Search Results (138)

The rapid increase of electric mobility is challenging the deployment design and operation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in a scalable, sustainable, operationally reliable, and regulation-compliant manner. Although advances in both digitization and artificial intelligence in recent years have made smarter charging solutions possible, today’s approaches tend to concentrate on individual technical parts without considering holistic views. This paper introduces an AI-driven integrated management model for sustainable EV charging infrastructures, composed of four interconnected layers, namely, Eco-Design, Digital Tools, Risk Management, and Governance. In particular, each layer focuses on specific aspects of functionality, including environmentally friendly design decisions, digital monitoring capabilities, proactive risk reduction, and strategic coordination. Compared with existing approaches that address isolated technical or operational aspects, the proposed model provides an integrated, multi-layer architecture that unifies eco-design, digital intelligence, risk management and governance, offering a more holistic and scalable foundation for sustainable EV charging infrastructures. It represents the conceptual output of a structured integration of existing technologies, design principles and governance needs. Considering that fragmented, solution-specific advances are reduced by including interdependencies between layers, the model allows us to better integrate technical operations, resilience mechanisms and sustainability goals. The model is theoretical and offers a scalable point of reference for researchers, as well as infrastructure operators and politicians. Full article

The coordinated improvement of urban–rural integrated development (URID) and eco-environmental quality (EEQ) is a core strategic objective for pursuing sustainable development. However, existing studies have predominantly relied on qualitative discussions or single-region analyses, with insufficient empirical attention to multi-pathway mechanisms and spatial spillover effects. This study aims to examine the direct and heterogeneous effects of URID on EEQ, identify the dual mediating pathways, and quantify the spatial spillover effects across regions. Using panel data from 284 prefecture-level cities in China (2011–2023), this study employs panel regression, mediation analysis, and spatial econometric methods to investigate how URID affects EEQ. The results indicate that URID significantly promotes EEQ, with resource allocation efficiency and environmental regulation intensity serving as dual mediating pathways. This promoting effect varies across regions and policy stages. Moreover, URID exerts positive spatial spillover effects on neighboring regions. By providing national-scale evidence on mediating mechanisms and spatial externalities, this study extends prior research and offers implications for policy-making aimed at advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. The findings should be interpreted in light of the macro-level indicators employed and the observational research design. Full article

The degradation of aquatic pollutants using eco-friendly and non-toxic photocatalytic materials is a pivotal strategy for water pollution remediation. However, single-component photocatalysts typically suffer from low photocatalytic efficiency due to limited light absorption spectra and rapid recombination of photogenerated charge carriers. This study reports a novel and facile one-step mixing strategy for realizing triple synergistic modifications: heterostructured composite construction, specific surface area regulation, and efficient photogenerated electron–hole pair separation of Bi₂MoO₆ (BMO) via composite enhancement with low-cost and intrinsically green g-C₃N₄ (CN), which avoids the high cost, complex processes, and potential pollution risks of precious metal/heavy metal modification for BMO. Under visible-light irradiation, the BMO composite modified with 15 wt% CN achieved a dye removal rate of 85.1% within 60 min, representing a 1.6-fold enhancement in photocatalytic performance compared with that achieved using pristine BMO. We further clarify the unique photocatalytic mechanism of the CN/BMO heterojunction via radical quenching experiments, identifying photogenerated holes (h⁺) and superoxide radicals (·O₂⁻) as the dominant active species for Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation. This study systematically demonstrates a scalable photocatalyst preparation method that integrates controllable specific surface area, rational heterostructure construction, and simple operation, and we provide an in-depth investigation into the photocatalytic reaction process and underlying synergistic enhancement mechanism. The proposed non-metallic modification route provides a new theoretical and experimental basis for the design of high-efficiency BMO-based photocatalysts, and the as-prepared CN/BMO composite holds great potential for practical application in sustainable solar-driven water purification. Full article

