Journal Description
Sustainability
Sustainability
is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal on environmental, cultural, economic, and social sustainability of human beings, published semimonthly online by MDPI. The Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC), International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB) and Urban Land Institute (ULI) are affiliated with Sustainability and their members receive discounts on the article processing charges.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE and SSCI (Web of Science), GEOBASE, GeoRef, Inspec, AGRIS, RePEc, CAPlus / SciFinder, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Environmental Studies) / CiteScore - Q1 (Geography, Planning and Development)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 18.8 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 3.6 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
- Testimonials: See what our editors and authors say about Sustainability.
- Companion journals for Sustainability include: World, Sustainable Chemistry, Conservation, Future Transportation, Architecture, Standards, Merits and Wind.
Impact Factor:
3.9 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
4.0 (2022)
Latest Articles
Assessing Container Terminals’ Environmental Efficiency: The Modified Slack-Based Measure Model
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4679; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114679 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2024
Abstract
The classic Slack-Based Measure (SBM) model has been posited to be a favorable non-parametric tool to cope with undesirable output. Nevertheless, this model has two significant drawbacks that should be addressed in practice. Thus, this paper aims to revise the classic SBM model
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The classic Slack-Based Measure (SBM) model has been posited to be a favorable non-parametric tool to cope with undesirable output. Nevertheless, this model has two significant drawbacks that should be addressed in practice. Thus, this paper aims to revise the classic SBM model to estimate container terminals’ environmental efficiency with undesirable output. The originality of this article includes: (1) introducing the energy consumption method to calculate the quantity of CO2 emitted by container terminal operators (CTOs), (2) adopting cluster analysis to identify homogeneous CTOs acting as Decision-Making Units (DMUs), and (3) introducing the modified SBM model to measure and analyze environmental efficiency for CTOs. Based on this research, the efficiency of the analyzed terminals and the management of the local port sector are improved.
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(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)
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Open AccessArticle
Preventing through Sustainability Education: Training and the Perception of Floods among School Children
by
Álvaro-Francisco Morote and Jorge Olcina
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4678; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114678 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2024
Abstract
The global warming process is altering the atmospheric dynamics at mid-latitudes, fostering an increase in the frequency of extreme events. Of these events, floods are those that cause the greatest loss of human life and economic damage in Spain. Education is a key
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The global warming process is altering the atmospheric dynamics at mid-latitudes, fostering an increase in the frequency of extreme events. Of these events, floods are those that cause the greatest loss of human life and economic damage in Spain. Education is a key element in preventing these hazards. The objective of this study is to analyze the training, knowledge, and perception that school children (Primary and Secondary education, Baccalaureate) in the Region of Valencia (Spain) have of floods. The research was based on a questionnaire that was administered in different schools and in which 926 students participated. The main results show that only 36.1% have received training in these phenomena, and more than half (54.2%) do not know whether floods are explained in the textbooks. With respect to the perception of these risks, half of the respondents indicate that climate change is increasing the damage caused by floods, and 57.6% believe that it will accelerate them in the future. The study advances the knowledge necessary to establish learning contents and guidelines at the basic levels of education on natural hazards and disaster prevention.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Teaching in the Face of the Global Challenges of the 21st Century)
Open AccessReview
Sustainable Development of Platform Enterprises: A Synthesis Framework
by
Huanhuai Zhou, Hongming Xie and Xiaoping Chen
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4677; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114677 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2024
Abstract
Enterprises are the most important core organizations of the country and modern society, and their growth has always been a focal point in the theoretical field. This paper aims to focus on the sustainable development of platform enterprises by exploring the mechanism of
