Search

E-commerce is a continuously growing sector significantly affected by sustainability issues during the last few years. To deal with economic, environmental and social sustainability aspects, e-commerce platforms consolidate orders to pick-up several requests from the same location, defining the so-called Few-to-Many Pick-up and Delivery Vehicle Routing Problem (F-M VRPPD). The proposed contribution addresses the optimisation of this problem by developing a multi-objective simulated annealing algorithm distinguished by four tailored Local Search (LS) operators specifically developed to increase the probability to identify feasible solutions and decrease the computational time. This algorithm is validated with several instances of a case study e-commerce platform based in an European mountain region. Firstly, the original LS operators are compared to benchmark literature ones to solve identical problems, reporting better performance in 84% of these instances. Furthermore, for the most relevant scenarios significant results are presented and discussed concerning the economic, environmental and social performance of the defined solutions according to the characteristics of the instances, as the routes height profile and the drivers' metabolic energy consumption. The tri-dimensional Pareto frontiers suggest how through a slight worsening in the economic objective function it is possible to improve the social one by up to 18.3% on average. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In practice, without clear evidence of the positive impacts of maintenance on sustainability, organisations/ companies are not encouraged to look at (or invest in) maintenance as an effective tool to enhance sustainability. Therefore, it is essential to show them that such evidence exists, which is the aim of this paper. The paper reviews and analyses evidence from the literature about maintenance's social, environmental, and economic impacts. It identifies the required sustainability-related indicators associated with these impacts and provides aggregate quantified percentages for them (positively or negatively), as shown in the reviewed papers. An evidence-based research is conducted in this paper to achieve this purpose. The search process results in a research sample of 58 publications that have been surveyed and analysed. Based on the conducted analysis, the results show that maintenance positively impacts economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Many reviewed cases appear in manufacturing and buildings (both residential and commercial) and primarily consider environmental and economic sustainability indicators. The cases with social sustainability indicators are limited. Regardless, these results bring adequate evidence to encourage researchers and practitioners to view maintenance as a practical approach to improve sustainability and to investigate more in this domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current time, social sustainability is directed by market turbulence and growing societal and environmental awareness among customers and employees. Manufacturing industries with multi-tier supply chains, especially in developing nations, such as India, are plagued with various social issues, as it employs large manpower. The present study attempts to identify the key social sustainability practices (SSP) and the method to evaluate SSP in multi-tier manufacturing firms. The approach was pilot tested in Indian manufacturing industry. A total of 16 SSP were identified through the process of literature survey and discussions with the domain experts. Furthermore, based on five practitioners' inputs, the relationship between various practices of social sustainability is modelled using Total Interpretive Structural Modelling (TISM). The vagueness in the model and identified relationships are compensated by experts' (practitioners') validation. The practices are classified on the basis of driving and dependence power by adopting the MICMAC analysis. Customer management, information sharing, corporate sustainability reporting and standardisation, and monitoring practices are found to be the most influential practices that drive social sustainability in multi-tier automotive chains. Production managers could adopt these SSP to establish supply chain social sustainability in multi-tier global supply chains and achieve strategic advantage over others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to initiate academic discussion on the European Union (EU) social taxonomy for the purpose of promoting sustainable economic activities that ultimately contribute to achieving the United Nations' sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the EU. The paper examines the historical evolution of the social taxonomy concept and presents the chronological order of the regulatory advancements that have paved the way for the establishment of both the EU environmental and social taxonomies. This study emphasizes the role of the EU environmental taxonomy as the frontrunner and highlights three fundamental distinctions between taxonomies in terms of objectives, foundations, and measurability. By defining the key performance indicators applicable to entities engaged in taxonomy-aligned economic activities, the paper offers a tabulated framework to understand the core focus areas, sub-objectives, and types of substantial contributions related to each of the three social objectives outlined in the EU taxonomy. Moreover, this paper aims to emphasize the contemporary challenges and the prospective avenues for future research in the field of social taxonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The country of Jordan is committed to sustainable development goals and public well-being but faces challenges such as high rates of poverty and disaffection, exacerbated by the influx of refugees. This study aimed to evaluate housing-related happiness factors and provide recommendations for integrating these metrics into sustainable housing evaluations. We conducted qualitative interviews and used interpretative phenomenological analysis, grounded in an interpretivist paradigm, to understand Jordanian residents' perspectives on their housing conditions. The research design emphasized capturing the subjective experiences of residents and the meanings they assign to their housing environments. Our findings indicate that social integration and community bonds are crucial for housing happiness, emphasizing cultural continuity, place attachment, social belonging, and dignity. These insights highlight the importance of considering social and psychological outcomes in sustainable housing initiatives, often overshadowed by economic and ecological metrics. We propose recommendations to enhance sustainable housing policies by focusing on social sustainability, contributing to the growing trend of incorporating social and psychological outcomes in green building evaluations. This study offers a framework for future sustainable housing projects to ensure they address the social and psychological needs of residents, thereby improving overall community well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial explores the evolution of nutritional Life Cycle Assessment (nLCA) as a framework for assessing the sustainability of agri-food systems. It introduces 12 articles that demonstrate the multi-faceted nature of nLCA and highlight the importance of considering both nutrient content and health impacts. The text discusses the challenges and future directions of nLCA, including the need to scale up assessments to capture broader diets and food system levels. It also emphasizes the importance of data availability and geographical representation in order to provide more complete pictures of agri-food sustainability and aid consumers in making informed decisions. [Extracted from the article]