Circular economy (CE) decouples value creation from virgin resource use and waste in the medical device sector, which faces stringent patient-safety, quality, and regulatory obligations. Green Additive Manufacturing (AM) offers a precise, digitally driven route to implement CE through dematerialization, on-demand localized production, topology optimization, and material circularity. In this study, a comprehensive CE framework is tailored to medical device manufacturing that integrates eco-design, material circularity, remanufacturing, and regulatory compliance across the product life cycle. Methods include an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14040/44-aligned life cycle assessment, process energy metering, sterilization-compatibility studies, mechanical/biocompatibility verification to relevant standards, and a techno-economic/circularity analysis with Monte Carlo uncertainty quantification. Three case studies are explored using bio-based PA11 (selective laser sintering), recycled polyethylene terephthalate glycol (fused deposition modeling), and low-volatile organic carbon biocompatible photopolymer (stereolithography): (1) a patient-specific wrist orthosis, (2) a dental surgical guide, and (3) a single-use catheter Y-connector. Results indicate 38–68% reductions in embodied greenhouse-gas emissions, 22–54% energy savings per functional unit, and up to 80% mass recapture through in-process powder/runner reuse while maintaining clinical performance and regulatory conformity. Design-for-circularity patterns (DfC) were created for DfDisassembly, DfSter, DfTraceability, DfUpgrade, and DfPowder-Loop and provide a governance architecture combining ISO 13485 QMS, ISO 10993 biological evaluation, the European Union’s Medical Device Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2017/745), and the United States Food and Drug Administration’s guidance on Additive Manufactured (3D-printed) medical devices, guidance with unique device identification for closed-loop returns. The paper concludes with an Industry 5.0 roadmap for hospital-proximate micro-factories, materials passports, and digital product passports enabling verified circular flows at scale. Full article

In response to the growing challenges of climate change and environmental degradation, the European Union announced the Green Deal on 11 December 2019, aiming for climate neutrality by 2050. To achieve this, a series of regulatory measures have been introduced to promote sustainability in the construction sector. This paper examines key EU regulations that, while not explicitly mandating wood, create conditions favorable to timber and wood-based products due to their low-carbon and renewable properties. The Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) encourages timber adoption through voluntary carbon removal incentives, whereas the new Construction Products Regulation (CPR) represents a mandatory intervention, embedding environmental and climate criteria directly into market standards. Additional regulations, including the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the Nature Restoration Law (NRL), and the Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR), further support wood by promoting resource efficiency, responsible sourcing, energy performance, and long-term carbon storage. Together, these measures form a multi-layered framework in which voluntary and binding instruments interact, indirectly supporting sustainable construction practices. Given its ability to store carbon over extended periods and achieve a net negative footprint in life cycle assessments, wood emerges as a strategic material for advancing the EU’s climate objectives. Full article

The silkworm (Bombyx mori) is essential to sericulture and is also becoming a key model organism in genomics and agriculture. For decades, genetic studies of the silkworm were limited by inefficient and inflexible genome tools. CRISPR genome editing allows precise and scalable alterations to genes regulating development, physiology, and industrial traits. This review summarizes silkworm genome-editing breakthroughs, highlighting CRISPR’s evolution from simple gene knockouts to large-scale genome-wide screening. We highlight how these advancements contribute to disease resistance, higher yields, and the development of new silk-based materials, as well as how they influence the development and growth rate of the sericulture. The creation of high-quality reference genomes, pangenomes, and genome-wide screening systems has made the silkworm a major model for integrating multiple biological datasets and approaches, such as genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic. By considering the unique biological characteristics of the silkworm, this provides new insights for research on silk biology, piRNA synthetic biology, and hormonal signaling regulation. Finally, we examine new areas at the intersection of CRISPR, pangenomics, and artificial intelligence (AI) and suggest future paths for molecular breeding, pest control, and synthetic biology. Moreover, AI-assisted prediction of CRISPR outcomes is utilized to inform the design of targeted trait modifications, representing an approach to enhancing biomanufacturing efficiency and eco-friendly silk production. Together, these advances have made the silkworm a flexible genetic platform and an important part of sustainable agriculture and biomanufacturing. Full article