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Enterprises are the most important core organizations of the country and modern society, and their growth has always been a focal point in the theoretical field. This paper aims to focus on the sustainable development of platform enterprises by exploring the mechanism of platform growth. Thus, this paper reviews the literature and analyzes the challenges faced by platform enterprises during the four stages of birth, expansion, leadership, and self-renewal, as well as the strategies they have adopted. The main aims of this paper are to help understand the growth process of platform enterprises and identify three key points that need to be addressed for sustainable growth, including the disadvantages of resource externalities, the importance of the restructuration of business models, and the urgency of fulfilling social responsibility. To address the exogenous nature of resources, platform enterprises should pay attention to the initiative of complementors, the distribution of benefits, and ecological orchestration. The impact of technology, especially artificial intelligence, on business models and the application of technology to restructure business models should be given attention. It is also necessary to pay attention to how platform enterprises undertake their social responsibilities. A synthesis framework with seven propositions for future research has been proposed.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Business Digital Transformation Processes toward Circular Economy and Sustainability: 2nd Edition)
Open AccessArticle
Smart Homes as Catalysts for Sustainable Consumption: A Digital Economy Perspective
by
Artur Strzelecki, Beata Kolny and Michał Kucia
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4676; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114676 - 30 May 2024
Abstract
The green living issues that arise as a result of smart home use in the context of sustainability consumption, at a time when smart homes are being built that can improve the management of electricity, water, gas consumption, and when their use offers
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The green living issues that arise as a result of smart home use in the context of sustainability consumption, at a time when smart homes are being built that can improve the management of electricity, water, gas consumption, and when their use offers the opportunity to raise awareness of caring for health and achieving wellbeing, became the basis for writing this article. This paper explores the intersection of smart home technologies, sustainable consumption, and the digital economy, offering insights into how digital advancements can foster environmentally responsible consumer behaviors. The motivation behind this study is the growing environmental concerns and the need for sustainable solutions in consumer behavior. Despite the advancements in smart home technologies, there is a significant gap in the literature regarding their role in promoting sustainable consumption. The research employs an extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2) model, integrating factors such as convenience, health and wellbeing, and environmental impact to assess the determinants influencing the adoption of smart home technologies. This study follows a comprehensive research process involving a survey of 795 individuals and the use of structural equation modeling (SmartPLS 4). The empirical findings reveal that factors such as performance expectancy and personal innovativeness are critical in shaping the adoption of smart home technologies. Additionally, this study highlights the significant positive influence of smart homes on sustainable consumption behaviors, underscoring their potential in driving the digital economy towards sustainability goals. The significance of these findings lies in their contribution to the understanding of how digital technologies, particularly smart homes, can enhance sustainable consumption, offering implications for policymakers, developers, and stakeholders in the digital economy seeking to promote sustainability through technological innovations.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Consumption in the Digital Economy)
Open AccessArticle
Waste Plastic in Asphalt Mixtures via the Dry Method: A Bibliometric Analysis
by
Isabella M. Bueno and Jamilla E. S. L. Teixeira
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4675; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114675 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2024
Abstract
Although waste plastic (WP) application as a paving material has drawn increasing attention from scholars, there is a lack of studies that summarize the latest development of WP research. Considering there is no standard procedure to incorporate WPs in asphalt mixtures, it is
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Although waste plastic (WP) application as a paving material has drawn increasing attention from scholars, there is a lack of studies that summarize the latest development of WP research. Considering there is no standard procedure to incorporate WPs in asphalt mixtures, it is important to document the major findings from the available literature to identify knowledge gaps to tackle in future research and advance knowledge on this subject. Using a bibliometric analysis method, this study carries out a holistic review of WP articles published from 2003 to 2023, focusing on incorporating WP in asphalt mixtures via the dry method. This study particularly focused on identifying and evaluating individual types of WP mostly used in asphalt mixtures via the dry method and how their most common characteristics (size, shape, and melting point) affect the mixing procedure and the overall mixture’s performance. The analysis highlighted China, the USA, and India as leading countries in WP-related publications. Typically, low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were the most utilized WPs in the dry method. Smaller WP particle sizes (<2.36 mm) were considered more suitable in asphalt mixtures. In general, studies employing procedures involving WP melting, typically by introducing WP to pre-heated aggregates at temperatures surpassing its melting point, resulted in improved asphalt mixtures with enhanced resistance to rutting, cracking, and moisture damage. In this context, positive performance outcomes were notably observed in studies using HDPE or LDPE, potentially because of their low melting point. The key knowledge gaps identified were the lack of a consistent procedure applicable across studies, a feasibility assessment for scaling laboratory-based procedures to field applications, and laboratory evaluations utilizing advanced performance tests as suggested in the Balance Mix Design (BMD) approaches.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Critical Issue on Waste Management for Environmental Sustainability)