In Uganda, despite government support, many farmer organizations are short-lived or exist solely to receive subsidies. Existing literature evaluates the sustainability of farming systems, technology impacts, and non-certified markets, yet a gap remains regarding the sustainability of farmer organizations. This study addresses this gap by determining a sustainability index and the effect of organizational and institutional factors on the sustainability of farmer organizations in central and northern Uganda. It highlights how regional disparities impact organizational sustainability. Using cross-sectional data from 272 farmer organizations across 12 randomly selected districts, a multilevel mixed-effects linear regression in Stata13 was employed. Results indicate that Ugandan farmer organizations have a low sustainability index of 36%, with central organizations slightly outperforming northern counterparts by 2%. Significant differences exist between northern and central organizations in terms of finances, resources, value addition, training, and leadership. Additionally, internal financial dependence, leadership committee size, farm management, and value addition training greatly enhance sustainability. Specifically, regional level variables contribute 21% to changes in the sustainability of farmer organizations in Uganda. To enhance sustainability, farmer organizations should engage in income-generating activities aligned with their economic, environmental, and social welfare objectives. The government should also intensify leadership, farm management, and value addition training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper highlights the necessity for nations to adopt green growth strategies to achieve economic prosperity, social equity, and environmental sustainability. By examining governance indicators in six East Asian economies from 1995 to 2021, it finds that a 1% increase in the rule of law boosts green energy deployment by 0.33%, while a 1% rise in corruption reduces it by 0.25%. Similarly, a 1% increase in transparency leads to a 0.45% rise in green energy. Higher income levels encourage green energy adoption, with a 1% increase in income resulting in a 0.19% boost, whereas a 1% rise in income inequality decreases deployment by 0.32%. The paper suggests policies to enhance the rule of law, promote transparent governance, reduce income inequality, and encourage inclusive growth to support green growth objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although blockchain technology has the potential to enhance social sustainability, less is known about how this improvement occurs. This study has focused on I.T firms and investigated the interrelationship among blockchain technology, social networks, social trust, and social sustainability. Our results show that blockchain does not directly influence social sustainability unless mediated by social networks and trust. Policymakers should invest in capacity-building programs to educate and train stakeholders on the potential benefits and challenges of blockchain technology, as well as foster strong social networks and build trust among individuals and organizations involved in blockchain initiatives, to maximize the transformative potential of blockchain for social sustainability outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research delves into the impact of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics on economic practices, focusing on a comparative analysis between developing countries and Europe from 1960 to 2021. It explores how ESG metrics, once peripheral in economic analyses, have become pivotal in shaping economies and societies globally. The study highlights the emerging importance of ESG in understanding economic resilience, societal well-being, and investment priorities, especially in the context of a globalized landscape. Employing a robust mixed-methods approach, the study integrates quantitative and qualitative analyses to examine ESG metrics' evolving role. Utilizing World Bank data, it encompasses a comprehensive review of 239 regions and nations over a span of six decades. The quantitative component includes descriptive and time series analyses, alongside correlation and regression techniques. Complementing this, a qualitative cultural and economic synthesis provides deeper insight into the data, positioning ESG criteria at the crossroads of financial imperatives, societal obligations, and cultural dynamics. The study uncovers significant correlations between higher Gross Domestic Product (GDP) levels and advanced ESG practices in Europe, indicative of societal values that emphasize sustainability. It reveals varying ESG performances across Western and Eastern European countries compared to developing nations, influenced by distinct cultural economies. The research highlights how regional geopolitical events, cultural norms, and values have shaped diverse trajectories in ESG metrics' evolution. These findings offer nuanced insights into the complex influences of ESG metrics across different economic, sociopolitical, and cultural landscapes. The study's outcomes are vital for policymakers and investors, unveiling the intricate nuances and implications of ESG trends. It underscores the need for nuanced policy strategies that consider the unique cultural and economic backgrounds of regions, particularly in developing countries. The research advocates for a cultural-economic perspective in sustainable development, emphasizing the dynamic interplay between society, culture, and economy. The findings suggest that embracing diverse ESG applications can lead to more effective and culturally sensitive approaches to economic development and governance. Conclusively, this research offers a comprehensive cultural-economic perspective on the role of ESG metrics in shaping sustainable development. It serves as a foundational analysis for future studies and policy formulations, aiming to enhance the understanding and application of ESG criteria in diverse economic and cultural settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitalization has a profound impact on the daily lives of individuals and plays a pivotal role in promoting sustainable development. Digital economy has emerged as a prominent driver of sustainable development worldwide. It plays a crucial role in environmental sustainability, economic expansion, and social progress. This study primarily examines the role of the digital economy in facilitating sustainable regional development (SRD). Furthermore, this study examines the moderating effect of digital financial inclusion on the relationship between digitalization and SRD. Panel data from 30 Chinese provinces spanning the period 2011 to 2021 were utilized for this analysis. Digital economy (Digi-E) and SRD were measured using the panel entropy method and principal component analysis. SRD considers