive environmental regulations., Introducción: En este trabajo se considera un problema de la ecología industrial bajo el enfoque de optimización semi-infinita. Objetivo: El objetivo es la resolución del conflicto entre las emisiones contaminantes con las normas ambientales para las zonas de una región dada. Metodología: Se propone una versión del algoritmo SIP2 que, simultáneamente con la disminución de la contaminación, también permite un aumento de las emisiones de las fuentes, de tal forma que permite una cierta libertad en el manejo de contaminación y los elementos que la provocan en la industria, pero velando por el cumplimiento de la normatividad ambiental. Resultados: Los resultados de dos algoritmos muestran diferentes papeles de las fuentes en la obtención de la contaminación total y como consecuencia la necesidad de los cambios en sus emisiones. Conclusiones: El algoritmo propuesto ofrece soluciones más rentables en evaluaciones de diseño de infraestructura para áreas con intereses opuestos, como el mantenimiento o el aumento de la producción (medido indirectamente por la generación de emisiones debido al sistema productivo), al tiempo que garantiza el cumplimiento de las normas ambientales restrictivas.

Títol alternatiu emprat a la intranet docent de l'EPSEVG: "Dispensador automàtic d'aerosol amb propulsor natural", L'objectiu principal d'aquest projecte és millorar un dispensador d’aerosol automàtic per fer-lo més respectuós amb el medi ambient i ampliar el seu públic objectiu. En la comparació de diferents models d'aerosols, s'ha observat que tots són recarregables i tenen un preu semblant, però l'aspecte rellevant és el seu funcionament intern i els components de la fragància. Per millorar la sostenibilitat del producte, s’ha optat per utilitzar propel·lents d’origen natural i reformular la fragància. No obstant això, aquest canvi ha afectat el rendiment del dispositiu, provocant una disminució de la pressió interna a mesura que el refill es va buidant. La investigació se centrarà en estudiar com mantenir l'eficiència del dispositiu malgrat aquest canvi en la formulació de la fragància i complir les normatives mediambientals. Per això, es realitzen diversos assajos per determinar la millor combinació de formulació de la fragància i de propel·lent, així com estudiar com aquest canvi afecta el funcionament del dispositiu. També explorarem com aconseguir una polvorització uniforme de la fragància, tenint en compte els canvis en la formulació i en el mecanisme d'aspersió. Finalment s’extreuen les conclusions que confirmen si la producció d’aquest nou dispositiu es viable, en aquest cas caldrà realitzar més assajos ja que el temps i els recursos han sigut limitats. En resum, el nostre objectiu és desenvolupar un dispensador d’aerosol més sostenible i eficient, que compleixi amb les normatives mediambientals i mantingui la seva competitivitat en el mercat., The main objective of this project is to improve an automatic aerosol dispenser to make it more environmentally friendly and to expand its target audience. In comparing different aerosol models, it has been observed that all are rechargeable and have a similar price, but the relevant aspect is their internal operation and the components of the fragrance. To improve the product's sustainability, it was decided to use naturally derived propellants and reformulate the fragrance. However, this change has affected the device's performance, causing a decrease in internal pressure as the refill empties. The research will focus on studying how to maintain the device's efficiency despite this change in fragrance formulation and comply with environmental regulations. Therefore, various tests are being conducted to determine the best combination of fragrance formulation and propellant, as well as to study how this change affects the device's operation. We will also explore how to achieve a uniform spray of the fragrance, considering the changes in formulation and the spraying mechanism. Finally, conclusions will be drawn to confirm whether the production of this new device is viable. If so, further testing will be required as time and resources have been limited. In summary, our goal is to develop a more sustainable and efficient aerosol dispenser that meets environmental regulations and maintains its competitiveness in the market., Outgoing

Innovation and adaptation of renewable energy technologies significantly reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and increase energy efficiency. Understanding the convergence patterns in renewable energy innovation will enable policymakers to design policies to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy consumption and reduce CO2 emissions. This paper applies the convergence algorithm proposed by Philips and Sul to assess the convergence in renewable energy innovation for 90 countries covering the period between 1993 and 2018. This paper also examines the determinants/factors driving the convergence clubs of the countries using Probit and Logit regression. The convergence analyses suggest that there is no global convergence in renewable energy innovation. Findings highlight two convergence clubs: i) a club comprising more innovative countries and ii) another club that includes less innovative countries. We find that countries with higher income per capita, CO2 emissions per capita, research and development (R&D) investment, better environmental regulations and stronger institutional settings are more likely to be part of the innovative club. Countries should increase their R&D investment and environmental regulations and improve their institutional quality to increase their likelihood of belonging to a more innovative club. Furthermore, less innovative countries could promote policies to transfer renewable energy technologies from innovative countries

Innovation and adaptation of renewable energy technologies significantly reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and increase energy efficiency. Understanding the convergence patterns in renewable energy innovation will enable policymakers to design policies to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy consumption and reduce CO2 emissions. This paper applies the convergence algorithm proposed by Philips and Sul to assess the convergence in renewable energy innovation for 90 countries covering the period between 1993 and 2018. This paper also examines the determinants/factors driving the convergence clubs of the countries using Probit and Logit regression. The convergence analyses suggest that there is no global convergence in renewable energy innovation. Findings highlight two convergence clubs: i) a club comprising more innovative countries and ii) another club that includes less innovative countries. We find that countries with higher income per capita, CO2 emissions per capita, research and development (R&D) investment, better environmental regulations and stronger institutional settings are more likely to be part of the innovative club. Countries should increase their R&D investment and environmental regulations and improve their institutional quality to increase their likelihood of belonging to a more innovative club. Furthermore, less innovative countries could promote policies to transfer renewable energy technologies from innovative countries

Innovation and adaptation of renewable energy technologies significantly reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and increase energy efficiency. Understanding the convergence patterns in renewable energy innovation will enable policymakers to design policies to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy consumption and reduce CO2 emissions. This paper applies the convergence algorithm proposed by Philips and Sul to assess the convergence in renewable energy innovation for 90 countries covering the period between 1993 and 2018. This paper also examines the determinants/factors driving the convergence clubs of the countries using Probit and Logit regression. The convergence analyses suggest that there is no global convergence in renewable energy innovation. Findings highlight two convergence clubs: i) a club comprising more innovative countries and ii) another club that includes less innovative countries. We find that countries with higher income per capita, CO2 emissions per capita, research and development (R&D) investment, better environmental regulations and stronger institutional settings are more likely to be part of the innovative club. Countries should increase their R&D investment and environmental regulations and improve their institutional quality to increase their likelihood of belonging to a more innovative club. Furthermore, less innovative countries could promote policies to transfer renewable energy technologies from innovative countries

In the literature, evidence has been provided that establishes that compliance with environmental regulations promotes the adoption and implementation of eco-innovation activities in manufacturing firms, since through this type of activities not only are the costs associated with the discharges of pollutants, but also increases the level of sustainable performance of companies. However, little is known about the relationship between environmental regulations, eco-innovation, and sustainable performance, since there are few studies published in the literature that have focused on their analysis, so this study aims to fill this existing gap, and generate new knowledge of the relationship between these three constructs through an extensive review of the literature. Likewise, a questionnaire was distributed to a sample of 460 manufacturing firms in Mexico, analyzing the data through confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation models based on covariance. The results obtained suggest that environmental regulations have positive effects on eco-innovation, and eco-innovation has positive effects on sustainable performance of manufacturing firms in the automotive industry. In this context, the results obtained allowed us to conclude that compliance with environmental regulations established by the public administration, by manufacturing firms in the automotive industry, improve both eco-innovation activities and sustainable performance of organizations., En la literatura se ha aportado evidencia que establece que el cumplimiento de las regulaciones medioambientales propicia la adopción e implementación de actividades de eco-innovación en las empresas manufactureras, ya que a través de este tipo de actividades no sólo se reducen los costos asociados a las descargas de contaminantes, sino también se incrementa el nivel del rendimiento sustentable de las empresas. Sin embargo, poco se sabe de la relación existente entre las regulaciones medioambientales, la eco-innovación y el rendimiento sustentable, ya que son pocos los estudios publicados en la literatura que se han orientado en su análisis, por lo cual este estudio tiene como objetivo llenar este vacío existente, y generar nuevo conocimiento de la relación entre estos tres constructos a través de una extensa revisión de la literatura. Asimismo, se distribuyó un cuestionario a una muestra de 460 empresas manufactureras de México, analizando los datos mediante el análisis factorial confirmatorio y los modelos de ecuaciones estructurales basados en la covarianza. Los resultados obtenidos sugieren que las regulaciones medioambientales tienen efectos positivos en la eco-innovación, y la eco-innovación tiene efectos positivos en el rendimiento sustentable de las empresas manufactureras de la industria automotriz. Bajo este contexto, los resultados obtenidos permitieron concluir que el cumplimiento de las regulaciones medioambientales establecidas por la administración pública, por parte de las empresas manufactureras de la industria automotriz, mejoran tanto las actividades de eco-innovación como el rendimiento sustentable de las organizaciones.