Open AccessArticle
Ecophysiology of Soursop Seedlings Irrigated with Fish Farming Effluent under NPK Doses
by
Francisco Vanies da Silva Sá, Salvador Barros Torres, Francisca das Chagas de Oliveira, Antônio Sávio dos Santos, Antônia Adailha Torres Souza, Kleane Targino Oliveira Pereira, Tayd Dayvison Custódio Peixoto, Luderlândio de Andrade Silva, Rômulo Carantino Lucena Moreira, Emanoela Pereira de Paiva, Hermes Alves de Almeida, Alberto Soares de Melo, Miguel Ferreira Neto, Pedro Dantas Fernandes and Nildo da Silva Dias
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4674; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114674 - 30 May 2024
Abstract
Soursop (Annona muricata L.) is a tropical fruit grown in the semi-arid region of Brazil, where problems of quantitative and qualitative scarcity of water for irrigation are frequent. Using alternative water sources, such as fish farming effluents, can increase water availability; however,
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Soursop (Annona muricata L.) is a tropical fruit grown in the semi-arid region of Brazil, where problems of quantitative and qualitative scarcity of water for irrigation are frequent. Using alternative water sources, such as fish farming effluents, can increase water availability; however, it presents risks due to its high salinity levels. We aimed to evaluate the effect of irrigation with saline fish farming effluent and NPK doses on soursop seedlings’ ecophysiology. We conducted a greenhouse experiment using a randomized complete block design with a 2 × 5 factorial scheme. The factors consisted of two irrigation water sources (local supply water with 0.5 dS m−1 and fish farming effluent with 3.5 dS m−1) and five doses of NPK (25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, and 125% of the fertilizer recommendation of 100:300:150 mg dm−3 of N:P2O5:K2O for soil). The soursop seedlings showed the best growth results for plant height, stem diameter, and shoot dry mass when irrigated with low-salinity water at 95% of the recommended NPK dose. However, under saline stress, the soursop seedlings showed optimal growth when fertilized with 69% of NPK dose. We recommend the following NPK fertilization for soursop seedlings: 95:285:143 mg dm−3 of N:P2O5:K2O for those irrigated with low-salinity water and 69:207:104 mg dm−3 for those irrigated with fish farm effluent. Irrigating with fish farm effluent can be a practical option for soursop seedlings as it can help save fertilizers and promote environmental sustainability.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biology and Ecophysiology for the Environment and Sustainability)
Open AccessArticle
Willingness to Learn, Yet No Lessons Available? Environmental Sustainability Training and Policy in Australia and New Zealand
by
Angela T. Ragusa and Andrea Crampton
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4673; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114673 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2024
Abstract
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This research investigates the intersection of paramedicine and environmental sustainability (ES) by using mixed methods (surveys and policy analysis) to analyze organizational policy and professional beliefs. It advocates integrating ES into paramedic training and operations to reflect broader environmental values, and challenges, of
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This research investigates the intersection of paramedicine and environmental sustainability (ES) by using mixed methods (surveys and policy analysis) to analyze organizational policy and professional beliefs. It advocates integrating ES into paramedic training and operations to reflect broader environmental values, and challenges, of a sector providing first response service delivery to climate-induced emergencies. Assessing paramedics’ willingness/interest in environmental education, timing (foundational or continuing professional development/CPD and organizational policy governing accreditation and practice in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) found growing awareness of paramedics’ role in environmental stewardship. Disparity, however, exists between individual interest in ES training and its systemic exclusion in CPD policy and standards. The relevance of sociological thought, specifically Durkheimian theory, for construing ES interdependently, rather than individualistically (as predominated in the under-researched area) is advanced to promote ES reconceptualization, goal articulation and measurement. Results and practical recommendations are discussed amidst multidisciplinary literature to further emerging ES values exhibited in ANZ policy and paramedic beliefs. The article concludes systemic change is timely. Specifically, embedding ES into foundational and/or CPD training may leverage the professional interest found in the study and, importantly, ensure emergency practices promote the long-term environmental health prerequisite to supporting human health, congruent with the sector’s remit.
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Open AccessArticle
Flowering, Quality and Nutritional Status of Tropaeolum majus L. ‘Spitfire’ after Application of Trichoderma spp.
