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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 19.3 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 3.4 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the first half of 2025).
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, Bioresources and Bioproducts and Accounting and Auditing.

Impact Factor: 3.3 (2024); 5-Year Impact Factor: 3.6 (2024)

Imprint Information Journal Flyer Open Access ISSN: 2071-1050

Latest Articles

35 pages, 1398 KiB

Open AccessReview

Process Intensification of Anaerobic Digestion of Biowastes for Improved Biomethane Production: A Review

by Sahil Sahil and Sonil Nanda

Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6553; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146553 (registering DOI) - 17 Jul 2025

Anaerobic digestion is a widely adopted technique for biologically converting organic biomass to biogas under oxygen-limited conditions. However, several factors, including the properties of biomass and its complex structure, make it challenging to degrade biomass effectively, thereby reducing the overall efficiency of anaerobic [...] Read more.

Anaerobic digestion is a widely adopted technique for biologically converting organic biomass to biogas under oxygen-limited conditions. However, several factors, including the properties of biomass and its complex structure, make it challenging to degrade biomass effectively, thereby reducing the overall efficiency of anaerobic digestion. This review examines the recent advancements in commonly used pretreatment techniques, including physical, chemical, and biological methods, and their impact on the biodegradability of organic waste for anaerobic digestion. Furthermore, this review explores integrated approaches that utilize two or more pretreatments to achieve synergistic effects on biomass degradation. This article highlights various additives and their physicochemical characteristics, which play a vital role in stimulating direct interspecies electron transfer to enhance biomethanation reaction rates. Direct electron interspecies transfer is a crucial aspect that accelerates electron transfer among syntrophic microbial communities during anaerobic digestion, thereby enhancing biomethane formation. Finally, this article reviews potential approaches, identifies research gaps, and outlines future directions to strengthen and develop advanced pretreatment strategies and novel additives to improve anaerobic digestion processes for generating high-value biogas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Driving Sustainable Development and Economic Growth Through Renewable Energy)

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23 pages, 2341 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Future Climate Change Response of Forest Carbon Sinks in an Ecologically Oriented County

by Jiale Lei, Caihong Chen, Jiyun She and Ye Xu

Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6552; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146552 (registering DOI) - 17 Jul 2025

Research on forest carbon sinks is crucial for mitigating global climate change and achieving carbon peaking and neutrality. However, studies at the county level remain relatively limited. This study utilized multi-source remote sensing data and the Carnegie–Ames-Stanford Approach (CASA) and soil respiration models [...] Read more.

Research on forest carbon sinks is crucial for mitigating global climate change and achieving carbon peaking and neutrality. However, studies at the county level remain relatively limited. This study utilized multi-source remote sensing data and the Carnegie–Ames-Stanford Approach (CASA) and soil respiration models to estimate the forest net ecosystem productivity (NEP) in Taoyuan County from 2000 to 2023. The spatiotemporal differentiation was analyzed using seasonal Mann–Kendall tests, Theil–Sen slope estimation, and standard deviation ellipses. The forest NEP for 2035 was predicted under multiple climate scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP5-8.5) by applying a discrete coupling of the Patch-generating Land Use Simulation (PLUS) model, incorporating territorial spatial planning policy, and using the CASA model. The results indicated that the Taoyuan County forest NEP exhibited a fluctuating upward trend from 2000 to 2023, with higher (lower) values in the west/south (east/north). Under future warming and humidification, the overall forest NEP in Taoyuan County was projected to decrease by 2035, with predicted NEP values across scenarios ranking as SSP5-8.5 > SSP1-2.6 > SSP2-4.5. The findings offer practical insights for improving local forest management, optimizing forest configuration, and guiding county-level “dual-carbon” policies under future climate and land use change, thereby contributing to ecological sustainability. Full article

25 pages, 434 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Digitalization on Carbon Emission Efficiency: An Intrinsic Gaussian Process Regression Approach

by Yongtong Hu, Jiaqi Xu and Tao Liu

Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6551; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146551 (registering DOI) - 17 Jul 2025

This study introduces an intrinsic Gaussian Process Regression (iGPR) model for the first time, which incorporates non-Euclidean spatial covariates via a Gaussian process prior to analyzing the relationship between digitalization and carbon emission efficiency. The iGPR model’s hierarchical design embeds a Gaussian process [...] Read more.

