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Standards, Volume 5, Issue 2 (June 2025) – 7 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a strategy for managing an organization responsibly, both vertically and horizontally. Recognizing and isolating CSR and sustainability-related standards is not a forthright task, as there are many interconnected semantic similarities in these terms. After detecting a research gap in a comprehensive presentation of how CSR and sustainability management and reporting standards are handled, we used the case of 60 listed companies in the ATHEX ESG Index in Greece, offering insights into the reporting practices in a European market and the sustainability reporting status quo. View this paper
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19 pages, 1479 KiB  
Article
Poverty, Education, and Decent Work Rates in Central and Eastern EU Countries
by Alexandra Ciucu, Vanesa Vargas, Carmen Păuna and Adina-Iuliana Jigani
Standards 2025, 5(2), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/standards5020016 - 17 Jun 2025
Viewed by 267
Abstract
Poverty is a major concern worldwide, and so its eradication represents the first Sustainable Development Goal. Moreover, quality education and decent working conditions are among the factors that seem to reduce poverty, a detail also observed in the current research. The current study [...] Read more.
Poverty is a major concern worldwide, and so its eradication represents the first Sustainable Development Goal. Moreover, quality education and decent working conditions are among the factors that seem to reduce poverty, a detail also observed in the current research. The current study aimed to determine poverty and educational levels along with work conditions within the 11 EU Member States located in Central and Eastern Europe using 2023 Eurostat data. To identify them, two techniques were implemented: cluster analysis and the TOPSIS method. The first is used to determine similarities and differences between countries, and the second is used with the purpose of achieving a ranking of the countries based on the 10 indicators designed to examine the three SDGs investigated. Among the results discovered, the clear differentiation of Romania and Bulgaria compared to the other countries was observed for most of the indicators analysed, especially for the people in severe material and social deprivation, as well as the share of individuals having at least basic digital skills. Thus, by applying both methods, the grouping of Romania and Bulgaria is obvious, with these countries being characterised by the poorest performances within the analysed countries. At the opposite end of the scale was Slovenia, which presented the lowest values of the indicators intended to define poverty for the year evaluated, standing out among the countries with the best results for most of the indicators included in the analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development Standards)
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12 pages, 6111 KiB  
Case Report
Health Education: The “Education Box” of the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico
by Claudio Pensieri, Veronica Rossi and Rossana Alloni
Standards 2025, 5(2), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/standards5020015 - 9 Jun 2025
Viewed by 282
Abstract
Clinical education, traditionally linked to university training in health care, has found a new declination at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico (FPUCBM) through a free public service aimed at patients, family members, and caregivers. This innovative approach aims to improve health self-management, [...] Read more.
Clinical education, traditionally linked to university training in health care, has found a new declination at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico (FPUCBM) through a free public service aimed at patients, family members, and caregivers. This innovative approach aims to improve health self-management, promote empowerment, and foster the active involvement of patients in their own care pathway. Based on high-quality and safety certified standards (by the Joint Commission International), FPUCBM has launched structured initiatives such as “education box” events to provide clear and accessible information, addressing patients’ educational and emotional needs. The “health education service” integrates several activities, including single-topic educational events, the creation of information materials (brochures and video tutorials), and collaboration with patient associations. Since its launch in 2023, the service has reached more than 400 participants in 22 events, covering topics such as chronic disease management and prevention and the proper use of home devices. In total, 95 information brochures and 9 video tutorials have been produced to expand the available resources. Benefits include improved health awareness, increased confidence in care pathways, and a positive impact on the hospital’s reputation. In conclusion, it represents a replicable model of person-centered health care that combines human care and educational support to promote more effective and informed disease management while improving the overall patient experience. Full article
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23 pages, 2220 KiB  
Article
The Impact of ESG Certifications on Class A Office Buildings in Madrid: A Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis
by Alfonso Valero
Standards 2025, 5(2), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/standards5020014 - 21 May 2025
Viewed by 511
Abstract
This study investigates the impact of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) certifications on the performance of Class A office buildings within Madrid’s Central Business District (CBD). Employing a Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methodology, the research evaluates 21 office properties, analyzing the influence of [...] Read more.
