Sustainability

13 pages, 4081 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Expansion of the Invasive Plant Species Reynoutria japonica Houtt in the Upper Bistrița Mountain River Basin with a Calculus on the Productive Potential of a Mountain Meadow

by Bogdan-Mihai Negrea, Valeriu Stoilov-Linu, Cristian-Emilian Pop, György Deák, Nicolae Crăciun and Marius Mirodon Făgăraș

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5737; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095737 - 9 May 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4939

Abstract

Many invasive plant species use interactions with their anthropic environment as a propagation factor and benefit from climate changes, which have become accentuated in the last decade. The way such species interact with climate changes, as well as their high specific ecological plasticity, [...] Read more.

Many invasive plant species use interactions with their anthropic environment as a propagation factor and benefit from climate changes, which have become accentuated in the last decade. The way such species interact with climate changes, as well as their high specific ecological plasticity, gives them a consistent advantage over native plant species. This work aims to demonstrate through a simple calculation the quantification of the productive potential of a wet meadow on which populations of an invasive plant species grew. The loss of productive potential induced by Reynoutria japonica Houtt on a mountain meadow in Ciocănești village, Romania, was the main objective. In the case of the productive potential of the meadows, a method for the general calculation of such losses was shown. The degree of anthropization of the studied area was also evaluated, correlating the degree of anthropization with the invasive species’ potential for spreading and affecting the mountain area. Full article

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13 pages, 1507 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Indicators of Sustainable Employability among Older Finnish Postal Service Employees: A Longitudinal Study of Age and Time Effects

by Subas Neupane, Saila Kyrönlahti, Prakash K.C., Anna Siukola, Hanna Kosonen, Kirsi Lumme-Sandt, Pirjo Nikander and Clas-Håkan Nygård

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5729; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095729 - 9 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3073

Abstract

We first clarify the definition of sustainable employability, and then we study how the indicators of sustainable employability among older Finnish postal service employees have changed over time. Finally, we estimate the effect of age on these indicators in a two-year follow up. [...] Read more.

We first clarify the definition of sustainable employability, and then we study how the indicators of sustainable employability among older Finnish postal service employees have changed over time. Finally, we estimate the effect of age on these indicators in a two-year follow up. A questionnaire survey among the Finnish postal service employees was conducted in 2016, and a follow-up was conducted in 2018. We analyze data from 1262 subjects who replied to both the baseline and the follow-up surveys. Sustainable employability is defined as a multidimensional construct using nine indicators and covering three domains (health, well-being and employability) based on Fleuren and colleagues’ model. Measurement time (repeated measure) is used as a within-subjects factor, and age is used as a between-subjects factor. The estimated marginal means of the indicators of sustainable employability at the baseline and the follow-up by age in years are calculated. No significant change is found in eight indicators (work ability, time and resources, recovery after work, job satisfaction, motivation, perceived employment, enough training on the job and relevance of work) of sustainable employability after the two-year follow-up. We find a statistically significant effect of time on self-rated health (F = 6.56, p = 0.011). Six out of nine indicators (self-rated health, work ability, time and resources, recovery after work, job satisfaction, and perceived employment) have a statistically significant effect of age between subjects. Partial Eta Squared (ŋ²_p) shows a very small difference in the indicators of sustainable employability during the follow-up, indicating that the employability of the workers was sustained throughout. We used the Fleuren model as the basis for our definition of sustainable employability. Although they are based on single items, these indicators of sustainable employability remain stable after the two-year follow-up. Significant effects of age between subjects are found for six out of nine indicators. The results suggest that age may be an important determinant of sustainable employability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Healthy Working Life for All Ages—Work Environment, Age Management and Employability)

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17 pages, 3137 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Influence of Different Types of Environmental Enrichment on the Performance and Welfare of Broiler Chickens and the Possibilities of Real-Time Monitoring via a Farmer-Assistant System

by Fabian Spieß, Bernd Reckels, Amr Abd-El Wahab, Marwa Fawzy Elmetwaly Ahmed, Christian Sürie, Monika Auerbach, Silke Rautenschlein, Ottmar Distl, Joerg Hartung and Christian Visscher

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5727; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095727 - 9 May 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4866

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of environmental enrichment on the growth performance, litter and/or air quality as well as animal welfare indicators of broilers. Control groups (CG) and trial groups (TG) were housed under identical conditions during six [...] Read more.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of environmental enrichment on the growth performance, litter and/or air quality as well as animal welfare indicators of broilers. Control groups (CG) and trial groups (TG) were housed under identical conditions during six fattening runs, with the TG having three types of environmental enrichment and a Farmer-Assistant System (FAS). A representative number of 50 birds were weighed and litter samples were taken at d 14, 21 and 28. Additionally, the same broilers were examined for foot pad dermatitis (FPD) on those days. The average bodyweight of the birds in the CG was significantly lower (1671 g) only at d 28 compared to TG (1704 g); at d 14, d 21 and d 33 at the slaughterhouse, no significant differences were observed. The dry matter content in the litter did not significantly differ between CG and TG. Birds housed in CG had significantly higher FPD scores at d 14 (1.24) and d 21 (2.19) compared to those housed in TG (0.73 and 1.52, respectively). No effects on air quality parameters, such as CO₂ and NH₃, were seen between the groups. Overall, our study shows no negative influences of environmental enrichment on growth performance, litter and air quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Poultry Management)

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15 pages, 385 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Corporate Sustainability and Risk Management—The U-Shaped Relationships of Disaggregated ESG Rating Scores and Risk in the German Capital Market

by Fabio Korinth and Rainer Lueg

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5735; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095735 - 9 May 2022

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 7736

Abstract

This study addresses the relationship between the (dis)aggregated ESG rating and different types of risk (i.e., market risk, idiosyncratic risk, total risk) in the German stock market. We investigate not only the overall ESG rating and the E, S, and G pillar scores [...] Read more.

This study addresses the relationship between the (dis)aggregated ESG rating and different types of risk (i.e., market risk, idiosyncratic risk, total risk) in the German stock market. We investigate not only the overall ESG rating and the E, S, and G pillar scores but also all the underlying category scores. Thereby, we provide in-depth insight into diverse CS operations. We cover 454 firm years (2012–2019) using ordinary least squares regression with firm and year fixed effects. Our main insights are the U-shaped relationships between CS and risk: Ecological investments first decrease systematic risk (beta), while overinvestment increases systematic risk again. Likewise, social investments initially decrease idiosyncratic risk, while overinvestment increases idiosyncratic risk again. Further findings suggest only one linkage between systematic risk and the social pillar score. In the category scores, a few more relevant linkages were identified, which indicates that disaggregation of the ESG ratings increases the explanatory power of models. In respect to findings from other capital markets, it appears that the effects of the ESG ratings on risk may depend on the existing level of sustainability in the capital market. Last, our study provides insights into the nonlinearity of the CS–risk relationships. Full article

28 pages, 13417 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Analysing Key Steps of the Photogrammetric Pipeline for Museum Artefacts 3D Digitisation

by Elisa Mariarosaria Farella, Luca Morelli, Simone Rigon, Eleonora Grilli and Fabio Remondino

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5740; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095740 - 9 May 2022

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 6646

Abstract

In recent years, massive digitisation of cultural heritage (CH) assets has become a focus of European programmes and initiatives. Among CH settings, attention is reserved to the immense and precious museum collections, whose digital 3D reproduction can support broader non-invasive analyses and stimulate [...] Read more.

In recent years, massive digitisation of cultural heritage (CH) assets has become a focus of European programmes and initiatives. Among CH settings, attention is reserved to the immense and precious museum collections, whose digital 3D reproduction can support broader non-invasive analyses and stimulate the realisation of more attractive and interactive exhibitions. The reconstruction pipeline typically includes numerous processing steps when passive techniques are selected to deal with object digitisation. This article presents some insights on critical operations, which, based on our experience, can rule the quality of the final models and the reconstruction times for delivering 3D heritage results, while boosting the sustainability of digital cultural contents. The depth of field (DoF) problem is explored in the acquisition phase when surveying medium and small-sized objects. Techniques for deblurring images and masking object backgrounds are examined relative to the pre-processing stage. Some point cloud denoising and mesh simplification procedures are analysed in data post-processing. Hints on physically-based rendering (PBR) materials are also presented as closing operations of the reconstruction pipeline. This paper explores these processes mainly through experiments, providing a practical guide, tricks, and suggestions when tackling museum digitisation projects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Heritage as Sustainable Resource for Culture and Tourism)

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15 pages, 296 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Digital Onboarding: Facilitators and Barriers to Improve Worker Experience

by Sara Petrilli, Laura Galuppo and Silvio Carlo Ripamonti

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5684; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095684 - 8 May 2022

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 15610

Abstract

The pandemic has forced organizations to find new ways of working. In fact, we are seeing an increase in remote working and this has inevitably impacted onboarding processes. In this respect, the aim of this study was to understand how young graduates under [...] Read more.

The pandemic has forced organizations to find new ways of working. In fact, we are seeing an increase in remote working and this has inevitably impacted onboarding processes. In this respect, the aim of this study was to understand how young graduates under 30 experienced digital onboarding (in terms of emotions and cognitions) when joining organizations with structured Human Resources processes. An exploratory qualitative study was conducted in which participants were asked to fill in ethnographic sheets in order to understand the barriers and facilitators that organizations can implement to improve the digital onboarding experience. We used thematic analysis. What emerged from our study is that newcomers struggled, in digital contexts, to find the right information, to be proactive and to receive immediate feedback in order to understand the context and to understand their fit with the company: it is important not to lose sight of the importance of socialization, but rather to find effective and structured practices that facilitate it and make it last over time. In our study, we argue that a structured digital onboarding program could be a relevant step in order to implement an effective transition towards remote working cultures and an attention to socialization processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Careers and Flourishing Organizations)

28 pages, 2375 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Importance of Sustainability Aspects When Purchasing Online: Comparing Generation X and Generation Z

by Benedikt M. Brand, Theresa Maria Rausch and Jannika Brandel

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5689; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095689 - 8 May 2022

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 22163

Abstract

As research on sustainability orientation across generations is still sparse, we contribute to literature by enriching this research field, focusing on Generation Z (‘Zers’) and X (‘Xers’). Moreover, no other study has analyzed cross-generational differences in the sustainability context by making use of [...] Read more.