This study introduces an intrinsic Gaussian Process Regression (iGPR) model for the first time, which incorporates non-Euclidean spatial covariates via a Gaussian process prior to analyzing the relationship between digitalization and carbon emission efficiency. The iGPR model’s hierarchical design embeds a Gaussian process as a flexible spatial random effect with a heat-kernel-based covariance function to capture the manifold geometry of spatial features. To enable tractable inference, we employ a penalized maximum-likelihood estimation (PMLE) approach to jointly estimate regression coefficients and covariance hyperparameters. Using a panel dataset linking a national digitalization (modernization) index to carbon emission efficiency, the empirical analysis demonstrates that digitalization has a significantly positive impact on carbon emission efficiency while accounting for spatial heterogeneity. The iGPR model also exhibits superior predictive accuracy compared to state-of-the-art machine learning methods (including XGBoost, random forest, support vector regression, ElasticNet, and a standard Gaussian process regression), achieving the lowest mean squared error (MSE = 0.0047) and an average prediction error near zero. Robustness checks include instrumental-variable GMM estimation to address potential endogeneity across the efficiency distribution and confirm the stability of the estimated positive effect of digitalization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economics of Energy in the Context of Carbon Emissions and Environmental Sustainability)

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15 pages, 1097 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reduced Soil Moisture Decreases Nectar Sugar Resources Offered to Pollinators in the Popular White Mustard (Brassica alba L.) Crop: Experimental Evidence from Poland

by Bożena Denisow, Sławomir Michałek, Monika Strzałkowska-Abramek and Urszula Bronowicka-Mielniczuk

Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6550; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146550 (registering DOI) - 17 Jul 2025

Climate change can severely impact plant-pollinator interactions and have serious effects on ecosystem services such as pollination. This study was carried out in 2023 and 2024, and it examined the effects of drought on flowering and nectar production in one cultivar of white [...] Read more.

Climate change can severely impact plant-pollinator interactions and have serious effects on ecosystem services such as pollination. This study was carried out in 2023 and 2024, and it examined the effects of drought on flowering and nectar production in one cultivar of white mustard (Brassica alba cv. Palma), an important entomophilous crop of the temperate zone with several attributes that make it promising for sustainable agricultural practices. Drought-stressed plants delayed the flowering time, shortened the flowering duration, and developed significantly fewer flowers. Nectar production in white mustard depends on soil moisture levels and short-term changes in meteorological conditions (e.g., air humidity, air temperature). At reduced soil moisture, the total sugar yield per plant decreased by 60%, compared to control plants, resulting in lower availability of caloric food resources, which should be considered when developing strategies supporting pollinators. Changes in floral traits resulted in differences in the frequency of insect visits, which may exert a negative impact on white mustard pollination under drought stress and may have indirect consequences for seed yield resulting from increased drought intensity associated with climate change. The results provide important data for the management of the white mustard crop and indicate the need for broader evaluation of cultivars to promote drought-resistant B. alba cultivars. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable and Innovative Agriculture in Issues of Energy Production and Food Safety)

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29 pages, 3022 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Evolution and Influencing Factors of Population Aging in the Triangle of Central China at Multiple Scales

by Jingyuan Sun, Jinchuan Huang, Xiujuan Jiang, Xinlan Song and Nan Zhang

Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6549; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146549 (registering DOI) - 17 Jul 2025

This study focuses on the Triangle of Central China and investigates the spatiotemporal evolution, driving factors, and impacts of population aging on regional sustainable development from 2000 to 2020. The study adopts an innovative two-scale analytical framework at the prefecture and district/county level, [...] Read more.

This study focuses on the Triangle of Central China and investigates the spatiotemporal evolution, driving factors, and impacts of population aging on regional sustainable development from 2000 to 2020. The study adopts an innovative two-scale analytical framework at the prefecture and district/county level, integrating spatial autocorrelation analysis, the Geodetector model, and geographically weighted regression. The results show a significant acceleration in population aging across the study area, accompanied by pronounced spatial clustering, particularly in western Hubei and the Wuhan metropolitan area. Over time, the spatial distribution has evolved from a relatively dispersed pattern to one of high concentration. Key drivers of the spatial heterogeneity of aging include economic disparities, demographic transitions, and the uneven spatial allocation of public services such as healthcare and education. These aging patterns profoundly affect the region’s potential for sustainable development. Accordingly, the study proposes a multi-scale collaborative governance strategy: At the prefecture level, efforts should focus on promoting the coordinated development of the silver economy and optimizing the spatial redistribution of healthcare resources; At the district and county level, priorities should include strengthening infrastructure, curbing the outflow of young labor, and improving access to basic public services. By integrating spatial analysis techniques with sustainable development policy recommendations, this study provides a basis for scientifically measuring, understanding, and managing demographic transitions. This is essential for achieving long-term socioeconomic sustainability in rapidly aging regions. Full article

22 pages, 2041 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of Sustainable Technology for Effective Reject Water Treatment

by Aleksandra Szaja, Maria Sawicka and Rafał Smagała

Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6548; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146548 (registering DOI) - 17 Jul 2025

This study examined a strategy for effective reject water treatment involving hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) combined with subsequent adsorption using natural zeolites. Two experiments were conducted: The first involved the selection of optimal pre-treatment conditions of HC for biodegradability and to reduce the ammonium [...] Read more.

