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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Products and Services".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 October 2025) | Viewed by 16260

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Editors

Dr. Kyungeun Sung

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Guest Editor

School of Design Innovation, Faculty of Technology, Arts and Culture, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK
Interests: upcycling and circular economy; sustainable art, design, and craft; sustainable production, businesses, and supply chains; sustainable practices beyond the norm (enabling citizens)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Richie Moalosi

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Guest Editor

Industrial Design and Technology, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Private Bag 0061, Botswana
Interests: sustainable design; product innovation

Dr. Abhishek Tiwary

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Guest Editor

School of Engineering and Sustainable Development, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK
Interests: system-scale sustainability assessment of technology innovations; techno-economic feasibility assessment of environmentally benign solutions to global challenges on closed-loop resource reuse and renewable energy, for both industrial and societal applications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The contemporary environmental crises, including increasing waste, climate change, and pollution, demand urgent action through cleaner production, responsible consumption, a circular economy, and sustainable development. Cleaner production focuses on minimising waste and reducing environmental impacts by optimising processes throughout a product’s lifecycle, from initial design and material sourcing to manufacturing, distribution, use, and disposal. Responsible consumption complements cleaner production by encouraging individuals to make environmentally conscious choices, including purchasing durable products, reusing or repurposing items, repairing broken goods, and upcycling waste materials to extend their utility and reduce waste generation. The circular economy provides a sustainable alternative to the traditional linear economic model of “take, make, use, and dispose”. By prioritising the elimination of waste and maximising resource efficiency, it seeks to maintain products, components, and materials at their highest value for as long as possible. Circular economy practices—such as reuse, repair, redistribution, refurbishment, remanufacturing, and recycling—integrate cleaner production and responsible consumption. Sustainable development, built on the three pillars of economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection, is achievable only through a circular economy that aligns with cleaner production and responsible consumption. Together, these approaches form a comprehensive strategy to address environmental challenges while ensuring long-term sustainability.

This Special Issue aims to present the latest groundbreaking research with new methodologies and scientific findings, as well as cutting-edge technologies and practices in the fields of cleaner production, responsible consumption, circular economy, and sustainable development, especially at their intersections.

For this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

Cleaner production;
Clean technology;
Sustainable design and innovation;
Sustainable engineering;
Sustainable products, services, and product–service systems;
Sustainable business models;
Sustainable supply chain management and innovation;
Sustainable and ethical fashion and textiles;
Lifecycle analysis and other environmental assessments;
Lifecycle management;
System-scale sustainability assessment;
Techno-economic feasibility assessment of environmentally benign solutions;
Corporate social responsibility and producer responsibility;
Responsible and ethical consumption;
Sustainable behaviour and lifestyles;
Circular economy;
Circular design;
Circular business models and supply chains (and reverse logistics);
Circular economy policies and governance;
Regenerative practices;
Green transitions;
Sustainable development;
Sustainable development goals;
Education for sustainable development;
Sustainable cities and communities;
Upcycling;
Climate change;
Net zero.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Kyungeun Sung
Prof. Dr. Richie Moalosi
Dr. Abhishek Tiwary
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

cleaner production
responsible consumption
circular economy
sustainable design
sustainable engineering
ethical fashion
sustainable development
green transitions
upcycling
net zero

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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13 pages, 1437 KB

Open AccessArticle

Energy Efficiency and Circular Economy in Glass Wool Fiberizing: Impact of Lightweight Refractory Design

by Junaid Afzal, Baptiste Forgerit and Abhishek Tiwary

Sustainability 2026, 18(1), 135; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18010135 - 22 Dec 2025

Viewed by 1213

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of energy savings and sustainability measures to improve the environmental performance of glass wool fiberizing, the latter being the most energy intensive production step in manufacturing glass wool thermal insulation, involving conversion of hot molten glass into fibers. The first part evaluates two refractory designs—business as usual (BAU) and modified (MOD), over four trials. BAU refractory has higher density whereas MOD is an innovative lightweight design, with lower density and improved thermal conductivity. The key operational parameters analyzed include energy demand and CO₂ emissions in the fiberizing stage, along with burner pressure, temperature and fiber diameter. The results show that MOD has better thermal performance, leading to an average energy demand reduction potential of up to 10%. The second part focuses on promoting a circular economy for the end-of-life refractory, underpinned by the potential for recovery and reuse of spent refractory materials. Based on a total refractory mass of 1.2 tons for the six burners, the end-of-life refractory material recovery is estimated as 0.78 ton (65% of the aggregate). Balancing the recovery costs with the acquired value of the recovered aggregates, results demonstrate significant material and environmental cost avoidance on a 3-year refractory relining cycle. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cleaner Production, Responsible Consumption, Circular Economy, and Sustainable Development)

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19 pages, 911 KB

Open AccessArticle

Motivations for Slow Fashion Consumption Among Zennials: An Exploratory Australian Study

by Jia Wei Khor, Caroline Swee Lin Tan and Saniyat Islam

Sustainability 2025, 17(24), 11253; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172411253 - 16 Dec 2025