As research on sustainability orientation across generations is still sparse, we contribute to literature by enriching this research field, focusing on Generation Z (‘Zers’) and X (‘Xers’). Moreover, no other study has analyzed cross-generational differences in the sustainability context by making use of choice experiments, which overcome issues related to (Likert) scale item investigations, and allow respondents to evaluate the trade-off between different purchase factors simultaneously. We thus applied one of the most recent advancements in choice experiments, named Adaptive Choice-Based Conjoint analysis, which appears to be more realistic than previous alternatives. The results indicate Zers consume more sustainably (inter alia higher importance of social labels; higher purchase likelihood) when shopping online; however, differences within each generation were uncovered, especially among Xers (e.g., gender differences regarding importance of price). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Conscious Capitalism on Business and Consumers)

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30 pages, 1415 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Applicability of Industry 4.0 Technologies in the Reverse Logistics: A Circular Economy Approach Based on COmprehensive Distance Based RAnking (COBRA) Method

by Mladen Krstić, Giulio Paolo Agnusdei, Pier Paolo Miglietta, Snežana Tadić and Violeta Roso

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5632; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095632 - 7 May 2022

Cited by 62 | Viewed by 8490

Abstract

The logistics sector plays one of the most important roles in the supply chain with the aim of providing a fast, flexible, safe, economical, efficient, and environmentally acceptable performance of freight transport flows. In addition, the popularization of the concept of a circular [...] Read more.

The logistics sector plays one of the most important roles in the supply chain with the aim of providing a fast, flexible, safe, economical, efficient, and environmentally acceptable performance of freight transport flows. In addition, the popularization of the concept of a circular economy (CE) used to retain goods, components, and materials at their highest usability and value at all times, illustrates the importance of the adequate performance of reverse logistics (RL) processes. However, traditional RL is unable to cope with the requirements of modern supply chains and requires the application of Industry 4.0 technologies, which would make it more efficient. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of various Industry 4.0 technologies in the RL sector in order to point out the most applicable ones. To solve the defined problem, a novel multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) model was defined by combining the best—worst method (BWM) to obtain the criteria weights, and the newly developed comprehensive distance-based ranking (COBRA) method to rank the technologies. Another aim of the study was to validate the newly established method. The results indicated that the most applicable technologies were the Internet of Things, cloud computing, and electronic—mobile marketplaces. These technologies will have a significant impact on the development of RL and the establishment of CE systems, thus bringing about all the related positive effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Sustainable Supply Chain and Logistics Management)

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27 pages, 5071 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Export Decision and Credit Constraints under Institution Obstacles

by Trang Hoai Phan, Rainer Stachuletz and Hai Thi Hong Nguyen

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5638; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095638 - 7 May 2022

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3203

Abstract

The growing demand for goods and technology increases capital requirements, especially in exporting enterprises. However, many firms have difficulty accessing external capital due to institutional obstacles. This study analyzes two main issues: the influence of institutional obstacles on credit constraints and the relationship [...] Read more.

The growing demand for goods and technology increases capital requirements, especially in exporting enterprises. However, many firms have difficulty accessing external capital due to institutional obstacles. This study analyzes two main issues: the influence of institutional obstacles on credit constraints and the relationship between credit constraints and export decisions, adopting firm-level data from 131 countries. The study’s remarkable contribution is to cluster the data into four country groups based on their national income. The typical specification of each group can lead to more precise results, thereby highlighting the role of institutions. More advanced, this study complements the literature’s gap in the relationship between credit constraints and exports by controlling for institutions as interactive variables in the model. This work upgrades assessments to be more accurate, thereby providing more valuable information to policymakers. In addition, credit constraints are measured by both quantitative and qualitative methods. The essential role of firm size is emphasized in further analysis. This study approaches the Probit method. Furthermore, an instrumental variable is used to solve the endogeneity problem. The results found that a weak institution prevents access to finance, especially in middle-income countries. In addition, firms’ access to capital negatively affects exports in all regions. The finding in the group of rich countries is most pronounced. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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22 pages, 3222 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Bio-Based Products from Mediterranean Seaweeds: Italian Opportunities and Challenges for a Sustainable Blue Economy

by Simona Armeli Minicante, Lucia Bongiorni and Amelia De Lazzari

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5634; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095634 - 7 May 2022

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 7789

Abstract

Seaweeds are attracting increasing attention as an alternative healthy food and renewable drugs source and as agents of climate change mitigation that provide essential ecosystem services. In this context, seaweeds represent marine resources capable of supporting and pursuing the objectives of the Sustainable [...] Read more.

Seaweeds are attracting increasing attention as an alternative healthy food and renewable drugs source and as agents of climate change mitigation that provide essential ecosystem services. In this context, seaweeds represent marine resources capable of supporting and pursuing the objectives of the Sustainable Blue Economy and the Bio-Based Circular Economy. In this review, we analyze the state of seaweed bio-based products and research on the Mediterranean Sea from the last 20 years. Results of this analysis show a large number of investigations focusing on antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities compared to on biofuels and bioplastics. Attempts at seaweed farming, although generally very limited, are present in Israel and some North African countries. Lastly, we focus on the Italian situation—including research, companies and legislation on seaweed production—and we discuss gaps, perspectives and challenges for the potential development of a sustainable seaweed industry according to the Sustainable Blue Economy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Environmental Research on Protists in the Bioeconomy Innovations)

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20 pages, 10808 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Assessing Soil Erosion by Monitoring Hilly Lakes Silting

by Yamuna Giambastiani, Riccardo Giusti, Lorenzo Gardin, Stefano Cecchi, Maurizio Iannuccilli, Stefano Romanelli, Lorenzo Bottai, Alberto Ortolani and Bernardo Gozzini

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5649; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095649 - 7 May 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2977

Abstract

Soil erosion continues to be a threat to soil quality, impacting crop production and ecosystem services delivery. The quantitative assessment of soil erosion, both by water and by wind, is mostly carried out by modeling the phenomenon via remote sensing approaches. Several empirical [...] Read more.

Soil erosion continues to be a threat to soil quality, impacting crop production and ecosystem services delivery. The quantitative assessment of soil erosion, both by water and by wind, is mostly carried out by modeling the phenomenon via remote sensing approaches. Several empirical and process-based physical models are used for erosion estimation worldwide, including USLE (or RUSLE), MMF, WEPP, PESERA, SWAT, etc. Furthermore, the amount of sediment produced by erosion phenomena is obtained by direct measurements carried out in experimental sites. Data collection for this purpose is very complex and expensive; in fact, we have few cases of measures distributed at the basin scale to monitor this phenomenon. In this work, we propose a methodology based on an expeditious way to monitor the volume of hilly lakes with GPS, sonar sensor and aquatic drone. The volume is obtained by means of an automatic GIS procedure based on the measurements of lake depth and surface area. Hilly lakes can be considered as sediment containers. Time-lapse measurements make it possible to estimate the silting rate of the lake. The volume of 12 hilly lakes in Tuscany was measured in 2010 and 2018, and the results in terms of silting rate were compared with the estimates of soil loss obtained by RUSLE and MMF. The analyses show that all the lakes measured are subject to silting phenomena. The sediment estimated by the measurements corresponds well to the amount of soil loss estimated with the models used. The relationships found are significant and promising for a distributed application of the methodology, which allows rapid estimation of erosion phenomena. Substantial differences in the proposed comparison (mainly found in two cases) can be justified by particular conditions found on site, which are difficult to predict from the models. The proposed approach allows for a monitoring of basin-scale erosion, which can be extended to larger domains which have hilly lakes, such as, for example, the Tuscany region, where there are more than 10,000 lakes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of GIS and Remote Sensing in Soil Environment Monitoring)

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21 pages, 1625 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Barley Straw Biochar and Compost Affect Heavy Metal Transport in Soil and Uptake by Potatoes Grown under Wastewater Irrigation

by Ali Mawof, Shiv O. Prasher, Stéphane Bayen, Emma C. Anderson, Christopher Nzediegwu and Ramanbhai Patel

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5665; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095665 - 7 May 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3304

Abstract

Wastewater can supplement freshwater in agriculture; however, it contains toxic heavy metals such as cadmium, chromium, and lead that are hazardous to humans and the environment. We investigated the effects of barley straw biochar, green and table waste compost, and their mix on [...] Read more.

Wastewater can supplement freshwater in agriculture; however, it contains toxic heavy metals such as cadmium, chromium, and lead that are hazardous to humans and the environment. We investigated the effects of barley straw biochar, green and table waste compost, and their mix on heavy metal transport in soil and uptake by potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) irrigated with synthetic wastewater for two years. In both years, amending soil with compost significantly reduced (p ≤ 0.05) cadmium uptake in potato flesh, skin, roots, and stems; zinc uptake in potato skin and roots; and copper uptake in potato flesh due to increased soil cation-exchange capacity, dissolved organic carbon, and soil pH. Co-amending the soil with compost and 3% biochar significantly reduced (p ≤ 0.05) the bioavailability of cadmium, copper, and zinc in the contaminated soil. Relative to the non-amended soils, soil amendment with biochar, compost, and their mix affected neither the transport of chromium, iron, and lead in the soils nor their uptake by potatoes. It was concluded that amending soil with barley straw biochar and/or compost produced from city green table waste could be used to improve the safety of wastewater irrigated potatoes, depending on the biochar application rate and heavy metal type. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Water, Air, and Soil Pollution)

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19 pages, 3672 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Study of Assessment and Prediction of Water Quality Index Using Fuzzy Logic and ANN Models

by Roman Trach, Yuliia Trach, Agnieszka Kiersnowska, Anna Markiewicz, Marzena Lendo-Siwicka and Konstantin Rusakov

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5656; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095656 - 7 May 2022

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 6327

Abstract

Various human activities have been the main causes of surface water pollution. The uneven distribution of industrial enterprises in the territories of the main river basins of Ukraine do not always allow the real state of the water quality to be assessed. This [...] Read more.

Various human activities have been the main causes of surface water pollution. The uneven distribution of industrial enterprises in the territories of the main river basins of Ukraine do not always allow the real state of the water quality to be assessed. This article has three purposes: (1) the modification of the Ukrainian method for assessing the WQI, taking into account the level of negative impact of the most dangerous chemical elements, (2) the modeling of WQI assessment using fuzzy logic and (3) the creation of an artificial neural network model for the prediction of the WQI. The fuzzy logic model used four input variables and calculated one output variable (WQI). In the final stage of the study, six ANN models were analyzed, which differed from each other in various loss function optimizers and activation functions. The optimal results were shown using an ANN with the softmax activation function and Adam’s loss function optimizer (MAPE = 9.6%; R² = 0.964). A comparison of the MAPE and R² indicators of the created ANN model with other models for assessing water quality showed that the level of agreement between the forecast and target data is satisfactory. The novelty of this study is in the proposal to modify the WQI assessment methodology which is used in Ukraine. At the same time, the phased and joint use of mathematical tools such as the fuzzy logic method and the ANN allow one to effectively evaluate and predict WQI values, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management of Water Resource and Environmental Monitoring)

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14 pages, 3540 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Investigating the Remanufacturing Potential of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

by Fabian Schoden, Joscha Detzmeier, Anna Katharina Schnatmann, Tomasz Blachowicz and Eva Schwenzfeier-Hellkamp

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5670; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095670 - 7 May 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3004

Abstract

Resources are becoming more expensive and less accessible, for instance construction wood or semiconductors. In addition, climate change requires the conversion of the energy system to 100% renewable energy. Therefore, we need resources to prevent the climate crisis from worsening, but at the [...] Read more.