This study examined a strategy for effective reject water treatment involving hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) combined with subsequent adsorption using natural zeolites. Two experiments were conducted: The first involved the selection of optimal pre-treatment conditions of HC for biodegradability and to reduce the ammonium nitrogen and phosphate content. Three inlet pressures of 3, 5, and 7 bar and two types of cavitation inducers, i.e., multiple- and single-hole orifice plates, were evaluated. Adsorption experiments were conducted in batch mode using natural zeolite, and three doses of zeolite (50, 100, and 200 g/L) and six contact times (4–24 h) were examined. In the HC experiments, the application of 3 bar pressure, a single-hole cavitation inducer, and a cavitation time of 30 min resulted in the removal of ammonia nitrogen and phosphates amounting to 26.5 and 23%, respectively. In this case, 3.6-fold enhancement in the biodegradability index was also found. In the second experiment, the use of zeolite led to a decrease in the remaining content of both ammonia nitrogen and phosphates, improving the chemical oxygen demand-to-total nitrogen ratio. The highest removal efficacy was found for the highest zeolite dose of 200 g/L and the longest cavitation time of 24 h. Under these conditions, the ammonia nitrogen and phosphate removal rates were 70 and 94%, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Solutions for Wastewater Treatment and Recycling)

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35 pages, 1200 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

The Social Side of Biodiversity Loss: A Review of Individual, Collective, and Structural Drivers in Coastal Regions

by Alexander Yendell, Yvonne Jaeckel, Giulia Bär and Helene Lerch

Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6547; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146547 (registering DOI) - 17 Jul 2025

This literature review investigates how social, cultural, political, and psychological factors contribute to biodiversity loss in coastal ecosystems. While biodiversity decline is often analyzed from ecological or economic perspectives, this review focuses on the societal dimensions that shape environmental attitudes and behaviors. Using [...] Read more.

This literature review investigates how social, cultural, political, and psychological factors contribute to biodiversity loss in coastal ecosystems. While biodiversity decline is often analyzed from ecological or economic perspectives, this review focuses on the societal dimensions that shape environmental attitudes and behaviors. Using a semi-structured approach, we searched Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar for peer-reviewed studies that address social influences on biodiversity, particularly in coastal contexts. Boolean logic and targeted keywords guided the selection, complemented by snowballing techniques to identify additional relevant literature. From over 600 initial results, 57 studies were included in the final synthesis. The literature spans diverse disciplines, including sociology, political science, environmental psychology, and cultural studies. Although many studies do not explicitly focus on coastal areas, they provide transferable insights into conservation-related behavior and structural drivers of biodiversity pressure. The review identifies thematic clusters and theoretical gaps, particularly regarding underexplored social variables and insufficient attention to multi-level dynamics. Our findings underline the need for stronger integration of societal dimensions into biodiversity research and policy, especially in coastal regions facing complex socio-ecological challenges. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shifting Paradigms: Reimagining Human-Nature Relationships for Sustainable Biodiversity Conservation)

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17 pages, 371 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Perceptions, Ethical Challenges and Sustainable Integration of Generative AI in Health Science Education: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Mirko Prosen and Sabina Ličen

Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6546; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146546 (registering DOI) - 17 Jul 2025

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is changing higher education. Understanding students’ perceptions, usage behaviour and ethical concerns is crucial for the responsible and sustainable use of AI in the academic environment. The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions, experiences and challenges [...] Read more.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is changing higher education. Understanding students’ perceptions, usage behaviour and ethical concerns is crucial for the responsible and sustainable use of AI in the academic environment. The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions, experiences and challenges of health sciences students in relation to the use of generative AI in their academic learning. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted with 397 students enrolled in four undergraduate health-related degree programmes in Slovenia, including nursing, physiotherapy, dietetics and applied kinesiology. The data was collected using a validated 27-point scale. Students were generally favourable towards AI, especially in terms of its perceived usefulness, integration into their daily study routine and ethical considerations. Regression analyses revealed that frequency of AI use, duration of use, self-reported skill level and confidence in using AI significantly predicted perceived usefulness. Gender differences were found, with male students reporting higher perceived usefulness and fewer concerns. Students recognised the potential of generative AI but emphasised the importance of ethical guidance, digital literacy and equal access. Institutions should prioritise structured training and inclusive strategies to ensure meaningful, sustainable and responsible integration of AI into health education. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue E-Learning and Educational Technologies for Sustainable Transformation of Education)