three main dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of the provinces. The spatial Durbin dynamic model and spatial regression were used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that Digi-E significantly affected SRD, with a marginal effect of 0.297. Similarly, digital financial inclusion significantly and positively moderates the relationship between Digi-E and SRD. The spatial Durbin dynamic model also showed that Digi-E has a significant effect on SRD when both types of weights are considered, such as economic geography and geographic distance. Moreover, it was confirmed that the SRD in the previous year significantly contributed to the SRD in subsequent years, and that the SRD in the local region also significantly contributed to the SRD of the adjacent region. Spatial regression also revealed a significantly positive impact of the interaction terms Digi-E and digital financial inclusion on SRD. Thus, Digi-E can contribute significantly to sustainable regional development both individually and through digital financial inclusion. The new economic growth and development plan requires governments to drive the digital revolution and improve the infrastructure. Governments should increase digital financial services with a focus on rural monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Investigaciones Regionales is the property of Asociacion Espanola de Ciencia Regional and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The social dimension of sustainability in the agri-food sector is gaining more and more attention from both scholars and policymakers. In Europe, among different countries, Italy stood out for the active role played in including social conditionality in the Common Agricultural Policy. Despite such interest, there is still confusion concerning the concept of social sustainability, and tools aimed at measuring the social performance of farms are still lacking. The current study aims to identify indicators to measure the social sustainability of farm practices in the Italian agri-food system. The methodology included an analysis of the most relevant literature, legislation, and guidelines to identify five macro-areas of interest, which served as the foundation for developing theoretical social sustainability key performance indicators. The results of this study provide useful insights for both practitioners and policymakers to develop strategies and policies focused on social sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social sustainability requires both technological innovations and societal changes within energy systems, with decentralization playing a critical role. This shift emphasizes the increasing importance of individual user decision-making, posing significant management challenges. An individual's environmental awareness has a key influence on their energy decisions. However, the relationship between individual environmental awareness and social sustainability, particularly from a systemic perspective, remains underexplored. Our study uses agent-based modeling to examine this relationship within Japan's electricity market, focusing on social learning and consumer heterogeneity. We find that social learning leads to the formation of consumer clusters with specific electricity preferences, affecting environmental awareness differently across high- and low-carbon groups. This process reveals the nuanced role of social learning in promoting low-carbon technology adoption, which varies according to the market share of low-carbon energy. Additionally, our results suggest that initial heterogeneity in environmental awareness among consumers has a limited and varied effect on sustainable transition pathways. However, the diversity resulting from social learning significantly shapes these trajectories. These insights highlight the complex interplay between individual behaviors, societal dynamics, and technological advancements in steering the sustainable transition, providing valuable considerations for future energy system management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After-school programs in Romania are not mandatory, and most of the time, they are funded by parents. In Romania, over 41.5% of students come from disadvantaged families that cannot afford to finance after-school activities. In recent years, there have been only a few free after-school programs for disadvantaged students. Our study aimed to measure the impact of such an after-school program, which mostly uses alternative teaching methods, on several aspects of learning improvement at the level of disadvantaged students in primary and secondary education. The research results revealed a significant improvement in the education of children after they participated in after-school programs for a large range of learning results. Among the intervention actions, mathematical competencies, basic competencies in science and technology, and digital competencies were identified as the main predictors of high learning performance. The results also revealed that a longer length of such programs had a positive effect on educational performance and the socio-emotional development of disadvantaged students. It was also shown that the impact of intervention is more pronounced in the case of young students and adults who followed the "Second Chance" programs. The results support the effectiveness and importance of such projects in promoting holistic and sustainable education and in providing valuable information to decision-makers regarding the impact of after-school programs on the education of disadvantaged people to improve social sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the intricate relationship between urban density and social sustainability by examining the impacts of both physical and perceived density on key social sustainability criteria. Physical density is defined by measurable attributes such as building height, spacing, and population. Perceived density, on the other hand, is shaped by residents' subjective experiences influenced by visual, functional, social, and spatial factors. This study analyzes data from the literature using the thematic analysis method. It reveals that social sustainability can be negatively affected by increased density, depending on how residents perceive high density. Key factors such as building design, green spaces, availability of amenities, and street layout are crucial in shaping residents' perceptions of density. These perceptions, in turn, affect inclusivity, community engagement, quality of life, cultural diversity, and social cohesion within urban areas. The research highlights the importance of integrating green spaces, public areas, and community amenities to mitigate negative perceptions of density and enhance overall quality of life. The findings suggest that achieving social sustainability requires a nuanced understanding of both physical and perceived density. This paper provides a comprehensive framework for understanding these complex relationships and offers valuable insights for creating socially sustainable urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fashion industry is recognized among the most impactful industries in relation to environmental and social damage due to unsustainable models. While countless research studies focus on the supply chain and product innovation, the presented inquiry studies