Resources are becoming more expensive and less accessible, for instance construction wood or semiconductors. In addition, climate change requires the conversion of the energy system to 100% renewable energy. Therefore, we need resources to prevent the climate crisis from worsening, but at the same time, we are suffering from a worsening resource crisis. State-of-the-art technologies, such as silicon-based photovoltaic or wind power plants, are harnessing renewable energy but causing problems and resource losses at the end of their useful life. This alarming situation must be addressed with renewable energy technologies that can be used longer, repaired and remanufactured, and properly recycled at the end of their useful life. An emerging technology that can complement the established systems is dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Their production is less energy intensive and they can be manufactured without toxic materials. In line with the concept of the circular economy, the service life of all products must be improved in order to reduce resource consumption. Therefore, we investigated the potential for remanufacturing DSSCs by taking apart old DSSCs, cleaning the components, and building new DSSCs from the remanufactured components. The remanufactured DSSCs have the same or higher efficiencies and can be remanufactured multiple times. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Solar Photovoltaic Islands’ Decarbonization)

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22 pages, 2690 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

What Are the Environmental Benefits and Costs of Reducing Food Waste? Bristol as a Case Study in the WASTE FEW Urban Living Lab Project

by Eleanor Eaton, Alistair Hunt, Anastasia Di Leo, Daniel Black, Gwen Frost and Sarah Hargreaves

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5573; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095573 - 6 May 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5691

Abstract

The city of Bristol currently generates around 48,000 tonnes of household food waste every year. This waste incurs loss of resources and environmental damage throughout the food cycle. In this paper we quantify and value the baseline socio-environmental impacts from household food waste [...] Read more.

The city of Bristol currently generates around 48,000 tonnes of household food waste every year. This waste incurs loss of resources and environmental damage throughout the food cycle. In this paper we quantify and value the baseline socio-environmental impacts from household food waste in Bristol before examining the potential costs and benefits that may result from changes to food waste behaviour. In so doing, we look to better inform the choice of food waste reduction methods in public policy. The environmental impacts of two possible policy targets are explored: (1) a 20% increase in food waste recycling and (2) an overall decrease in food waste of 20%. Environmental impacts are estimated for 13 different hazards, including Global Warming Potential, Particulate Matter, Human Toxicity and Water Depletion. The societal consequences of these environmental changes are monetised using non-market values which allows us to directly compare the relative importance of different environmental impacts and the trade-offs between these impacts in each scenario. For example, we estimate that the Global Warming Potential of Bristol’s annual food waste equates to around 110,000 tonnes CO₂, or 25,000 additional cars on the road every year. We find that a 20% improvement in recycling behaviour would lead to an annual reduction of 113 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, whilst a 20% reduction in food waste would result in an annual reduction of 15,000 tonnes CO₂ equivalent. Findings suggest that the environmental impact of waste management is significantly overshadowed by the impact of resources used in food production and distribution before it becomes waste. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Food–Energy–Water Nexus: Boundaries, Processes, and the Circular Economy)

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9 pages, 2655 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceCommunication

Analysis of the COVID-19 Lockdown’s Impact on Air Quality in the Larger Cities of Spain

by Edgar Lorenzo-Sáez, Eloína Coll-Aliaga, Jose-Vicente Oliver-Villanueva, Fernando Prieto del Campo and Victoria Lerma-Arce

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5613; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095613 - 6 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2032

Abstract

During the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, the air quality reached the best levels to be recorded in large cities in Spain. To analyze and demonstrate this improvement in air quality levels, the evolution of the average nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) levels [...] Read more.

During the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, the air quality reached the best levels to be recorded in large cities in Spain. To analyze and demonstrate this improvement in air quality levels, the evolution of the average nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) levels in 78 Spanish cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants during the pre-COVID-19 years (2017–2019), the period of the COVID-19 lockdown, and the post-COVID-19 year (2021) was analyzed. The results show an improvement in the air quality in most of the cities analyzed for 2020 due to the COVID-19 restrictions. In addition, in 2021, without the COVID-19 restrictions, the air quality levels of the largest cities in Spain showed important improvements in terms of NO₂ concentration compared to the levels in the pre-COVID-19 years (2017–2019). Nevertheless, in 2021, only 11 cities were below the average annual limit of 10 µg/m³ NO₂ established by the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition, no cities with more than 500,000 inhabitants achieved NO₂ levels below the WHO limit. Finally, a detailed monthly analysis indicated that the pre-COVID-19 levels were reached again during the last months of the monitored period. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality Change in Association with COVID-19 Pandemic)

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21 pages, 7406 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Ecological–Economic Modelling of Traditional Agroforestry to Promote Farmland Biodiversity with Cost-Effective Payments

by Takamasa Nishizawa, Sonja Kay, Johannes Schuler, Noëlle Klein, Felix Herzog, Joachim Aurbacher and Peter Zander

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5615; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095615 - 6 May 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3657

Abstract

Orchard meadows, a traditional agroforestry system in Switzerland combining the dual use fruit and fodder production, are declining, even though the farmland managed under agri-environmental schemes (AES) has been expanding. Despite increasing interest in agroforestry research for developing sustainable agriculture, it is poorly [...] Read more.

Orchard meadows, a traditional agroforestry system in Switzerland combining the dual use fruit and fodder production, are declining, even though the farmland managed under agri-environmental schemes (AES) has been expanding. Despite increasing interest in agroforestry research for developing sustainable agriculture, it is poorly understood how subsidies contribute to the maintenance of trees on agricultural land and the promotion of farmland biodiversity. Therefore, the objective of the present study is to examine the effects of incentive-based AES on both farmers’ decisions regarding trees and biodiversity by developing an ecological–economic assessment model. To explore cost-effective AES, we explicitly consider the heterogeneity of farm types. We apply this integrated model to the farms in Schwarzbubenland, a small hilly region in Northern Switzerland. Results show that the adoption of AES and the compliance costs of participating in AES considerably vary among farm types, and the current AES do not provide farmers with sufficient payments to maintain any type of orchard meadows, despite the ecological benefits of orchard meadows. The integrating modeling developed in this study enables us to better understand the relationship between subsidies and biodiversity through farmers’ decisions on land use and facilitates the design of cost-effective payments for the maintenance of agroforestry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroforestry and Sustainable Agricultural Production)

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25 pages, 5961 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Philopatry as a Tool to Define Tentative Closed Migration Cycles and Conservation Areas for Large Pelagic Fishes in the Pacific

by Veronica Relano and Daniel Pauly

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5577; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095577 - 6 May 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 6675

Abstract

Migrations of large pelagic fishes across the Pacific are usually inferred from tagging or genetic studies. Even though these techniques have improved over time, they still fail to demonstrate large transoceanic migrations, usually proposing ‘routes’ that do not cycle seasonally. The current study [...] Read more.

Migrations of large pelagic fishes across the Pacific are usually inferred from tagging or genetic studies. Even though these techniques have improved over time, they still fail to demonstrate large transoceanic migrations, usually proposing ‘routes’ that do not cycle seasonally. The current study uses the concept of ‘philopatry’ in 11 large pelagic fish species, i.e., the tendency for animals to return to their natal site to reproduce. Tentative migration routes and maps emerge by applying this concept to the movements extracted through a comprehensive review of the literature on satellite and conventional tagging, and population and subpopulation linkages inferred from genetic and/or genomic studies. Moreover, when comparing these proposed migration routes and the mapped reconstructed catch (1950–2016, Sea Around Us) of each species in the Pacific, similarities emerge, reinforcing the accuracy of these migration cycles informed by philopatry. Finally, by superposing the migration routes of our 11 species, we identified areas of the Pacific that are part of the inferred migration routes of multiple species, leading to a discussion of possible ‘blue corridors’ that would protect the studied species’ key migration routes and stocks, which are important for the fisheries, culture and nutrition of Pacific islanders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Life below Water: Marine Biology and Sustainable Ocean)

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19 pages, 4037 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

B Impact Assessment as a Sustainable Tool: Analysis of the Certification Model

by Vítor Silva, Vanda Lima, José Carlos Sá, Luís Fonseca and Gilberto Santos

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5590; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095590 - 6 May 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 7005

Abstract

Currently, certification is an essential tool for a company’s sustainability and a seal of trust for the stakeholders. The B Corporation (B Corp) certification system is in line with the leading indicators of sustainable development and social responsibility published by the general assembly [...] Read more.

Currently, certification is an essential tool for a company’s sustainability and a seal of trust for the stakeholders. The B Corporation (B Corp) certification system is in line with the leading indicators of sustainable development and social responsibility published by the general assembly of the United Nations, namely: environment, community, workers, customers, and governance. Nevertheless, it is essential that academic research should empirically assess the B Corp model’s reliability for its validation and legitimization. In this study, we address the results of the B Impact Assessment of 2262 companies certified by B Corp from the beginning of 2017 to March 2021. The main objective is to analyze the B Impact Assessment, verifying the robustness and consistency of the model to measure and improve the economic, social, and environmental impact of companies. We analyzed the construct’s validity through a confirmatory factorial analysis using AMOS statistical software. The results allowed us to identify some weaknesses and limitations of the B Impact Assessment. This certification system reflects an unadjusted model where the main assessment indicators have problems with regard to the measurement scale. The governance and customer indicators are the most vulnerable. The findings also allow us to state that there are apparently no minimum values established for each of the parameters evaluated, which may cause imbalances in the sustainable development process of B Corp companies. This research contributes to enhancing B Impact Assessment as a sustainability tool, highlighting areas for improvement concerning the indicators’ measurement scales and the assessment process, including the monitoring of evaluators. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection New Frontiers in Production Engineering)

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20 pages, 2097 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Ammonium and Phosphate Recovery from Biogas Slurry: Multivariate Statistical Analysis Approach

by Aftab Ali Kubar, Qing Huang, Kashif Ali Kubar, Muhammad Amjad Khan, Muhammad Sajjad, Sumaira Gul, Chen Yang, Qingqing Wang, Genmao Guo, Ghulam Mustafa Kubar, Muhammad Ibrahim Kubar and Niaz Ahmed Wahocho

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5617; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095617 - 6 May 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3528

Abstract

Livestock biogas slurry is an effluent containing nutrients such as ammonium and phosphate that are released by the industries. Therefore, recovery and reuse of ammonium and phosphorus is highly necessary. In recent years, many studies have been devoted to the use of different [...] Read more.

