A circular economy is seen as a potential solution to the overburdening of Earth’s resources in our global economic system. However, implementation of circularity is still in its early stages, which is attributed to a variety of barriers that companies experience. Studies on these barriers identified a substantial number of potential barriers, however, these studies did not explore the variety of perceptions of these barriers by different companies. This study therefore explores the variety of barriers to the transition to circularity, as perceived by European furniture companies. Using Q-methodology, and with participation of 30 furniture companies from five EU countries, the study revealed four patterns of the perception of barriers. These four patterns of perception are distinct from each other, with high composite reliabilities and weak correlations between the patterns. Our analysis showed that especially the perception of market and resources categories of barriers make the difference between the identified patterns. The study demonstrated that barriers to circularity are not experienced in a single generalizable way, and provided valuable insight for the development of supporting or stimulation policies for circularity. Full article

Despite increased knowledge of the impact of clothing production on the environment, the general public still has a low intention to purchase sustainable clothing. The present study analyzed the psychosocial predictors of Italian women’s intention to purchase sustainable clothing, proposing an integration of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) approaches. Participants (N = 286) filled in a self-report online questionnaire, measuring Italian women’s intention to purchase sustainable clothing, as well as TPB variables, such as subjective norm, attitude, and perceived behavioral control, and VBN variables, such as egoistic and biospheric values, awareness of consequences, and personal norm. Results of structural equation modeling showed that the TPB + VBN integrated model predicted women’s intention to purchase sustainable clothing. Personal norm and attitude were the strongest predictors of intention. Mediation analyses showed the indirect impact of the VBN chain (from values to moral norm) on intention. Discussion focusses on the psychosocial dimensions that public policy, non-governmental organizations, and clothing companies should consider when promoting the purchase of sustainable clothing. Full article

Smart cities and smart tourism destinations integrate technological infrastructures and end-user devices with the aim of providing more satisfying experiences. They generate expectations of superior innovation, greater interactivity, participation and a better image. Therefore, they need to communicate their smartness and include it in their branding. The study analyses the smart content present in the tourist and non-tourist official Twitter accounts of a selection of smart cities and smart destinations, through semantic analysis, in order to find out which smart concepts are strategically branded to create a smart tourism destination image. The results show that the best cities in the ranking for each smart topic are not the ones with highest percentages of tweets on that topic. The study also shows that the number and percentage of tweets that communicate smart aspects on the platforms analyzed are low, showing the smartness is not included in their branding. It has also been observed that, almost all cities communicate or do not communicate the same concepts, evincing an undifferentiated branding strategy. The results of this study are interesting for urban policy-makers and tourism destination marketers to improve their branding. Full article

New technologies such as Augmented Reality can be used to enhance the possibility of obtaining new experiences to assist people with special needs. However, in the literature, there are not enough studies conducted on the use of Augmented Reality as an assistive technology, especially for people with special needs. The purpose of this study is to highlight the use of Augmented Reality technology on people with special needs for skill development. This systematic literature review includes recent and high-quality articles from chosen prestige databases between the years 2010 and 2020. The selected studies which fitted the eligibility selection criteria have been analyzed and synthesized. The study findings reveal the importance of using AR technology to assist individuals with special needs in their skill development process, to help them become more independent. We hope this study will enlighten researchers and the developers of AR tools. It has been recommended that more studies be done on the sustainable use of AR as an assistive technology, particularly for children with special needs, to make their life easier. Full article