the fashion retail sector with the goal of systematizing existing sustainable practices based on service offerings. We present the results of an extensive case-study analysis conducted on 370 initiatives of different natures gathered among international companies and local actors in the European context that offer services oriented toward sustainability. As a result, we propose an ontology that encompasses three areas (services for environmental sustainability, culture of sustainability, and implementation of social sustainability) and comprehensively describes existing sustainability strategies for helping retailers preserve the environment, while promoting socially inclusive practices and disseminating the culture of sustainability. The innovation of retailing from a similar perspective aims at rendering businesses more resilient to survive market and social transformations, especially in consideration of the boost to sustainable and circular transformation advocated by recent European legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recognition of the importance of work and the worker in the context of sustainability and social responsibility led the International Labor Organization (ILO) to construct the central concept of this research. This study aims to analyze the work environment in police organizations from the perspective of the concept of work that the ILO has termed Decent Work. The questionnaire was constructed based on the literature and validated by experts. Subsequently, it was made available through Google Forms® and submitted to the respondents. The research was based on ILO indicators (employment opportunities; adequate income; decent working hours; reconciliation of work, personal, and family life; stability and security at work; equal opportunities and treatment in employment; safe working environment; social dialogue; representation of workers and employers), and involved the participation of 704 respondents. The main pieces of evidence include: partial compliance with the indicators of decent work, with a negative emphasis on the working environment, where 59.39% classified it as unsafe, followed by evidence of low institutional concern for employees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organizational scholars studying compensation often place an emphasis on certain employee groups (e.g., executives). Missing from this discussion is research on the compensation systems for low-wage jobs. In this review, the authors argue that workers in low-wage jobs represent a unique employment group in their understanding of rent allocation in organizations. The authors address the design of compensation strategies in organizations that lead to different outcomes for workers in low-wage jobs versus other workers. Drawing on and integrating human resource management (HRM), inequality, and worker literatures with compensation literature, the authors describe and explain compensation systems for low-wage work. The authors start by examining workers in low-wage work to identify aspects of these workers' jobs and lives that can influence their health, performance, and other organizationally relevant outcomes. Next, the authors explore the compensation systems common for this type of work, building on the compensation literature, by identifying the low-wage work compensation designs, proposing the likely explanations for why organizations craft these designs, and describing the worker and organizational outcomes of these designs. The authors conclude with suggestions for future research in this growing field and explore how organizations may benefit by rethinking their approach to compensation for low-wage work. In sum, the authors hope that this review will be a foundational work for those interested in investigating organizational compensation issues at the intersection of inequality and worker and organizational outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to investigate the commitment of universities in terms of inclusion and social justice in the light of the opportunities offered by university public engagement in order to identify the main areas of intervention with which universities give visibility to their ability to be socially sustainable. A qualitative-quantitative methodology was adopted. First, an empirical analysis of the official websites of 100 European universities was conducted through content analysis. An exploratory factor analysis and, subsequently, a correspondence analysis were used to identify the main public engagement practices adopted by universities in terms of inclusion and social justice. The results show four macro-areas of intervention: (1) Access, (2) Cultural awareness of diversity and social justice (3) Initiatives in defense of diversity, (4) Protection of diversity and the principles of social justice. The results also show that the issue of inclusion and social justice still lacks the involvement of all stakeholders, especially for those initiatives aimed at creating a cultural awareness of diversity and inclusion and intended for their protection. The paper provides a valuable basis for verifying the ability of universities to integrate the issues of inclusion and social justice in university Third Mission programs. The results also allow university management to better understand and regulate public engagement practices in order to ensure broad stakeholder participation in the light of social sustainability objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-war social housing estates in Europe have been undergoing wide-scale regeneration to improve the physical decay of these sites and address the concentration of vulnerable residents in these areas, which has resulted in their social segregation, marginalisation and stigmatisation. As these estates cover and affect quite large public spaces, holistic approaches have recently been adopted. Bearing in mind that each regeneration case is unique, this paper describes the collaborative approach taken in the regeneration of Gyldenrisparken in Denmark, which evolved from a desperate situation to a best practice case. The paper focuses on the spatial decision-making process — in particular, how the architectural quality of physical interventions was established and how participatory mechanisms were utilised and developed to enable liveable spaces and sustainable regeneration. Making use of a combination of qualitative documentary analysis and in-depth interviews with key actors, this study encompasses the whole regeneration process, including initiatives taken by the housing association and municipal agents, the methodology developed to collect ideas and implement them in the physical design of the public spaces, and the social effort to make the whole process sustainable and the estates liveable. It concludes that post-war estates have the potential to secure their future by embracing physical and social efforts through proactive empowerment strategies and creating new spatial identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study investigates the relationship between climate policy uncertainty and corporate greenwashing behavior using data from Chinese A‐share listed companies from 2009 to 2021. The results indicate that the increasing climate policy uncertainty significantly and robustly strengthens corporate greenwashing behavior, particularly among firms