This study investigates the impact of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) certifications on the performance of Class A office buildings within Madrid’s Central Business District (CBD). Employing a Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methodology, the research evaluates 21 office properties, analyzing the influence of ESG certifications on key performance indicators, including green building certifications, valuation, market perception, and financial outcomes. The findings reveal that ESG-certified buildings demonstrate superior performance, commanding higher valuations, mitigating brown discounts, and achieving increased rental rates, thereby enhancing their investment attractiveness. These results underscore the importance of ESG certifications in the Spanish office market and provide valuable insights for investors, developers, and policymakers navigating the integration of sustainability and commercial real estate. Full article
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18 pages, 704 KiB  
Review
Adopting Sustainability Competencies in Management Education—A Scoping Review of Progress
by Patricia MacNeil and Anshuman Khare
Standards 2025, 5(2), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/standards5020013 - 9 May 2025
Viewed by 496
Abstract
There is growing urgency to address society’s complex issues, many of which are incorporated within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Higher education has a special role and a responsibility to support and promote these goals and to prepare students for the complex challenges [...] Read more.
There is growing urgency to address society’s complex issues, many of which are incorporated within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Higher education has a special role and a responsibility to support and promote these goals and to prepare students for the complex challenges they will face as future leaders. The SDG framework helps students understand SDGs, but special competencies are necessary to address them effectively. Sustainability competencies (SCs) impart the personal/emotional development missing from current programming, but higher education institutions (HEIs) have been reluctant to introduce them into their curricula. Meanwhile, graduating students are ill-prepared for the complex problems, such as sustainability, that they will face as new managers and leaders. Our research question focused on identifying essential evidence that would support the implementation of SCs in HEIs. Our purpose was to raise awareness of the need for action in improving sustainability education and to assist in moving the issue forward. To enhance reading, we purposefully included multiple sections that capture and highlight the essential information. We employed a scoping review (SR) to scope out the relevant literature that supported a credible model for SCs and determine whether consensus was evident among scholars for such a model. Contrary to a commonly expressed theme in the literature, the results revealed that scholarly opinion had converged around a framework proposed by Wiek, Withycombe and Redman in 2011 and their 2021 update. A thematic analysis identified the key barriers preventing integration in HEIs, including the absence of a comprehensive policy to direct the implementation and sustain the change. We discuss these barriers and how they may be addressed. Integrating SCs into ME responds to SDG 4 (quality education). The results are intended to generate action regarding the need to integrate SCs in ME—sooner rather than later. The conclusions drawn respond to SDG 4 (quality education). The study serves to increase awareness of the issues and barriers preventing the much-needed transformation of ME in HEIs and stimulate discussion and potential action. Further research may involve a systematic review to inform much-needed policy and implementation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development Standards)
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31 pages, 250 KiB  
Article
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Sustainability and ESG Standards Used by ATHEX ESG Index Listed Companies
by Triantafyllos Papafloratos and Garyfallos Fragidis
Standards 2025, 5(2), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/standards5020012 - 22 Apr 2025
Viewed by 813
Abstract
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability have proliferated the corporate boardroom agenda and companies’ leadership teams are trying to find ways to improve their social and environmental performance and enhance their corporate governance management systems. This paper investigates the main CSR and sustainability-related [...] Read more.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability have proliferated the corporate boardroom agenda and companies’ leadership teams are trying to find ways to improve their social and environmental performance and enhance their corporate governance management systems. This paper investigates the main CSR and sustainability-related standards that modern corporations use. To do so, it uses a sample of the 60 companies listed in the ATHEX ESG index. Firstly, a content analysis of those companies’ sustainability reports is conducted. The 60 companies are categorized into sectors according to the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). The sustainability standards used by each sector are grouped into four categories, namely environmental, social, governance, and reporting. Furthermore, an attempt is made to establish a link between the standards used and both the sectors they belong to and the material topics of each sector as they emerge from each company’s materiality analysis. Our research shows that our sample companies predominantly utilize reporting standards regardless of their sector. We did not establish a definitive relation between the prioritized material topics and the relative standards employed by the companies. We may have recognized certain pairings such as environmental material topics with relative environmental management systems, but not in a rigid manner or across all material topic categories. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development Standards)
20 pages, 4817 KiB  
Article
Evaluating the Potential of Roof Water Harvesting System for Drinking Water Supplies During Emergencies Under the Impacts of Climate Change: ‘A Case Study of Swat District, Pakistan’
by Shamaima Wafa Qammar, Fayaz Ahmad Khan and Rashid Rehan
Standards 2025, 5(2), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/standards5020011 - 2 Apr 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 472
Abstract
It is well understood that climate change is a major cause of the environmental shifts that are significantly impacting human lives. The floods caused by climate change are not only occurring more frequently each year, but they also bring up the problem of [...] Read more.