In the literature, evidence has been provided that establishes that compliance with environmental regulations promotes the adoption and implementation of eco-innovation activities in manufacturing firms, since through this type of activities not only are the costs associated with the discharges of pollutants, but also increases the level of sustainable performance of companies. However, little is known about the relationship between environmental regulations, eco-innovation, and sustainable performance, since there are few studies published in the literature that have focused on their analysis, so this study aims to fill this existing gap, and generate new knowledge of the relationship between these three constructs through an extensive review of the literature. Likewise, a questionnaire was distributed to a sample of 460 manufacturing firms in Mexico, analyzing the data through confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation models based on covariance. The results obtained suggest that environmental regulations have positive effects on eco-innovation, and eco-innovation has positive effects on sustainable performance of manufacturing firms in the automotive industry. In this context, the results obtained allowed us to conclude that compliance with environmental regulations established by the public administration, by manufacturing firms in the automotive industry, improve both eco-innovation activities and sustainable performance of organizations., En la literatura se ha aportado evidencia que establece que el cumplimiento de las regulaciones medioambientales propicia la adopción e implementación de actividades de eco-innovación en las empresas manufactureras, ya que a través de este tipo de actividades no sólo se reducen los costos asociados a las descargas de contaminantes, sino también se incrementa el nivel del rendimiento sustentable de las empresas. Sin embargo, poco se sabe de la relación existente entre las regulaciones medioambientales, la eco-innovación y el rendimiento sustentable, ya que son pocos los estudios publicados en la literatura que se han orientado en su análisis, por lo cual este estudio tiene como objetivo llenar este vacío existente, y generar nuevo conocimiento de la relación entre estos tres constructos a través de una extensa revisión de la literatura. Asimismo, se distribuyó un cuestionario a una muestra de 460 empresas manufactureras de México, analizando los datos mediante el análisis factorial confirmatorio y los modelos de ecuaciones estructurales basados en la covarianza. Los resultados obtenidos sugieren que las regulaciones medioambientales tienen efectos positivos en la eco-innovación, y la eco-innovación tiene efectos positivos en el rendimiento sustentable de las empresas manufactureras de la industria automotriz. Bajo este contexto, los resultados obtenidos permitieron concluir que el cumplimiento de las regulaciones medioambientales establecidas por la administración pública, por parte de las empresas manufactureras de la industria automotriz, mejoran tanto las actividades de eco-innovación como el rendimiento sustentable de las organizaciones.

Stricter environmental regulations (e.g. the EU’s Water Framework Directive) will entail many environmental improvement measures in waters that have been affected by hydropower, and dam removals are becoming a more common measure. This paper reviews economic evaluations of dam removals, primarily drawing on studies in the USA, and identifies key, frequently recurring, issues that future evaluations will likely need to consider. The paper also reports on an ex-ante evaluation of the recent removal of the Marieberg Hydropower Plant in the Mörrum River in Sweden. An environmental valuation survey carried out as a key part of this evaluation was conducted as a replication of a previous study, where the policy context was different but the expected ecological outcome similar. The replication study produced comparable results to those of the previous study., Validerad;2024;Nivå 1;2024-03-15 (joosat);License full text: CC BY

Stricter environmental regulations (e.g. the EU’s Water Framework Directive) will entail many environmental improvement measures in waters that have been affected by hydropower, and dam removals are becoming a more common measure. This paper reviews economic evaluations of dam removals, primarily drawing on studies in the USA, and identifies key, frequently recurring, issues that future evaluations will likely need to consider. The paper also reports on an ex-ante evaluation of the recent removal of the Marieberg Hydropower Plant in the Mörrum River in Sweden. An environmental valuation survey carried out as a key part of this evaluation was conducted as a replication of a previous study, where the policy context was different but the expected ecological outcome similar. The replication study produced comparable results to those of the previous study., Validerad;2024;Nivå 1;2024-03-15 (joosat);License full text: CC BY

Ports are actively pursuing greater operational efficiency to effectively handle the increasing global flow of goods, while striving to improve the energy efficiency of their operations to comply with new environmental regulations. As a result, innovation-leading ports have begun to recognize the potential of digital twins to overview, coordinate and optimize port processes, resulting in energy savings, and reductions of costs and of CO2 emissions. While digital twins have gained momentum in other domains such as smart manufacturing and aerospace, their adoption in ports has been comparatively slow. This can be explained, among other things, by the multi-stakeholder nature of the port and the high complexity of the often interconnected port processes. Thus, this thesis, grounded in the context of ports, discusses what constitutes a digital twin, proposes characteristics to assess the maturity of existing digital twins, and introduces and evaluates mathematical models to support a key port process, which can be used as components of a digital twin for the port. The thesis is composed of three papers: Paper 1 is based on an extensive literature review, through which digital twins among different domains are studied in depth in order to transfer insights from these to the port domain. The resulting discussion of what constitutes a port’s digital twin and the requirements that a port’s digital twin must fulfil, together with a discussion of use cases of how port digital twins can contribute to energy savings, form the basis of Paper 1. Paper 2 discusses how digital twins’ maturity can be assessed within six maturity levels and presents milestones for their implementation. Notably, Interoperability is identified as the highest maturity level, as the numerous stakeholders and their respective digital twins must work together to reach a coordinated system of systems performance. Using this assessment demonstrates that only a few innovation-leading ports have developed so, Hamnar strävar aktivt efter ökad operativ effektivitet för att hantera den ökande globala varuflödet, samtidigt som de strävar efter att förbättra energieffektiviteten. Som ett resultat har ledande hamnar börjat se potentialen hos digitala tvillingar för att skapa överblick samt koordinera och optimera processer i hamnen. Målet med användningen av digitala tvillingar är energibesparingar samt minskning av kostnader och CO2-utsläpp. Medan digitala tvillingar har använts inom andra områden såsom tillverknings-, flyg- och rymdindustrin, har införandet i hamnar varit jämförelsevist långsamt. Detta kan förklaras, bland annat, av hamnens många olika involverade aktörer och den höga komplexiteten i de ofta sammanlänkade hamnprocesserna. Därför fokuserar denna avhandling, med utgångspunkt i hamnkontexten, vad som utgör en digital tvilling, presenterar egenskaper för olika mognadsnivåer hos befintliga digitala tvillingar, och introducerar samt utvärderar matematiska modeller som kan bli delkomponenter i en digital tvilling för hamnen. Avhandlingen består av tre artiklar: Artikel 1 bygger på en omfattande litteraturöversikt, inom vilken digitala tvillingar för olika områden studeras ingående för att överföra insikter från dessa till hamndomänen. Detta resulterar i en presentation av vad som utgör en hamns digitala tvilling och de krav som en hamns digitala tvilling måste uppfylla, tillsammans med en diskussion om möjliga sett på vilka hur hamnens digitala tvillingar kan bidra till energibesparingar. Artikel 2 presenterar ett ramverk för hur mognaden hos digitala tvillingar kan bedömas baserat på sex mognadsnivåer och presenterar milstolpar för deras implementering. Noterbart är att interoperabilitet identifieras som den högsta mognadsnivån, eftersom de många intressenterna och deras respektive digitala tvillingar måste koordineras för att nå en fungerande system-av-systemnviå. Genom att använda denna bedömning visar det sig att endast några få innovationsledande hamnar hittil

This Data-sharing SME, Last-Mile Delivery LivingLab focuses on the last-mile (LM) transport setting. The LivingLab involves actors such as last-mile couriers, traditional delivery companies, retailers, and terminal companies. The LivingLab is one of 23 under the EU project FEDeRATED (www.federatedplatforms.eu), which aims to foster and achieve digital co-operation in logistics. Stakeholder engagement is required to achieve open data sharing in the interests of improving the operational efficiency of delivery. This LivingLab identifies that the last-mile couriers dispute the benefits of data sharing, while being pushed towards data sharing by (environmental) regulations and other market forces. However, and somewhat in contradiction, a considerable number of the couriers voluntarily associate themselves with a semi-Federated system of open and neutral data sharinginfrastructure. The financial gains for these couriers have been substantial.