located in regions with weaker environmental regulations, within high‐polluting industries and with shorter‐term management perspectives. Additionally, the development and widespread adoption of digital technologies, along with enhanced external regulatory pressures, can inversely moderate the positive relationship between climate policy uncertainty and corporate greenwashing. In summary, this study contributes to our understanding of corporate behavior under climate risks and provides insights for achieving social sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social sustainability has become an increasingly global concern, particularly in urban areas, where ensuring the well-being of urban societies is essential. However, the rapid urbanization of Dhaka city, Bangladesh, has transformed it into a prominent global megacity, accompanied by significant social challenges that impact its social sustainability status. Consequently, this study assessed the present condition of social sustainability in Dhaka city. To accomplish this objective, a quantitative research methodology was employed, utilizing a structured questionnaire survey as the means of data collection. The questionnaire is being held from May 1 to November 2, 2021, to collect as many responses as possible in this study. In this study, a multistage sampling technique was used to select 564 residents of Dhaka city. The results revealed Dhaka city residents have low satisfaction levels regarding social sustainability conditions. This indicates that there is a need for policymakers, urban planners, and implementing agencies to take action to improve the city's social sustainability. The study's empirical findings provide valuable evidence for informing socially sustainable planning, policy development, and practical implementation. Moreover, this research supports scholars in developing countries in broadening their perspectives regarding comparable urban social challenges. Furthermore, the study contributes to attaining Sustainable Development Goal 11, titled " Sustainable cities and communities," as established by the United Nations. By equipping policymakers with essential insights, the research outcomes aid in promoting inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and human settlements, not only in Dhaka but also in similar urban settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Diseño y Comunicación is the property of Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Diseno y Comunicacion and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Given recent breakdowns in global value chains, like the COVID-19 crisis or the conflict in Ukraine, developed economies are trying to develop resilience to address future drawbacks. Backshoring and nearshoring arise as attractive solutions to reduce exposure to global disruptions and undesirable practices such as forced labour. This study analyses the labour impacts of a hypothetical EU-driven reconfiguration of value chains of the fashion industry through a multi-regional input-output model. Using the Structural Path Analysis methodology, how forced labour is transmitted within Europe is explored. Once the forced labour hotspots are determined, we explore the socioeconomic consequences of a trade-restructuring strategy simulated through the source-shifting technique. Our results show that the forced labour embodied in the European final demand for fashion products could fall by up to 34.2%. This strategy could generate more than 190,000 jobs in Europe, while China and India could lose more than 1.5 million jobs each. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IMPACT: The article sheds light on the intricate trade-offs encountered by public managers when coping with competing priorities and navigating between social and financial sustainability. For public managers, the key takeaway lies in recognizing that achieving social–financial sustainability necessitates specific strategies, organizational structures, and tools in public organization. These elements must be integrated, for instance, into performance goals combining social–financial sustainability. As trade-offs are made in budgeting and financial management processes, participatory and collaborative approaches are essential for desired social–financial sustainability impacts. By identifying and highlighting these trade-offs, the article initiates a dialogue where various stakeholders—each with distinct roles, goals, and values—can converge. Sustainability is often studied as an environmental or economic issue with a strong focus on metrics. The social dimension has received little attention in public administration research, and even less is known about the social and financial sustainability nexus. This article provides empirical insights, illustrating that socially and financially sustainable local government requires deep understanding of the decision-making processes in financial management and budgeting with respect to how much to spend and on what. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today's banking industry achieving sustainable profitability necessitates by integrating economic, environmental, and social factors due to pressing environmental concerns. This study investigates the impact of sustainability on financial performance in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) banking sector, using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and Bootstrapping ARDL approaches on data from 2002 to 2022. The analysis revealed that economic sustainability, environmental and social sustainability exhibit a significant impact on financial performance in the short run and the long run at a (p < 0.05). 1% of economic sustainability activities increases Return on Assets (ROA) by 0.73 and Return on Equity (ROE) by 0.64. 1% of environmental sustainability activities decreases ROA by −0.28 and increases ROE by 0.35. 1% of social sustainability activities increases ROA by 0.47 and ROE by 0.42. To improve long-term profitability, this study emphasizes how crucial it is for the banking industry in the UAE to strategically integrate sustainability principles. These findings highlight the need to promote sustainability in the banking sector for environmental improvement, offering insights for UAE regulators and stimulating additional research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is an increasing number of cancer survivors, including children, adolescents, young adults, individuals of working age, and the elderly, within the Belgian and European population. Yet, survivorship care and rehabilitation are often treated as an afterthought in care organisation. This not only directly affects the quality of life of survivors and carers, but also puts the sustainability of the healthcare and social security systems at risk. Methods: We analysed the ongoing Europe Beating Cancer Plan (EBCP) to identify the actions supporting survivorship (care) developments, then compared their weight in the EBCP to the other domains of cancer control. Following this analysis, and comparison with related ongoing projects, and current infrastructure in Belgium, several unmet needs were identified. Conclusion: To better address these unmet needs, we recommend that Belgium incorporates survivorship care and long-term follow-up in clinical guidelines and care pathways, and considers including indicators