by
Roman Andrzejak, Beata Janowska, Agnieszka Rosińska, Sylwia Skazińska and Orsolya Borsai
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4672; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114672 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2024
Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare the influence of three species of fungi of the Trichoderma genus (T. aureoviride Rifai—Ta8, T. hamatum/Bonord/Bainier—Th15, and T. harzianum Rifai—Thr2) on the quality, flowering, and nutritional status of Tropaeolum majus L. ‘Spitfire’. Early
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The aim of this study was to compare the influence of three species of fungi of the Trichoderma genus (T. aureoviride Rifai—Ta8, T. hamatum/Bonord/Bainier—Th15, and T. harzianum Rifai—Thr2) on the quality, flowering, and nutritional status of Tropaeolum majus L. ‘Spitfire’. Early flowering was only influenced by T. hamatum, which delayed it by 6 days. T. aureoviride, T. hamatum, and T. harzianum stimulated the flowering of the ‘Spitfire’ cultivar but did not affect the size of the flowers. The plants treated with T. harzianum after being planted in pots flowered the most abundantly. Trichoderma spp. caused the plants to grow more intensively, producing longer and more leafy shoots with a greater number of offshoots. Trichoderma spp. stimulated the uptake of macronutrients, except for phosphorus (P). In the case of calcium (Ca) and sodium (Na), this phenomenon was only observed in plants treated with T. aureoviride and T. hamatum, and for magnesium (Mg), only when T. hamatum was applied to sown seeds. As for the developed root systems, as far as the micronutrients are concerned, Trichoderma spp. stimulated the uptake of zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn). Apart from that, there was a higher iron (Fe) content in the plants treated with T. harzianum on both dates and T. aureoviride after planting the plants in pots.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agroecosystem: Interactions between Plants and Microorganisms)
Open AccessArticle
A Review of Eco-Product Value Realization and Eco-Industry with Enlightenment toward Village Ecosystem Service in the Karst Desertification Control
by
Ziyi Zhao, Kangning Xiong, Bin Ying, Rong Zhao, Jiawang Yan and Huiqiong Huang
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4671; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114671 - 30 May 2024
Abstract
In the context of achieving certain results in rural revitalization and karst desertification control, promoting the realization of eco-product value to promote the rural revitalization strategy has become a hot topic in China. The importance of eco-product value has been raised to an
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In the context of achieving certain results in rural revitalization and karst desertification control, promoting the realization of eco-product value to promote the rural revitalization strategy has become a hot topic in China. The importance of eco-product value has been raised to an unprecedented level, confirming that the realization of eco-product value is an important way to promote rural revitalization and ecological civilization construction in desertification areas. This study reviewed 489 relevant documents on the realization of eco-product value and conducted a statistical analysis. The analysis results show that (1) the number of published related documents is generally on the rise, indicating that after the policy was proposed, research in this field has received high attention from the academic community; (2) the research content mainly focuses on five aspects: eco-product value accounting, eco-product value realization, eco-industry, and theoretical attributes of eco-products; (3) the research area is concentrated in the demonstration pilot areas of China’s eco-product value realization; and (4) combined with the above results, this paper summarizes the concept and connotation of eco-products, the value accounting of ecological products, the mechanism and path of the value realization of eco-products, the ecological industry, the landmark achievements of home and abroad, and the scientific problems to be solved, so as to better serve the karst area and promote the revitalization of rural areas.
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(This article belongs to the Topic AI and IoT for Promoting Green Operation and Sustainable Environment)
Open AccessArticle
Exploring Sustainable Planning Strategies for Carbon Emission Reduction in Beijing’s Transportation Sector: A Multi-Scenario Carbon Peak Analysis Using the Extended STIRPAT Model
by
Yuhao Yang, Ruixi Dong, Xiaoyan Ren and Mengze Fu
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4670; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114670 - 30 May 2024
Abstract
The transportation sector plays a pivotal role in China’s efforts to achieve CO2 reduction targets. As the capital of China, Beijing has the responsibility to lead the era’s demand for low-carbon development and provide replicable and scalable low-carbon transportation development experience and
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The transportation sector plays a pivotal role in China’s efforts to achieve CO2 reduction targets. As the capital of China, Beijing has the responsibility to lead the era’s demand for low-carbon development and provide replicable and scalable low-carbon transportation development experience and knowledge for other cities in China. This study calculates the CO2 emissions of the transportation sector in Beijing from 1999 to 2019, constructs an extended STIRPAT model (population, affluence, technology, and efficiency), employs ridge regression to mitigate the effects of multicollinearity among the eight indicators, reveals the extent and direction of influence exerted by different indicators on CO2 emissions, and predicts the development trends, peak times, and quantities of transportation CO2 emissions in nine scenarios for Beijing from 2021 to 2035. Finally, adaptive low-carbon planning strategies are proposed for Beijing pertaining to population size and structure, industrial layout optimization, urban functional reorganization and adjustment, transportation