Livestock biogas slurry is an effluent containing nutrients such as ammonium and phosphate that are released by the industries. Therefore, recovery and reuse of ammonium and phosphorus is highly necessary. In recent years, many studies have been devoted to the use of different multivariate statistical analyses to investigate the interrelationship of one factor to another factor. The overall objective of this research study was to understand the significance of phosphate and ammonium recovery from biogas slurry using the multivariate statistical approach. This study was conducted using a range of salts that are commonly found in biogas slurry (ZnCl₂, FeCl₃, FeCl₂, CuCl₂, Na₂CO₃, and NaHCO₃). Experiments with a biogas digester and aqueous solution were conducted at pH 9, with integration with NH₄⁺, Mg²⁺, and PO₄³⁻ molar ratios of 1.0, 1.2, and 1.8, respectively. The removal efficiency of ammonium and phosphate increased from 15.0% to 71.0% and 18.0% to 99.0%, respectively, by increasing the dose of respective ions K⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe³⁺, Fe²⁺, Cu²⁺, and CO₃²⁻. The elements were increased from 58.0 to 71.0 for HCO₃⁻, with the concentration increasing from 30 mg L⁻¹ to 240 mg L⁻¹. Principal component, regression, path analysis, and Pearson correlation analyses were used to investigate the relationships of phosphate and ammonium recovery under different biochar, pyrolysis temperature, element concentration and removal efficiencies. Multivariate statistical analysis was also used to comprehensively evaluate the biochar and struvite effects on recovery of ammonium and phosphate from biogas slurry. The results showed that combined study of multivariate statistics suggested that all the indicators positively or negatively affected each other. Pearson correlation was insignificant in many ionic concentrations, as all were more than the significant 0.05. The study concluded that temperature, biochar type, and varying levels of components, such as K⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe³⁺, Fe²⁺, Cu²⁺, CO₃²⁻, and HCO₃⁻, all had a substantial impact on P and NH₄⁺ recovery. Temperature and varying amounts of metal salts enhanced the efficacy of ammonium and phosphate recovery. This research elucidated the methods by which biochar effectively reuses nitrogen and phosphate from biogas slurry, presenting a long-term agricultural solution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems: The Role of Innovative Amendments in Crop Production Under Polluted Environments)

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23 pages, 622 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Build Back Better and Long-Term Housing Recovery: Assessing Community Housing Resilience and the Role of Insurance Post Disaster

by Sahar Zavareh Hofmann

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5623; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095623 - 6 May 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5017

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to better understand community housing resilience and the role of insurance using a Build Back Better Long-term Recovery Housing framework to analyze approaches and effects on long-term housing rebuilding and recovery. A comparative case study approach is [...] Read more.

The purpose of this research is to better understand community housing resilience and the role of insurance using a Build Back Better Long-term Recovery Housing framework to analyze approaches and effects on long-term housing rebuilding and recovery. A comparative case study approach is taken to assess insurance policies and outcomes following Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and the Canterbury earthquake sequence in Christchurch, New Zealand, both affluent urban communities with strong insurance markets. Framed within the context of “Build Back Better”, the community housing and insurance resilience assessment is based on five key indicators; governance, community resources, risk reduction, housing rebuilding funding (funding and speed of funding), and time compression (built environment and periods of recovery time). Public and private insurance schemes for both case studies are identified and are considered together with analysis of insurance claims and other sources of financial support. The findings and results show that recovery is the result of highly interdependent Build Back Better processes. The data suggests that insurance and governance systems greatly influences the onset and overall speed of recovery (time compression), thereby performing a major role in long-term recovery. This research provides an original contribution to disaster recovery knowledge by analyzing insurance claims from two well-documented natural disasters. Additionally, the paper proposes for the singular definition of community housing resilience. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Post-disaster Recovery from a Sustainability Perspective)

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15 pages, 9863 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Mining-Related Metal Pollution and Ecological Risk Factors in South-Eastern Georgia

by Marika Avkopashvili, Guranda Avkopashvili, Irakli Avkopashvili, Lasha Asanidze, Lia Matchavariani, Alexander Gongadze and Ramaz Gakhokidze

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5621; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095621 - 6 May 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3497

Abstract

Gold and copper production is important to the Georgian economy, but at the same time, mineral resources are mined in one of the important agricultural areas of the country. This study evaluated water and soil quality in the region. Soil from 18 villages [...] Read more.

Gold and copper production is important to the Georgian economy, but at the same time, mineral resources are mined in one of the important agricultural areas of the country. This study evaluated water and soil quality in the region. Soil from 18 villages was analyzed. Some of these villages have not been investigated before and previous information about soil quality was unknown. Ecological risk factors and potential ecological risk were determined for the study area. Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to analyze heavy metals concentration in soil and water samples taken from the study area. Integrated water and soil data allowed us to see how these important natural resources influence each other. After the comparison of the four-year period of the study, we observed an increase of heavy metals increase in the soil in 2017 compared to 2014. Higher lead concentration was discovered within a two kilometer radius of the mining area whereas the highest cadmium concentration was observed in the village Ratevani, 15 km away from the nearest mine, where there was an extremely high ecological risk of Cd concentration. Further investigations are recommended to be done in Ratevani village as the people living in this village are at risk of Cd poisoning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Pollution and Soil Remediation in Sustainable Agriculture)

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23 pages, 3183 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Diet Fermentation Leads to Microbial Adaptation in Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens; Linnaeus, 1758) Larvae Reared on Palm Oil Side Streams

by Patrick Klüber, Dorothee Tegtmeier, Sabine Hurka, Janin Pfeiffer, Andreas Vilcinskas, Martin Rühl and Holger Zorn

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5626; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095626 - 6 May 2022

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 5656

Abstract

Insects offer a promising alternative source of protein to mitigate the environmental consequences of conventional livestock farming. Larvae of the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens; Linnaeus, 1758) efficiently convert a variety of organic side streams and residues into valuable proteins, lipids, [...] Read more.

Insects offer a promising alternative source of protein to mitigate the environmental consequences of conventional livestock farming. Larvae of the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens; Linnaeus, 1758) efficiently convert a variety of organic side streams and residues into valuable proteins, lipids, and chitin. Here, we evaluated the suitability of two palm oil industry side streams—empty fruit bunches (EFB) and palm kernel meal (PKM)—as larval feed, and their impact on the larval gut microbiome. Among 69 fungal species we screened, Marasmius palmivorus, Irpex consors, and Bjerkandera adusta achieved the fastest growth and lignin degradation, so these fungi were used for the pretreatment of 7:3 mixtures of EFB and PKM. Larvae reared on the mixture pretreated with B. adusta (BAD) developed significantly more quickly and reached a higher final weight than those reared on the other pretreatments or the non-fermented reference (NFR). Amplicon sequencing of the BAD and NFR groups revealed major differences in the larval gut microbiome. The NFR group was dominated by facultatively anaerobic Enterobacteriaceae (typical of H. illucens larvae) whereas the BAD group favored obligately anaerobic, cellulolytic bacteria (Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae). We hypothesize that fungal lignin degradation led to an accumulation of mycelia and subsequent cellulolytic breakdown of fiber residues, thus improving substrate digestibility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Sustainable Insect Farming: Feed the Future)

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14 pages, 1398 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Economical Productivity of Maize Genotypes under Different Herbicides Application in Two Contrasting Climatic Conditions

by Dragan Božović, Dragana Popović, Vera Popović, Tomislav Živanović, Nataša Ljubičić, Milivoje Ćosić, Anđela Spahić, Divna Simić and Vladimir Filipović

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5629; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095629 - 6 May 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2673

Abstract

Maize ranks first among worldwide production and an important source of human and animal feed. Its production can be affected by management practices and climatic conditions. The objective of this study was to estimate stability of yield and hundred grains weight of six [...] Read more.

Maize ranks first among worldwide production and an important source of human and animal feed. Its production can be affected by management practices and climatic conditions. The objective of this study was to estimate stability of yield and hundred grains weight of six maize genotypes during two growing seasons at two locations, subjected to four different treatments: T₁ treatment—without herbicide, Control; T₂ treatment—active substance Nicosulfuron and Motivell commercial preparation; T₃ treatment—active substance Rimsulfuron and Tarot; and, T₄ treatment—active substance Forasulfuron and Equip. Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction—AMMI model and genotype × environment interaction—GGE biplot were used to estimate GEI—genotype by environment interaction. The results showed that the influence of genotype (G), year (Y), locality (L), treatment (T) and all interaction on hundred grains weight were significant. The share of genotypes in the total phenotypic variance was 64.70%, while the share in total interaction was 26.88%. The share of IPCA1 in terms of G × T interaction was 50.6%, while share of IPCA2 was 44.74%, which comprised together 94.80% of interaction. The first IPCA1 axis showed high share in the total interaction, which indicates out significance of genotype in total variation and interaction, while high level of IPCA2 indicates a significant treatment effect. Genotype L-6 had the same mass of 100 grains (37.96 g) during both years of testing, while genotype L-1, with 4.46 g, had the largest difference between years. This clearly indicates the influence of genotype but also stress under the influence of sulfonylureas and environmental factors. The maize genotype with the highest values of hundred grains weight, L-5 and L-6, expressed the highest values of grain yield (4665 kg ha⁻¹ and 4445 kg ha⁻¹). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Food and Feed Based on Agriculture 5.0: Latest Advances and Prospects)

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33 pages, 11125 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Highway Planning Trends: A Bibliometric Analysis

by Karen Castañeda, Omar Sánchez, Rodrigo F. Herrera and Guillermo Mejía

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5544; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095544 - 5 May 2022

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 6673

Abstract

An efficient highway infrastructure network is a determining factor in promoting the socio-economic development of countries and regions. Highway planning activities are highly important because their results ensure that projects are delivered within budget, schedule, and scope. Therefore, academics and professionals have promoted [...] Read more.

An efficient highway infrastructure network is a determining factor in promoting the socio-economic development of countries and regions. Highway planning activities are highly important because their results ensure that projects are delivered within budget, schedule, and scope. Therefore, academics and professionals have promoted various methodological and technological advances focused on improving highway planning processes, evidenced by many scientific documents that address the topic. Despite progress, few studies have focused on analyzing the state of the knowledge structure and the technological and methodological trends of the highway planning topic. Considering this gap, this study presents trends in highway planning and its knowledge structure based on a bibliometric analysis from January 2015 to September 2021. The research method is based on a bibliometric analysis composed of five main stages: (1) scope definition, (2) selection of bibliometric analysis techniques, (3) data collection, (4) bibliometric analysis execution, and (5) evidence analysis and synthesis. Information from 1703 journal papers was collected and analyzed. The findings show that the main trends of highway planning focus on life cycle analysis, computational tools, smart cities, sustainability issues, construction processes, new equipment and materials, and multi-objective optimization, among others. Thus, the findings of this study allow the reader to identify the methodological and technological trends in highway planning and their knowledge gaps to guide future studies in the field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Highway Models and Sustainability)

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21 pages, 3631 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Examining the Use of Urban Growth Boundary for Future Urban Expansion of Chattogram, Bangladesh

by Pankaj Bajracharya and Selima Sultana

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5546; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095546 - 5 May 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4217

Abstract

With the rapid and unregulated nature of urban expansion occurring in Chattogram, Bangladesh, the adoption of urban growth restriction mechanisms such as the urban growth boundary (UGB) can provide a robust framework necessary to direct the development of built-up areas in a way [...] Read more.