related to cancer survivorship in the planning and design of quality insurance schemes, including certification of comprehensive cancer centres. Furthermore, we suggest further investment and support for research and knowledge exchange in the field of survivorship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractDespite the growing need for public housing schemes to contribute to the attainment of sustainable residential neighbourhoods in line with the Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11), the extent to which such schemes are achieving this in countries in the Global South is yet to be determined. This study investigated the social sustainability of three public housing estates in the Enugu Urban area, Nigeria, with a view to understanding their social sustainability indices. A cross-sectional survey of randomly selected 160 residents of the estates was done and the data analysed using descriptive and social network analyses. The findings revealed that the sampled housing estates recorded moderate social sustainability values due to differing availability and use of public spaces, and associational activities. The study implies that the provision of public spaces and facilities is vital in enhancing the social sustainability of mass housing developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have identified vital urban spaces through the concentration of people, the diversity of land uses and buildings, accessibility, and the existence of a compact urban fabric. However, the relationship between urban vitality and social sustainability has not been studied in these terms. This paper seeks to analyse the social implications of the vital city model for residents in the context of a Latin American city: Santiago de Chile. To do so, we use the JANE index to measure the formal conditions of the built environment for urban vitality, and the Longitudinal Social Study of Chile to measure urban social sustainability. We first use a PCA technique to reveal six core components of urban social sustainability: Sense of belonging, Safety, Sociability, Well-being, Satisfaction with housing, and Conservation of the neighbourhood. We then test the associations between the strength of these six core components and the conditions for urban vitality by means of a multiple linear regression model. Significant associations between urban vitality conditions and urban social sustainability suggest that socially sustainable neighbourhoods are found in sectors with the presence of old buildings, accessibility to public transportation, and far from mega infrastructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that the concept of social and environmental sustainability is not a new philosophy in African cultures and can easily be practiced among Africans based on a better appreciation of their indigenous philosophies. It attempts to explore how the Ubuntu philosophy of humanness manifests in the Adinkra symbols to give an in-depth understanding, which shows how African societies share commonality in their concepts and to establish that African indigenous philosophies mirror strongly social and environmental sustainability dimensions of the Sustainable Development Goals. It further attempts to show a purview of Ubuntu extended that illustrates that social and environmental sustainability is inseparable in African philosophies. By method, the research purposefully selected six (6) Adinkra symbols and discursively analysed how they explain the Ubuntu Philosophy and their link to socio-environmental sustainability. From the findings, Adinkra symbols reflected the Ubuntu’s common values, which are compassion, mutuality and solidarity, and metaphorically showed their connection to socio-environmental sustainability and thus creates agency and deep appreciation for acting on the Sustainable Development Goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social sustainability, alongside environmental and economic sustainability, is one of the three key dimensions of sustainability. Unlike environmental and economic sustainability, social sustainability is often missing from research and practice related to sustainability efforts and policies. Using in-depth qualitative interviews and official document review this article studies the COVID-19 pandemic response of the small island developing state, Mauritius. Using the Opp, Susan M. [2017. “The forgotten pillar: a definition for the measurement of social sustainability in American cities.” Local Environment 22 (3): 286–305] framework for social sustainability, this research finds that Mauritius had both successes and failures in maintaining and promoting social sustainability on the island nation and are at a crossroads with respect to the future of social sustainability on the island. Although the island nation holds an impressive record in engaging in social sustainability efforts, longstanding inequalities were exacerbated during the pandemic and the changed economic outlook may jeopardize the small island's momentum towards their 2030 sustainability goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has shown that Norwegian aquaculture firms strongly emphasize environmental and social sustainability, and this study aims to assess if the pattern is consistent across the value chain and consistent independent of suppliers' amount of sales to fish farming. Also, it studies if value chain position and sales to fish farming are associated with innovation activities. Empirically, the study compares survey data between firms in the aquaculture industry and other industries as reference groups. The results show that aquaculture firms across the value chain overall emphasize environmental and social sustainability more than actors in the reference industries. For suppliers, the emphasis is strongest for those with high sales to fish farming. Another finding is that aquaculture firms' innovation activities are relatively strong among firms providing services and input factors, particularly among suppliers with high sales to fish farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marketing research on LGBTQ+ people has increased over the past two decades, entering mainstream marketing discourse – aligning with greater societal acceptance. This paper provides a contemporary review of marketing scholarship on LGBTQ+ communities published in Q1, and Q2 ranked Scimago marketing journals. Taking a social justice lens, this review examined whose voices were represented and how those voices were represented. The finding suggests samples studied were skewed towards heterosexual samples and those from the Global North. Where LGBTQ+ samples have been included, these were predominantly gay men. Three theoretical perspectives were adopted: attitudes and identity, meaning and interpretation and critical perspectives. In addition, the focus of the studies centred on four main themes: LGBTQ+ imagery in advertising, consumer behaviour of LGBTQ+ people, brand positioning and LGBTQ+ as a consumer market segment. Based on the findings, future scholarship should consider nuancing the multidimensional nature of the LGBTQ+ markets and investigates LGBTQ+ consumers as individuals with real and unique needs in their own rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Architecture & Life Journal / Kocaeli Üniversitesi Mimarlık ve Yaşam Dergisi is the property of