To facilitate the rapid and large-scale developments of offshore wind energy, scholars, policymakers and infrastructure developers must start considering its integration into the larger onshore energy system. Such offshore system integration is defined as the coordinated approach to planning and operation of energy generation, transport and storage in the offshore energy system, across multiple energy carriers and sectors. This article conducts a systematic literature review to identify infrastructure components of offshore energy system integration (including alternative cable connections, offshore energy storage, and power-to-hydrogen applications) and barriers to their development. An interdisciplinary perspective is provided where current offshore developments require not only mature and economically feasible technologies, but equally strong legal and governance frameworks. The findings demonstrate that current literature lacks a holistic perspective on the offshore energy system. To date, techno-economic assessments solving challenges of specific infrastructure components prevail over an integrated approach. Nevertheless, permitting issues, gaps in legal frameworks, strict safety and environmental regulations, and spatial competition also emerge as important barriers. Overall, this literature review emphasizes the necessity of aligning various disciplines to provide a fundamental approach for the development of an integrated offshore energy system. More specifically, timely policy and legal developments are key to incentivize technical development and enable economic feasibility of novel components of offshore system integration. Accordingly, to maximize real-world application and policy learning, future research will benefit from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Air pollution is a major environmental urban issue, particularly in fast-growing cities in developing countries. Reducing air pollution is thus a challenge while evaluating the economic value of air quality is crucial for environmental policies made. However, few studies accurately estimate this value as they neglect the possible endogeneity issues, as well as the dynamic and heterogeneous effects of air pollution. Under the hedonic framework, we therefore assess the economic effect of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on housing prices in Beijing, China. We construct a panel based on resale apartment transactions matched with average quarterly PM2.5 data between 2013 and 2019. To reduce the risk of an estimation bias, we apply an instrumental variable (IV) approach. Our results show that PM2.5 is negatively associated with housing prices. Households were willing to pay an extra 0.0852% per housing unit price for an average quarterly reduction in PM2.5 of 1 µg/m3. Furthermore, we argue that high-income dwellers tend to pay more for clean air. The negative effects of PM2.5 across regions are significant and different. Compared with that in the basic year 2013, the negative effect increases in the first 3 years and then decreases in the last 3 years. Our findings enhance our comprehension of the economic impact of air quality and make a valuable contribution to the nuanced understanding of willingness to pay for air quality, which is beneficial in assessing and optimizing environmental regulations.

I december 2017 lämnade cementproducenten Cementa, som står för cirka två tredjedelar av Sveriges cementproduktion, in en ansökan om fortsatt verksamhetstillstånd för sina kalk- och märgelstenstäkter på Gotland. För att få ett beviljande för sådan verksamhet krävs det att utövaren upprättar ett dokument som beskriver verksamhetens förväntade effekter på miljön, en så kallad miljökonsekvensbeskrivning. Cementas ansökan beviljades i första instansen, men överklagades och undanröjdes i överinstansen. Anledningen var bristfälligheter i miljökonsekvensbeskrivningen, särskilt vad gällde det så kallade nollalternativet: en beskrivning av den förväntade miljöutvecklingen om verksamheten inte beviljas tillstånd. Några månader senare ansökte Cementa om ett tillfälligt tillstånd hos regeringen, och en tidsbegränsad lagändring som tillät just sådana tillstånd för kalkstenstäkter infördes, vilken regeringen använde för att bevilja Cementas ansökan. Denna uppsats syftar klarlägga vilka intressen som måste beaktas vid en konflikt mellan samhällsviktig verksamhet och miljörättsliga bestämmelser, samt de potentiella konsekvenserna om det förstnämnda ges prioritet. För att genomföra detta granskas Cementas tillståndsprövning EU-rättsligt och rättsdogmatiskt. I uppsatsens analys vägs samhällsintressen såsom sysselsättning och BNP mot miljöintressen, särskilt naturmiljöers bevarande och begränsning av koldioxidutsläpp. Riskerna med regeringens beslut diskuteras även, där urholkning av miljöåtaganden och beroendeställning till storföretag i synnerhet lyfts fram som möjliga risker., In December 2017 the cement producer Cementa, which contributes roughly two thirds of Sweden’s cement production, applied for permission to continue operations at their limestone and marl stone quarries on Gotland. To get approval for such operations, a document describing the expected effects on the environment must be created. This document is called an environmental impact assessment. Cementa’s application was approved in the first instance, but was appealed and annulled in the higher court due to deficiencies in the environmental impact assessment. The court especially criticized the so-called zero option: a description of the expected environmental development if the operation is not granted permission. A few months later Cementa applied for a temporary permission from the government, and a time-limited law amendment was passed. This amendment allowed the government to approve applications for limestone quarries, which was then used to approve Cementa’s application. This thesis aims to clarify which interests must be considered in a conflict between operations essential to society and the environmental regulations, as well as the potential consequences if the former is given priority. In order to evaulate this, Cementa’s permit assessment will be examined using an EU-law and legal doctrinal research method. In the thesis’ analysis, societal interests such as employment and GDP are weighed against environmental interests, particularly the preservation of natural environments and the limitation of carbon dioxide emissions. The risks associated with the government’s decision are also discussed, where dilution of environmental commitments and dependency on large corporations are especially noted as potential risks.

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in sustainable accounting represents a transformative approach to enhancing the accuracy, efficiency, and comprehensiveness of environmental impact assessment and reporting. This paper explores the development of AI-driven models aimed at advancing sustainable accounting practices, focusing on environmental impact assessment and transparent reporting. AI technologies, particularly machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP), play a pivotal role in automating and refining data collection, analysis, and reporting processes. These technologies enable the processing of vast amounts of heterogeneous data from multiple sources, including IoT sensors, satellite imagery, and corporate disclosures. By leveraging ML algorithms, organizations can identify patterns, predict trends, and assess the environmental impact of their operations with unprecedented precision. One of the key advantages of AI in sustainable accounting is its ability to enhance data accuracy and reliability. Traditional methods often suffer from manual errors and inconsistencies. AI models, however, can continuously learn and adapt, improving their accuracy over time. For instance, predictive analytics can forecast future environmental impacts based on historical data, allowing companies to implement proactive measures to mitigate adverse effects. Furthermore, AI facilitates real-time monitoring and reporting. IoT devices equipped with environmental sensors can stream data to AI systems, which process and analyze the information instantaneously. This capability is crucial for timely reporting and compliance with environmental regulations. Real-time data analytics also empower organizations to make informed decisions swiftly, optimizing their sustainability strategies and reducing their ecological footprint. Another significant contribution of AI is in enhancing transparency and accountability in environmental reporting. NLP algorithms can analy

El agua es un recurso fundamental para la vida y el desarrollo sostenible. La gestión eficiente de las aguas residuales es esencial para asegurar la disponibilidad de agua limpia y la protección del medio ambiente. En Alemania, reconocida por su avanzada tecnología y estricta normativa ambiental, la gestión de aguas residuales varía entre los estados federados. Este Trabajo de Fin de Grado se centra en evaluar la eficiencia del tratamiento en las distintas regiones, con el objetivo de identificar las regiones con mejores prácticas y áreas de mejora en el sistema de tratamiento de aguas residuales. El análisis proporciona una visión detallada de cómo cada estado federado maneja sus recursos y su impacto ambiental, ofreciendo una base sólida para futuras mejoras en las regiones menos eficientes. Al comparar los estados, se pretende fomentar un intercambio de mejores prácticas que conduzca a una mayor eficiencia en todo el país, contribuyendo así a la sostenibilidad y la protección del medio ambiente., Water is a fundamental resource for life and sustainable development. Efficient management of wastewater is essential to ensure the availability of clean water and protect the environment. In Germany, known for its advanced technology and strict environmental regulations, wastewater management varies among the federal states. This Final Degree Project focuses on evaluating the efficiency of treatment in the different regions, with the aim of identifying best practices and areas for improvement in the wastewater treatment system across the country. The analysis provides a detailed insight into how each federal state manages its resources and its environmental impact, offering a solid basis for future improvements in the less efficient regions. By comparing the states, the project aims to foster an exchange of best practices that will lead to greater efficiency throughout the country, thus contributing to sustainability and environmental protection.

This study focuses on optimizing chlorophyll extraction techniques, in which leaf discs are cut from places on the leaf blade to enhance chlorophyll concentration in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) leaves. Thirty sesame genotypes, categorized into light green (LG), middle green (MG), and deep green (DG) pigment groups based on leaf coloration, were selected from a larger pool of field-grown accessions. The investigation involved determining optimal Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) value index measurements, quantifying pigment concentrations, exploring extraction solvents, and selecting suitable leaf disk positions. Significant variations in chlorophyll content were observed across genotypes, greenness categories, and leaf disk positions. The categorization of genotypes into DG, MG, and LG groups revealed a correlation between leaf appearance and chlorophyll content. The study highlighted a consistent relationship between carotenoids and chlorophyll, indicating their role in adaptation to warm environments. An examination of leaf disk positions revealed a significant chlorophyll gradient along the leaf blade, emphasizing the need for standardized protocols. Chlorophyll extraction experiments identified DMSO and 96% ethanol, particularly in those incubated for 10 min at 85 °C, as effective choices. This recommendation considers factors like cost-effectiveness, time efficiency, safety, and environmental regulations, ensuring consistent and simplified extraction processes. For higher chlorophyll extraction, focusing on leaf tips and the 75% localization along the sesame leaf blade is suggested, as this consistently yields increased chlorophyll content. Furthermore, our examination revealed significant anatomical variations in the internal structure of the mesophyll tissue leaves between deep green and light green sesame plants, primarily linked to chloroplast density and pigment-producing structures. Our findings, therefore, provide insightful knowledge of chlorophyll