With the rapid and unregulated nature of urban expansion occurring in Chattogram, Bangladesh, the adoption of urban growth restriction mechanisms such as the urban growth boundary (UGB) can provide a robust framework necessary to direct the development of built-up areas in a way that curtails the growth in environmentally sensitive areas of the city. Using a support vector machine (SVM)-based urban growth simulation model, this paper examines the areas of future contiguous expansion of the city to aid in the delineation of the UGB. Utilizing landcover, topographic, and population density data from a variety of sources for the past twenty years, the SVM method with the radial basis function (RBF) kernel is used to develop a model based on fourteen predictor variables. A grid-search is used to tune the hyperparameters and determine the best performance combination of the hyperparameters for the RBF kernel function used in the SVM. The final SVM model using the best performance combination of the hyperparameters indicates a high percentage agreement of 91.79% and a substantial agreement for the Kappa coefficient of 0.7699. The developed SVM simulation model identifies potential areas that are more likely to undergo urban expansion in Chattogram in the next twenty years and provides aids for a stringent and strict delineation of UGB for this region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Expansion Prediction and Land Use/Land Cover Change Modeling for Sustainable Urban Development)

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19 pages, 2214 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Participatory Design of Nature-Based Solutions: Usability of Tools for Water Professionals

by Borjana Bogatinoska, Angelique Lansu, Jean Hugé and Stefan C. Dekker

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5562; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095562 - 5 May 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4430

Abstract

Participatory processes provide opportunities for water professionals such as scientists and policymakers and other stakeholders such as the local communities and farmers to meet, exchange information, deliberate, and share values. There is a diversity of rapidly evolving participatory methods, here defined, as tools [...] Read more.

Participatory processes provide opportunities for water professionals such as scientists and policymakers and other stakeholders such as the local communities and farmers to meet, exchange information, deliberate, and share values. There is a diversity of rapidly evolving participatory methods, here defined, as tools for supporting the process of designing nature-based solutions (NbS) together with the stakeholders. However, this requires a systematic and informed selection to facilitate the adequate choice of tools, aligned to the requirements and context of the water professionals and the stakeholders for the design and deployment of NbS. Despite this, there is still little progress and knowledge accumulation on how to select the most context-appropriate tool(s). Consequently, in this research, we propose a stepwise framework for the use of participatory tools, which we categorize as: (i) tools used for defining the hydro-meteorological hazards (HMH) and its impact on stakeholders—knowledge tools (ii) tools used for co-designing NbS with stakeholders—co-creation tools and (iii) tools used for co-implementing the transition towards NbS—transition tools. We then apply and test this stepwise framework on the participatory processes used in eight brook catchments distributed in four countries: the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom. The framework is designed in steps that would lead to respectively: selecting, classifying, mapping, and grading the participatory tools leading to an informed and systematic decision of a tool or suite of tools for the design and deployment of NbS with stakeholders. With the application of this framework, we see that among the water professionals: (1) knowledge tools are central in the problem definition stage, particularly with non-technical stakeholders; (2) most anticipated co-creation tools are e-Tools/Virtual tools and workshops; (3) transition tools favor visual tools as a way of enabling the transition towards management practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Spotlight on Nature-Based Solutions against Natural Hazard)

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24 pages, 1184 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

A Review of the Performance and Benefits of Mass Timber as an Alternative to Concrete and Steel for Improving the Sustainability of Structures

by Joseph Abed, Scott Rayburg, John Rodwell and Melissa Neave

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5570; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095570 - 5 May 2022

Cited by 115 | Viewed by 28375

Abstract

The construction industry represents one of the greatest contributors to atmospheric emissions of CO₂ and anthropogenic climate change, largely resulting from the production of commonly used building materials such as steel and concrete. It is well understood that the extraction and manufacture [...] Read more.

The construction industry represents one of the greatest contributors to atmospheric emissions of CO₂ and anthropogenic climate change, largely resulting from the production of commonly used building materials such as steel and concrete. It is well understood that the extraction and manufacture of these products generates significant volumes of greenhouse gases and, therefore, this industry represents an important target for reducing emissions. One possibility is to replace emissions-intensive, non-renewable materials with more environmentally friendly alternatives that minimise resource depletion and lower emissions. Although timber has not been widely used in mid- to high-rise buildings since the industrial revolution, recent advances in manufacturing have reintroduced wood as a viable product for larger and more complex structures. One of the main advantages of the resurgence of wood is its environmental performance; however, there is still uncertainty about how mass timber works and its suitability relative to key performance criteria for construction material selection. Consequently, the aim of this study is to help guide decision making in the construction sector by providing a comprehensive review of the research on mass timber. Key performance criteria for mass timber are reviewed, using existing literature, and compared with those for typical concrete construction. The review concludes that mass timber is superior to concrete and steel when taking into consideration all performance factors, and posits that the construction industry should, where appropriate, transition to mass timber as the low-carbon, high performance building material of the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wooden Materials and Joints for Sustainable Timber Structures)

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11 pages, 1388 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Feasibility Study of Bio-Sludge Hydrochar as Blast Furnace Injectant

by Wang Liang, Pavlina Nanou, Heather Wray, Jianliang Zhang, Ingemar Lundstrom, Stefan Lundqvist and Chuan Wang

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5510; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095510 - 4 May 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2789

Abstract

Hydrothermal treatment can convert paper mill biological (bio-) sludge waste into more energy-dense hydrochar, which can achieve energy savings and fossil CO₂ emissions reduction when used for metallurgical applications. This study assesses the basic, combustion and safety performance of bio-sludge hydrochar (BSHC) [...] Read more.

Hydrothermal treatment can convert paper mill biological (bio-) sludge waste into more energy-dense hydrochar, which can achieve energy savings and fossil CO₂ emissions reduction when used for metallurgical applications. This study assesses the basic, combustion and safety performance of bio-sludge hydrochar (BSHC) to evaluate its feasibility of use in blast furnace injection processes. When compared to bituminous and anthracite coals, BSHC has high volatile matter and ash content, and low fixed carbon content, calorific value and ignition point. The T_i and T_f values of BSHC are lower and the combustion time longer compared to coal. The R_0.5 value of BSHC is 5.27 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹, indicating a better combustion performance than coal. A mixture of BSHC and anthracite reduces the ignition point and improves the ignition and combustion performance of anthracite: an equal mixture of BSHC and anthracite has a R_0.5 of 3.35 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹. The explosiveness of BSHC and bituminous coal is 800 mm, while the explosiveness of anthracite is 0 mm. A mixture of 30% BSHC in anthracite results in a maximum explosiveness value of 10 mm, contributing to safer use of BSHC. Mixing BSHC and anthracite is promising for improving combustion performance in a blast furnace while maintaining safe conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Utilization of Biomass towards a Climate-Neutral and Sustainable Steel Sector)

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16 pages, 997 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Sustainable Development Ensued by Social Capital Impacts on Food Insecurity: The Case of Kibera, Nairobi

by Emma E. W. Termeer, Katrine Soma, Nina Motovska, Oscar Ingasia Ayuya, Marvin Kunz and Tinka Koster

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5504; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095504 - 4 May 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3786

Abstract

The aim of this study is to disclose the social factors of sustainable development goals by exploring the links between three types of social capital (bonding, bridging and linking) and food security in Kibera, an informal settlement located in Nairobi, Kenya. Several studies [...] Read more.

The aim of this study is to disclose the social factors of sustainable development goals by exploring the links between three types of social capital (bonding, bridging and linking) and food security in Kibera, an informal settlement located in Nairobi, Kenya. Several studies in the literature have addressed links between food security and social capital. However, a lack of theoretical approaches exist in the literature, which concern the sustainable development theory devoted to urban areas taking into account the sustainable development goals. This study applies a linear regression model on data from 385 households in Kibera to analyze the connection between food security and three types of social capital (bonding, bridging and linking). The results demonstrate that there is a positive impact between our proxies for bonding social capital (cultural diversity and the number of visits to area of origin) and food security. Bridging social capital (measured by trust in strangers) demonstrated a negative impact on food security. Finally, one indicator for linking social capital demonstrated a positive impact on food security (trust in community leaders), whereas the statistical analyses did not find any relationship of the two indicators; ‘trust in local politicians’ and ‘membership of social organisations’, with food security. The results demonstrate that insight into social capital can inform the understanding of household food insecurity in vulnerable urban settlements, by illustrating the critical impacts of social drivers in a food system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of Resilient Urban Food Systems—Exploring Synergies and Making Priorities)

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20 pages, 4100 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Biomass Potential and Utilization in Worldwide Research Trends—A Bibliometric Analysis

by Ardit Sertolli, Zoltán Gabnai, Péter Lengyel and Attila Bai

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5515; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095515 - 4 May 2022

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 10388

Abstract

Biomass, as a part of renewables, is a resource found in large quantities and is a basis for many different industries. This paper presents the most important trends and characteristics of research in biomass potential and biomass utilization on a world scale. The [...] Read more.

Biomass, as a part of renewables, is a resource found in large quantities and is a basis for many different industries. This paper presents the most important trends and characteristics of research in biomass potential and biomass utilization on a world scale. The main objective of this work is to analyze the state of research and trends in biomass potential and biomass utilization from 1974 to 2021, including 7117 relevant documents. The methodology part comprised two main stages: obtaining data from Scopus and then exporting the data into Excel. The VOSviewer bibliometric tool was used to analyze clusters of countries and groups of keywords. Research on this topic experienced significant development after 2000; moreover, the global trend of publications marked a significant increase after 2012. China and India have shown exponential growth, followed by USA, Germany, and UK. An important trend globally is that energy topics are gaining more importance and percentage annually, especially in photovoltaics and new generations of biofuels in terms of keywords. The paper aims to provide a tool for the scientific community by introducing the current state and potential tendencies in this special field, including the various sides of biomass use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass for Energy: Challenges, Opportunities and Potential Solutions)

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23 pages, 681 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Landowner Satisfaction with Conservation Programs in the Southern United States

by Ram K. Adhikari, Robert K. Grala, Stephen C. Grado, Donald L. Grebner and Daniel R. Petrolia

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5513; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095513 - 4 May 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3159

Abstract

Landowner satisfaction with conservation programs affects their participation decisions and subsequently effectiveness of these programs in improving environmental quality. This study determined the influence of landownership goals, environmental concerns, frequency of contacts with federal agencies, and socioeconomic factors on landowner satisfaction with available [...] Read more.