infrastructure allocation, technological research and promotion, energy transition planning, and regional collaborative development. The results are as follows: (1) The total amount of CO2 emissions from Beijing’s transportation sector exhibits a trend of gradually stabilizing in terms of growth, with a corresponding gradual deceleration in the rate of increase. Kerosene, gasoline, and diesel are the main sources of transportation CO2 emissions in Beijing, with an annual average proportion of 95.78%. (2) The degree of influence of the indicators on transportation CO2 emissions, in descending order, is energy intensity, per capita GDP, population size, GDP by transportation sector, total transportation turnover, public transportation efficiency, possession of private vehicles, and clean energy structure. Among them, the proportion of clean energy structure and public transportation efficiency are negatively correlated with transportation CO2 emissions, while the remaining indicators are positively correlated. (3) In the nine predicted scenarios, all scenarios, except scenario 2 and scenario 4, can achieve CO2 emission peaks by 2030, while scenarios 7 and 9 can reach the peak as early as 2025. (4) The significant advancement and application of green carbon reduction technologies have profound implications, as they can effectively offset the impacts of population, economy, and efficiency indicators under extensive development. Effective population control, sustainable economic development, and transportation efficiency improvement are viable means to help achieve carbon peaking and peak value in the transportation sector.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Sustainable Cities and Urban Regions Development: New Challenges and Prospects)
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Open AccessSystematic Review
Bibliometric Analysis of Intelligent Systems for Early Anomaly Detection in Oil and Gas Contracts: Exploring Recent Progress and Challenges
by
Luis F. Cardona, Jaime A. Guzmán-Luna and Jaime A. Restrepo-Carmona
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4669; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114669 - 30 May 2024
Abstract
The oil and gas industries are crucial to global economies, influencing geopolitics, driving technological advancements, employing millions, and impacting financial markets. The complexity and the volume of data generated by these industries demonstrate the need for efficient information management, where effective contract audits
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The oil and gas industries are crucial to global economies, influencing geopolitics, driving technological advancements, employing millions, and impacting financial markets. The complexity and the volume of data generated by these industries demonstrate the need for efficient information management, where effective contract audits play a key role in ensuring market stability, transparency, fair revenue distribution, corruption mitigation, and enhancing industry integrity to attract investors. This study employs bibliometric analysis to explore the application of machine learning (ML) in detecting anomalous contracts within the oil and gas industry. This analysis identifies key research and challenges, laying the groundwork for further computational ML advancements. The PRISMA guidelines identify ML’s role from 2018 to 2023, including post-COVID-19. Principal component analysis (PCA) evaluates the bibliometric contributions of different countries and institutions. China, Indonesia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the University of Antwerp Operations Research Group, and the University of Pittsburgh emerge as significant contributors. These findings underscore ML’s pivotal role in fraud detection, risk mitigation, and cost savings, concluding that anomalous contract detection remains open to newer ML techniques and ongoing research.
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Open AccessArticle
Green Human Resource Management and Employee Retention in the Hotel Industry of UAE: The Mediating Effect of Green Innovation
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Fida Hassanein, Amira Daouk, Diala Yassine, Najib Bou Zakhem, Ranim Elsayed and Ahmad Saleh
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4668; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114668 - 30 May 2024
Abstract
The concept of Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) is regarded as a major turning point in managing human capital among firms. Sustainable practices, ecofriendly initiatives, and adequate management of employees (i.e., recruitment, training, performance, rewards, and involvement) are fundamental aspects of GHRM, which
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The concept of Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) is regarded as a major turning point in managing human capital among firms. Sustainable practices, ecofriendly initiatives, and adequate management of employees (i.e., recruitment, training, performance, rewards, and involvement) are fundamental aspects of GHRM, which enable improvements in the performance of firms and enhanced competitiveness among their rivals. In this regard, the current study takes a quantitative approach towards analyzing GHRM practices and their effects on employee retention among hotels in the UAE. Furthermore, the indirect effect of green innovation is analyzed as a potential mediating variable that can better explain the GHRM–employee retention relationship. A total of 207 employees from five 5-star hotels were selected as participants to provide information regarding the factors under examination in this research. The collected data were analyzed using Smart-PLS v.3 and a partial least squares–structural equation modeling technique, which is a fitting technique for causal models. The perspective of employees on the outcome of GHRM initiatives and their willingness to remain in their firms can greatly contribute to the current understanding of GHRM and its effectiveness on employee retention in the context of the hotel industry of the UAE, and thus, aid practitioners and scholars alike.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustaining Work and Careers for Human Well-Being in the New Normal)