In this paper, we study the online consumer review generation process by analyzing 37.12 million online reviews across nineteen product categories obtained from Amazon.com. This study revealed that the discrepancy between ratings by others and consumers’ post-purchasing evaluations significantly influenced both the valence and quantity of the reviews that consumers generated. Specifically, a negative discrepancy (‘worse than what I read’) significantly accelerates consumers to write negative reviews (19/19 categories supported), while a positive discrepancy (‘better than what I read’) accelerates consumers to write positive reviews (16/19 categories supported). This implies that others’ ratings play an important role in influencing the review generation process by consumers. More interestingly, we found that this discrepancy significantly influences consumers’ neutral review generation, which is known to amplify the effect of positive or negative reviews by affecting consumers’ search behavior or the credibility of the information. However, this effect is asymmetric. While negative discrepancies lead consumers to write more neutral reviews, positive discrepancies help reduce neutral review generation. Furthermore, our findings provide important implications for marketers who tend to generate fake reviews or selectively generate reviews favorable to their products to increase sales. Doing so may backfire on firms because negative discrepancies can accelerate the generation of objective or negative reviews. Full article

This study attempted to evaluate the learning effectiveness of using the MIT App Inventor platform and its Personal Image Classifier (PIC) tool in the interdisciplinary application. The instructional design was focused on applying PIC in the integration of STEAM (i.e., Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) interdisciplinary learning, so as to provide sustainable and suitable teaching content based on the experiential learning theory for 7th grader students. Accordingly, the sustainable AI-STEAM course with the experiential learning framework has been implemented and verified, so as to confirm that the AI-STEAM course is not too difficult for young students. Many basic concepts involved in the AI-STEAM course, regarding programming logic, electromechanical concepts, interface design, and the application of image recognition, were measured in this study. The results showed that the students not only made significant progress in learning effectiveness, but also in particular made significant improvements in two parts: electromechanical concepts and image recognition knowledge. In the end, this study further provides some advice on the sustainable AI-STEAM course based on the survey of some important factors including active learning, and self-efficacy after confirming that it is not a barrier for the young students to learn the sustainable AI-STEAM course developed in this study. Full article

In this study, we suggest methodologies for identifying promising and vacant technologies on smart farms by analyzing patent information. Additionally, a technology roadmap for smart farms is suggested using network analysis. The database of patents related to smart farms was extracted from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) by keyword search, and valid patents data was selected and clustered using the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) algorithm. We also conducted the technical importance analysis and trend analysis to identify promising technology topics. By developing a patent map based on a self-organizing map (SOM), we were able to identify vacant technologies among smart farm technology groups. In order to develop vacant technologies, we presented a stepwise technology roadmap by analyzing the relationship between technology elements using network analysis. The proposed procedure and analysis method provides useful insights in establishing research and development (R&D) strategies for the development of smart farm technology roadmaps. Full article

Circular business models (CBMs) represent a path for coordinating circular economy (CE) efforts. Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a tool for quantifying environmental effects of a product or a service and can therefore evaluate the environmental sustainability of CBMs. This paper explores whether LCA can act as an enabler for manufacturing companies who want to implement a CBM. Following a case-study approach, we draw on the experiences of a specific manufacturing company during the time period 2014–2021. The paper presents key lessons on the interaction between LCA and CE. The study finds that LCA—by providing quantified results on the environmental impacts of circular strategies—limits the risk of problem shifting and challenges the normative rule of closing the loop by including a set of multiple impact categories. LCA offers a common platform and encourages communication with stakeholders. These characteristics make LCA a well-suited tool for CBM development. However, the holistic perspective on environmental problems that LCA provides can also complicate CE’s clear message of ‘closing the loop’. Lastly, LCA is a tool for environmental evaluation, and with the main emphasis of CE also on environmental issues, there is high risk of neglecting social and economic aspects of sustainable development. Full article