Landowner satisfaction with conservation programs affects their participation decisions and subsequently effectiveness of these programs in improving environmental quality. This study determined the influence of landownership goals, environmental concerns, frequency of contacts with federal agencies, and socioeconomic factors on landowner satisfaction with available conservation programs in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley and East Gulf Coastal Plain sub-geographies of the Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks Landscape Conservation Cooperative. A generalized ordered logit model for each conservation program was constructed to analyze factors influencing landowner satisfaction levels with these programs. Of the 14 federal conservation programs assessed, the top programs, based on a satisfaction level, included Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). The size of agricultural land owned, landownership goals including profit-making and personal recreation, concerns about wildlife habitat losses, and frequent contacts with federal agencies were positively related to landowner satisfaction levels. Better strategies addressing landowner’s environmental concerns, communicating technical knowledge, clarifying contract terms, and supporting financial resource leveraging will help reach the enrolled and non-enrolled landowners to increase their participation in conservation efforts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainability, Biodiversity and Conservation)

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23 pages, 7521 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Investigating the Impacts of Behavioural-Change Interventions and COVID-19 on the Food-Waste-Generation Behaviours of Catered Students in the UK and India

by Nicholas Davison, William Young, Andrew Ross, Timothy Cockerill and Shailendrasingh Rajput

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5486; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095486 - 3 May 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4407

Abstract

A food-waste initiative was conducted at two university canteens in the UK and India to examine food-waste attitudes and opportunities for food-waste reduction. Interventions were carried out to reduce food waste in both canteens. In the Indian canteen, postintervention data also included COVID-19-related [...] Read more.

A food-waste initiative was conducted at two university canteens in the UK and India to examine food-waste attitudes and opportunities for food-waste reduction. Interventions were carried out to reduce food waste in both canteens. In the Indian canteen, postintervention data also included COVID-19-related changes, such as a change from self-service to table service, as well as reduced menu choices and an improved estimation of the number of students requiring meals. Surveys and focus groups were conducted with students to better understand their food-waste-related attitudes, while interviews were carried out with university staff to better understand food-waste management. The study in the UK university canteen found that introducing table cards, posters, and signs led to food-waste reductions of 13%. Meanwhile, the study in the Indian university canteen found that the interventions and COVID-19 impacts led to food-waste reductions of 50%. Concerning food-waste-related differences between the UK and India, culture and food preferences were key reasons for food waste in India, with 40.5% more participants in India stating that they wasted food because the ‘food didn’t taste good’. Students in India were more concerned about social issues and food poverty related to food waste, with around 9% more participants stating that the ‘food could be used by others’. Meanwhile, students in the UK were more bothered by the economic and environmental impacts of food waste, with around 31% more participants stating food waste is ‘a waste of money’, and is ‘bad for the environment’ when compared to India. Key opportunities for both countries included adopting food-sharing initiatives, informed menu choices, and meal planning, as well as student-led engagement projects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue RETASTE: Rethink Food Waste)

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15 pages, 310 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Global Inequalities in the Bioeconomy: Thinking Continuity and Change in View of the Global Soy Complex

by Maria Backhouse, Malte Lühmann and Anne Tittor

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5481; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095481 - 3 May 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5241

Abstract

As a proposed pathway to societal transformation, the bioeconomy is aimed at providing a sustainable alternative to the fossil-based economy, replacing fossil raw materials with renewable biogenic alternatives. In this conceptual contribution, we argue that it is impossible to transform societies into sustainable [...] Read more.

As a proposed pathway to societal transformation, the bioeconomy is aimed at providing a sustainable alternative to the fossil-based economy, replacing fossil raw materials with renewable biogenic alternatives. In this conceptual contribution, we argue that it is impossible to transform societies into sustainable bioeconomies considering the narrow boundaries of the bioeconomy as a policy. Drawing on approaches including agro-food studies, cheap food, and agrarian extractivism, we show that the bioeconomy is entangled in a broader context of social relations which call its claim to sustainability into question. Our analysis of the global soy complex, which represents the core of the current agro-food system, demonstrates how the bioeconomy perpetuates global inequalities with regard to trade relations, demand, and supply patterns, as well as power relations between the involved actors from the global to the local level. Against this background, we propose a fundamental rethink of the underlying understanding of transformation in bioeconomy policies. Instead of thinking the bioeconomy only along the lines of ecological modernisation, its proponents should consider studies on social-ecological transformation, which would entail radical structural change of the prevailing food regime to cope with the social-ecological crisis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prospects and Challenges of Bioeconomy Sustainability Assessment)

25 pages, 2279 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Metallurgical Wastes as Resources for Sustainability of the Steel Industry

by Dana-Adriana Iluţiu-Varvara and Claudiu Aciu

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5488; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095488 - 3 May 2022

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 10332

Abstract

The industrial pollution caused by metallurgical waste accumulation has a negative impact on the three environmental factors: soil, air and water. Therefore, the correct management of these wastes would lead to: protection of the environmental factors, the saving of natural resources and sustainability [...] Read more.

The industrial pollution caused by metallurgical waste accumulation has a negative impact on the three environmental factors: soil, air and water. Therefore, the correct management of these wastes would lead to: protection of the environmental factors, the saving of natural resources and sustainability of the steel industry. The purpose of this paper is to assess the chemical and mineralogical compositions of metallurgical wastes landfilled in the Păgida slag dump (Alba County, Romania), for sustainability of the steel industry and metal conservation. The chemical compositions of the two waste samples were analyzed by the XRF (X-ray fluorescence) technique. According to the chemical characterization, magnesium oxide (MgO) has potential to be used as an additional and raw material in the cement industry. The presence of oxides such as CaO, SiO₂ FeO and Al₂O₃ in the compositions of the metallurgical waste samples indicate that they have the potential for use as clinker materials in cement production. The iron and manganese contents from metallurgical wastes can be reused in the iron and steel industry. The presence of V₂O₅ and TiO₂ is connected with the making of stainless steel, and for this reason they have the potential to be reused in the stainless steel industry. The predominant chemical compounds are SiO₂, Fetotal, Cao and MgO. The mineralogical compositions were analyzed by the XRD (X-ray diffraction) technique. The mineralogical compounds presenting reuse potential in different domains are Fayalite, Magnetite, Magnesioferrite and Periclase. The mineralogical compounds from metallurgical wastes can be reused as: raw and/or additional materials in the process from which they originate (steelmaking); raw and/or additional materials in road construction and concrete production; pigments in paints; micronutrients in fertilizers; ore of iron, etc. Then, the theoretical assessments of the recovery potentials of the metals were estimated for slag dumps. Copper (Cu), vanadium (V), molybdenum (Mo) and nickel (Ni) have high recovery potential. The total economic value of the recovery potential of metals from slag dumps was assessed to be USD 1175.7440 million. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban and Industrial Solid Waste Management)

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15 pages, 16347 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

On the Use of Radar and Optical Satellite Imagery for the Monitoring of Flood Hazards on Heritage Sites in Southern Sinai, Egypt

by Wael Attia, Dina Ragab, Atef M. Abdel-Hamid, Aly M. Marghani, Abdelaziz Elfadaly and Rosa Lasaponara

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5500; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095500 - 3 May 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5022

Abstract

This study focuses on the use of radar and optical satellite imagery for flood hazard mapping and monitoring around the archaeological sites of the Wadi Baba area, situated at Sinai (Egypt) and well known for its heritage treasures belonging to diverse historical periods [...] Read more.

This study focuses on the use of radar and optical satellite imagery for flood hazard mapping and monitoring around the archaeological sites of the Wadi Baba area, situated at Sinai (Egypt) and well known for its heritage treasures belonging to diverse historical periods and civilizations from the Pharaonic, Nabateans, Christian, and Islamic eras. Although this area is located in an arid to semi-arid climatic region, it is intermittently flooded due to torrential rainstorms. To assess the amount of rainfall expected and its impacts on heritage sites, satellite Sentinel-1 (C-Band) and Tropical Rainfall Monitoring Mission (TRMM) data were jointly used with measurements from meteorological stations and the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) from Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM). Envi5.1, ArcGIS 10.4.1, Snap 6.0, and the GEE platform were used to process optical and radar data, which were further analysed using the ArcHydro model. In this study, the TRMM accumulated rainfall data acquired on 17 January 2010, Sentinel-1 radar images between 2017 and 2019, and Sentinel-1 data captured from 1 to 30 March 2020 processed by GEE platform were chosen to assess the effects of flood events on the archaeological sites in the study area. The results indicated that the study area is exposed to flood risk that significantly threatens these heritage sites. Based on that, mitigation strategies were devised and recommended to mitigate the flood hazard impact around the archaeological areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geoinformatics for the Promotion, Management and Conservation of Cultural Heritage)

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22 pages, 1818 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Identifying Barriers in the Implementation of Agile Methodologies in Automotive Industry

by Daniel Soares, Francisco José Gomes da Silva, Sandra Cristina Faria Ramos, Konstantinos Kirytopoulos, José Carlos Sá and Luís Pinto Ferreira

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5453; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095453 - 1 May 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 9972

Abstract

Projects have grown into more dynamic and complex endeavors, and agile project management should be considered as a way to deal with them. This is a novel study in this field, because the implementation of agile project management in the automotive industry was [...] Read more.

Projects have grown into more dynamic and complex endeavors, and agile project management should be considered as a way to deal with them. This is a novel study in this field, because the implementation of agile project management in the automotive industry was not explored so far, thus, this work intended to fill this gap, by identifying barriers in the implementation of agile methodologies in project management regarding the automotive industry. This was conducted through a questionnaire survey, which was developed and distributed to 148 manufacturing companies of components for the automotive industry, out of a total number of companies of 240, and 56 complete answers were obtained (23.33%). Statistical analyses were performed using a Kruskal–Wallis test, a Mann–Whitney test, and Spearmen’s correlation. A real picture of the implementation of agile project management in the Portuguese automotive industry is depicted through this work. ‘Organizational’, ‘Knowledge and Technology’, ‘Institutional’, and ‘Financial’ barriers are found to be the most important. However, in overcoming these barriers, companies can be more sustainable in economic, environmental, and social terms. Recommendations on how to overcome these barriers were presented, and a framework sequencing these recommendations was presented, leading to an effective implementation of agile methodologies. It starts with the willingness of the company, and all collaborators, to adopt the agile methodologies, looking for the agile values as an input in order to achieve a competitive advantage. It is followed by an initial investment, which intends to attain the deployment of an agile team, composed of highly skilled collaborators with a clear understanding of the agile objectives, who disseminate knowledge about agile methodologies to the other collaborators, increasing their ability to implement agile methodologies in project management. This team should work and develop frameworks and workflows, according to each company’s characteristics and environment. The studied aspects can be replicated in other countries, and allow a comparison of the situation between countries, trying to correlate the culture of each country with the ability to implement agile methodologies, among other aspects, such as economical level of the companies, type of production, and the commitment of the collaborators to improve processes and create competitive advantages with which to face competitors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection New Frontiers in Production Engineering)

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15 pages, 847 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Entrepreneurship or Employment? A Survey of College Students’ Sustainable Entrepreneurial Intentions

by Ruijie Zhu, Guojing Zhao, Zehai Long, Yangjie Huang and Zhaoxin Huang

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5466; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095466 - 1 May 2022

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 6651

Abstract

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the global job market, with increasing unemployment rates leading to an unstable social situation that has affected college students’ job prospects. This situation has drawn the attention of the Chinese government and universities [...] Read more.