Plastic packaging represents a critical focus in the European Union’s transition to a circular economy owing to its resource-intensive production and substantial greenhouse gas emissions. This article examines Poland’s implementation of plastic packaging regulations within the evolving European Union regulatory framework, alongside complementary policy instruments. It employs legal-normative analysis of European Union and Polish legislation, documentary review of national strategic frameworks, and statistical assessment of packaging generation and recycling performance. Poland has introduced substantial legislative measures, including carrier-bag fees, charges on single-use plastic products, recycled-content mandates for polyethylene terephthalate bottles, and a deposit-return system launched in October 2025. Moreover, national voluntary agreements created by non-governmental organisations and industry stakeholders to improve collection and sorting have been active on the Polish market. Nevertheless, performance indicators reveal significant gaps between regulatory ambitions and operational outcomes. To diagnose these implementation gaps and prioritise the most critical interventions, the article applies a governance-oriented MoSCoW analysis. The article concludes that while the deposit-return system constitutes an essential intervention, achieving European Union circular economy objectives requires comprehensive policy integration encompassing upstream prevention, eco-design standards, extended producer responsibility mechanisms, and coherent strategic planning. An effective regulatory system, sound management practices, and improved information sharing among stakeholders are crucial for promoting eco-innovation and advancing circularity, reuse, and waste reduction. Full article

Crops grown in ecologically vulnerable oases are increasingly vulnerable to climate change, a trend that poses a severe threat to the sustainability of agricultural production in arid zones. Clarifying the relative contributions of climate change and crop management to crop phenology is critical for designing climate-resilient agricultural practices—yet this remains underexplored for wheat in Xinjiang’s oases, a major arid-region agricultural hub. Using 1981–2021 phenological and meteorological data from 26 agrometeorological stations, we integrated a first-difference multiple regression model, Pearson’s correlation, multiple linear regression, and path analysis to quantify spatiotemporal phenological dynamics; disentangle the distinct impacts of climate and management factors; and identify dominant climatic drivers regulating wheat growth. Temperature was confirmed as the dominant climatic factor regulating wheat growth in arid oasis regions. Results showed that the annual change rates of sowing, emergence, booting, flowering, and maturity dates were 0.261 (−0.027), 0.265 (−0.103), −0.272 (−0.161), −0.269 (−0.226), and −0.216 (−0.127) days/year for winter (spring) wheat, respectively. For phenological durations, the annual change rates of sowing-to-emergence, emergence-to-anthesis, anthesis-to-maturity, vegetative growth period, reproductive growth period, and whole growth period were 0.007 (−0.076), −0.537 (−0.068), 0.096 (0.099), −0.502 (−0.134), 0.068 (0.034), and −0.434 (−0.100) days/year for winter (spring) wheat, respectively. Regarding climatic effects, maximum, minimum, and mean temperatures generally exerted positive impacts on wheat phenological durations; increased precipitation prolonged growth periods; and higher sunshine hours shortened winter wheat growth periods while extending those of spring wheat. Multiple regression and path analysis were employed to clarify the relative importance of climatic and management factors, as well as their direct and indirect effects on wheat phenology and yield. Furthermore, climate change had a substantially weaker impact on wheat phenology and yield compared to crop management, with climatic driver intensity following the order of mean temperature > precipitation > sunshine hours—confirming mean temperature as the key climate-induced driver. Correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between yield and growth period length. This study provides novel insights into region-specific climate adaptation for wheat production in arid oases, highlighting that planting longer-growth-period varieties is an effective, eco-friendly strategy to enhance climate resilience and ensure sustainable agricultural development in fragile ecosystems. Full article

Despite substantial growth in eco-innovation (EI) research, most studies rely on cross-sectional data, limiting understanding of the temporal dynamics of EI and its determinants under varying macroeconomic conditions. This study addresses this gap by analysing panel data from Spanish manufacturing firms across three phases of the business cycle: pre-crisis expansion (2004–2007), the global financial crisis (2008–2013), and recovery (2014–2016). We investigate the drivers of two distinct types of eco-innovation: efficiency EI (energy and material savings) and environmental EI (reducing environmental harm), focusing on the role of regulation, institutional interventions, and firm-level innovation capacities. Using a random-effects panel probit model that accounts for unobserved firm heterogeneity, we examine how these drivers operate across different macroeconomic contexts. Our findings reveal that regulation consistently fosters EI, while the influence of subsidies, R&D capacity, and collaborative networks is more context-dependent, particularly during economic downturns. The results highlight the cumulative, path-dependent, and cyclical nature of EI, providing novel insights into the conditions that enable firms to sustain green innovation over time. Drivers of eco-innovation differ systematically between efficiency- and environment-oriented strategies, and these differences remain stable over the business cycle, implying distinct underlying mechanisms and policy implications. Accordingly, policy design—particularly during economic downturns—should distinguish between reinforcing incentives for internal efficiency improvements and sustaining regulatory and financial support for environmental EI. Full article