18 pages, 2325 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physico-Mechanical Properties and Decay Susceptibility of Clay Bricks After the Addition of Volcanic Ash from La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain)

by María López Gómez and Giuseppe Cultrone

Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6545; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146545 (registering DOI) - 17 Jul 2025

During a volcanic eruption, a large volume of pyroclastic material can be deposited on the roads and roofs of the urban areas near volcanoes. The use of volcanic ash as an additive for the manufacture of bricks provides a solution to the disposal [...] Read more.

During a volcanic eruption, a large volume of pyroclastic material can be deposited on the roads and roofs of the urban areas near volcanoes. The use of volcanic ash as an additive for the manufacture of bricks provides a solution to the disposal of part of this natural residue and reduces the depletion of a non-renewable natural resource, clayey soil, which brings some environmental and economic advantages. The pore system, compactness, uniaxial compression strength, thermal conductivity, color and durability of bricks without and with the addition of volcanic ash were evaluated through hydric tests, mercury intrusion porosimetry, ultrasound, uniaxial compression tests, IR thermography, spectrophotometry and salt crystallization tests. The purpose of this research is to determine the feasibility of adding 10, 20 and 30% by weight of volcanic ash from La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain) in two grain sizes to produce bricks fired at 800, 950 and 1100 °C. The novelty of this study is to use two sizes of volcanic ash and fire the samples at 1100 °C, which is close to the liquidus temperature of basaltic magmas and allows a high degree of interaction between the volcanic ash and the brick matrix. The addition of fine volcanic ash was found to decrease the porosity of the bricks, although the use of high percentages of coarse volcanic ash resulted in bricks with almost the same porosity as the control samples. The volcanic ash acted as a filler, reducing the number of small pores in the bricks. The presence of vesicles in the volcanic ash reduced the compressive strength and the compactness of the bricks with additives. This reduction was more evident in bricks manufactured with 30% of coarse volcanic ash and fired at 800 and 950 °C, although they still reached the minimum resistance required for their use in construction. No significant differences in thermal conductivity were noticed between the bricks with and without volcanic ash additives, which is crucial in terms of energy savings and the construction of sustainable buildings. At 1100 °C the volcanic ash changed in color from black to red. As a result, the additive blended in better with the matrix of bricks fired at 1100 °C than in those fired at 800 and 950 °C. The bricks with and without volcanic ash and fired at 1100 °C remained intact after the salt crystallization tests. Less salt crystallized in the bricks with volcanic ash and fired at 800 and 950 °C than in the samples without additives, although their low compressive strength made them susceptible to decay. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovating the Circular Future: Pathways to Sustainable Growth)

33 pages, 2187 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Circular Economy and Water Sustainability: Systematic Review of Water Management Technologies and Strategies (2018–2024)

by Gary Christiam Farfán Chilicaus, Luis Edgardo Cruz Salinas, Pedro Manuel Silva León, Danny Alonso Lizarzaburu Aguinaga, Persi Vera Zelada, Luis Alberto Vera Zelada, Elmer Ovidio Luque Luque, Rolando Licapa Redolfo and Emma Verónica Ramos Farroñán

Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6544; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146544 (registering DOI) - 17 Jul 2025

The transition toward a circular water economy addresses accelerating water scarcity and pollution. A PRISMA-2020 systematic review of 50 peer-reviewed articles (January 2018–April 2024) mapped current technologies and management strategies, seeking patterns, barriers, and critical bottlenecks. Bibliometric analysis revealed the following three dominant [...] Read more.

The transition toward a circular water economy addresses accelerating water scarcity and pollution. A PRISMA-2020 systematic review of 50 peer-reviewed articles (January 2018–April 2024) mapped current technologies and management strategies, seeking patterns, barriers, and critical bottlenecks. Bibliometric analysis revealed the following three dominant patterns: (i) rapid diffusion of membrane bioreactors, constructed wetlands, and advanced oxidation processes; (ii) research geographically concentrated in Asia and the European Union; (iii) industry’s marked preference for by-product valorization. Key barriers—high energy costs, fragmented regulatory frameworks, and low social acceptance—converge as critical constraints during scale-up. The following three practical action lines emerge: (1) adopt progressive tariffs and targeted tax credits that internalize environmental externalities; (2) harmonize water-reuse regulations with comparable circularity metrics; (3) create multi-actor platforms that co-design projects, boosting local legitimacy. These findings provide policymakers and water-sector practitioners with a clear roadmap for accelerating Sustainable Development Goals 6, 9, and 12 through circular, inclusive, low-carbon water systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development in Sustainable Water Management: Processes, Barriers, Protection and Future Perspectives)

