Sustainability

This study compares how academics and company managers prioritize environmental sustainability criteria using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Three main criteria were evaluated: resource and waste management, energy management, and product sustainability. The study examines these priorities by identifying key sustainability criteria, comparing stakeholder assessments, and interpreting their implications for SDG-focused decision-making processes. The findings, based on the hypothesis that managers prefer market-sensitive strategies while academics prioritize ecological management, show that these different perspectives are complementary and can contribute to more inclusive sustainability policies together. The results show that company managers place greater importance on product-related practices such as the use of recycled materials, supply chain control, and product certification, reflecting market-oriented sustainability expectations. On the other hand, academics place greater emphasis on resource and waste management, including water resource protection (SDG 6), solid waste management (SDG 15), and the use of recycled materials (SDG 12). Both groups emphasize renewable energy (SDG 7) and greenhouse gas reduction (SDG 13) in the energy dimension.

Woody plants are integral to the ecological and cultural context of the ancient Near East. Biblical references to trees reflect both their practical uses and their symbolic significance. This is a systematic review focused specifically on botanical affiliation, geographical origin and natural habitat type and the cultivation potential of 97 woody species in temperate urban environments, important to ancient economy, culture and religion and consistently identified by scholars in biblical texts. The study applies a multifaceted methodological framework that integrates i.a. textual analysis, literature review and 20 years of horticultural observations. Moreover, the historical utility of these species was studied based on interpreting Bible quotes and comparative multilingual analysis of biblical texts. Analyzed woody plant species represent 36 botanical families, over 50% native to Ancient Palestine. About 18.6% were cultivated by humans, the rest grew in various habitats. Biblical sources revealed 17 uses, with many species having symbolic, practical, or multiple roles. Further, 32% of the species discussed can be grown directly in the soil in temperate climate, while 52.5% require container cultivation. Additionally, 15.5% of the species are hard to cultivate and thus not recommended for Biblical gardens. The content presented also provides valuable insights that may support the development of Biblical gardens within urban environments worldwide.

In the context of global sustainable development and China’s “Dual Carbon” goals, green transformation has emerged as a crucial pathway for manufacturing enterprises to enhance their ESG performance. This study develops a comprehensive and novel framework for assessing green transformation and uses panel data from Chinese A-share listed manufacturing firms spanning 2009 to 2022 to systematically evaluate the impact of this transformation on ESG performance. It also investigates the moderating effects of financing constraints, firm size, and digital transformation. The empirical findings reveal three key results. First, green transformation exerts a significant positive influence on corporate ESG performance, and this conclusion remains robust after conducting multiple endogeneity and sensitivity tests. Second, the beneficial effect of green transformation is more pronounced in state-owned enterprises, firms in central, western, and northeastern China, and younger enterprises. This reflects the substantial impact of policy orientation and resource base on the effectiveness of implementing green strategies. Third, financing constraints amplify the ESG benefits derived from green transformation. In contrast, firm size exhibits a negative moderating effect, indicating that small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) derive greater advantages. Although digital transformation generally enhances ESG performance, it presents a synergistic imbalance with green transformation that diminishes its marginal effect. This study provides theoretical foundations and robust empirical evidence to support the advancement of corporate ESG performance through initiatives focused on green transformation.