Achieving sustainable development in the low-carbon transition requires securing critical raw materials (CRMs) while reducing environmental burdens and strengthening industrial resilience (SDGs 7, 9, 12, 13). This review synthesizes 2016–2025 evidence on how the European Union’s policy package—the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), the Batteries Regulation, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) with Digital Product Passports (DPPs), and the recast Waste Shipments Regulation (WSR)—shapes markets for secondary supply in battery-relevant metals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, aluminum, and rare earths. We apply a structured scoping review protocol to map the state of the art across policy instruments (EPR, ecodesign/DPP, recycled content mandates, recovery targets, shipment controls) and value chain stages (collection, preprocessing, refining, manufacturing). The analysis highlights benefits, including clearer investment signals, improved traceability, and emerging opportunities for industrial symbiosis, but also identifies drawbacks such as heterogeneous standards, compliance costs, and trade frictions. Evidence gaps remain, especially in causal ex post assessments, price pass-through, and interoperability of MRV/DPP systems. The paper contributes by (i) providing an integrative framework linking policy instruments, value chain stages, and investment signals for secondary CRM supply, and (ii) outlining a research agenda for rigorous ex post evaluation, improved MRV/DPP data architectures, and better alignment between EU trade rules, circularity, and a just energy transition. Full article

The article presents the development and results of emission studies conducted in Poland in the context of global real-driving emissions research. Although the European Union has continuously tightened exhaust-emission standards, road transport remains one of the major sources of air pollution. Several research centers in Poland—including Rzeszów University of Technology, Poznan University of Technology, and the Motor Transport Institute—have been conducting on-road emission measurements for many years across a wide spectrum of vehicles: conventional, hybrid (including plug-in hybrids), and fully electric. The findings show that emissions under real-world driving conditions often differ from those obtained in homologation tests, particularly for nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. Ambient temperature, road gradient, and driving phases (urban, rural, motorway) were also identified as influential factors. Polish research centers have developed analytical tools enabling comparison between laboratory and on-road tests and allowing real-driving emissions to be estimated based on chassis-dynamometer data. Studies on plug-in hybrids highlighted that these vehicles remain environmentally beneficial only when regularly charged; otherwise, their emissions can increase sharply. Overall, the research confirms that on-road testing is essential for a reliable evaluation of vehicle performance, and the results can contribute to designing more eco-friendly technologies and improving future emission regulations. Full article

Achieving climate neutrality in construction requires more than available low-carbon technologies; it also depends on informed demand and consumers’ willingness to adopt sustainable materials. This paper examines ecological awareness, attitudes, and behavioral intentions toward eco-friendly building materials in Poland, using four independent waves of a nationwide online survey (CAWI) conducted in 2023 and 2025 (N ≈ 1000 per wave; adults aged 18–80). The questionnaires measured environmental awareness; willingness to pay a price premium (WTP) for properties built with eco-materials; actual purchasing behavior during renovations; support for regulations mandating developers’ use of ecological materials; and key socio-demographic factors. While the results confirm a pronounced attitude–behavior gap, the article details the research design and analytical approach, reports awareness, attitudes, and WTP across waves and subgroups, and discusses implications for “soft” interventions (e.g., norms, information, defaults) that can complement regulatory frameworks and financial incentives. It concludes with limitations and practical recommendations for policymakers, industry, and civil society to accelerate the adoption of low-emission materials. Full article