Open AccessArticle
Sourcing Sustainability Transition in Small and Medium-Sized Ports of the Baltic Sea Region: A Case of Sustainable Futuring with Living Labs
by
Laima Gerlitz, Christopher Meyer and Lawrence Henesey
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4667; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114667 - 30 May 2024
Abstract
The present research points to an alternative concern against the mainstream research of future ports’ development by taking a transdisciplinary approach of a Living Lab (LL) concept for a better sustainability and innovation record in Small and Medium-Sized Ports (SMSPs). Deploying qualitative research
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The present research points to an alternative concern against the mainstream research of future ports’ development by taking a transdisciplinary approach of a Living Lab (LL) concept for a better sustainability and innovation record in Small and Medium-Sized Ports (SMSPs). Deploying qualitative research for the examination of this new phenomenon of aggregating LLs into SMSPs, this research builds upon stakeholder workshops, in-depth interviews, and designed port pilots as case studies dedicated to innovation and sustainability transition in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) at the turn of 2030. Given its rich and significant empirical foundation, the present research substantially contributes to sustainability orientation and transitions in ports. The key original elements of this study are fourfold: (1) the research provides a theoretical and practical LL framework enabling innovation and sustainability to be grasped in ports in times of technological, social, and political disruption; (2) this research increases the minimal number of existing previous efforts studying SMSPs in the transitional discourse; (3) the paper addresses not only hard technological innovation concerns but also aspects of social acceptance and the role of social interactions; (4) the research goes beyond geographical boundaries of a single port, thus providing a joint and collaborative approach towards sustainability rather than an individual perception on sustainability transition, existing networks, and clusters.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Strategies for Green Ports and Maritime Logistics: Innovations, Challenges, and Best Practices)
Open AccessArticle
Enhancing Heat Removal and H2O Retention in Passive Air-Cooled Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells by Altering Flow Field Geometry
by
Ali M. Mohsen and Ali Basem
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4666; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114666 - 30 May 2024
Abstract
This numerical study presents six three-dimensional (3D) cathode flow field designs for a passive air-cooled polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell to enhance heat removal and H2O retention. The data collected are evaluated in terms of water content, average temperature, and
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This numerical study presents six three-dimensional (3D) cathode flow field designs for a passive air-cooled polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell to enhance heat removal and H2O retention. The data collected are evaluated in terms of water content, average temperature, and current flux density. The proposed cathode flow field designs are a straight baseline channel (Design 1), converging channel (Design 2), diverging channel (Design 3), straight channel with cylindrical pin fins (Design 4), trapezium cross-section channel (Design 5), and semi-circle cross-section channel (Design 6). The lowest cell temperature value of 56.67 °C was obtained for Design 2, while a noticeable water retention improvement of 6.5% was achieved in a semi-circle cathode flow field (Design 5) compared to the baseline channel. However, the current flux density shows a reduction of 0.1% to 1.2%. Nevertheless, those values are relatively small compared to the improvement in the durability of the fuel cell due to heat reduction. Although the modifications to the cathode flow field resulted in only minor improvements, ongoing advancements in fuel cell technology have the potential to make our energy landscape more sustainable. These advancements can help reduce emissions, increase efficiency, integrate renewable energy sources, enhance energy security, and support the transition to a hydrogen-based economy.
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(This article belongs to the Section Energy Sustainability)
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Open AccessArticle
Application of Flotation for Removing Barium(II) Ions Using Ionized Acyclic Polyethers in the Context of Sustainable Waste Management
by
Agnieszka Sobianowska-Turek, Katarzyna Grudniewska, Agnieszka Fornalczyk, Joanna Willner, Wojciech Bialik, Weronika Urbańska and Anna Janda
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4665; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114665 - 30 May 2024
Abstract
Energy transition is one of the basic actions taken to counteract and prevent climate change. The basic assumption of energy-related changes is its sustainable use according to the closed-loop model, as well as moving away from fossil fuels, in particular from coal, the