Architecture & Life Journal / Kocaeli Universitesi Mimarllik ve Yasam Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Part-time farming is a widespread phenomenon associated with the long-term global trend of urbanization, especially in China since its reform and opening-up in 1978. The shift of agricultural labor to non-agricultural sectors has significantly impacted cultivated land use activities, yet the connection between part-time farming and cultivated land use sustainability (CLS) remains understudied. Here, we construct an index system for assessing CLS that integrates ecological, economic, and social sustainability. Using survey data from seven Chinese villages across three provinces, we analyze the impact pattern and mechanism of part-time farming on CLS. We find the following: (1) The impact of part-time farming on CLS presents an inverted U-shape, peaking negatively at a 45% inflection point; (2) Spatial heterogeneity exists in the effect of part-time farming on CLS; (3) A household's non-agricultural workforce size and the gender of the household head significantly moderate the link between part-time farming and CLS; (4) CLS strongly hinges on various factors including the household head's health, other family members' education levels, commercial insurance, and agricultural skills training. Our findings provide empirical insights into governing part-time farming for sustainable cultivated land use and, eventually, rural human–land system sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper tries to explain variation in company-level innovation activities based on certain firm-level characteristics in India between 2010 and 2020. Design/methodology/approach: Probit and Heckman's two-step estimation based on panel data consisting of annual consolidated financial statements of 8,529 companies. Findings: Firm-level innovation activities were associated with larger company size, lower age, higher access to digital assets and voluntary expenses on environmental sustainability and social responsibility. Research limitations/implications: This paper is based on company-level financial statements and hence does not include aspects related to human capital, managerial capacities, participation in the global value chain and collaboration with other industries or academia. Originality/value: This paper uses alternative measures of innovation such as promotional expenses and holding of intangible assets by companies in India alongside R&D expenditure, which is largely used in the past literature. The company characteristics also include emerging areas such as digitalisation, and spending on environmental sustainability and social responsibility, in addition to the conventional factors such as firm size, age and exposure to exports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to conceptualize and categorize diaspora festivals. The study defines diaspora festivals as events organized by diaspora or transnational associations, public organizations, or event organizers with the aim of providing unique experiential benefits to diasporas while offering opportunities for locals and tourists to participate. These festivals depend on support from various stakeholders and the cooperation of the locals for successful execution. The study introduces seven types of diaspora festivals, classified into primary types including transnational, ethnic-migrant, multicultural, and homecoming festivals; and secondary types including host, homeland, and tourist festivals. These typologies have practical implications for various stakeholders, such as migrant sending and receiving countries, event organizers, diasporic individuals, and international organizations. Furthermore, understanding the concept and characteristics of different types of diaspora festivals can contribute to sustainable development goals and the preservation of intangible heritages while providing researchers with a clear framework for further exploration of these festivals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today’s rapidly evolving world, the acquisition of social competencies and an understanding of sustainability principles are critical for holistic student development. This study delves into the comprehensive analysis of social and sustainable skills within the framework of secondary education, considering the influential factors of gender and spatial contexts. To investigate whether there exists a difference between the students at the secondary level of education in social and sustainable skills along the demographic lines of gender and spatial context. A primary data collection method was used for gathering quantitative data from 125 students on a Likert-type 25-item self-constructed questionnaire and differential analysis was conducted. The performance of male and female students is significantly different and the performance of students in the urban settings is higher than the students in the rural settings. It shows that female and rural students are comparatively lower in performing on the social and sustainable skills test. The findings of this research hold implications for educators, policymakers, and practitioners committed to fostering well-rounded individuals prepared for the challenges of the 21st century. By identifying gender-specific patterns and spatial influences, stakeholders can tailor educational strategies and interventions to ensure equitable skill cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corporate sustainability is a complex concept, creating ambiguity regarding what it means and entails in a given context. Especially in sectors such as the pharmaceutical industry, where there is little direct interaction between the company and its stakeholders, infomediaries such as the mass media play a pivotal role in framing corporate sustainability and providing social evaluations to the general public. This paper reports on a longitudinal frame analysis of the newspaper reporting on corporate sustainability related to two British pharmaceutical companies, AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline, in the period between 2000 and 2020. It explores and explains dominant sustainability frames related to pharmaceutical industry. The findings suggest that newspaper frames prioritize social and economic sustainability dimensions, related to companies' core business activities and relationships with stakeholders, and neglect the environmental dimension. The paper contributes to the existing literature by exploring contextual media framing, sustainability complexity and, empirically, sustainability in the pharmaceutical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the global pursuit of balancing economic growth with environmental and social sustainability within the tourism sector, sustainable tourism has garnered paramount attention. This research delves into the complex interplay among government policies, tourism supply chain behavior, and sustainability dimensions within the context of Zimbabwean tourism. A quantitative approach was employed, collecting data from 721 Zimbabwean tourism supply chain representatives using stratified random sampling and the Krejcie and Morgan table a method of determining the sample size. Questionnaires were distributed via Google Forms, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilized for data analysis. The results provide strong