South Africa’s interventions to address complex social challenges rely on coordination across several sectors and between different levels of government and society. Improved alignment, planning and coordination are needed when addressing the causal factors of these social challenges. These causal factors include the environments in which people live and their behaviours. Furthermore, emphasis is placed on the recurring engagement of civil society, especially of marginalized stakeholders, as participants in the efforts to address the challenges. The study draws from the promise shown by stakeholder networks, termed Innovation Platforms, in other Sub-Saharan Africa countries to address such complex social challenges. The study aimed to improve the understanding of how a stakeholder network’s engagement practices impact the effectiveness of the network. To this end, a conceptual framework and management tool for stakeholder engagement in IPs is proposed. The study followed the conceptual framework analysis procedure to develop, evaluate and refine the conceptual framework. The article describes the core research outcomes of the framework development approach, starting with a systematized literature review to identify core concepts, followed by interviews with experts and a case study to refine the framework content. The case study applied the framework to develop recommendations for improved engagement in a stakeholder network which has been established around the challenge of vagrancy in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The result of the approach is a multidimensional framework for conceptualizing stakeholder engagement practices in a variety of contexts. The focus of the framework content remains on the practices of engagement which enable effective and fruitful stakeholder interactions within and around a network. The study delivered valuable insights into the nature of some development initiatives in South Africa and the impact of stakeholder engagement on them. Full article

This paper presents preliminary results on the possibility of incorporating stranded macroalgae into the papermaking process; analyses of the physical-mechanical properties of filter paper, with the addition of stranded macrophytic marine algae from Ulva rigida species obtained previously; results of SEM–EDX analyses of filter paper samples; and results obtained from the filtration of a wastewater from the metallurgical industry, using the improved filter paper samples. In the filter paper recipe, stranded macrophytic seaweed of the species Ulva rigida was added at different percentages of 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 4% and 8%, and the addition was calculated in relation to the absolute dry material. The physicomechanical properties analyzed are grammage, thickness, density, moisture, ash content, breaking load, breaking length, tear resistance, bursting resistance, folding endurance, porosity, smoothness, water absorption and Cobb60 index. Additional information related to the homogeneity of the distribution of elements in the paper mass was obtained by scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM–EDX). The addition of macroalgae to the paper mass improved the strength characteristics of the paper, such as breaking load, breaking length, tearing resistance, folding endurance and water absorption. Following industrial wastewater filtration using filter paper with added seaweed, positive results were obtained in terms of reduction of total Cr, Cu, total Fe and Zn concentrations. Full article

On 21 May 2021, a milestone Pan-Arctic Report: Gender Equality in the Arctic was published in tandem with the Arctic Council’s Ministerial Meeting held in Reykjavík, 19–20 May 2021. This article provides a brief review of the report and its major findings across six chapters that address key themes concerning gender equality in the Arctic: Law and Governance, Security, Gender and Environment, Migration and Mobility, Indigeneity, Gender, Violence, Reconciliation and Empowerment and Fate Control. A major conclusion of the report is that accessible, comparable, gender-disaggregated, and Arctic -specific data is severely lacking. Further, all chapters highlight the importance of gender-based analysis and gender mainstreaming in all decision-making processes at national and regional levels. The varying roles that gender—and its intersections with existing inequalities—plays in mediating the impacts of climate change and other socioeconomic transformations are also discussed throughout the report. The Arctic Council is identified as the main driver for implementing recommendations that were provided and discussed at the Council’s Ministerial Meeting and in the Reykjavík Declaration 2021, where the eight ministers of Arctic states “Emphasize[s] the importance of gender equality and respect for diversity for sustainable development in the Arctic… encourage[s] the mainstreaming of gender-based analysis in the work of the Arctic Council and call[s] for further action to advance gender equality in the Arctic”. This report and its policy relevant highlights, address these priorities and serve as a knowledge base for promoting gender equality and non-discrimination in the Arctic. Full article

In semi-arid tropics, sugarcane yield and quality are affected by deficiencies in soil nutrients, including potassium and calcium. We examined the effects of two different potassium fertilizers, a traditional muriate of potash (MOP) and polyhalite (which contains potassium and calcium), on sugarcane growth, yield, and quality. Experimental treatments compared a control 0 kg K ha⁻¹ (T₁) to potassium applied as MOP only at 80 kg K ha⁻¹ (T₂) and at 120 kg K ha⁻¹ (T₃), and potassium applied as an equal split of MOP and polyhalite at 80 kg K ha⁻¹ (T₄) and at 120 kg K ha⁻¹ (T₅). Relative to the control the potassium-enhanced treatments had improved rates of key growth parameters, and of cane yields, which were 4.4, 6.2, 8.2, and 9.9% higher in T₂, T₃, T_4,, and T₅, respectively, than in T₁. Regardless of fertilizer used, potassium applied at 80 kg K ha⁻¹ achieved the highest sugar purity and commercial cane sugar content. All potassium fertilizer treatments had reduced (although non-significant) incidences of three key sugarcane insect pests. The economic benefits of polyhalite were reduced due to its higher cost relative to MOP. Combining MOP and polyhalite equally to achieve an application rate of 80 kg K ha⁻¹ is recommended to enhance sugarcane growth and yield. Full article