16 pages, 1637 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Contextualizing Radon Mitigation into Healthy and Sustainable Home Design in the Commonwealth of Kentucky: A Conjoint Analysis

by Osama E. Mansour, Lydia (Niang) Cing and Omar Mansour

Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6543; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146543 (registering DOI) - 17 Jul 2025

Indoor radon constitutes a public health issue in various regions across the United States as the second leading cause of lung cancer following tobacco smoke. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advises radon mitigation interventions for residential buildings with indoor radon concentrations exceeding the [...] Read more.

Indoor radon constitutes a public health issue in various regions across the United States as the second leading cause of lung cancer following tobacco smoke. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advises radon mitigation interventions for residential buildings with indoor radon concentrations exceeding the threshold level of 4 pCi/L. Despite considerable research assessing the technical effectiveness of radon mitigation systems, there remains a gap in understanding their broader influence on occupant behavior and preferences in residential design. This study aims to investigate the impact of residing in radon-mitigated homes within the Commonwealth of Kentucky—an area known for elevated radon concentrations—on occupants’ preferences regarding healthy home design attributes. The objectives of this research are twofold: firstly to determine if living in radon-mitigated homes enhances occupant awareness and consequently influences their preferences toward health-related home attributes and secondly to quantitatively evaluate and compare the relative significance homeowners assign to health-related attributes such as indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and water quality relative to conventional attributes including home size, architectural style, and neighborhood quality. The overarching purpose is to explore the potential role radon mitigation initiatives may play in motivating occupants towards healthier home construction and renovation practices. Using choice-based conjoint (CBC) analysis, this paper compares preferences reported by homeowners from radon-mitigated homes against those from non-mitigated homes. While the findings suggest a relationship between radon mitigation and increased preference for indoor air quality, the cross-sectional design limits causal interpretation, and the possibility of reverse causation—where health-conscious individuals are more likely to seek mitigation—must be considered. The results provide novel insights into how radon mitigation efforts might effectively influence occupant priorities towards integrating healthier design elements in residential environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Pollution Prevention, Mitigation and Sustainability)

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23 pages, 396 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Navigating Hybrid Work: An Optimal Office–Remote Mix and the Manager–Employee Perception Gap in IT

by Milos Loncar, Jovanka Vukmirovic, Aleksandra Vukmirovic, Dragan Vukmirovic and Ratko Lasica

Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6542; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146542 (registering DOI) - 17 Jul 2025

The transition to hybrid work has become a defining feature of the post-pandemic IT sector, yet organizations lack empirical benchmarks for balancing flexibility with performance and well-being. This study addresses this gap by identifying an optimal hybrid work structure and exposing systematic perception [...] Read more.

The transition to hybrid work has become a defining feature of the post-pandemic IT sector, yet organizations lack empirical benchmarks for balancing flexibility with performance and well-being. This study addresses this gap by identifying an optimal hybrid work structure and exposing systematic perception gaps between employees and managers. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory and the Job Demands–Resources model, our research analyses survey data from 1003 employees and 252 managers across 46 countries. The findings identify a hybrid “sweet spot” of 6–10 office days per month. Employees in this window report significantly higher perceived efficiency (Odds Ratio (OR) ≈ 2.12) and marginally lower office-related stress. Critically, the study uncovers a significant perception gap: contrary to the initial hypothesis, managers are nearly twice as likely as employees to rate hybrid work as most efficient (OR ≈ 1.95) and consistently evaluate remote-work resources more favourably (OR ≈ 2.64). This “supervisor-optimism bias” suggests a disconnect between policy design and frontline experience. The study concludes that while a light-to-moderate hybrid model offers clear benefits, organizations must actively address this perceptual divide and remedy resource shortages to realize the potential of hybrid work fully. This research provides data-driven guidelines for creating sustainable, high-performance work environments in the IT sector. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable, Safe and Healthy Workplaces after COVID-19: Lessons Learned for the Future of Work in the Post-pandemic Era)

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31 pages, 1761 KiB

Open AccessReview

Weaving Knowledge, Innovation, and Learning: A Transdisciplinary Pathway to Circular Bioeconomy Through BioBeo

by Claudia Lavinia Buruleanu, Laoise Ní Chléirigh, Máire Nic an Bhaird, Thomas P. Curran, Evelyn Reinmuth and Mihai Bîzoi

Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6541; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146541 (registering DOI) - 17 Jul 2025

The bioeconomy represents a new way of life for people, but also a responsibility towards the future of the planet. Generating a significant socio-economic impact, it could be viewed as a key element of sustainable development, as the current and future solution for [...] Read more.