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Energy transition is one of the basic actions taken to counteract and prevent climate change. The basic assumption of energy-related changes is its sustainable use according to the closed-loop model, as well as moving away from fossil fuels, in particular from coal, the combustion of which contributes to excessive harmful carbon dioxide emissions. One of the most popular solutions towards green energy is nuclear energy. Its use allows for a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions harmful to the environment and climate, but it also involves the generation of radioactive waste that requires appropriate processing. This paper presents the results of the flotation removal of barium(II) ions from a dilute aqueous solution using ionized acyclic polyethers. The basic factors determining the efficiency and kinetics of the process were defined. It has been shown that as the acidity of the attached polyether molecules increases: the flotation rate constant 1 (0.1667 min−1) < 3 (0.2468 min−1) < 2 (0.3616 min−1) and the separation degree Ba2+: 1 (86.8%) < 3 (99.3%) < 2 (99.4%). The presented results of ion flotation tests may facilitate the collective or selective separation of radioactive isotopes, i.e., Cs-137, Sr-90, Ba-133 and Co-60, from radioactive wastewater in the future. The results of the experimental work described in the article can also be used to develop individual processes for separating mixtures of radioactive isotopes (radioactive wastewater) into individual components (isotopes) and subjecting them to subsequent transformation processes. The obtained results allow us to claim that the tested organic compounds can be used in the future in the selective treatment of hazardous wastewater, which will translate into a reduction in unit costs of industrial processes. The selective recovery of individual pollutants is the basis for the next step in waste management, i.e., designing a cheap method of waste disposal, which also directly affects the economics of the process and its use in industrial conditions.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Waste Management and Recycling for Achieving a Circular Economy)
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Open AccessArticle
Ecological Legacies and Ethnotourism: Bridging Science and Community in Ecuador’s Amazonia
by
Fausto O. Sarmiento, Mark B. Bush, Crystal N. H. McMichael, C. Renato Chávez, Jhony F. Cruz, Gonzalo Rivas, Anandam Kavoori, John Weatherford and Carter A. Hunt
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4664; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114664 - 30 May 2024
Abstract
This paper offers paradigmatic insights from an international workshop on Ecological Legacies: Bridge Between Science and Community, in Ecuador, in the summer of 2023. The conference brought together foreign and local scholars, tour operators, village community, and Indigenous leaders in the upper
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This paper offers paradigmatic insights from an international workshop on Ecological Legacies: Bridge Between Science and Community, in Ecuador, in the summer of 2023. The conference brought together foreign and local scholars, tour operators, village community, and Indigenous leaders in the upper Amazonia region of Ecuador with the goal of developing a vision for a sustainable and regenerative future of the upper Amazon. The conference offered three epistemological contributions to the existing literature in the emergent field of Montology, including addressing issues of (a) understanding the existing linguistic hegemony in describing tropical environments, (b) the redress of mistaken notions on pristine jungle environments, and (c) the inclusion of traditional knowledge and transdisciplinary approaches to understand the junglescape from different perspectives and scientific traditions. Methodologically, the conference bridged the fields of palaeoecological and ethnobotanical knowledge (as part of a wider conversation between science and local communities). Results show that local knowledge should be incorporated into the study of the junglescape and its conservation, with decolonial approaches for tourism, sharing language, methodology, tradition, and dissemination of the forest’s attributes. Our research helped co-create and formulate the “Coca Declaration” calling for a philosophical turn in research, bridging science and ethnotourism in ways that are local, emancipatory, and transdisciplinary. We conclude that facilitating new vocabulary by decolonial heightening of Indigenous perspectives of the junglescape helps to incorporate the notion of different Amazons, including the mountainscape of the Andean–Amazonian flanks. We also conclude that we can no consider Ecuador the country of “pure nature” since we helped demystify pristine nature for foreign tourists and highlighted local views with ancestral practices. Finally, we conclude that ethnotourism is a viable alternative to manage heritagization of the junglescape as a hybrid territory with the ecological legacies of the past and present inhabitants of upper Amazonia.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Rural Tourism: Methods, Strategies and Practice)
Open AccessArticle
Preliminary Assessment Method for Structural Performance (PAMSP) of RC Rahmen Structure Building during Scan-to-BIM Procedure
by
Kyuman Cho, Jihyeon Mun, Hanbin Park and Taehoon Kim
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4663; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114663 - 30 May 2024
Abstract
Safety diagnosis through the surface inspection of existing buildings is a crucial fundamental inspection. However, the assessment results often differ depending on the investigator’s knowledge and experience, which poses challenges in ensuring the reliability and objectivity of the evaluation results. To address this
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Safety diagnosis through the surface inspection of existing buildings is a crucial fundamental inspection. However, the assessment results often differ depending on the investigator’s knowledge and experience, which poses challenges in ensuring the reliability and objectivity of the evaluation results. To address this issue, a preliminary assessment method for structural performance (PAMSP) of an RC Rahmen structure building was developed in this study to evaluate three surface survey items (cracks, horizontal deflections, and vertical deflections), which have a significant influence on the structural performance evaluation of buildings. The PAMSP can be operated based on point cloud data generated during the scan-to-building information modeling (BIM) process. Based on the results of two case studies, the PAMSP was found to be excellent in terms of accuracy, applicability, and ease of use. In conclusion, by using the PAMSP, it is expected that the fundamental structural performance of a building can be measured more objectively and reliably based on the data generated during the scan-to-BIM process, which is widely used in the digitization of existing buildings.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Construction: Construction Management and Project Planning/Controls)