This dissertation investigates the impact of environmental policies on firm performance and global supply chain relationships through three chapters. The first chapter introduces a novel measure of embodied carbon policy costs, incorporating multi-region input-output linkages, to examine the effects of carbon pricing on industrial firm outcomes in Europe. The findings reveal that the inclusion of indirect costs via the global value chain leads to a decrease in firm employment and output, and an increase in total factor productivity and investment, with more pronounced impacts for small and capital-intensive firms.The second chapter explores the transmission mechanism of sustainable investing on firms' financial performance and real outcomes. Focusing on the prevalent portfolio tilting strategy in practice, we delineate the transmission mechanism from investor preference, intermediated by funds, to underlying firms. Leveraging a 2016 natural experiment for identification, we find that firms with greater exposure to low-sustainability fund ownership experience acute downward pressure on their valuation and equity financing. However, no significant impact is observed on firm debt financing, consistent with our observation that the transmission of investors' pressure for sustainability falls short of generating substantial real impacts on firms' investment decisions. The third paper examines the impact of environmental regulations on global supply chain relationships using a dataset linking customer firms to their suppliers. The study reveals that customers are more likely to terminate supplier relationships in response to more stringent environmental policies in supplier countries, with the effect being less pronounced for manufacturing customer firms and suppliers located in countries with emissions trading systems. Further analysis shows a relatively limited impact of the average supplier country's Environmental Policy Stringency on customer firms' performance, possi

Agronomic crops, including grains, forages, and fiber, are central to California agriculture, yet face many challenges. To ensure resilience, a statewide survey was conducted by the University of California Cooperative Extension service (UCCE) to identify high-priority needs and inform extension programming based on grower, consultant, and allied industry input. The goal was to compare the importance of different topics with the level of satisfaction regarding UCCE’s delivery of information on these topics. Survey respondents identified integrated pest management, nutrient and irrigation management, and variety testing as high-priority needs, with overall high satisfaction regarding UCCE’s program delivery on these topics. Topics needing more focus (high priority but below-average level of satisfaction) included testing new products, soil health management, and water conservation and storage. Areas of low priority and low satisfaction included niche marketing, emerging crops, organic production, harvest/post-harvest technology, salinity management, compost and manure management, and greenhouse gas emission reductions. To address stakeholder challenges, results from this study suggest that research and extension efforts should prioritize issues directly impacting on-farm crop production. At the same time, areas of low interest reflect a need for more support to engage farmers on these topics, particularly those concerning state environmental regulations and challenges to local and global food production and security.

The industrial revolution precipitates swift urbanization, which heightens customers' demands for items. On one hand, the progress of emerging technologies has led to increased consumer demands for meeting their basic needs. On the other hand, the manufacturing process of these products has caused environmental degradation, resulting in pollution of rivers and water, global warming, and the depletion of non-renewable energy sources. As the environment deteriorates, it becomes a topic of great worry. Marketers are grappling with the challenge of comprehending consumer wants while adhering to environmental regulations and maintaining their profits. The company provides environmentally-friendly marketing materials, taking into account the clients' purchasing behavior and environmental strategies. The purpose of this is to keep customers informed about the availability of environmentally friendly items in the market, as well as the repercussions and impact of these products on the environment. This information can then be used by customers to make informed decisions before purchasing any products. Consumers would benefit from becoming aware of environmentally-friendly marketing items. This study aims to evaluate customer purchase behavior towards environmentally friendly products in the Coimbatore district.

According to mainstream literature, Muslim countries often lag behind in terms of environmental sustainability despite their being fully compliant with global environmental regulations. This raises the question of whether this applies to all aspects of environmental conservation. Therefore, this paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation efforts in countries that are members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and determine whether a consistent growth trend in biodiversity conservation can be identified. The study employs semi-quantitative and policy-science methods, analysing data from Yale University’s Biodiversity and Habitat Protection Index from 2010 to 2020. The findings show a significant increase in biodiversity conservation performance over the ten-year study period. Interestingly, low-income countries outperformed their wealthier OIC counterparts in terms of biodiversity conservation, despite having the lowest economic development status. This positive trend highlights the effectiveness of essential biodiversity policies and measures adopted in these Muslim countries. Furthermore, these results align with Stern’s approach, which argues that economic expansion can have diverse impacts on environmental quality, leading to the rejection of the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis in the context of biodiversity conservation in Muslim countries. The study emphasises the need for further research into the nature of biodiversity policies among low-income nations. The policy ideas and solutions from these countries can provide valuable insights for combating biodiversity loss within OIC countries and globally, contributing to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Additionally, it has the potential to enhance the capacity of OIC countries in biodiversity conservation and their role in supporting fellow Muslim nations in achieving the SDGs

Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) is a complex process that evaluates and prioritizes options based on multiple criteria, often involving conflicting objectives. In energy efficiency projects, MCDM can be applied to balance cost, environmental impact, and energy savings, enabling more informed and sustainable choices. For portfolio optimization, it assists in selecting a mix of projects that maximize returns while managing risk and resource constraints. Essential for implementing MCDM are digital tools like data analytics and decision support systems. The paper's theoretical framework examines the relationship between project portfolio optimization and MCDM, enabling a comprehensive project evaluation based on cost, risk, environmental impact, and energy efficiency. This approach is particularly appropriate for energy efficiency projects with specific requirements such as sustainability, long-term cost savings, and compliance with environmental regulations. Digital tools facilitate this process by providing advanced data analytics and decision support, which is crucial for balancing these complex, often conflicting criteria. This synergy between portfolio optimization and MCDM, especially in energy efficiency, emphasizes the theoretical model's practical relevance and applicability. In the empirical section of the study, we test our theoretical considerations by analyzing case studies from platforms like SCOPUS. These cases can provide concrete evidence of how MCDM, coupled with digital tools, effectively optimizes project portfolios, especially in energy efficiency projects. The analysis of diverse real-world scenarios demonstrates the practical effectiveness of MCDM in meeting specific project requirements and realizing strategic portfolio goals. In conclusion, this paper aims to bridge the theoretical and empirical realms, demonstrating the effectiveness of MCDM in project portfolio optimization, particularly for energy efficiency projects. The theoretical fr

This comprehensive review explores the public health benefits of implementing environmental policies, focusing on recent studies from 2018 to 2024. The study aimed to systematically review and analyze the impact of environmental regulations on public health outcomes, identifying key benefits, challenges, and future directions. Utilizing a systematic literature review and content analysis methodology, the research involved a detailed examination of peer-reviewed articles and reports from academic databases and reputable organizations. The inclusion criteria targeted studies explicitly evaluating the impact of environmental policies on public health, published in English within the specified timeframe. Key findings reveal significant public health benefits associated with environmental policies, particularly those targeting air and water quality improvements. These policies have led to notable reductions in morbidity and mortality rates associated with pollution-related diseases. The analysis also highlights the critical role of governance and regulatory frameworks in facilitating effective policy implementation and stakeholder engagement. However, challenges such as the evolving nature of environmental threats and the complexity of stakeholder interests pose obstacles to policy effectiveness. The study concludes with strategic recommendations for policymakers and environmental health practitioners, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, strengthened governance, leveraging technology, community engagement, and investment in research and education. Future research directions include longitudinal studies to assess long-term policy impacts, exploration of emerging environmental threats, and evaluation of innovative policy interventions. This review underscores the importance of environmental policies in promoting public health and outlines a roadmap for future policy-making at the intersection of environmental sustainability and public health. Keywords

This comprehensive review explores the public health benefits of implementing environmental policies, focusing on recent studies from 2018 to 2024. The study aimed to systematically review and analyze the impact of environmental regulations on public health outcomes, identifying key benefits, challenges, and future directions. Utilizing a systematic literature review and content analysis methodology, the research involved a detailed examination of peer-reviewed articles and reports from academic databases and reputable organizations. The inclusion criteria targeted studies explicitly evaluating the impact of environmental policies on public health, published in English within the specified timeframe. Key findings reveal significant public health benefits associated with environmental policies, particularly those targeting air and water quality improvements. These policies have led to notable reductions in morbidity and mortality rates associated with pollution-related diseases. The analysis also highlights the critical role of governance and regulatory frameworks in facilitating effective policy implementation and stakeholder engagement. However, challenges such as the evolving nature of environmental threats and the complexity of stakeholder interests pose obstacles to policy effectiveness. The study concludes with strategic recommendations for policymakers and environmental health practitioners, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, strengthened governance, leveraging technology, community engagement, and investment in research and education. Future research directions include longitudinal studies to assess long-term policy impacts, exploration of emerging environmental threats, and evaluation of innovative policy interventions. This review underscores the importance of environmental policies in promoting public health and outlines a roadmap for future policy-making at the intersection of environmental sustainability and public health. Keywords

This study investigates the impact of macroprudential policies on CO2 emissions in G7 and BRIC countries using country-level panel data from 11 countries, covering the period from 1992 to 2020. The findings indicate that macroprudential policies alleviate CO2 emissions in the sample. Quantile regression results reveal that policies can exacerbate CO2 emissions in countries with high levels of CO2 emissions due to carbon leakage. The positive impact of macroprudential policies on sustainable development can be strengthened by high level of globalisation. Moreover, the influence of macroprudential policies stayed the same based on the basic regression results during the post-global financial crisis (GFC) period, while the impact was positive in the pre-GFC period. Finally, robust tests validated the findings reported in the basic regression model. From this, policymakers should prioritise sustainable economic growth when implementing macroprudential policies and leverage the influence of globalisation to amplify their impact on CO2 emissions. Furthermore, it is crucial to strengthen environmental regulations to prevent carbon leakage that result from industries seeking lenient standards.