The bioeconomy represents a new way of life for people, but also a responsibility towards the future of the planet. Generating a significant socio-economic impact, it could be viewed as a key element of sustainable development, as the current and future solution for economic processes, based on new development models compelled by climate changes and the economy’s resilience to potential crises. In this context, the paper presents in its first part the Circular Economy description and the Circular Bioeconomy discussion from an interdisciplinary perspective. The second part of the paper aims to explore education as a tool for facilitating systemic changes supporting a real transition to a sustainable bioeconomy. The key aspects discussed refer to the following: (1) European policies, strategies, and action plans for bioeconomy; (2) Circular Economy as a solution for sustainable food systems; (3) main requirements and challenges for developing a (Circular) Bioeconomy, including indicators of sustainability; (4) the links between Circular Bioeconomy and the Sustainable Development Goals; (5) possibilities for integrating the agri-food industry’s needs into bioeconomy education; and (6) pathways for teach bioeconomy concepts effectively. Full article

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26 pages, 5094 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Life Cycle Assessment of Low-Carbon Transition in Asphalt Pavement Maintenance: A Multi-Scale Case Study Under China’s Dual-Carbon Target

by Luyao Zhang, Wei Tian, Bobin Wang and Xiaomin Dai

Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6540; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146540 (registering DOI) - 17 Jul 2025

Against the backdrop of China’s “dual-carbon” initiative, this study innovatively applies a process-based life cycle assessment (PLCA) methodology, meticulously tracking energy and carbon flows across material production, transportation, and maintenance processes. By comparing six asphalt pavement maintenance technologies in Xinjiang, the research reveals [...] Read more.

Against the backdrop of China’s “dual-carbon” initiative, this study innovatively applies a process-based life cycle assessment (PLCA) methodology, meticulously tracking energy and carbon flows across material production, transportation, and maintenance processes. By comparing six asphalt pavement maintenance technologies in Xinjiang, the research reveals that milling and resurfacing (MR) exhibits the highest energy consumption 250,809 MJ/10³ m²) and carbon emissions (15,095.67 kg CO₂/10³ m²), while preventive techniques like hot asphalt grouting reduce emissions by up to 87%. The PLCA approach uncovers a critical insight: 40–60% of total emissions originate from the raw material production phase, with cement and asphalt identified as primary contributors. This granular analysis, unique in regional road maintenance research, challenges traditional assumptions and emphasizes the necessity of upstream intervention. By contrasting reactive and preventive strategies, the study validates that early-stage maintenance aligns seamlessly with circular economy principles. Tailored to a local arid climate and vast transportation network, the study concludes that prioritizing preventive maintenance, adopting low-carbon materials, and optimizing logistics can significantly decarbonize road infrastructure. These region-specific strategies, underpinned by the novel application of PLCA, not only provide actionable guidance for local policymakers but also offer a replicable framework for sustainable road development worldwide, bridging the gap between scientific research and practical decarbonization efforts. Full article

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22 pages, 2011 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Bioproduct Generation via Optimized Autotrophic and Mixotrophic Microalgal Cultivation

by Juan Nápoles-Armenta, Itzel Celeste Romero-Soto, Luis Samaniego-Moreno, Lourdes Mariana Díaz-Tenorio, Luis Alonso Leyva Soto, Celia De La Mora-Orozco, Rafael González Pérez, Edgardo Martínez-Orozco, Celestino García-Gómez and Laura Izascum Pérez-Valencia

Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6539; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146539 (registering DOI) - 17 Jul 2025

In this paper, the production of biomass, pigments, lipids, and carbohydrates and the elimination of ammonium and orthophosphate by the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris, grown in synthetic wastewater (SWW), were studied under different light intensities (3000–10,000 lux), pH (7.5–9.5) and daily illumination time [...] Read more.