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (B&R) has received much doubts about its impact on Asian countries. This paper studies the B&R effect from a new perspective of the trade dependence relationship, and explores this B&R impact on the influencing factors of the degree of trade dependence. By implementing a series of grouping analyses on influencing factors, this paper analyses the impact of four national characteristics, including Asian countries’ income levels, geographical location characteristics, social development levels and intimacy with China, and finally gives a robust test by combining alternative indicators of trade dependence degree based on information entropy. The empirical results show that trade dependence degree has increased after implementing the B&R, but its downward growth rate shows that the B&R has not taken over the trade dependence. The inhibiting effects of energy exports on the degree of trade dependence deny the trade binding hypothesis due to the increasing energy of export trade. Trade openness and infrastructure development had a negative effect on the degree of trade dependence, while their cross-product term weakened their respective inhibitory effects, and even more after B&R. Meanwhile, the asymmetry of trade and FDI have a significantly positive impact on the degree of trade dependence. Moreover, grouping national characteristics will bring the promoting or inhibiting effects of these influencing factors on the degree of trade dependence. The robust test presents conclusions. This paper enriches the research content on the B&R, and the findings can provide some implications on the selection of trade partners and the sustainable development of the B&R. Full article

Despite people’s concerns over privacy leakage in the Internet of Things (IoT), the needs for personalized IoT services are increasing, creating a conflicting phenomenon viewed as the personalization–privacy (P–P) paradox. This study proposes a research model that utilizes dual-factor theory to investigate the P–P paradox in IoT. It aims to analyze the impact of the dual factor—personalization and privacy concerns related to IoT services—on the intention to use IoT. Further, the model includes four-dimensional motivated innovativeness and previous privacy-invasion experience as key antecedents of the dual factor. Particularly, this study examines the moderating effects of the type of IoT service and user value on the relationship between dual factor and usage intention. Data were collected using a web-based survey. The results showed that personalization had a significant impact on the intention to use IoT, whereas privacy concerns did not. The effects of all antecedents except social innovativeness were significant. The P–P paradox phenomenon appeared differently depending on the type of IoT service and user value. This study contributes to gaining a better understanding of the factors that influence the increase in IoT usage in terms of both protecting and appropriately using personal information for IoT services. Full article

As nautical tourism and recreational activities involving boats have become highly popular, research interest on various effects of nautical tourism is also increasing. This paper aims to analyze the main scientific contributions in the field of nautical tourism and its impact on the environment. The focus of the analysis is on the methods used to estimate and model recreational boating activities. Since nautical tourism plays a crucial role in the context of the growth and development of the economy, it is necessary to consider the environmental component of its development. The background objective of the paper is to provide a representation of environmental descriptors, i.e., to highlight in particular the environmental impact of nautical tourism. A search on the Web of Science Core Collection, touching on this topic, is composed of scientific papers published in the period 2010–2021. The papers examined are divided into five categories according to the impact of nautical tourism they study: Environmental, Economic, Social, Technical or Other. The results show that most papers were published in the area of environmental impacts of nautical tourism, with most papers examining invasive species, antifouling and impacts on species. The analysis showed that the negative impacts were mainly studied individually. Based on the analysis and evaluation of the scientific publications, a basic recommendation is given for the construction of a model to estimate recreational boating activities and its impact on the environment. Full article