This study investigates the impact of macroprudential policies on CO2 emissions in G7 and BRIC countries using country-level panel data from 11 countries, covering the period from 1992 to 2020. The findings indicate that macroprudential policies alleviate CO2 emissions in the sample. Quantile regression results reveal that policies can exacerbate CO2 emissions in countries with high levels of CO2 emissions due to carbon leakage. The positive impact of macroprudential policies on sustainable development can be strengthened by high level of globalisation. Moreover, the influence of macroprudential policies stayed the same based on the basic regression results during the post-global financial crisis (GFC) period, while the impact was positive in the pre-GFC period. Finally, robust tests validated the findings reported in the basic regression model. From this, policymakers should prioritise sustainable economic growth when implementing macroprudential policies and leverage the influence of globalisation to amplify their impact on CO2 emissions. Furthermore, it is crucial to strengthen environmental regulations to prevent carbon leakage that result from industries seeking lenient standards.

Current agricultural practices in Europe are increasingly aggravating societal and environmental safety concerns. This creates social and regulatory pressures on farmers, which can lead to declining material and social status of farmers, farmer discontent, and anti-regulation protests. These tensions are rooted in conflicting value systems for agricultural development, which can range from productivist pathways (i.e. valuing production above all else) to increasing multifunctionality pathways (i.e. valuing agriculture for its contribution to multiple economic, environmental and societal needs). It is largely unknown to what degree individual farms and agricultural landscapes are transitioning towards increasing productivism or multifunctionality in practice. Here, we mapped landscape changes and interviewed farmers (n = 274) to examine the diversity of agricultural development pathways in 17 study sites across Europe over the last 20 years (2000–2020). We also assessed the associations between the development pathways and farmers’ perceptions of socio-economic outcomes, namely job satisfaction, societal valuation, and economic performance. Farm-level development was largely aligned with productivist pathways, while landscape-level changes aligned more closely with an increasing multifunctionality pathway. Farmers on pathways of increasing multifunctionality did not perceive improved outcomes on livelihood indicators as compared to productivist farmers. Furthermore, farms on increasing multifunctionality pathways were concentrated in sites with very high management intensities that face strong pressure from environmental regulations, as well as low-intensity, mountainous sites, where opportunities for intensification are limited. These results suggest that current pathways that increase multifunctionality arise mostly by necessity. Successful agricultural transformation will therefore require policy to create enabling environments that provide socioeconomic benefits

Sand-casting is one of the most widely used cost-effective manufacturing techniques to produce metal components for various industries. Constantly evolving environmental regulations have increased the necessity for circular and sustainable manufacturing practices. During the casting process, the mold and core undergo a thermal shock when they come in contact with the molten metal. This triggers a severe reaction due to the evaporation of volatiles and the decomposition of chemical binders. This phenomenon can cause defects such as blow-holes and pinholes, leading to increased scrap. The heat removed from the solidifying melt due to these generated gases also affects the cast component by influencing the mechanical properties. From an ecological perspective, some of the gases generated from the decomposing binders have been identified as environmentally hazardous. Studying the gas generation and transport phenomena during the sand-casting process becomes essential in this context. In this work, the phenomena that affect heat and mass transport due to the generated gases are studied with the help of newly developed experimental techniques in combination with porous material characterization tools. Combining the experimental data with thermal analysis techniques, a computational model for the heat and mass transport in the foundry core is also developed. The permeability of the molds and cores plays a significant role in determining how efficiently these gases are transported. The permeability and gas volume affect the pressure build-up and defect formation mechanisms of the mold and core. Traditional measurement methods used for determining permeability are not scientifically comparable, nor can they be used for computing the flow characteristics of the molds and cores. In this work, a custom-made measurement setup to measure the permeability of molds and cores is presented. Using the setup, the effect of variation in the grain size distribution and the density on the

With the heightened concern of environmental sustainability, the relationship between environmental regulations and enterprise high-quality development(HQD) has become increasingly intertwined. However, the specific impact of environmental regulation on enterprise HQD remains unclear. Based on the panel data of A-share listed manufacturing companies in China from 2010 to 2020, this study constructs a two-tier stochastic frontier model to measure the bilateral effects of environmental regulation on enterprise HQD. The empirical results indicate the following: 1. The positive effect of environmental regulation makes the HQD of enterprises 54.995% higher than the frontier level, while its negative effect results in HQD being 16.215% lower than the frontier level. 2. The net effect of environmental regulation on enterprise HQD is positive over time, and it overall displays a W-shaped fluctuating downward trend. 3. Heterogeneity analysis, categorized by various criteria, shows that enterprises that are in non-heavily polluting industries, audited by listed accounting firms, state-owned enterprises, with higher investor attention, and in regions with lower intensity of environmental regulation, experience a greater net positive effect from environmental regulation. Policy implications are discussed to enhance the effectiveness of environmental regulation and high-quality development of enterprise

Increased risks of economic policy uncertainty and overexploitation of natural resources exist in China. At the same time, the growth rate of urban residents’ consumption has generally declined. The paper analyses the role of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) and natural resource exploitation on the urban residents’ consumption in China. Based on the data from the first quarter of 2002 to the third quarter of 2021, the paper uses a nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag model to verify the asymmetric effects. Then the paper constructs a time-varying parameter vector autoregressive model with stochastic volatility term to analyze the nonlinear responses. Impulse response analysis was used to further explain the relationship between the three. The negative impact of rising EPU on urban residents’ consumption is larger than its reduction. Negative shocks to natural resource development increase the urban residents’ consumption. Positive shocks reduce the urban residents’ consumption. There is a time-varying non-linear effect of EPU and natural resource development on urban residents’ consumption in China. The negative impact of EPU on urban consumption has been further exacerbated by major crises such as the financial crisis, COVID-19 and the post-crisis period. The negative impact of natural resource development diminished after the government introduced industrial upgrading policies and environmental regulations. This study provides constructive suggestions for the optimization of economic policies and the improvement of urban consumption. This study also enriches consumer theory and provides new evidence for the resource curse hypothesis. © The Author(s) 2024.

This dissertation investigates the topic of combined rail-road transport with a focus on Europe. In addition to an introduction to the subject and a description of the research design utilized, it consists of three distinct studies whose results build upon one another. In the first study, a Delphi study combined with a systematic literature review, explicit measures were identified on how combined transport can be strengthened from a practical perspective and which topic areas related research deals with. By synthesizing the results of both methods, a practice-oriented research agenda was created. It is intended to be a document of the current challenges of combined transport and an effective solution to them. The second study deals with port competition through hinterland connectivity, in which combined transport plays a major role. Using the example of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, which is within the geographical scope of ports of the northern range, the influence of the CO2 tax introduced in 2021 is examined. A simulation model is used to investigate the impact of the tax, leading to interesting insights into the potential shift in competitive scope. The third and final study deals with the new possibilities of the China Railway Express, a direct train connection between Europe and China. Since the connection is enjoying increasing popularity, a simulation model, inspired by the second study, was used to examine which areas in China are economically accessible to exporters in Hesse utilizing this train connection. In addition, it was examined how this area would change if a (hypothetical) global carbon tax was introduced. All three studies together provide an overview of the current challenges of combined transport in Europe, its medium-term changes due to political and environmental regulations, and an outlook on the possibilities of intercontinental rail transport.

The gambier industry in West Sumatra, particularly in Payakumbuh, is the largest in Indonesia, accounting for 80-90% of the country's total production. This high output leads to significant waste production. This article examines the potential environmental pollution from gambier industry wastewater and the measures taken to address this issue. The study highlights the effective use of coagulation-flocculation and adsorption methods in treating textile industry wastewater. It reviews the conditions of the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in the gambier processing industry before optimization and the steps taken to enhance its performance. Additionally, it analyzes the characteristics of the wastewater before and after treatment. The findings indicate that adding aerators and pH-adjusting agents to the WWTP improves wastewater treatment performance, ensuring the effluent meets government quality standards. Furthermore, using Poly Aluminium Chloride (PAC) in treatment significantly reduces COD and BOD, demonstrating the degradation of organic components in gambier waste. COD removal efficiency is 92.65%, and BOD removal efficiency is 58.01%. These optimizations improve the quality of the gambier industry’s wastewater, minimizing its environmental impact and ensuring compliance with Indonesian environmental regulations.

Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) is a complex process that evaluates and prioritizes options based on multiple criteria, often involving conflicting objectives. In energy efficiency projects, MCDM can be applied to balance cost, environmental impact, and energy savings, enabling more informed and sustainable choices. For portfolio optimization, it assists in selecting a mix of projects that maximize returns while managing risk and resource constraints. Essential for implementing MCDM are digital tools like data analytics and decision support systems. The paper's theoretical framework examines the relationship between project portfolio optimization and MCDM, enabling a comprehensive project evaluation based on cost, risk, environmental impact, and energy efficiency. This approach is particularly appropriate for energy efficiency projects with specific requirements such as sustainability, long-term cost savings, and compliance with environmental regulations. Digital tools facilitate this process by providing advanced data analytics and decision support, which is crucial for balancing these complex, often conflicting criteria. This synergy between portfolio optimization and MCDM, especially in energy efficiency, emphasizes the theoretical model's practical relevance and applicability. In the empirical section of the study, we test our theoretical considerations by analyzing case studies from platforms like SCOPUS. These cases can provide concrete evidence of how MCDM, coupled with digital tools, effectively optimizes project portfolios, especially in energy efficiency projects. The analysis of diverse real-world scenarios demonstrates the practical effectiveness of MCDM in meeting specific project requirements and realizing strategic portfolio goals. In conclusion, this paper aims to bridge the theoretical and empirical realms, demonstrating the effectiveness of MCDM in project portfolio optimization, particularly for energy efficiency projects. The theoretical fr

Mobility plays a decidedly central role in the life of virtually every human in our world. Being able to move from one point to another is absolutely critical to meeting our most basic everyday needs. In the modern era, travel for work, school, leisure, and myriad other quotidian activities, including getting groceries, visiting with friends and relatives, and getting to medical appointments, are just a few of the central reasons for routine travel today. This study underscores the importance of transportation and mobility as a core aspect of human well-being, and as such, an important policy domain that should occupy a central position in the world of welfare and welfare state research. However, despite its import, transportation policy has been largely neglected in the research on well-being and welfare states. This is most strikingly evident in the research on welfare state models and typologies. This study focuses on three key dimensions of well-being, (1) inequality, (2) safety, and (3) environment, highlighting the many ways that transportation policy affects our lives, and makes a case for its inclusion as an important policy domain and component of modern welfare states. Employing Gøsta Esping- Andersen’s widely-embraced welfare state/worlds typology, it examines the character of transportation policy in three cities (Kansas City, MO, US; Stockholm, Sweden; and Luxembourg City, Luxembourg), representing each of his three welfare regimes (liberal, social democratic, and conservative, respectively). It focuses on a range of key indicators of these three dimensions, including fare provision, service availability, pedestrian infrastructure, and ticketing systems for the inequality dimension; programming in infrastructure safety and reduced road access, as well as legislation for driver training and consequences for illegal acts on the road for safety dimension; and provisions of green space, parking and urban access regulations, and environmental regulations on

The absence of environmental information on products is a barrier for industries to pursue more sustainable practices. By applying a life cycle approach throughout their portfolio, industries will be equipped to navigate complex environmental regulations. This study conducts a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a hand-held power tool based on a case study using the ISO 14044 framework. The assessment spans the entire life cycle of the tool, from material acquisition to End-of-Life (Eol). The ReCiPe2016 hierachist impact assessment methodology was selected and performed in the LCA software SimaPro. The main goal of the study is to identify the materials, components, or processes with the most significant environmental impact across the product’s life stages. The functional unit is defined as one fully charged 36V battery of an SRB81-4000 nutrunner performing bolt checks; over its lifetime, this battery will perform 3,334 functional units. The results show that the usage of the product has a major contribution due to electricity demand; however, the results are sensible to the country’s electricity mix. The result in the usage stage per functional unit for Particulate Matter Formation Potential (PMFP), Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP), and Global Warming Potential with emissions are 0,00023 kg PM2.5 eq, 1,56 kg CFC11 eq, and 0,066 kg CO2 eq, respectively. Furthermore, steel is a prime driver for the Human Health Toxicity impact category with 0,0109 kg 1,4-DCB, and integrated circuits greatly contribute to Ozone Depletion and Fossil Fuel Potential with 3,33E-09 kg CFC11 eq and 0,0019 kg oil eq, respectively. The assessment is intended to provide initial information and insights for future improvements in hand-held electric tools and serve as a valuable resource for stakeholders in the power tools industry, environmental researchers, and other research where hand-held tools are integral to their value chains., Avsaknaden av miljöinformation om produkter är ett hinder för industrier att sträva efter mer hållbara metoder. Genom att tillämpa en livscykelansats på hela sin portfölj kommer industrier att vara utrustade för att navigera komplexa miljöregleringar. Denna studie genomför en omfattande livscykelanalys (LCA) av ett handhållet elverktyg baserat på en fallstudie enligt ISO 14044- ramverket. Bedömningen omfattar verktygets hela livscykel, från materialanskaffning till slutet av livscykeln (End-of-Life, EoL). ReCiPe2016-hierarkistens påverkansbedömningsmetodik valdes och genomfördes i LCA-programvaran SimaPro. Huvudmålet med studien är att identifiera de material, komponenter eller processer som har den mest betydande miljöpåverkan under produktens livsstadier. Den funktionella enheten definieras som ett fulladdat 36V batteri av en SRB81-4000 mutterdragare som utför bultkontroller; under sin livstid kommer detta batteri att utföra 3 334 funktionella enheter. Resultaten visar att användningen av produkten har ett stort bidrag på grund av elbehovet; dock är resultaten känsliga för landets elmix. Resultatet i användningsstadiet per funktionell enhet för partikelformationspotential (PMFP), ozonnedbrytningspotential (ODP) och global uppvärmningspotential med utsläpp är 0,00023 kg PM2.5 eq, 1,56 kg CFC11 eq och 0,066 kg CO2 eq, respektive. Dessutom är stål en huvuddrivare för kategorin mänsklig hälsotoxicitet med 0,0109 kg 1,4- DCB, och integrerade kretsar bidrar i hög grad till ozonnedbrytning och fossilbränslepotential med 3,33E-09 kg CFC11 eq och 0,0019 kg oljeeq, respektive. Bedömningen syftar till att tillhandahålla initial information och insikter för framtida förbättringar av handhållna elverktyg och fungera som en värdefull resurs för intressenter i elverktygsindustrin, miljöforskare och annan forskning där handhållna verktyg är en integrerad del av deras värdekedjor.

Denna examensrapport är ett samarbetsprojekt mellan Jonsson och Söner AB i Billsta utanför Örnsköldsvik och Linköpings universitet. Jonsson är en ledande tillverkare av mobila krossverk och har initierat detta projekt för att utveckla en helt (Programmable Logic Controller) PLC-styrd stenkross för att möta ökande globala säkerhets- och funktionskrav. Rapporten belyser behovet av övergång från traditionell reläteknik till PLC-styrning för att förbättra fjärrdiagnostik och minska risken för driftstopp vid utomhusbruk under varierande väderförhållanden. Syftet med projektet är att undersöka och implementera nödvändiga PLC-funktioner för att underlätta felsökning och öka tillgängligheten på krossen. Genom att utforma och implementera dessa funktioner strävar projektet efter att förbättra support och service, minska oplanerade driftstopp och öka effektiviteten för både operatörer och servicepersonal. Utöver utvecklingen av en PLC-styrd kross fokuserar projektet även på att hantera nya miljökrav relaterade till Adblue-teknologin för dieselmotorer i företagets genset. Målet är att identifiera strategier för att minska driftstopp och underhållskostnader genom analys och optimering av tomgångskörning samt implementering av autostoppfunktioner för att uppfylla de nya miljöreglerna. Projektet har betonat flera centrala aspekter för en smidig övergång till PLC-styrning, inklusive namngivningsbestämmelser för variabler, strukturerad kod med utförliga kommentarer och förbättrad larm- och logghantering. Genom att minska mekaniska komponenter och övergå till digital teknik har felsökningsprocessen effektiviserats. De implementerade gränssnitten är anpassade för att snabbt identifiera och hantera larm och händelser, vilket underlättar för operatören att diagnostisera problem. En standardiserad kodstruktur och dokumentation kring funktionsblock och typkretsar gör framtida underhåll smidigare och säkrare samt förenklar implementeringen av framtida uppgraderingar. Tilläggsstudien jämf, This thesis report discusses a collaborative project between Jonsson AB in Billstaoutside Örnsköldsvik and Linköping University. Jonsson is a leading manufacturer ofmobile crushing plants and has initiated this project to develop a fully (Programmable Logic Controller) PLC-controlled stone crusher to meet increasing global safetyand functional requirements. The report highlights the need to transition from traditional relay technology to PLC control to improve remote diagnostics and reducethe risk of downtime when used outdoors in varying weather conditions. The purpose of the project is to investigate and implement necessary PLC functionsto facilitate troubleshooting and enhance accessibility of the crusher. By designingand implementing these functions, the project aims to improve support and service,reduce unplanned downtime, and increase efficiency for both operators and maintenance department. In addition to developing the PLC-controlled crusher, the project also focuses onaddressing new environmental requirements related to Adblue technology for dieselengines in the company’s genset. The goal is to identify strategies to reduce downtime and maintenance costs through analysis and optimization of idle running, aswell as implementing auto-stop features to comply with the new environmental regulations. The project emphasizes several key aspects for a smooth transition to PLC control,including naming conventions for variables, structured code with detailed comments,and improved alarm and logging management. By reducing mechanical componentsand transitioning to digital technology, the troubleshooting process has been streamlined and risks associated with voltage connections have been minimized. The implemented interfaces is tailored to quickly identify and manage alarms andevents, facilitating operator diagnosis of problems. A standardized code structureand documentation around engine blocks and circuit types make future maintenance smoother and safer, simplifying th