In this paper, the production of biomass, pigments, lipids, and carbohydrates and the elimination of ammonium and orthophosphate by the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris, grown in synthetic wastewater (SWW), were studied under different light intensities (3000–10,000 lux), pH (7.5–9.5) and daily illumination time (8–16 h). The best conditions for the autotrophic culture of microalgae were predicted using response surface methodology (RSM). The results showed that the adaptation of the microalgae for this nutrient source was effective. The best conditions for the cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris in SWW were 8.44 pH and a light intensity of 8433 lux in the daily illumination time of 16 h. Under optimal conditions, the production of microalgal biomass, chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, carotenoids, lipids and carbohydrates was 0.534 g/L, 7.46 mg/mL, 3.53 mg/mL, 2.01 mg/mL, 21.40% and 28.46%, respectively. The removal efficiencies of ammonium and orthophosphate from SWW were 97.66% and 58.78% in autotrophic cultures. This investigation introduces a new aspect by verifying the optimized cultivation conditions with real municipal wastewater, indicating that the procedure could be utilized for sustainable production of bioproducts and efficient treatment of municipal wastewater. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Wastewater Treatment, Biomass Valorization, and Environmental Sustainability)

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23 pages, 2572 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Drivers and Barriers for Edible Streets: A Case Study in Oxford, UK

by Kuhu Gupta, Mohammad Javad Seddighi, Emma L. Davies, Pariyarath Sangeetha Thondre and Mina Samangooei

Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6538; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146538 (registering DOI) - 17 Jul 2025

This study introduces Edible Streets as a distinct and scalable model of community-led urban food growing, specifically investigating the drivers and barriers to the initiative. Unlike traditional urban food-growing initiatives, Edible Streets explores the integration of edible plants into street verges and footpaths [...] Read more.

This study introduces Edible Streets as a distinct and scalable model of community-led urban food growing, specifically investigating the drivers and barriers to the initiative. Unlike traditional urban food-growing initiatives, Edible Streets explores the integration of edible plants into street verges and footpaths with direct community involvement of the people who live/work in a street. This study contributes new knowledge by evaluating Edible Streets through the COM-B model of behavioural change, through policy and governance in addition to behaviour change, and by developing practical frameworks to facilitate its implementation. Focusing on Oxford, the research engaged residents through 17 in-person interviews and 18 online surveys, alongside a stakeholder workshop with 21 policymakers, community leaders, and NGO representatives. Findings revealed strong motivation for Edible Streets, driven by values of sustainability, community resilience, and improved well-being. However, capability barriers, including knowledge gaps in gardening, land-use policies, and food preservation, as well as opportunity constraints related to land access, water availability, and environmental challenges, hindered participation. To address these, a How-to Guide was developed, and a pilot Edible Street project was launched. Future steps include establishing a licensing application model to facilitate urban food growing and conducting a Post-Use Evaluation and Impact Study. Nationally, this model could support Right to Grow policies, while globally, it aligns with climate resilience and food security goals. Locally grown food enhances biodiversity, reduces carbon footprints, and strengthens social cohesion. By tackling key barriers and scaling solutions, this study provides actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners to create resilient, equitable urban food systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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19 pages, 1066 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Toward a Sustainable Livestock Sector in China: Evolution Characteristics and Driving Factors of Carbon Emissions from a Life Cycle Perspective

by Xiao Wang, Xuezhen Xiong and Xiangfei Xin

Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6537; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146537 (registering DOI) - 17 Jul 2025

Addressing the sustainability challenges posed by the expanding livestock sector is crucial for China’s green transition. With the transformation of national dietary structure and increasing demand for livestock products, the associated resource consumption and environmental impacts, particularly carbon emissions have intensified. Reducing carbon [...] Read more.

Addressing the sustainability challenges posed by the expanding livestock sector is crucial for China’s green transition. With the transformation of national dietary structure and increasing demand for livestock products, the associated resource consumption and environmental impacts, particularly carbon emissions have intensified. Reducing carbon emissions from livestock is vital for mitigating global warming, enhancing resource utilization efficiency, improving ecosystems and biodiversity, and ultimately achieving sustainable development of the livestock industry. Against this backdrop, this study measures the carbon emissions from livestock sector employing the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method, and applies the Generalized Divisia Index Method (GDIM) to analyze the factors affecting the changes in carbon emissions, aiming to quantify and analyze the carbon footprint of China’s livestock sector to inform sustainable practices. The findings reveal that China’s total carbon emissions from the livestock sector fluctuated between 645.15 million tons and 812.99 million tons from 2000 to 2023. Since 2020, emissions have entered a new phase of continuous growth, with a 5.40% increase in 2023 compared to 2020. Significantly, a positive trend toward sustainability is observed in the substantial decline of carbon emission intensity over the study period, with notable reductions in emission intensity across provinces and a gradual convergence in inter-provincial disparities. Understanding the drivers is key for effective mitigation. The output level and total mechanical power consumption level emerged as primary positive drivers of carbon emissions, while output carbon intensity and mechanical power consumption carbon intensity served as major negative drivers. Moving forward, to foster a sustainable and low-carbon livestock sector, China’s livestock sector development should prioritize coordinated carbon reduction across the entire industrial chain, adjust the industrial structure, and enhance the utilization efficiency of advanced low-carbon agricultural machinery while introducing such equipment. Full article

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18 pages, 1263 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Study of Working Conditions in Platform Work

by Zofia Pawłowska, Szymon Ordysiński, Małgorzata Pęciłło and Magdalena Galwas-Grzeszkiewicz

Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6536; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146536 (registering DOI) - 17 Jul 2025

Despite growing academic interest in platform work and the gig economy, most existing research focuses on Western Europe, often neglecting the unique institutional and socioeconomic contexts of Central and Eastern Europe. This study addresses that gap by exploring the working conditions of platform [...] Read more.