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the global job market, with increasing unemployment rates leading to an unstable social situation that has affected college students’ job prospects. This situation has drawn the attention of the Chinese government and universities to the promotion of entrepreneurship. The present study used field theory to analyze the entrepreneurial intentions of 4926 college students in Hangzhou, an emerging global digital city. It was found that college students who had received entrepreneurship education were more likely to insist on entrepreneurship, while the native environmental field had a significant positive effect on students’ sustainable entrepreneurial intention (SEI). These findings provide a good reference for universities to promote entrepreneurial intentions among college students and provide advice on the construction of entrepreneurship education fields. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Entrepreneurship and Innovation for Sustainable Management)

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24 pages, 3297 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

CO₂ Emission Reduction Potential of Road Transport to Achieve Carbon Neutrality in China

by Jieshuang Dong, Yiming Li, Wenxiang Li and Songze Liu

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5454; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095454 - 1 May 2022

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4073

Abstract

Under the targets of peaking CO₂ emissions and carbon neutrality in China, it is a matter of urgency to reduce the CO₂ emissions of road transport. To explore the CO₂ emission reduction potential of road transport, this study proposes eight [...] Read more.

Under the targets of peaking CO₂ emissions and carbon neutrality in China, it is a matter of urgency to reduce the CO₂ emissions of road transport. To explore the CO₂ emission reduction potential of road transport, this study proposes eight policy scenarios: the business-as-usual (BAU), clean electricity (CE), fuel economy improvement (FEI), shared autonomous vehicles (SAV), CO₂ emission trading (CET) (with low, medium, and high carbon prices), and comprehensive (CS) scenarios. The road transport CO₂ emissions from 2020 to 2060 in these scenarios are calculated based on the bottom-up method and are evaluated in the Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP). The Log-Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) method is employed to analyze the contribution of each factor to road transport CO₂ emission reduction in each scenario. The results show that CO₂ emissions of road transport will peak at 1419.5 million tonnes in 2033 under the BAU scenario. In contrast, the peaks of road transport CO₂ emissions in the CE, SAV, FEI, CET-LCP, CET-MCP, CET-HCP, and CS scenarios are decreasing and occur progressively earlier. Under the CS scenario with the greatest CO₂ emission reduction potential, CO₂ emissions of road transport will peak at 1200.37 million tonnes in 2023 and decrease to 217.73 million tonnes by 2060. Fuel structure and fuel economy contribute most to the emission reduction in all scenarios. This study provides possible pathways toward low-carbon road transport for the goal of carbon neutrality in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable City Planning and Development: Transport and Land Use)

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21 pages, 1871 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Spatial Analysis of Air Quality Assessment in Two Cities in Nigeria: A Comparison of Perceptions with Instrument-Based Methods

by Timothy M. Chukwu, Stephen Morse and Richard J. Murphy

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5403; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095403 - 30 Apr 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4285

Abstract

The air quality (AQ) in urban contexts is a major concern, especially in the developing world. The environmental and social challenges created by poor AQ have continued to increase despite improvements in monitoring AQ using earth observation (EO) satellites, static and mobile ground-based [...] Read more.

The air quality (AQ) in urban contexts is a major concern, especially in the developing world. The environmental and social challenges created by poor AQ have continued to increase despite improvements in monitoring AQ using earth observation (EO) satellites, static and mobile ground-based sensors and models. However, these types of equipment can be expensive to purchase, operate, and maintain, especially for cities of the developing world, and, as a result, there is growing interest in the elicitation of residents’ perceptions of AQ. However, there is a need to analyse how the results obtained from sensor measurements and models match the AQ as perceived by residents. This study explored AQ in multiple locations in two developing world cities (Abuja and Enugu) in Nigeria by analysing the perceptions of 262 residents and how these compared with findings obtained from ground-based instruments. The results suggest that the perceived AQ of the locations broadly matches those obtained using instruments, although there were statistically significant differences between respondent groups based on the demographic factors of income-education (Abuja) and age (Enugu). This research supports the contention that perceptual AQ assessment provides a valuable source of data for policy and decision-makers when addressing poor AQ and can support action in the absence of instrument-based measurements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

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29 pages, 3575 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Land Registry Framework Based on Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) for Environmental Sustainability

by Mohammed Shuaib, Noor Hafizah Hassan, Sahnius Usman, Shadab Alam, Surbhi Bhatia, Parul Agarwal and Sheikh Mohammad Idrees

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5400; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095400 - 30 Apr 2022

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 7074

Abstract

Providing a system user with a unique and secure identity is a prerequisite for authentication and authorization aspects of a security system. It is generally understood that the existing digital identity systems store the identity details in centralized databases, and users store the [...] Read more.

Providing a system user with a unique and secure identity is a prerequisite for authentication and authorization aspects of a security system. It is generally understood that the existing digital identity systems store the identity details in centralized databases, and users store the identity details in centralized databases in which users do not have any control over them. These vulnerabilities in the traditional digital identities make them susceptible to various malicious assaults and modifications. Users’ personally identifiable information (PII) may leak through these identity solutions that can consequently affect other applications being used by the users, and they have no control over them. Land registration is a major domain of governance that defines civilians’ well-being and needs to be handled properly to avoid conflict and to support Environmental Sustainability. These traditional land registry applications also lack identity parameters due to weaknesses in identity solutions. A secure and reliable digital identity solution is the need of the hour. Self-sovereign identity (SSI), a new concept, is becoming more popular as a secure and reliable identity solution for users based on identity principles. SSI provides users with a way to control their personal information and consent for it to be used in various ways. In addition, the user’s identity details are stored in a decentralized manner, which helps to overcome the problems with digital identity solutions. This article reviews existing SSI solutions and analyzes them using SSI principles. It also assesses the SSI components required for constructing SSI frameworks that adhere to the SSI principles. Furthermore, it defines the procedures for establishing an SSI ecosystem, explores the laws governing digital identity that governments have adopted, and identifies SSI applications in several fields. Finally, a review of SSI applications in the domain of land registry systems is given in order to propose an SSI-based land registry framework for a secure and reliable land registry system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Machine Learning and Big Data Analytics for Environmental Sustainability)

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9 pages, 257 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Relationships between Coping Styles, Emotional Distress, and Fear of COVID-19 among Workers in the Oil and Gas Industry in Malaysia during the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Joseph Kulip, Mohammad Saffree Jeffree, Nicholas Tze Ping Pang, Nazmirrudin Nasirruddin and Walton Wider

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5398; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095398 - 30 Apr 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3193

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had serious impacts on psychological health globally. However, very little is currently known regarding the link between fear of COVID-19 with psychological health and various coping styles, especially among oil and gas workers. This study aims to assess the [...] Read more.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had serious impacts on psychological health globally. However, very little is currently known regarding the link between fear of COVID-19 with psychological health and various coping styles, especially among oil and gas workers. This study aims to assess the prevalence of depression and anxiety among oil and gas workers, and subsequently examine the role of sociodemographic and occupational variables, various coping styles, and emotional distress in contributing to fear of COVID-19. A total of 299 oil and gas workers participated in this study. The DASS-21, Brief COPE, and Fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19) were used to assess the research variables. The descriptive analyses of DASS-21 indicated a prevalence of 26.8%, 33.5%, and 17.1% for depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively, among oil and gas workers. The results also indicated that all types of coping styles (problem-oriented, emotion-oriented, and dysfunctional-oriented) were significant predictors of fear of COVID-19. Sociodemographic and occupational variables and emotional distress variables were not significant predictors of fear of COVID-19. The study suggests how crucial it is for occupational mental health surveillance and prompt intervention for oil and gas workers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational Mental Health)

22 pages, 23185 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Operational Data-Driven Intelligent Modelling and Visualization System for Real-World, On-Road Vehicle Emissions—A Case Study in Hangzhou City, China

by Lu Wang, Xue Chen, Yan Xia, Linhui Jiang, Jianjie Ye, Tangyan Hou, Liqiang Wang, Yibo Zhang, Mengying Li, Zhen Li, Zhe Song, Yaping Jiang, Weiping Liu, Pengfei Li, Xiaoye Zhang and Shaocai Yu

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5434; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095434 - 30 Apr 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4063

Abstract

On-road vehicle emissions play a crucial role in affecting air quality and human exposure, particularly in megacities. In the absence of comprehensive traffic monitoring networks with the general lack of intelligent transportation systems (ITSs) and big-data-driven, high-performance-computing (HPC) platforms, it remains challenging to [...] Read more.

On-road vehicle emissions play a crucial role in affecting air quality and human exposure, particularly in megacities. In the absence of comprehensive traffic monitoring networks with the general lack of intelligent transportation systems (ITSs) and big-data-driven, high-performance-computing (HPC) platforms, it remains challenging to constrain on-road vehicle emissions and capture their hotspots. Here, we established an intelligent modelling and visualization system driven by ITS traffic data for real-world, on-road vehicle emissions. Based on the HPC platform (named “City Brain”) and an agile Web Geographic Information System (WebGISs), this system can map real-time (hourly), hyperfine (10~1000 m) vehicle emissions (e.g., PM_2.5, NO_x, CO, and HC) and associated traffic states (e.g., vehicle-specific categories and traffic fluxes) over the Xiaoshan District in Hangzhou. Our results show sharp variations in on-road vehicle emissions on small scales, which even fluctuated up to 31.2 times within adjacent road links. Frequent and widespread emission hotspots were also exposed. Over custom spatiotemporal scopes, we virtually investigated and visualized the impacts of traffic control policies on the traffic states and on-road vehicle emissions. Such results have important implications for how traffic control policies should be optimized. Integrating this system with chemical transport models and air quality measurements would bridge the technical gap between air pollutant emissions, concentrations, and human exposure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Air Pollution Control and Sustainable Development)

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16 pages, 370 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

CO₂ Emissions in Asia–Pacific Region: Do Energy Use, Economic Growth, Financial Development, and International Trade Have Detrimental Effects?

by Mohammad Mafizur Rahman and Khosrul Alam

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5420; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095420 - 30 Apr 2022

Cited by 53 | Viewed by 4768

Abstract

Global warming has become the main concern in the current world; increased CO₂ emissions are believed to be the main reason for this climate change. Therefore, this study investigates the impacts of energy consumption, economic growth, financial development, and international trade on [...] Read more.