Sand-casting is one of the most widely used cost-effective manufacturing techniques to produce metal components for various industries. Constantly evolving environmental regulations have increased the necessity for circular and sustainable manufacturing practices. During the casting process, the mold and core undergo a thermal shock when they come in contact with the molten metal. This triggers a severe reaction due to the evaporation of volatiles and the decomposition of chemical binders. This phenomenon can cause defects such as blow-holes and pinholes, leading to increased scrap. The heat removed from the solidifying melt due to these generated gases also affects the cast component by influencing the mechanical properties. From an ecological perspective, some of the gases generated from the decomposing binders have been identified as environmentally hazardous. Studying the gas generation and transport phenomena during the sand-casting process becomes essential in this context. In this work, the phenomena that affect heat and mass transport due to the generated gases are studied with the help of newly developed experimental techniques in combination with porous material characterization tools. Combining the experimental data with thermal analysis techniques, a computational model for the heat and mass transport in the foundry core is also developed. The permeability of the molds and cores plays a significant role in determining how efficiently these gases are transported. The permeability and gas volume affect the pressure build-up and defect formation mechanisms of the mold and core. Traditional measurement methods used for determining permeability are not scientifically comparable, nor can they be used for computing the flow characteristics of the molds and cores. In this work, a custom-made measurement setup to measure the permeability of molds and cores is presented. Using the setup, the effect of variation in the grain size distribution and the density on the

Sand-casting is one of the most widely used cost-effective manufacturing techniques to produce metal components for various industries. Constantly evolving environmental regulations have increased the necessity for circular and sustainable manufacturing practices. During the casting process, the mold and core undergo a thermal shock when they come in contact with the molten metal. This triggers a severe reaction due to the evaporation of volatiles and the decomposition of chemical binders. This phenomenon can cause defects such as blow-holes and pinholes, leading to increased scrap. The heat removed from the solidifying melt due to these generated gases also affects the cast component by influencing the mechanical properties. From an ecological perspective, some of the gases generated from the decomposing binders have been identified as environmentally hazardous. Studying the gas generation and transport phenomena during the sand-casting process becomes essential in this context. In this work, the phenomena that affect heat and mass transport due to the generated gases are studied with the help of newly developed experimental techniques in combination with porous material characterization tools. Combining the experimental data with thermal analysis techniques, a computational model for the heat and mass transport in the foundry core is also developed. The permeability of the molds and cores plays a significant role in determining how efficiently these gases are transported. The permeability and gas volume affect the pressure build-up and defect formation mechanisms of the mold and core. Traditional measurement methods used for determining permeability are not scientifically comparable, nor can they be used for computing the flow characteristics of the molds and cores. In this work, a custom-made measurement setup to measure the permeability of molds and cores is presented. Using the setup, the effect of variation in the grain size distribution and the density on the

The sustainability of nuclear energy amidst climate change and environmental regulations poses critical challenges, particularly in European contexts where major rivers like the Rhine, the Danube, and the Rhône are experiencing declining water levels and rising temperatures. We scrutinise the operational difficulties nuclear power plants encounter, arising from insufficient cooling water and environmental mandates that prevent the discharge of overly warm cooling water into rivers. These conditions have led to partial or full shutdowns of nuclear facilities across France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Romania, and other countries, emphasising the tension between nuclear energy as a low-carbon solution and its environmental impacts. We explore the concept of sustainability in the context of riverine nuclear energy from three angles: technical challenges posed by water scarcity, regulatory constraints on cooling water temperatures, and the ecological impacts of thermal discharges on riverine ecosystems. In our analysis we reveal an emerging contradiction between ensuring electricity supply and adhering to environmental protections, highlighting the need for a reevaluation of nuclear energy's role in a future sustainable energy landscape.

Sand-casting is one of the most widely used cost-effective manufacturing techniques to produce metal components for various industries. Constantly evolving environmental regulations have increased the necessity for circular and sustainable manufacturing practices. During the casting process, the mold and core undergo a thermal shock when they come in contact with the molten metal. This triggers a severe reaction due to the evaporation of volatiles and the decomposition of chemical binders. This phenomenon can cause defects such as blow-holes and pinholes, leading to increased scrap. The heat removed from the solidifying melt due to these generated gases also affects the cast component by influencing the mechanical properties. From an ecological perspective, some of the gases generated from the decomposing binders have been identified as environmentally hazardous. Studying the gas generation and transport phenomena during the sand-casting process becomes essential in this context. In this work, the phenomena that affect heat and mass transport due to the generated gases are studied with the help of newly developed experimental techniques in combination with porous material characterization tools. Combining the experimental data with thermal analysis techniques, a computational model for the heat and mass transport in the foundry core is also developed. The permeability of the molds and cores plays a significant role in determining how efficiently these gases are transported. The permeability and gas volume affect the pressure build-up and defect formation mechanisms of the mold and core. Traditional measurement methods used for determining permeability are not scientifically comparable, nor can they be used for computing the flow characteristics of the molds and cores. In this work, a custom-made measurement setup to measure the permeability of molds and cores is presented. Using the setup, the effect of variation in the grain size distribution and the density on the

Natural environments play a crucial role in transmission of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Development of methods to manage antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in natural environments are usually limited to the laboratory or field scale, partially due to the complex dynamics of transmission between different environmental compartments. Here, we conducted a nine-year longitudinal profiling of ARGs at a watershed scale, and provide evidence that restrictions on livestock farms near water bodies significantly reduced riverine ARG abundance. Substantial reductions were revealed in the relative abundance of genes conferring resistance to aminoglycosides (42%), MLSB (36%), multidrug (55%), tetracyclines (53%), and other gene categories (59%). Additionally, improvements in water quality were observed, with distinct changes in concentrations of dissolved reactive phosphorus, ammonium, nitrite, pH, and dissolved oxygen. Antibiotic residues and other pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) maintain at a similarly low level. Microbial source tracking demonstrates a significant decrease in swine fecal indicators, while human fecal pollution remains unchanged. These results suggest that the reduction in ARGs was due to a substantial reduction in input of antibiotic resistant bacteria and genes from animal excreta. Our findings highlight the watershed as a living laboratory for understanding the dynamics of AMR, and for evaluating the efficacy of environmental regulations, with implications for reducing environmental risks associated with AMR on a global scale.

Maxi Perros, El Original, es una empresa de comida rápida ubicada en Pereira, Colombia, comprometida con la gestión de sus impactos ambientales y con el cumplimiento de las expectativas de sostenibilidad de la comunidad. En un contexto donde la conciencia sobre la sostenibilidad está en aumento, la empresa enfrenta desafíos significativos en su gestión ambiental. Para abordar estos desafíos, se propone la implementación de un Sistema de Gestión Ambiental (SGA) que proporcione un marco estructurado para identificar, gestionar y reducir los impactos ambientales de sus operaciones. Este sistema integrará la gestión ambiental en todas las áreas de la empresa, desde la producción hasta la administración, fomentando una cultura de responsabilidad y sostenibilidad entre todos los empleados. La metodología adoptada para el desarrollo del SGA se basa en un enfoque mixto que combina investigación cualitativa y cuantitativa. Esto incluye la realización de diagnósticos ambientales iniciales, entrevistas semiestructuradas y el uso de listas de chequeo y matrices de impacto ambiental. La colaboración interdisciplinaria es fundamental, integrando conocimientos de gestión ambiental y tecnología para asegurar que el sistema sea efectivo y sostenible. En este contexto, se destacan diversas características del software en la gestión ambiental organizacional. Primero, debe contar con una interfaz intuitiva que permita a los empleados acceder a la información sin complicaciones. Además, debe facilitar la gestión de datos, permitiendo la recopilación, gestión y análisis de datos ambientales, lo que a su vez facilita la toma de decisiones informadas. El software debe integrar múltiples funcionalidades, incluyendo módulos para la gestión de aspectos e impactos ambientales, seguimiento de normativas y generación de reportes. También es crucial que el software sea adaptable, con la capacidad de ajustarse a las necesidades cambiantes de la empresa y a nuevas regulaciones ambientales. La acces, Maxi Perros, El Original, is a fast-food company located in Pereira, Colombia, committed to managing its environmental impacts and meeting the sustainability expectations of the community. In a context where awareness of sustainability is on the rise, the company faces significant challenges in its environmental management. To address these challenges, the implementation of an Environmental Management System (EMS) is proposed, which will provide a structured framework to identify, manage, and reduce the environmental impacts of its operations. This system will integrate environmental management across all areas of the company, from production to administration, fostering a culture of responsibility and sustainability among all employees. The methodology adopted for the development of the EMS is based on a mixed approach that combines qualitative and quantitative research. This includes conducting initial environmental diagnostics, semi-structured interviews, and using checklists and environmental impact matrices. Interdisciplinary collaboration is fundamental, integrating knowledge from environmental management and technology to ensure that the system is effective and sustainable. In this context, several characteristics of software in organizational environmental management are highlighted. First, it must have an intuitive interface that allows employees to access information without complications. Additionally, it should facilitate data management, allowing for the collection, management, and analysis of environmental data, which in turn facilitates informed decision-making. The software should integrate multiple functionalities, including modules for managing environmental aspects and impacts, regulatory tracking, and report generation. It is also crucial that the software is adaptable, with the ability to adjust to the changing needs of the company and new environmental regulations. Accessibility is another important aspect, as the software should be usable on d