It is well understood that climate change is a major cause of the environmental shifts that are significantly impacting human lives. The floods caused by climate change are not only occurring more frequently each year, but they also bring up the problem of access to clean water for drinking and other daily usage for the affected communities. The Swat district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan is one of the impacted regions and the growing concern for clean water access is yet to be resolved. This study aims to propose a sustainable solution to water access during the emergencies, particularly in flood and drought situations. While the roof water harvesting system (RWHS) is well established and functional in many developed regions, its potential remains underexplored in Pakistan. This research study analyzed the climate change projection data for the Saidu Sharif region of Swat. The regional climate data are gathered from the Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSPs) for the period from 2015 to 2045. Five general circulation models (GCMs) were selected based on their performance in South Asian climate simulations. Analysis of the regional forecasted climate data indicates that almost all of the five climate models have predicted the periods of excessive rainfall to occur in the months of July, August, and September, while prolonged dry seasons may last between 271 and 325 days annually. Hydrological modeling was used to estimate RWHS performance, which incorporated the key parameters such as catchment area, runoff coefficient, and rainfall intensity. The findings suggest that the proposed RWHS could meet basic drinking water needs during the floods and even during the drought periods near around 100% satisfaction of water demand under certain conditions. For example, for an average drought period of 273 days, a household of seven people with a per capita daily water demand of 17 L requires a storage capacity of 33 m3. On the other hand, for a maximum drought duration of 325 days, the required storage volume increases to 39 m3. Demand satisfaction calculations are also used to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed model. This research contributes to addressing the growing water scarcity challenge posed by climate change in the Swat region and offers a sustainable and practical solution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development Standards)
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14 pages, 465 KiB  
Article
Assessment of the Benefits of the ISO/IEC 42001 AI Management System: Insights from Selected Brazilian Logistics Experts: An Empirical Study
by Alanna Oeiras da Costa Mazzinghy, Raurielly Maria dos Santos e Silva, Reimison Moreira Fernandes, Edney Dias Batista, Ailson Renan Santos Picanço, Nathália Jucá Monteiro, Daniel Meireles de Amorim, Brenda de Farias Oliveira Cardoso, Jonhatan Magno Norte da Silva and Vitor William Batista Martins
Standards 2025, 5(2), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/standards5020010 - 21 Mar 2025
Viewed by 796
Abstract
(1) Background: This study aimed to analyze and rank the benefits of adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the logistics area, considering the opinions of professionals working in the Brazilian logistics sector through the implementation of ISO/IEC 42001. (2) Methods: The procedures adopted included [...] Read more.
(1) Background: This study aimed to analyze and rank the benefits of adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the logistics area, considering the opinions of professionals working in the Brazilian logistics sector through the implementation of ISO/IEC 42001. (2) Methods: The procedures adopted included a literature review to identify the benefits of the use and the application of a survey aimed at professionals in the logistics sector. The analysis used the TOPSIS method to identify and rank the most decisive benefits. (3) Results: Of the 15 benefits mapped in the literature, the professionals attributed the greatest importance to customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, incentives for innovation, and improving the company’s image and competitive advantage. The results indicate that adopting ISO/IEC 42001 not only promotes process optimization and cost reduction, but also encourages innovation and strengthens competitiveness in the market. (4) Conclusions: The implementation of this standard is vital for companies in the logistics sector, especially in a Brazilian context of major infrastructural and regulatory challenges. The findings highlight the need for a strategic approach to the adoption of AI, emphasizing the importance of efficient logistics management and ethical practices in the application of this technology. Full article
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