Viewed by 1822

Abstract

This study investigates how Australian Zennials (born 1993–1999) navigate slow fashion consumption in a market dominated by fast fashion and affordability challenges. Using semi-structured interviews with 20 participants, it explores their motivations, barriers, and adaptive strategies. Findings reveal that Zennials are driven by ethical values, environmental awareness, and a preference for quality design, yet face constraints such as cost, limited access to sustainable brands, and skepticism toward greenwashing. Rather than a simple value–action gap, participants demonstrate creative solutions, most notably, strategic engagement with the second-hand market. This enables them to practice slow fashion ideals of durability, longevity, and mindful consumption in a cost-effective way. The study reframes the attitude–behavior gap by identifying Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC) as a key enabler, supported by knowledge, repair skills, and peer norms. These insights offer practical implications for brands, designers, and policymakers, positioning the second-hand economy as the central mechanism that operationalizes Zennial engagement with sustainable fashion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cleaner Production, Responsible Consumption, Circular Economy, and Sustainable Development)

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29 pages, 333 KB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Influencing Chinese Consumers’ Attitudes and Behaviors in the Organic Food Market—In the Context of Sustainable Consumption

by Karolina Łopacińska

Sustainability 2025, 17(20), 9172; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17209172 - 16 Oct 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3876

Abstract

The objective of this article is to identify and analyze the factors shaping the behavior of Chinese consumers in the organic product market, with a particular focus on young members of Generations Y and Z. These factors are examined in the context of organic consumption and sustainable development, taking into account global and local trends in the organic food market as well as the role of consumers in stimulating clean production and a circular economy. The article applies a research approach that combines a review of the literature with an analysis of quantitative data. In 2022, an online survey was conducted among 1012 Chinese users of the most popular social media platforms, primarily WeChat and Sina Weibo. The respondents were young consumers from Generations Y and Z. The sample was drawn from the IMAS International online panel. The study identified the characteristics attributed to organic food, the frequency and structure of purchases (product categories and share of organic products in the shopping basket), key motives and choice criteria, barriers to purchase, sources of information on organic products, and the role of promotional tools in shaping attitudes and behaviors. The results show that pro-environmental consumption fosters sustainable development and cleaner production, with younger generations emerging as the driving force behind sustainable consumption. The analysis revealed both stimulating and limiting factors influencing the development of sustainable consumption, and highlighted the critical role of digital channels in shaping consumer attitudes and decisions. The study also discusses implications for market stakeholders (producers, distributors, educational institutions, and policymakers) in leveraging the potential of young Chinese consumers as a catalyst for cleaner production and the circular economy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cleaner Production, Responsible Consumption, Circular Economy, and Sustainable Development)

23 pages, 1938 KB

Open AccessArticle

User-Friendly, Real-Time LCA Tool for Dynamic Sustainability Assessment and Support of EPD Schemes Towards Circular Bioenergy Pathways

by Christodoulos Savva, Christos Koidis, Charisios Achillas, Christos Mertzanakis, Dimitrios-Aristotelis Koumpakis, Alexandra V. Michailidou and Christos Vlachokostas

Sustainability 2025, 17(18), 8106; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17188106 - 9 Sep 2025

Viewed by 2127

Abstract

This study presents FARMBENV, a user-friendly, real-time, and web-based LCA tool developed specifically for the agricultural sector, enabling dynamic environmental impact assessments and supporting Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). To demonstrate its functionality, three wheat production systems in Greece—differing in harvest frequency and the use of green manure through the addition of vetch—were assessed using primary data. Environmental impacts were calculated using a cradle-to-gate approach, with a functional unit of 1000 kg of wheat. Results from FARMBENV were validated with OpenLCA v2.4.1, confirming the tool’s accuracy. The addition of vetch in wheat production significantly reduced the Global Warming Potential (GWP), while the single-harvest systems applying green manure present better environmental sustainability performance. In addition, lab-scale experiments were conducted to process wheat residues via three waste-to-energy (WtE) pathways—pellet, biodiesel, and bioethanol production—and their environmental performance was assessed under multiple electricity sourcing scenarios. The source of electricity for the production systems is crucial for minimizing the impact on the GWP for the WtE pathways. The integration of WtE pathways and wheat production scenarios reduces the GWP by up to 49%. Overall, this study demonstrates FARMBENV’s capacity to deliver real-time, scenario-specific LCA results and highlights the potential of circular bioenergy strategies in sustainable agriculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cleaner Production, Responsible Consumption, Circular Economy, and Sustainable Development)

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22 pages, 3232 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Insight into Global Bio-Based Plastics Development: A Bibliometric Analysis-Aided Assessment of the Past Decades’ Research Exploit

by Nonso E. Nnolim and Uchechukwu U. Nwodo

Sustainability 2025, 17(13), 5955; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17135955 - 28 Jun 2025

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3382

Abstract

The global biobased plastics market is on an upward trajectory due to the quest for a clean/sustainable environment and the growing concerns over climate change. This study used a meta-analysis approach to investigate the global trend in the research evolution and development of bio-based plastics research from 1990 to 2023. The publication records of 2742 articles were retrieved from the Web of Science data collection using the following key terms: “bioplastic* or biodegradable plastic* or biobased plastic* or biodegradable polyester* or biobased polyester* or biodegradable polyethylene* or biobased polyethylene*”. The analysis showed that scientific productivity generally increased across the spectrum of the survey timelines, with the highest publication of 331 articles recorded in 2023. The articles were published in 863 sources by 10,408 authors, with an annual growth rate of 13.55%. China demonstrated the highest number of publications recorded, with 404 articles within the survey period, followed by the United States, with 303 articles. The international collaboration was recorded at 20.86%, while the average citation per article was 27.99. The swift advancement in biodegradable plastic research, as indicated by relevant metrics, highlights the current research trends and underscores the importance of bio-based plastics in promoting a sustainable environment and a circular economy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cleaner Production, Responsible Consumption, Circular Economy, and Sustainable Development)

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