Open AccessArticle
Regional Green Development and Corporate Financialization: A Quasi-Natural Experiment on the Ecological Conservation and High-Quality Development of the Yellow River Basin
by
Xiangyang Li, Guochao Liu, Yufei Zhao, Yanhan Sun and Jianluan Guo
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4662; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114662 - 30 May 2024
Abstract
The implementation of the Ecological Conservation and High-Quality Development of the Yellow River Basin (YBCD) can provide the institutional context for economic outcomes of environmental regulations and influences on corporate financial asset allocation. The basic objective of this study is to examine the
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The implementation of the Ecological Conservation and High-Quality Development of the Yellow River Basin (YBCD) can provide the institutional context for economic outcomes of environmental regulations and influences on corporate financial asset allocation. The basic objective of this study is to examine the impact of the YBCD on corporate financialization, analyzing the influencing mechanisms and heterogeneity. Using the data of A-share listed companies spanning 2015 to 2022 in China, this study employs the differences-in-differences method to investigate the impact of the YBCD on corporate financialization. The findings reveal that (1) the YBCD could significantly inhibit corporate financialization and suppress financial asset allocation driven by arbitrage motivation. It will help corporate financial asset allocation shift towards physical businesses, emphasizing long-term development. (2) The YBCD could inhibit corporate financialization by reducing corporate agency costs and fostering environmental, social, and governance (ESG), leading to crowding-out effects on financial assets. (3) The heterogeneity analysis indicates that the YBCD could generate significant inhibitory effects on corporate financialization in non-state-owned enterprises, high-polluting companies, and companies located in regions with stronger environmental regulations.
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(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)
Open AccessReview
Eco-Friendly Processing of Wool and Sustainable Valorization of This Natural Bioresource
by
Crisan Popescu and Michaela Dina Stanescu
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4661; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114661 - 30 May 2024
Abstract
The environmental invasion of plastic waste leads to, among other things, a reassessment of natural fibers. Environmental pollution has shown the importance of the degradability, among other properties, of the raw materials used by the textile industry or other industrial fields. Wool seems
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The environmental invasion of plastic waste leads to, among other things, a reassessment of natural fibers. Environmental pollution has shown the importance of the degradability, among other properties, of the raw materials used by the textile industry or other industrial fields. Wool seems to be a better raw material than the polymers that generate large quantities of micro- and nano-plastics, polluting the soil, water, and air. However, the usual processing of raw wool involves a number of chemically very polluting treatments. Thus, sustainable procedures for making wool processing environmentally friendly have been considered, leading to the reappraisal of wool as a suitable raw material. Besides their applications for textile products (including smart textiles), new directions for the valorization of this natural material have been developed. According to the recent literature, wool may be successfully used as a thermal and phonic insulator, fertilizer, or component for industrial devices, or in medical applications, etc. In addition, the wool protein α-keratin may be extracted and used for new biomaterials with many practical applications in various fields. This review makes a survey of the recent data in the literature concerning wool production, processing, and applications, emphasizing the environmental aspects and pointing to solutions generating sustainable development.
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Open AccessArticle
Can Government Environmental Attention Improve Corporate Carbon Emission Reduction Performance?—Evidence from China A-Share Listed Companies with High-Energy-Consumption
by
Chuanfei Li and Luguang Qi
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4660; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114660 - 30 May 2024
Abstract
Government support for achieving corporate carbon emission reduction is crucial not only for sustainable business development, but it also holds strategic importance for China to achieve its “dual-carbon” goals. This article empirically explores the impact and underlying mechanisms of government environmental attention (GEA)
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Government support for achieving corporate carbon emission reduction is crucial not only for sustainable business development, but it also holds strategic importance for China to achieve its “dual-carbon” goals. This article empirically explores the impact and underlying mechanisms of government environmental attention (GEA) on corporate carbon emission reduction performance (CEP), using a sample of A-share listed companies with high energy consumption from 2009 to 2020. The results show that GEA can improve corporate CEP. A heterogeneity analysis found that this effect is more pronounced in heavily polluting industries, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and companies located in the eastern regions of the country. A mechanism analysis suggested that GEA can improve corporate CEP by strengthening internal green technological innovation capabilities and attracting attention from external analysts and media. These research conclusions guide corporate carbon emission reduction practices and offer empirical evidence for the government in formulating regulatory policies for carbon reduction.
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