The absence of environmental information on products is a barrier for industries to pursue more sustainable practices. By applying a life cycle approach throughout their portfolio, industries will be equipped to navigate complex environmental regulations. This study conducts a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a hand-held power tool based on a case study using the ISO 14044 framework. The assessment spans the entire life cycle of the tool, from material acquisition to End-of-Life (Eol). The ReCiPe2016 hierachist impact assessment methodology was selected and performed in the LCA software SimaPro. The main goal of the study is to identify the materials, components, or processes with the most significant environmental impact across the product’s life stages. The functional unit is defined as one fully charged 36V battery of an SRB81-4000 nutrunner performing bolt checks; over its lifetime, this battery will perform 3,334 functional units. The results show that the usage of the product has a major contribution due to electricity demand; however, the results are sensible to the country’s electricity mix. The result in the usage stage per functional unit for Particulate Matter Formation Potential (PMFP), Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP), and Global Warming Potential with emissions are 0,00023 kg PM2.5 eq, 1,56 kg CFC11 eq, and 0,066 kg CO2 eq, respectively. Furthermore, steel is a prime driver for the Human Health Toxicity impact category with 0,0109 kg 1,4-DCB, and integrated circuits greatly contribute to Ozone Depletion and Fossil Fuel Potential with 3,33E-09 kg CFC11 eq and 0,0019 kg oil eq, respectively. The assessment is intended to provide initial information and insights for future improvements in hand-held electric tools and serve as a valuable resource for stakeholders in the power tools industry, environmental researchers, and other research where hand-held tools are integral to their value chains., Avsaknaden av miljöinformation om produkter är ett hinder för industrier att sträva efter mer hållbara metoder. Genom att tillämpa en livscykelansats på hela sin portfölj kommer industrier att vara utrustade för att navigera komplexa miljöregleringar. Denna studie genomför en omfattande livscykelanalys (LCA) av ett handhållet elverktyg baserat på en fallstudie enligt ISO 14044- ramverket. Bedömningen omfattar verktygets hela livscykel, från materialanskaffning till slutet av livscykeln (End-of-Life, EoL). ReCiPe2016-hierarkistens påverkansbedömningsmetodik valdes och genomfördes i LCA-programvaran SimaPro. Huvudmålet med studien är att identifiera de material, komponenter eller processer som har den mest betydande miljöpåverkan under produktens livsstadier. Den funktionella enheten definieras som ett fulladdat 36V batteri av en SRB81-4000 mutterdragare som utför bultkontroller; under sin livstid kommer detta batteri att utföra 3 334 funktionella enheter. Resultaten visar att användningen av produkten har ett stort bidrag på grund av elbehovet; dock är resultaten känsliga för landets elmix. Resultatet i användningsstadiet per funktionell enhet för partikelformationspotential (PMFP), ozonnedbrytningspotential (ODP) och global uppvärmningspotential med utsläpp är 0,00023 kg PM2.5 eq, 1,56 kg CFC11 eq och 0,066 kg CO2 eq, respektive. Dessutom är stål en huvuddrivare för kategorin mänsklig hälsotoxicitet med 0,0109 kg 1,4- DCB, och integrerade kretsar bidrar i hög grad till ozonnedbrytning och fossilbränslepotential med 3,33E-09 kg CFC11 eq och 0,0019 kg oljeeq, respektive. Bedömningen syftar till att tillhandahålla initial information och insikter för framtida förbättringar av handhållna elverktyg och fungera som en värdefull resurs för intressenter i elverktygsindustrin, miljöforskare och annan forskning där handhållna verktyg är en integrerad del av deras värdekedjor.

The automotive industry is undergoing a rapid transformation, driven by global environmental regulations. To adapt, companies are not only focusing on the sustainability of their end products but also on optimizing their R&D processes. Traditionally, efforts to reduce the emissions have centered on the end product and production processes, but achieving true sustainability requires attention to the entirety of the R&D cycle, particularly the testing activities, which often significantly contribute to R&D's environmental impact. The purpose of this study is to systematically assess the environmental impact of product development testing activities in an automotive company. Additionally, the study aims to propose actions to reduce the emissions from the testing activities. To achieve the purpose of the study, a qualitative research approach including a case study at Scania, a manufacturer of heavy trucks and buses, was employed and involved 26 interviews with key experts in the field. The study reveals that within Scania, engine testing followed by vehicle testing contribute the most to the emissions in terms of CO2 and NOX. In contrast, component testing shows a relatively minor impact, largely due to the use of electricity-powered machinery that utilizes fossil free electricity. The paper outlines three steps to reduce the environmental impact of the product development testing activities. These actions include implementation of simulation-driven product development, Lean practices, and accelerating the rollout of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs). Increasing the quality of simulations can reduce physical tests, thus minimizing the emissions. Additionally, the study identifies four types of waste related to Lean within the testing processes, proposing specific actions for their elimination. Lastly, expediting the deployment of BEVs could replace conventional vehicles with electric ones, reducing the emissions from both engine and vehicle testing. However, Fordonsindustrin genomgår en hastig omvandling drivet av globala miljöregleringar. För att anpassa sig fokuserar företag inte bara på hållbarheten hos sina slutprodukter utan även på att optimera sina R&D processer. Traditionellt har ansträngningar för att minimera miljöpåverkan fokuserat på slutprodukten och produktionsprocesserna, men för att uppnå miljömässig hållbarhet krävs förbättringar på hela R&D kedjan, särskilt inom testverksamheten, vilket ofta har en stor miljöpåverkan på R&D. Syftet med denna studie är att systematiskt bedöma miljöpåverkan av testverksamheten på R&D i ett fordonsföretag. Dessutom syftar studien till att föreslå åtgärder för att minska miljöpåverkan från testverksamhetens aktiviteter. För att uppnå studiens syfte användes en kvalitativ forskningsmetod och en fallstudie på Scania, en tillverkare av tunga lastbilar och bussar, som involverade 26 intervjuer med experter inom området. Studien visar att Scanias motortestning följt av deras fordonsprovning har störst miljöpåverkan i form av CO2- och NOX utsläpp. Samtidigt visar komponenttestning en relativt liten påverkan, främst på grund av elektricitetsdriven maskinutrustning som använder fossilfri el. Rapporten beskriver tre steg för att minska på testverksamhetens miljöavtryck. Dessa åtgärder inkluderar att i högre grad utnyttja simuleringsdriven produktutveckling, Lean-praxis samt att påskynda utrullningen av batteridrivna fordon (BEVs). Genom att öka kvaliteten på simuleringar kan antalet fysiska tester minska och därmed reducera miljöpåverkan. Dessutom identifierar studien fyra typer av slöserier inom testverksamheten kopplat till Lean och föreslår specifika åtgärder för deras eliminering. Slutligen påvisar studien att en påskyndad utrullning av BEVs kommer att leda till ersättningen av fossildrivna fordon med elektriska, och därigenom minska utsläppen från både motortestning och fordonsprovning. Dock krävs en noggrann analys av de miljömässiga konsekvenserna av batterip

This thesis investigates the regulatory impact of the EU ETS and CBAM regulations on supplier selection processes for procuring iron ore pellets, lime, and ferromanganese from 2025 to 2035. The study is set within the context of evolving EU environmental regulations, emphasizing the importance of understanding their effects on procurement practices in the steel industry. Employing quantitative multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) through a TOPSIS analysis, the study evaluates suppliers over the specified timeframe based on market price, emissions, shipping cost, and regulatory cost. Additionally, a comprehensive review of current literature within the research area is provided. The methodology section details the research approach, design, data collection, and research quality. A case study conducted at H2 Green Steel, including company background and project execution, is also outlined. The results indicate potential changes over time due to the regulatory effects of the EU ETS and CBAM, with a sensitivity analysis exploring various weight scenarios of TOPSIS results to understand the relationship between the selected criteria. The analysis highlights advantages in integrating sustainability into procurement practices, driven by regulatory incentives. These findings suggest significant implications for procurement managers, emphasizing the importance of considering regulatory costs in supplier selection and adopting long-term monitoring of regulatory changes in the EU ETS and CBAM regulations. The study's implications are discussed in terms of validity, reliability, practical application, and future research directions.