Despite growing academic interest in platform work and the gig economy, most existing research focuses on Western Europe, often neglecting the unique institutional and socioeconomic contexts of Central and Eastern Europe. This study addresses that gap by exploring the working conditions of platform workers in Poland, with particular emphasis on both material and psychosocial dimensions from the workers’ own perspectives. Data were collected from a nationally representative sample of 450 platform workers engaged in both online and location-based tasks, using the computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI) method. The findings show a high level of perceived autonomy, with 74% of respondents feeling that they are independent in their work. However, autonomy is often limited by external factors, in particular, the availability of work. Workers who treat platform work as a side job are significantly more likely to report a sense of autonomy. In terms of health and safety, only 27% expressed concerns about negative health impacts, and 24% reported poor working conditions. Those who received health and safety information from the platform were more likely to acknowledge potential risks. Interestingly, workers relying on platform work as their primary source of income were more likely to perceive their work as safe, compared to those treating it as supplementary employment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Health, Well-Being and Sustainability)

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29 pages, 6641 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Climate-Adaptive Passive Design Strategies for Near-Zero-Energy Office Buildings in Central and Southern Anhui, China

by Jun Xu, Yu Gao and Lizhong Yang

Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6535; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146535 (registering DOI) - 17 Jul 2025

Driven by the global energy transition and China’s dual-carbon targets, Passive ultra-low-energy buildings are a key route for carbon reduction in the construction sector. This study addresses the high energy demand of office buildings and the limited suitability of current efficiency codes in [...] Read more.

Driven by the global energy transition and China’s dual-carbon targets, Passive ultra-low-energy buildings are a key route for carbon reduction in the construction sector. This study addresses the high energy demand of office buildings and the limited suitability of current efficiency codes in the hot-summer/cold-winter, high-humidity zone of central and southern Anhui. Using multi-year climate records and energy-use surveys from five cities and one scenic area (2013–2024), we systematically investigate climate-adaptive passive-design strategies. Climate-Consultant simulations identify composite envelopes, external shading, and natural ventilation as the three most effective measures. Empirical evidence confirms that optimized envelope thermal properties significantly curb heating and cooling loads; a Huangshan office-building case validates the performance of the proposed passive measures, while analysis of a near-zero-energy demonstration project in Chuzhou yields a coordinated insulation-and-heat-rejection scheme. The results demonstrate that region-specific passive design can provide a comprehensive technical framework for ultra-low-energy buildings in transitional climates and thereby supporting China’s carbon-neutrality targets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Sustainability within a Smart Built Environment)

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23 pages, 418 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Do Economic Growth Targets Aggravate Environmental Pollution? Evidence from China

by Jianbao Chen and Chenwei Wu

Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6534; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146534 (registering DOI) - 17 Jul 2025

How to balance the relationship between economic development and environmental protection is a common challenge faced by developing countries. Based on panel data from 30 Chinese provinces between 2008 to 2021, we analyze the impact of economic growth targets (EGTs) on environmental pollution [...] Read more.

How to balance the relationship between economic development and environmental protection is a common challenge faced by developing countries. Based on panel data from 30 Chinese provinces between 2008 to 2021, we analyze the impact of economic growth targets (EGTs) on environmental pollution (EP) using a spatial autoregressive threshold panel (SARTP) model. The empirical findings are as follows. (1) A 1% increase in the EP index in adjacent provinces leads to a 0.5870% increase in the observing province. (2) For provinces with EGTs above 7.5%, a 1% increase in the EGT results in a 0.3799% increase in the EP index. Conversely, its impact on EP is not significant. (3) As EGTs increase, the EP effect intensifies in central provinces, weakens in western provinces, and remains insignificant in eastern provinces; the EP effect of EGTs is significantly greater in provinces with a large population size and a low proportion of tertiary industry. (4) When the provincial EGT exceeds the central target by 0.5%, a 1% increase in the EGT results in a 0.4469% increase in the EP index. Our paper offers theoretical and empirical insights for alleviating EP and promoting sustainable economic development. Full article

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