Global warming has become the main concern in the current world; increased CO₂ emissions are believed to be the main reason for this climate change. Therefore, this study investigates the impacts of energy consumption, economic growth, financial development, and international trade on the CO₂ emissions of 17 Asia–Pacific countries. Using unbalanced panel data for 61 years (1960–2020), the Driscoll and Kraay’s standard error and panel-corrected standard error (PCSE) models are employed to observe the effect of the studied variables on the CO₂ emissions. The obtained results reveal that energy consumption, financial development, economic growth, and international trade have adverse effects on the environment of the panel countries by increasing the CO₂ emissions, whereas the square of economic growth reduces it, and results eventually confirm the evidence of the presence of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis. Bidirectional causality is found between international trade and CO₂ emissions, and unidirectional causal association from CO₂ emissions to energy consumption and economic growth is also revealed. To maintain sustainable economic growth and to improve environmental quality, an increase in green energy consumption is being recommended. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development, Environment, and Health)

14 pages, 697 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Chitosan Film Functionalized with Grape Seed Oil—Preliminary Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity

by Manuela Mauro, Paola Pinto, Luca Settanni, Valeria Puccio, Mirella Vazzana, Branwen L. Hornsby, Antonio Fabbrizio, Vita Di Stefano, Giampaolo Barone and Vincenzo Arizza

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5410; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095410 - 30 Apr 2022

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 3507

Abstract

Although the fishing and wine industries undoubtedly contribute significantly to the economy, they also generate large waste streams with considerable repercussions on both economic and environmental levels. Scientific literature has shown products can be extracted from these streams which have properties of interest [...] Read more.

Although the fishing and wine industries undoubtedly contribute significantly to the economy, they also generate large waste streams with considerable repercussions on both economic and environmental levels. Scientific literature has shown products can be extracted from these streams which have properties of interest to the cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food industries. Antimicrobial activity is undoubtedly among the most interesting of these properties, and particularly useful in the production of food packaging to increase the shelf life of food products. In this study, film for food packaging was produced for the first time using chitosan extracted from the exoskeletons of red shrimp (Aristomorpha foliacea) and oil obtained from red grape seeds (Vitis vinifera). The antimicrobial activity of two films was analyzed: chitosan-only film and chitosan film with the addition of red grape seed oil at two different concentrations (0.5 mL and 1 mL). Our results showed noteworthy antimicrobial activity resulting from functionalized chitosan films; no activity was observed against pathogen and spoilage Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, although the antimicrobial effects observed were species-dependent. The preliminary results of this study could contribute to developing the circular economy, helping to promote the reuse of waste to produce innovative films for food packaging. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Waste: Treatments, Environmental Impacts, Current and Potential Uses)

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24 pages, 775 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Managing Perishability in the Fruit and Vegetable Supply Chains

by Mervegül Kirci, Olov Isaksson and Ralf Seifert

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5378; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095378 - 29 Apr 2022

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 14866

Abstract

Spoilage reduction in fresh product supply chains is an important challenge and represents great opportunities for cost savings and reduced environmental and social footprints. The purpose of this paper is to identify the drivers of spoilage and to discuss how these insights can [...] Read more.

Spoilage reduction in fresh product supply chains is an important challenge and represents great opportunities for cost savings and reduced environmental and social footprints. The purpose of this paper is to identify the drivers of spoilage and to discuss how these insights can be used to reduce spoilage.We use panel data techniques to quantify the drivers of spoilage in the days-fresh category using daily spoilage and supply chain data (457,539 store-SKU level observations) for fresh fruits and vegetables at Switzerland’s largest retailer. We quantify to what extent inventory, promotions, delivery type, commitment changes, order variations, order cycle, and quality issues influence spoilage. We discuss the mechanisms through which inventory age and product standards impact spoilage of days-fresh products. Our novel findings underline the necessity for specialized supply chain processes, tracking inventory age and damage, and collaboration with supply chain partners in the management of this fundamental product category. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Food)

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17 pages, 760 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Flow Experiences and Virtual Tourism: The Role of Technological Acceptance and Technological Readiness

by Chenyujing Yang, Shaocong Yan, Jingyu Wang and Yongji Xue

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5361; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095361 - 29 Apr 2022

Cited by 47 | Viewed by 8518

Abstract

Virtual technology has brought new development opportunities to the tourism market and is expected to help the tourism industry cope with the challenges issuing from the COVID-19 pandemic. Given this context, in this study, we propose and test a model based on the [...] Read more.

Virtual technology has brought new development opportunities to the tourism market and is expected to help the tourism industry cope with the challenges issuing from the COVID-19 pandemic. Given this context, in this study, we propose and test a model based on the SOR architecture, which includes tourists’ experience of virtual tourism, technical readiness (TR), technical acceptance (TA), and tourists’ virtual tourism intentions and the variables of flow experience, technical optimism, technical discomfort, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, adoption intention, and consumption intention. To this end, data were collected through a questionnaire survey of Chinese tourists (n = 542). Then, we used a structural equation model (SEM) to test the hypothetical relationships between potential variables. The results showed that the flow experience delivered by the virtual tourism experience affects tourists’ tendencies to use and intentions to consume virtual tourism. Second, flow experiences can make tourists more optimistic about virtual tourism technology, reduce tourists’ technical discomfort, and enhance tourists’ perceptions of usefulness and ease of use. We also found that tourists’ intentions to use virtual tourism technology affect their intentions to travel on the spot. These findings provide useful insights for tourism practitioners, suggest new ideas for marketing and sustainable development in the virtual tourism industry, and verify the application of the integrated SOR and TAM framework in the field of tourism consumption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Sustainable Innovation in Tourism and Hospitality)

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16 pages, 2724 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Comparison of Functional Fillers—Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Air Pollutants from Lignin-Based Filler, Carbon Black and Silica

by Kathleen Meisel, Lisa Röver, Stefan Majer, Benjamin Herklotz and Daniela Thrän

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5393; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095393 - 29 Apr 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3548

Abstract

The transformation from a fossil-based economy to a sustainable and circular bioeconomy is urgently needed to achieve the climate targets of the Paris Agreement, reduce air pollution and ensure a long-term competitive economy. Due to its carbonaceous and aromatic basic components, lignin has [...] Read more.

The transformation from a fossil-based economy to a sustainable and circular bioeconomy is urgently needed to achieve the climate targets of the Paris Agreement, reduce air pollution and ensure a long-term competitive economy. Due to its carbonaceous and aromatic basic components, lignin has the potential for material valorization within bioeconomy. So far, lignin produced in the pulp and paper industry has mainly been used internally to generate thermal process energy, as it is difficult to extract it from biomass in a pure and unaltered form. The valorization of lignin to improve the economics of pulp mills is a current aim of the industry. Hydrothermal treatment (HTT) of a partial flow from the lignin stream to produce a functional filler for use in polymer blends is one valorization option. The environmental assessment of the lignin-based HTT filler, conducted using life cycle assessment (LCA), shows that substitution of the conventional fillers carbon black and silica could be associated with significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants. Depending on the allocation methodology and the reference filler considered, approx. 5 kg CO₂ eq./kg filler, 80–93% SO₂ emissions, 27–79% PM emissions, and 88–98% PAH emissions can be saved. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Air, Climate Change and Sustainability)

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55 pages, 3649 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

How Efficient Is the Cohesion Policy in Supporting Small and Mid-Sized Enterprises in the Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy?

by Carla Henriques, Clara Viseu, António Trigo, Maria Gouveia and Ana Amaro

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5317; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095317 - 28 Apr 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2887

Abstract

Funds from the European Union that are devoted to fostering a low-carbon economy are aimed at assisting Member States and regions in implementing the required investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and smart distribution electricity grids, and for research and innovation in these [...] Read more.

Funds from the European Union that are devoted to fostering a low-carbon economy are aimed at assisting Member States and regions in implementing the required investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and smart distribution electricity grids, and for research and innovation in these areas. In this context, we assessed the implementation of these funds in small and medium-sized enterprises across different beneficiary countries and regions of the European Union. Therefore, this study uses a non-radial slack-based data envelopment analysis model coupled with cluster analysis that covers multiple aspects of evaluation, including two inputs and two outputs, to assess 102 programs from 22 countries. Overall, we were able to ascertain that there are 25 efficient operational programs that remain robustly efficient, whereas 51 remain robustly inefficient for data perturbations of 5 and 10%. Under the current output level, there was almost no input surplus. Therefore, to promote a low-carbon economy, operational program managers should concentrate on solving the problems behind the poor results achieved, both in terms of greenhouse gas emissions reduction and the pace of the programs’ implementation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Low Carbon Economy, Green Innovation, Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development)

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19 pages, 4002 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Estimating the Lifetime of Solar Photovoltaic Modules in Australia

by Verity Tan, Pablo R. Dias, Nathan Chang and Rong Deng

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5336; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095336 - 28 Apr 2022

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 8340

Abstract

Determining the lifetime of solar photovoltaic modules is integral to planning future installations and ensuring effective end-of-life management. The lifetime of photovoltaic modules is most commonly considered to be 25 years based on performance guarantees of 80% power output after 25 years of [...] Read more.

Determining the lifetime of solar photovoltaic modules is integral to planning future installations and ensuring effective end-of-life management. The lifetime of photovoltaic modules is most commonly considered to be 25 years based on performance guarantees of 80% power output after 25 years of operation; however, influences including climatic conditions, social behaviour, fiscal policy, and technological improvements have the potential to prompt early replacement. Therefore, this work aims to estimate the operating lifetime of photovoltaic panels more accurately in Australia by considering a variety of technical, economic, and social reasons for decommissioning. Based on a range of sources including government organisations, other policymakers, regulators and advisors, energy suppliers, researchers, recyclers, and manufacturers, three lifetime models—power decrease, damage and technical failures, and economic motivation—were developed and then weighted in three scenarios to form overall views of panel lifetime in Australia. In addition, it was concluded that the module lifetime will vary considerably between countries due to differences in market factors. Therefore, these results specifically address Australia as most of the input data were sourced from Australian industry reports and Australian photovoltaic systems and interpreted within the context of the Australian photovoltaic market. However, the methodology of estimating lifetime based on both technical and non-technical factors can be applied to other scenarios by using country-specific data. With the popularity of photovoltaic technology beginning in the early 2010s and given the practical lifetimes of 15–20 years found in this work, Australia will need to act swiftly within the next three years to responsibly manage the looming solar panel waste. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability of Energy Transition Scenarios: Economic, Resource Availability, and Environmental Impacts)

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