empirical evidence that government policies have a significant positive effect on sustainability dimensions related to the tourism industry. The data indicates robust positive relationships between government policies and economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Furthermore, tourism supply chain behavior is shown to be a meaningful mediator between government policies and multiple sustainability outcomes. This emphasizes the significance of collaborative efforts, responsible practices, and harmonized actions within the tourism supply chain in achieving sustainable tourism. The study illuminates avenues for improving tourism sustainability, enhances policy makers and readers understanding on how policy‐driven efforts and tourism supply chain dynamics jointly impact tourism sustainability, there by emphasizing the need for coordinated actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This empirical study explores the financialization of social sustainability driven by sustainability accounting and reporting initiatives (SARIs). Since no globally accepted definition of what social sustainability encompasses exists, the paper asks how social sustainability is translated into the financial market language by SARIs as they provide standards for disclosing corporate non-financial performance and promote their concepts of social sustainability. The paper uses a two-step qualitative content analysis. First, it operationalizes social sustainability based on the empirical data of six sustainability rating agencies. Second, this operationalization is compared with the concepts created by three SARIs. The paper shows significant differences between the concepts of the SARIs and the rating agencies. While the rating agencies altogether interpret social sustainability with 83 distinct aspects, the SARIs, although differently created, use significant reduced concepts where 20% of these aspects are absent. The result of this financialization process could be a simplified and financially determined concept of social sustainability within die socially discourse. The research is limited to social sustainability and its financialization by SARIs. Individual indicators and their way or intensity to capture aspects of social sustainability were not part of the research interest. Further research should investigate the economic and the ecological pillars of sustainability as well as the usage of such financialized concepts within the society and especially by corporations. The paper unfolds the arbitrariness of operationalizing a qualitative phenomenon like social sustainability through the financial system. It discloses the need for looking at the mechanisms behind such processes and at the interests of the actors behind the frameworks. The paper reveals the financialization process driven by SARIs and demonstrates its simplifying effects on the concept of social sustainability. Furthermore, the paper shows that SARIs as metrics for non-financial aspects are troubled with a lack of transparency and a lack of convergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Companies have highly adopted sustainability reporting practices. Nonetheless, there are still some important research gaps related to the contents that sustainability reports should include and the appropriate frameworks to define them. This research contributes to the study of sustainability reporting practices of companies from a sectorial perspective, and it is focused on applying the materiality principle. It combines a qualitative and a quantitative approach to assess the materiality and the quality of GRI reports among sustainability dimensions and companies within an industry. To this end, an innovative research method based on scores is proposed and applied to a sample of companies in the telecommunications industry. The results indicate that while the GRI sustainability issues declared as material are more likely to be reported, there are still incoherencies in using materiality analysis as a threshold for reporting. Furthermore, there is no evidence that the materiality or quality of the reports differs among companies or sustainability dimensions. The findings suggest that materiality analysis, as companies present it, may lead to incoherencies in treating GRI aspects and indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) show the breadth of the concept of sustainability and indicate the changes that are needed to provide a future for next generations. A quantitative approach allows the performance of several countries to be framed to assess the state of progress. This work is based on multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) in which 58 indicators referring to the period 2018–2020 are considered and the performance of 27 European countries is compared. The MCDA makes it possible to calculate a SDG Index that rewards Sweden with positive results also for the Netherlands, Denmark, and Finland. The overall value is broken down by the three dimensions of sustainability (economic, environmental and social) in which again Sweden excels and has also a leadership position in two macro-goals such as security and energy. In contrast, Denmark prevails in innovative future and Netherlands in waste circularity. The main implications of this work confirm that Europe is proceeding to the SDGs goals in an uneven manner, and therefore, there is a need to identify a program that will see greater cooperation among several countries. In fact, Europe will be united when it pursues together a pragmatic vision of sustainability that goes beyond ideology in order to identify solutions that will benefit more stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The main aim of this study is to review different aspects of Industry 5.0 (I5.0) along with Kaizen measures to foster this novel aspect of industrial sustainability. The study makes a comprehensive study to explore the implementation status of I5.0 in industries, key technologies, adoption level in different nations and barriers to I5.0 adoption together with mitigation actions. Design/methodology/approach: To do a systematic study of the literature, the authors have used preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) methodology to extract articles related to the field of the study. Findings: It has been found that academic literature on the I5.0 is continuously growing as the wheel of time is running. Most of the studies on I5.0 are conceptual-based, and manufacturing and medical industries are the flag bearer in the adoption of this novel aspect. Further, due to I5.0's infancy, many organizations face difficulty to adopt the same due to financial burden, resistive nature, a well-designed standard for cyber-physical systems (CPS) and an effective mechanism for human–robot collaboration. Further studies also provide avenues for future research in terms of the identification of collaborative mechanisms between machines and wells, the establishment of different standards for comparison and the development of I5.0-enabled models for different industrial domains. Originality/value: The study is the first of its kind that reviews different facets of I5.0in conjunction with Kaizen's measures and application areas and provides avenues for future research to improve an organization's environmental and social sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]