Despite growing interest in positive-energy and net-zero-energy buildings (NZEBs), few studies have addressed the integration of biobased construction with building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) under hot–dry climate conditions, particularly in Morocco and North Africa. This study fills this gap by presenting a simulation-based evaluation of energy performance and renewable energy integration strategies for a residential building in the Fes-Meknes region. Two structural configurations were compared using dynamic energy simulations in DesignBuilder/EnergyPlus, that is, a conventional concrete brick model and an eco-constructed alternative based on biobased wooden materials. Thus, the wooden construction reduced annual energy consumption by 33.3% and operational CO₂ emissions by 50% due to enhanced thermal insulation and moisture-regulating properties. Then multiple configurations of the solar energy systems were analysed, and an optimal hybrid off-grid hybrid system combining rooftop photovoltaic, BIPV, and lithium-ion battery storage achieved a 100% renewable energy fraction with an annual output of 12,390 kWh. While the system incurs a higher net present cost of $45,708 USD, it ensures full grid independence, lowers the electricity cost to $0.70/kWh, and improves occupant comfort. The novelty of this work lies in its integrated approach, which combines biobased construction, lifecycle-informed energy modelling, and HOMER-optimised PV/BIPV systems tailored to a hot, dry climate. The study provides a replicable framework for designing NZEBs in Morocco and similar arid regions, supporting the low-carbon transition and informing policy, planning, and sustainable construction strategies. Full article

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is a key oxidant for green chemical processes, yet its catalytic utilization and activation efficiency remain limited by material instability and uncontrolled radical release. Here, we report a dual-functional, hollow conductive polymer nanostructure that enables selective modulation of H₂O₂ reactivity through interfacial physicochemical design. Hollow polypyrrole nanospheres functionalized with carboxyl groups (PPy@PyCOOH) were synthesized via a one-step Fe²⁺/H₂O₂ oxidative copolymerization route, in which H₂O₂ simultaneously served as oxidant, template, and reactant. The resulting structure exhibits enhanced hydrophilicity, rapid redox degradability (>80% optical loss in 60 min (82.5 ± 4.1%, 95% CI: 82.5 ± 10.2%), 10 mM H₂O₂, pH 6.5), and strong electronic coupling to reactive oxygen intermediates. Subsequent tannic acid–copper (TA–Cu) coordination produced a conformal metal–polyphenol network that introduces a controllable Fenton-like catalytic interface, achieving a 50% increase in ROS yield (1.52 ± 0.08-fold vs. control, 95% CI: 1.52 ± 0.20-fold) while maintaining stable photothermal conversion under repeated NIR cycles. Mechanistic analysis reveals that interfacial TA–Cu complexes regulate charge delocalization and proton–electron transfer at the polymer–solution boundary, balancing redox catalysis with energy dissipation. This work establishes a sustainable platform for H₂O₂-driven redox and photo-thermal coupling, integrating conductive polymer chemistry with eco-friendly catalytic pathways. Full article

Accelerating the diffusion of renewable energy requires clear evidence on which determinants enable or hinder deployment across contexts. This study aims to identify the most frequently discussed contemporary determinants of renewable energy deployment. To this end, we conduct a PRISMA-guided systematic review within the SALSA framework, complemented by VOSviewer bibliometric mapping, synthesizing 110 peer-reviewed studies published between 2013 and 2025. We group the most frequently examined determinants into eight domains (economic, environmental, energy, political, regulatory, regional, technological, and social) and summarize the prevalent direction of effect reported in the literature. Economic conditions (e.g., economic growth, financial development, green finance, and trade) and policy/regulation (e.g., institutional quality, instrument stringency, and feed-in and net-billing schemes) emerge as pivotal. Environmental co-benefits (emissions reduction and air quality improvements) and energy system factors (security and energy poverty) are influential, with context-dependent roles for fossil fuel prices and consumption. Regional context (e.g., geopolitical risk) and technological progress (eco-innovation, storage, and grid integration) shape outcomes, while public acceptance, awareness, perceived benefits/costs, and demographics condition uptake. We also document contradictory findings (e.g., foreign direct investment and oil price effects) and gaps (especially social/demographic determinants and causal evaluation of specific policies). Overall, the review offers a coherent synthesis of evidence and an actionable framework of determinants to inform policy design and investment targeting for large-scale diffusion of renewable energy technologies. Full article